Alternative tobacco and nicotine products in Switzerland

Switzerland: The Federal Council has opened for consultation the preliminary draft of an ordinance specifying the provisions of the new Federal Law on Tobacco and Electronic Cigarettes, which was approved by Parliament in October 2021 and is expected to come into force in 2024. The ordinance will determine the obligations of companies and regulation of test purchases, and define new categories of products such as herbal products for heating. The consultation is open until 12th October.

Switzerland: Following the adoption of the people’s initiative “Children without Tobacco”, which calls for a ban on tobacco and vaping advertising aimed at children and adolescents, the Federal Office of Public Health has presented a fact sheet revealing that the advertising ban set down in the Tobacco Products Act is to be extended to all print media and points-of-sale. Online advertising will remain legal as long as an age-verification system is in place. The initiative is expected to be implemented in 2026.

Switzerland: The National Council Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxation has submitted a motion calling on the Federal Council to draft a report on the taxation of tobacco products and e-cigarettes. It says the report should address issues such as the categorisation of new products, the impact of taxes on the black market, and tax adjustments based on average market prices. Earlier this year, during a debate on amending the Tobacco Tax Act, the Committee for Social Security and Health called for tax to be extended to all tobacco and related products.

Switzerland: A study conducted last year by the Swiss Addiction Foundation, funded by the Federal Office of Public Health and involving 9,345 students, found 4% of boys and 3% of girls aged 15 had used heated tobacco at least once in the preceding 30 days. The foundation is urging the government to take measures on advertising, sales, price, packaging and flavours.

Switzerland: Today, 30th November, is the last day of the consultation on the draft bill to amend the Tobacco Products Act. The amendment, which was submitted for consultation after a majority of voters backed the Children Without Tobacco referendum proposal to ban all tobacco and e-cigarette advertising accessible to children and young people. The preliminary draft is expected to be sent to Parliament for revision in the first half of 2023.

Switzerland: The Federal Council has submitted for consultation a draft bill to amend the Tobacco Products Act after a majority of voters in a referendum in February supported a proposal by the campaign group Children Without Tobacco to prevent tobacco and vaping advertising from reaching children and young people. The ban would include advertising in newspapers, at open-air events and online. The consultation will remain open until 30th November and the government expects the preliminary draft to be submitted to the Federal Assembly in the first half of 2023.

Switzerland: Answering a Federal Council consultation on possible e-cigarette taxation, the Swiss Tobacco Prevention Working Group has demanded that the tax should apply not only to e-cigarettes, but to all tobacco and nicotine products, based on nicotine content. They say products that are already taxed, such as heated and oral tobacco, should face an increase. The consultation is open until 31st March.

Switzerland: The Federal Assembly must amend the Tobacco Products Act after a referendum on 13th February found 56.6% of voters in favour of the Children without Tobacco proposal to ban tobacco and vaping advertising that reaches children and young people. That includes point-of-sale displays except in specialist stores, advertising in newspapers, at open air events and on the internet. No date for implementation of the new rules has yet been announced.