Modification of decrees on standardized packaging from Belgium

Reference: Royal Decree of 28 July 2025
Official publication link

A. The situation

The Belgian Government has adopted the Royal Decree of 28 July 2025, extending plain packaging requirements to all tobacco products, no longer limited to cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco and water pipe tobacco. The official reasoning is that large tobacco companies introduced cigarillo packaging designed to resemble old cigarette packs, thereby undermining the original purpose of neutral packaging rules.

B. Impact on premium handmade cigar producers

As a result, premium handmade cigars are now also subject to these strict packaging requirements. These products, traditionally sold in wooden boxes, bundles or tubos and in no way comparable to cigarette packs, lose their authentic and cultural presentation. The artisanal segment, which played no role in the strategies of the large tobacco industry, becomes the unintended victim of rules that were in fact meant to target multinational practices.

C. How this unfairness could be addressed

This development can be considered disproportionate and unfair, and it could be raised by stressing that:

• The justification (cigarillo-style packaging) is not representative of premium handmade cigars.
• Handmade cigars are a cultural and artisanal product, rooted in tradition, and not designed or marketed to attract young consumers.
• Regulation would be more effective and fair if it differentiated between mass-produced products from the large-scale tobacco industry and authentic, artisanal cigars.

We would welcome your reflections on the above at info@uicma.org.