Denmark

Denmark became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on March 16, 2005.

Smoke Free Places

Indoor workplaces and indoor public places (other than preschools, primary and secondary schools) may decide to establish smoking areas and cabins. Smoking is prohibited in preschools, primary and secondary schools. Smoking is not permitted on mass transportation and taxis, except on passenger ships, which may establish smoking areas and smoking cabins. Sub-national jurisdictions may enact smoke free laws that are more stringent than the national law.

Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship

There is a comprehensive tobacco advertising and promotion ban with a few limited exceptions, including point of sale display at specialist tobacconist shops that sell pipes, pipe tobacco, and cigars. All forms of tobacco sponsorship are prohibited.

Tobacco Packaging and Labeling

Smoked tobacco products must carry a general warning (“Smoking Kills”), an informational message ("Tobacco smoke contains over 70 carcinogenic substances"), and one of 14 combined text/picture health warnings. The general and informational warning must cover 50 percent of one of the lateral sides of the packet. The combined health warnings must cover 65 percent of both the front and back of the package. Combined health warnings are divided into three sets, and each set shall be used in a given year and replaced by the next set the following year.

Smokeless tobacco products must carry a general warning - "This tobacco product is harmful to your health and is addictive" – that covers 30 percent of the front and back of the package.

Misleading packaging and labeling, which could include terms such as “light” and “low tar” and other signs, is prohibited.

Cigarette Contents and Disclosures

The law regulates specified contents of cigarettes, including banning tobacco products with a distinctive flavor; additives that facilitate inhalation or nicotine uptake; vitamins or other additives that give the impression of a health benefit; caffeine, taurine, or other additives and stimulant compounds; additives that have coloring properties for emissions; additives that have carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproduction toxicity properties in non-combusted form; and additives in volumes that upon consumption significantly or measurably increase the toxic or addictive effect or carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reproduction toxicity properties. The law requires that manufacturers and importers disclose to government authorities information on the contents and emissions of their products.

Sales Restrictions

The law prohibits the sale of single cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, other than smokeless tobacco that can be inhaled or chewed. There are no restrictions on vending machine sales and internet sales (other than requiring registration of cross-border distance sellers). However, it is prohibited to sell tobacco products in schools and educational facilities in which children under 18 are enrolled. The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 18.

E-Cigarettes

The sale of e-cigarettes is allowed. The law prohibits the use of e-cigarettes in children’s institutes, schools, day-care centers, taxis and public transportation facilities. The law restricts e-cigarette advertising and promotion and product display at points of sale. The law prohibits e-cigarettes or refill containers with a distinctive flavor other than menthol or tobacco. Text-only health warnings in Danish are required to cover 30% of the front and back of the package. Plain packaging is required for e-cigarettes and refill containers.

Roadmap to Tobacco Control Legislation

Act No. 965 of 2019 to Consolidate the Act on Tobacco Products, etc. is the primary piece of legislation regulating tobacco packaging and labeling, cigarette contents and disclosure, cross border distance sales, and smoked herbal products, among other things. It also prohibits the sale of smokeless tobacco products, other than those that are inhaled or chewed. Act No. 966 of 2019 to Consolidate the Act on Smoke-free Environments is the primary piece of legislation that regulates smoking in public places. Act No. 1021 of 2008 to Consolidate the Law Prohibiting Advertising, etc. about Tobacco Products is the primary law on tobacco advertising. All three acts were substantially amended by Act No. 2071 of 2020. Act No. 964 of 2019 to Consolidate the Act on the Prohibition of the Sale of Tobacco and Alcohol to Persons Under 18 Years of Age prohibits the sale tobacco to persons under the age of 18.

Orders No. 611 of 2016, No. 669 of 2016, No. 1064 of 2016 and No. 572 of 2021 were promulgated under the Act on Tobacco Products. Order No. 611 of 2016 on Declarations of Tobacco Products and Herbal Products for Smoking, and Declarations of New Categories of Tobacco Products contains regulations regarding disclosure of contents and emissions of tobacco products, annual reports, applications for the licensing of laboratories, cross-border distance sales registration, and declarations of new categories of tobacco products and smoked herbal products. Order No. 669 of 2016 on Threshold Limits, Health Warnings and Age Check Systems etc. of Tobacco Products etc. regulates emissions limits for cigarettes, health warnings for tobacco products and herbal products, and age verification systems for distance sales. Order No. 1064 of 2016 on Studies of Specific Additives in Tobacco Products and More Detailed Requirements for Labeling and Packaging of Cigarettes and Rolling Tobacco etc. contains requirements regarding studies of additives, labeling, and minimum package size. Order No. 572 of 2021 on the Standardization of Packaging of Tobacco and Herbal Smoking Products regulates plain packaging, which is required as of April 2022.

Order No. 507 of 2021 on the Prohibition on Visible Placement and Display, etc. of Tobacco Products, Tobacco Substitutes and Herbal Smoking Products was promulgated under the Act Prohibiting Tobacco Advertising and regulates the tobacco product display ban.

E-cigarettes are regulated under Act No. 1633 on Electronic Cigarettes, etc. and Orders No. 481 of 2021 and No. 699 of 2021.

Review Status

This country’s legal measures were reviewed by our legal staff. No in-country lawyers or tobacco control experts reviewed our analysis.