Entries by Matthew Ma

Northern Ireland Postpones Single-Use Vape Ban by Two Months

New Effective Date Set for June 1, Aligning with UK-Wide Regulations Environment Minister Andrew Muir has announced that the ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes in Northern Ireland will be delayed by two months. Originally slated to take effect in April 2025, the ban will now come into force on June 1, […]

Southeast Asia Vape Taxation: A Diverse Regulatory Landscape

Overview of Vape Tax Structures and Regulations in Southeast Asian Countries Southeast Asia presents a diverse and complex landscape when it comes to the regulation and taxation of e-cigarettes. Countries in the region have adopted a wide range of policies, from implementing comprehensive tax structures to outright banning vaping products. The regulatory environment in each […]

European Union Vape Taxation: A Diverse Landscape Across Member States

The European Union (EU) currently does not enforce a uniform vape tax across its 27 member states, leading to a varied landscape of taxation policies for e-cigarettes and related products. More than half of the EU countries have introduced taxes on e-liquids based on volume, categorizing them under consumption taxes. However, the tax rates and […]

Brazilian Tax Authority Intensifies Enforcement, Suspends CNPJs of Stores Selling E-Cigarettes

New Measures Target Clandestine Sale of Products Prohibited by Anvisa Since 2009 The Brazilian Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal) has intensified its enforcement efforts against the sale of electronic cigarettes, which have been prohibited in Brazil since 2009 by determination of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The clandestine sale of these products, openly displayed […]

Philippine DTI Revises Technical Regulations for Vape Products

The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is in the process of revising the regulations for vape products, according to Perpetua Werlina Lim, the assistant director for the DTI’s consumer policy and advocacy bureau. The revisions, which are expected to bring significant changes to the auditing process for companies selling these consumer goods, will […]

Indonesia’s Finance Minister Raises E-Cigarette Prices Starting 2025

Sri Mulyani Indrawati Issues Regulation to Control Tobacco Consumption and Protect Labor-Intensive Industries Indonesia’s Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, has officially issued a regulation setting minimum retail selling price limits for e-cigarettes and other tobacco processing products. The regulation, known as Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) Number 96 of 2024, will take effect on […]

UK Faces “Vapocalypse” as 8 Million Vapes Go Unrecycled Each Week, Research Reveals

Lack of Information and Rise of “Big Puff” Vapes Contribute to Growing Environmental Concern A recent report by the recycling charity Material Focus has uncovered a staggering statistic: about eight (7.7) million disposable vapes are improperly disposed of or incorrectly recycled in the UK every week. This alarming trend, dubbed the “vapocalypse,” has raised significant […]

Milan Becomes First Italian City to Ban Smoking Outdoors, Imposes Hefty Fines

New Regulations Aim to Reduce Pollution and Improve Public Health, Sparking Controversy Milan, the capital of Lombardy, has become the first city in Italy to ban smoking outdoors, with the new regulations set to take effect on January 1, 2025. The ban prohibits smoking in open-air public spaces unless smokers maintain a minimum distance of […]

Indonesia Announces Increase in Retail Selling Prices for Conventional and Electric Cigarettes in 2025

Directorate General of Customs and Excise Cites Health Control and Downtrading Mitigation as Key Considerations The Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Indonesian Ministry of Finance has announced that the retail selling prices (HJE) for conventional and electric cigarettes will increase in 2025. Director General of Customs and Excise Askolani stated that […]

Germany Moves Towards Nationwide Ban on Disposable E-Cigarettes

Federal Council Clears the Way for Prohibition, Citing Health, Fire, and Resource Concerns The German Federal Council (Bundesrat) has paved the way for a nationwide ban on disposable e-cigarettes by voting in favor of an amendment to the draft modification of the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (ElektroG). The majority of representatives from the federal […]