In December 2020, the Danish Parliament amended the legislation for tobacco products, tobacco surrogates, electronic cigarettes, refill containers with and without nicotine, age control and a number of other laws. The increased measures are intended to implement the national action plan from 2019 on the prevention of smoking for children and young people. The changes will take effect from 1 April 2021, but in some areas, there will be transitional arrangements thereafter.
The main points of the changes are described here. The page will be updated regularly.
The main points of the changes are described here. The page will be updated regularly.
Rules for notification, registration and reporting
- Tobacco surrogates must be reported to the Danish Safety Technology Authority prior to marketing. This will take effect on 1 July 2021. Reporting must be done via a form. It will be available in the spring of 2021.
It is a requirement that the Danish Safety Technology Authority receives adequate information when products are reported.
Before the rules come into force, the Danish Safety Technology Authority will supplement the information found here with a guidance on how reporting must take place.
Rules for tobacco products and herbal smoking products
New rules for tobacco products and herbal smoking products are aimed at the products as well as the manufacturers, importers and retailers.
The rules are:
- Prohibition of characteristic aromas other than tobacco and menthol in tobacco products (other than cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco) and herbal smoking products. Pipe tobacco and cigars are exempt.
A date of entry into force has not yet been set. - Prohibition of equipment that may alter the smell, taste or smoke formation of tobacco products or herbal smoking products. This will take effect on 1 April 2021. There is a transition period until 1 April 2022 for products manufactured before 1 April 2021.
- Requirements for standardised design of individual packages and any outer packaging for tobacco products, other than cigars and pipe tobacco. This will take effect on 1 July 2021, though for products manufactured before 1 July 2021, it will take effect on 1 April 2022.
- Requirements for standardised design of individual packages and any outer packaging for herbal smoking products. This will take effect on 1 July 2021, though for products manufactured before 1 July 2021, it will take effect on 1 April 2022.
- Prohibition on selling herbal smoking products to young people under 18 years of age. This will take effect on 1 April 2021.
- Visible signs with information that sale can only take place upon presentation of photo identification (if the seller is in doubt about age) only apply to alcoholic beverages. Tobacco products must not be mentioned on these signs. The requirement applies from 1 April 2021.
Rules for tobacco surrogates
A tobacco surrogate is a product containing nicotine that is not a tobacco product, an electronic cigarette, a drug or equipment intended to be used with the product.
The requirements for tobacco surrogates are:
- Requirements for health warnings on the products. This will take effect on 1 July 2021, though for products manufactured before 1 July 2021, it will take effect on 1 April 2022.
- Prohibition on the sale of tobacco surrogates to young people under 18 years of age. This will take effect on 1 April 2021.
- Rules on labelling and packaging of tobacco surrogates. This will take effect on 1 July 2021. For products manufactured before 1 July 2021, the rules will apply from 1 April 2022.
Links to registration of tobacco surrogates
Rule compliance check
The Danish Safety Technology Authority will, on behalf of the Danish Ministry of Health and the Elderly, check compliance with the rules on tobacco products and tobacco surrogates.
See the rules (in Danish)
RULES FOR ADVERTISING ETC.
The Consumer Ombudsman is responsible for rules on advertising for electronic cigarettes, tobacco products, etc.
Read more (in Danish)
The government's action plan from 2019 on the prevention of smoking for children and young people.
01 March, 2021