Hungary‘s Regulator to Enforce Strict Measures on Tobacco Sales to Minors

Hungarian media outlet vg.hu reported on January 23rd that the Regulated Activities Supervisory Authority (SZTFH) in Hungary recently announced stricter measures for the sale of tobacco products to minors online. Offenders will now face hefty fines, potentially ranging from 5 million to 500 million Forints.

Regulatory agencies have pointed out that a significant amount of illegal tobacco trade has shifted from underground markets to online platforms, making online tobacco trade a key domain for young people. They can easily purchase tobacco products in this realm. These online shops directly target the younger generation by promoting trendy and fashionable yet hazardous products through vibrant and visually appealing webpages.

The SZTFH emphasizes that the online sale of products that are only permitted to be sold in tobacco shops is illegal, as these violators circumvent local retail regulations by taking advantage of neighboring countries‘ more lenient sales provisions. Businesses engaged in such online sales could face fines ranging from 5 million to 500 million Florins. This penalty also applies to the sale of various flavored e-cigarettes, including Elf Bar and others.

Furthermore, SZTFH points out that these products may pose serious addiction problems and their components are often not subjected to rigorous inspections. Untested devices may carry risks of overheating, explosion, or even severe injuries. The organization also warns that customers may ultimately receive dangerous products from unverified locations after payment.

In order to address this issue, SZTFH proposed amendments to laws aimed at preventing minors from smoking and restricting the retail of tobacco products. These amendments broaden the scope of regulatory agencies, enabling them to collaborate with national media and communication regulatory authorities to collectively crackdown on the illegal sale of websites targeting local consumers.