Dutch to ban laughing gas over fears for health and road safety

Nitrous oxide linked to more than 60 fatal crashes in the country in less than three years

The Dutch government will ban laughing gas from next year, amid growing concern about the risks it poses to health and road safety.

From 1 January 2023, the sale, import and possession of laughing gas, formally known as nitrous oxide, will be banned in the Netherlands, with a few exceptions for medical use and the food industry.