Entries by Matthew Ma

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Colombia’s Bill 308: Increased Tobacco and Vape Taxes

Colombian health organizations and advocates are calling on the Congress to pass Bill 308, which seeks to increase the consumption tax rate on cigarettes to 8,400 pesos over the next two years and introduce a new tax on electronic cigarettes equivalent to 35% of their final retail price. The bill, expected to be voted on […]

Thailand’s Education Ministry Introduces E-Cigarette Control Measures

In a recent announcement dated March 10, General Permpoon Chidchob, Thailand’s Minister of Education, outlined a set of measures designed to control the growing problem of e-cigarette use, particularly among students and young people. This move comes in response to the Cabinet’s approval of a proposal from the Prime Minister on April 9, 2024, which […]

Kentucky House Passes Bill to License Nicotine Retailers

The Kentucky House of Representatives has voted 82-11 in favor of Senate Bill 100, which seeks to license retailers who sell tobacco and vape products in the state. The bill, initially passed by the Senate in late February, aims to curb the sale of nicotine products to minors and reduce the negative health impact of […]

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Poland Senate Approves Ban on Flavored Heated Tobacco Products

The Poland Senate has unanimously approved a bill prohibiting the sale of heated tobacco products with characteristic flavors, without proposing any amendments. The amendment to the Act on the Protection of Health against the Consequences of Using Tobacco and Tobacco Products, also known as the Tobacco Act, aims to implement an EU directive that member […]

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South African Smokers and Vapers Face Steep Excise Duty Hikes in 2025 Budget

In the 2025 South African Budget Speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced a series of proposed excise duty increases on tobacco products and electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems, commonly known as “vaping” devices. These hikes, which exceed the anticipated inflation rate for the 2025/26 financial year, are set to significantly impact smokers and vapers […]

Vaping Epidemic Sweeps South African High School Students

In recent years, a new trend has emerged among South African youth: the use of e-cigarettes, or vaping. What was once marketed as a tool to help adults quit smoking has now become a widespread phenomenon among teenagers, raising serious concerns about nicotine addiction and the long-term health effects on this vulnerable population.

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Malaysia to Ban Open Display of Tobacco Products from April 1

As of April 1, 2025, several Malaysian states will prohibit the open display of tobacco products in shops, in compliance with the Smoking Products Control Act for Public Health 2024 (Act 852). Retailers in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Selangor will be required to keep cigarettes and other smoking products hidden from view in closed cabinets.

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Netherlands Set to Raise Smoking and Vaping Age to 21

The Dutch government is taking decisive action to address the growing problem of youth smoking and vaping by proposing a series of stringent measures aimed at curbing nicotine addiction among young people. At the heart of the new proposal from the Ministry of Health is a plan to raise the legal age for purchasing cigarettes […]

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A Comprehensive Overview of U.S. State E-Cigarette Policies in 2025

As we enter the year 2025, the e-cigarette market in the United States has undergone significant changes in terms of regulations, taxes, and sales policies. Each state has adopted its own unique approach to managing e-cigarettes, ranging from strict prohibitions to relatively lenient oversight. These varying policies have had a profound impact on the development […]