State Secretary Karremans (VVD) for Youth, Prevention, and Sports has urged parents to confiscate and dispose of vapes to prevent children from using them. This follows reports that in the past year, at least fourteen children have been hospitalized due to vaping.
A 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy were admitted to intensive care, while others suffered from collapsed lungs, lung bleeding, or reduced lung function. Karremans expressed alarm over these incidents, stating that vaping is not a healthy alternative to smoking and is extremely harmful.
He highlighted that one in five children aged 12 to 18 vape, often using flavored products, and noted a high overlap with smoking habits. Karremans described these products as illegal and often from China, with unknown and harmful contents.
Although flavored vapes have been banned since 2020, they remain widely available due to insufficient enforcement by the NVWA. The government is allocating additional resources to increase inspections and is working on legislation to penalize sellers more effectively.
A complete ban on vaping requires European coordination, but the Dutch government is committed to this effort. Meanwhile, Karremans called on parents, schools, and sports clubs to discourage vaping among children, emphasizing that collaborative action and parental involvement are crucial.
Source: NOS