DKI DPRD Special Committee Proposes Including E-cigarettes Alongside Tobacco
The Jakarta Provincial Government and the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD DKI Jakarta) are planning to update the city’s regulations on Smoke-Free Areas (KTR) this year, with a key proposal to explicitly include electronic cigarettes (vapes) alongside traditional tobacco cigarettes.
Read moreHealth Ministry Highlights PP No. 28/2024 for Ad Bans Near Schools, on Social Media
The Indonesian Ministry of Health is emphasizing the critical role of Government Regulation (PP) No. 28 of 2024 in controlling tobacco and electronic cigarette products, particularly by restricting their promotion across various media, including social platforms and podcasts. Dr. Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Director of Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, highlighted the new law’s importance.
Read moreGovernment Aims for Minor Sales Ban Before Summer Holidays
A Polish parliamentary health committee has unanimously supported a government bill prohibiting the sale of all types of e-cigarettes to individuals under 18 years old. This move aims to quickly implement stricter youth access controls, potentially before the summer holidays.
Read moreHB8 Awaits Governor’s Signature, Limits Non-FDA Approved Vapes in Convenience Stores
Alabama’s House Bill 8 (HB8), aimed at regulating the retail sale of nicotine vaping products, has successfully passed both the House and Senate and now awaits Governor Kay Ivey’s signature to become law. Sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond (D-Mobile), the bill places regulatory oversight under the state’s ABC Board.
Read moreChanges Under 2023 Act Aim to Discourage Smoking and Reduce Harm
Smokers across Australia will soon notice significant changes to cigarette and tobacco products as new federal laws under the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023 take full effect. Retailers are already beginning to stock products compliant with the new regulations, which aim to further reduce smoking rates and protect public health by making tobacco less appealing and informative about quitting.
Read moreExperts 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.
Read moreColombian 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.
Read moreScottish 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.
Read moreHealth 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.
Read moreRussian 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.