Belgium Scraps Certain Elements of Plain Packaging Requirements

On June 1st, Belgium was expected to fully implement new plain packaging requirements for tobacco products, including cigars. However, in a notable development for the premium cigar industry, the Belgian Ministry of Health announced several changes to the forthcoming regulations, reversing course on some provisions

Proposed Changes

In April 2025, the Belgian government adopted legislation requiring standardized packaging for tobacco products, with a one-year transition period before the rules took full effect. As implementation approached, Oliva Cigar Company’s parent company, Vandermarliere Cigar Family, and industry associations like the European Cigar Manufacturers Association (ECMA) of which CRA is a proud supporter, and its member, Federatie van de Sigarenindustrie in België en Luxemburg (FECIBEL) continued engaging with policymakers regarding several aspects of the regulations that were particularly problematic for premium cigars.

As a result of those efforts, the Ministry of Health announced that amendments would be made to the Tobacco Decree governing standardized packaging for cigars. Most notably, the proposed prohibition on traditional cigar bands has been withdrawn after regulators concluded that cigar bands form an integral part of the product itself. If finalized, traditional cigar bands on both New World and Cuban cigars will remain permitted and will not be subject to plain packaging requirements.

The Ministry has also indicated that certain neutral elements necessary for the preservation and presentation of cigars, such as inserts and box bumpers, will remain authorized. In addition, cigar manufacturers will be permitted to continue using sub-brand names on packaging, and several technical restrictions on commercial product designations will no longer apply to cigars.

Plain Packaging Requirements Remain in Place

While these changes represent a meaningful victory for the premium cigar industry, Belgium is not abandoning plain packaging altogether. The government continues to move forward with plain packaging requirements for cigar boxes and external packaging.

Those requirements remain the subject of ongoing litigation brought by FECIBEL, the cigar industry trade association representing Belgium and Luxembourg. That litigation remains pending.

What Happens Next

The proposed amendments have been submitted to Belgium’s Council of State for review and are expected to be formally published following completion of the country’s regulatory process.

For now, the preservation of traditional cigar bands demonstrates that sustained engagement and advocacy can influence regulatory outcomes, even in jurisdictions pursuing increasingly restrictive tobacco control policies. At the same time, the broader debate over plain packaging for premium cigars is far from over, and the pending litigation over cigar box requirements will continue to shape the future regulatory landscape in Belgium.

CRA will continue monitoring developments in Belgium and throughout Europe and will provide updates as additional information becomes available.