Experts at ISSA 2025 call for Indonesia to differentiate tax & regulation for vapes/nicotine pouches from traditional cigarettes.

International experts are urging the Indonesian government to refine its regulatory and tax policies for alternative nicotine products like vapes and nicotine pouches, advocating for a risk-proportionate approach that differentiates them from more harmful conventional cigarettes. While praising Indonesia for allowing these products, unlike some neighboring countries, concerns were raised about current tax equivalency with traditional tobacco.

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Colombian health organizations criticize tobacco/vape industry presence in congressional panel discussing new tax bill, citing WHO FCTC.

Civil society organizations Fundación Anáas and Red PaPaz have criticized the composition of a technical panel in Colombia’s Congress convened to discuss bills updating taxes on tobacco and vaping products. They allege a “lack of balance” due to the prominent presence of tobacco and vape industry representatives, including major companies like British American Tobacco and Philip Morris, alongside groups such as the World Vapers’ Alliance.

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Scottish minister confirms “snus-style” nicotine pouches will be part of UK’s “smokefree generation” tobacco ban amid youth access concerns.

Nicotine pouches, sometimes incorrectly referred to as “snus,” will be covered under the UK-wide Tobacco and Vapes Bill aimed at creating a “smokefree generation,” Scottish Public Health Minister Jenni Minto has confirmed. This clarification comes amid concerns raised by MSPs after free samples of these oral nicotine products were distributed at Edinburgh’s Waverley train station.

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Health Minister Stresses Regulatory Control, Praises State-Level Restrictions

The Malaysian federal government is focusing on robust enforcement of existing laws to regulate vape products, with no immediate plans for a nationwide ban, Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed. He highlighted the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 as the comprehensive legal framework guiding this approach.

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Russian Republic Aligns Local Law with Federal Ban on Selling Smoking Mixtures to Minors

The Republic of Buryatia in Russia has strengthened its regulations against youth vaping, aligning local laws with federal standards to prohibit the retail sale of all types of smoking products – including tobacco-free and nicotine-free mixtures – to minors. This legislative move comes amidst growing public and official alarm over the prevalence and perceived dangers of vaping among schoolchildren.

At a recent session, the People’s Khural (Buryatia’s parliament) adopted amendments clarifying the ban on selling these products to individuals under 18 and prohibiting involving minors in their consumption. Semyon Matkheev, a committee chairman, emphasized that while Buryatia had prior restrictions, this update reinforces the rules following changes to federal law effective March 1st, aiming for more effective implementation.

The push for stricter controls is fueled by widespread concern over the health risks associated with vaping, tragically highlighted by incidents like the death of a 17-year-old girl found with vaping devices nearby earlier this year. Public forums in Buryatia frequently feature indignant posts from residents demanding action against what some call “selling poison,” citing fears of addiction, lung damage, and cancer. Parental anxiety has reportedly led some to seek unproven methods like “coding” teenagers against vaping, a practice met with skepticism by medical professionals like psychiatrist-narcologist Ruslan Glavinsky, who questioned its safety and efficacy for minors.

Educators are also voicing strong concerns, reporting widespread vaping in schools and frustration with perceived difficulties in enforcing rules or receiving adequate administrative support. Teachers describe challenges in confiscating devices and preventing access, sometimes even encountering obstacles when trying to address situations involving adults supplying vapes to students.

While Buryatia now has federally-aligned laws explicitly banning the sale of all smoking mixtures to minors, commentators and residents emphasize that effective enforcement, including raids and school-level interventions, is crucial. The consensus is that laws existing only on paper are insufficient to combat the issue, and sustained action is needed to address this public health concern.

Bill Includes Higher Taxes, Public Bans, Youth Protections, and Vape Ad Ban

The Iraqi parliament is scheduled to vote on May 6 on a comprehensive anti-smoking bill designed to significantly curb tobacco use through increased taxes, expanded bans, stricter penalties, and incentives for industry transition. The legislation, having passed its first two readings, places a strong emphasis on protecting minors from tobacco products and secondhand smoke.

Key provisions include prohibiting advertising for cigarettes, hookah, and vaping devices. The bill explicitly forbids hookah use by those under 18 and bans smoking in vehicles carrying anyone under 18. Public smoking will be prohibited, with violators facing fines starting at 50,000 Iraqi dinars (approx. $38). Selling tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vapes, to minors will carry harsher penalties: a minimum six-month prison sentence or fines between 250,000 and 500,000 dinars (approx. $190-$382).

The law also imposes new taxes, including 500 dinars (approx. $0.38) per imported cigarette pack and doubles existing taxes on imported and locally made cigarettes, setting a 40% customs tariff. Building on a 2012 law, it offers financial incentives (loans) for tobacco farmers and cigarette factories to switch to alternative crops or industries.

With high smoking rates (18.6% adults, 9.5% youth) and over 27,000 estimated annual smoking-related deaths, the bill represents a major push to address a significant public health issue in Iraq.

Six Nations Issue Formal Objections, Forcing Review Over Internal Market Concerns

Spain’s plan to tighten regulations on alternative tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, has encountered significant opposition within the European Union. Six member states – Italy, Sweden, Greece, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania – have issued formal “reasoned opinions” against the proposed Spanish Royal Decree, citing concerns about its potential impact on the EU’s internal market.

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VOEB Points to Lithium Battery Dangers and International Precedents

The Association of Austrian Waste Management Companies (VOEB) is urgently calling for a nationwide ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes (vapes), citing significant fire hazards posed by improperly discarded lithium batteries.

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Health Advocates Launch Campaign to Uphold Ban Amid Retailer Repeal Effort

Denver voters will decide the fate of the city’s ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products this fall, as a campaign led by Children’s Hospital Colorado and health advocates launches to defend the ordinance against a repeal initiative.

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Lawsuit Claims State Law Requiring FDA Authorization is Preempted by Federal Authority

The Vapor Technology Association (VTA) and several North Carolina vape businesses have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state’s recently enacted law regulating e-cigarette sales (Session Law 2024-31). The plaintiffs argue the law improperly usurps federal authority and discriminates against certain products.

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