CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Advancing tobacco control in Belgium: Progress, innovation, and remaining challenges under the WHO FCTC
1
Sciensano, Health Indicators Unit, Department of Public health and Epidemiology, Brussels - Belgium
2
Sciensano, Department of epidemiology and public health
Tob. Prev. Cessation 2026;12(Supplement 1):A66
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND-AIM:
Belgium ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2005 and has since adopted a wide range of tobacco control measures. In 2022, Belgium launched its “Tobacco-Free Generation” strategy, aiming to reduce smoking prevalence to 5% by 2040. We aimed to assess Belgium’s progress toward FCTC implementation, highlight remaining gaps, and identify priorities for further action.
METHODS:
We reviewed Belgium’s official WHO FCTC implementation reports, recent national policy documents, and findings from peer-reviewed and grey literature. Implementation was assessed across major FCTC domains: governance and coordination, smoke-free legislation, packaging and labelling, advertising and promotion restrictions, taxation, industry interference, regulation of emerging products, cessation support, and monitoring systems.
RESULTS:
Belgium has achieved substantial progress across several FCTC articles. Comprehensive smoke-free legislation is in place and regularly updated. Pictorial health warnings and plain packaging were fully implemented by 2021. Advertising, promotion, and sponsorship restrictions have been significantly strengthened. The Tobacco-Free Generation strategy has improved federal and regional coordination and placed stronger emphasis on youth protection and prevention. However, implementation gaps remain. Tobacco taxation does not yet achieve the levels needed to reduce affordability and consumption at the rates expected under Article 6. Measures to protect public-health policy from industry interference are only partially operationalised and vary between government levels. Regulation of novel nicotine products remains inconsistent and enforcement capacity is limited. Surveillance systems exist but require expansion to better monitor emerging trends. Access to cessation services is uneven and funding remains insufficient for population-wide coverage.
CONCLUSIONS:
Belgium shows strong legislative alignment with the WHO FCTC and has articulated a clear long-term endgame strategy. Nonetheless, full implementation requires stronger enforcement, clearer safeguards against industry interference, more ambitious tax policy, and enhanced monitoring of emerging products. Accelerating these efforts will be essential for Belgium to achieve its 2040 Tobacco-Free Generation target.
Belgium ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2005 and has since adopted a wide range of tobacco control measures. In 2022, Belgium launched its “Tobacco-Free Generation” strategy, aiming to reduce smoking prevalence to 5% by 2040. We aimed to assess Belgium’s progress toward FCTC implementation, highlight remaining gaps, and identify priorities for further action.
METHODS:
We reviewed Belgium’s official WHO FCTC implementation reports, recent national policy documents, and findings from peer-reviewed and grey literature. Implementation was assessed across major FCTC domains: governance and coordination, smoke-free legislation, packaging and labelling, advertising and promotion restrictions, taxation, industry interference, regulation of emerging products, cessation support, and monitoring systems.
RESULTS:
Belgium has achieved substantial progress across several FCTC articles. Comprehensive smoke-free legislation is in place and regularly updated. Pictorial health warnings and plain packaging were fully implemented by 2021. Advertising, promotion, and sponsorship restrictions have been significantly strengthened. The Tobacco-Free Generation strategy has improved federal and regional coordination and placed stronger emphasis on youth protection and prevention. However, implementation gaps remain. Tobacco taxation does not yet achieve the levels needed to reduce affordability and consumption at the rates expected under Article 6. Measures to protect public-health policy from industry interference are only partially operationalised and vary between government levels. Regulation of novel nicotine products remains inconsistent and enforcement capacity is limited. Surveillance systems exist but require expansion to better monitor emerging trends. Access to cessation services is uneven and funding remains insufficient for population-wide coverage.
CONCLUSIONS:
Belgium shows strong legislative alignment with the WHO FCTC and has articulated a clear long-term endgame strategy. Nonetheless, full implementation requires stronger enforcement, clearer safeguards against industry interference, more ambitious tax policy, and enhanced monitoring of emerging products. Accelerating these efforts will be essential for Belgium to achieve its 2040 Tobacco-Free Generation target.
| eISSN: | 2459-3087 |
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