Ukraine Proposes Full Ban on E-Cigarettes with New Law

Ukraine Cigarette Prices Excise Tax Increase NBU

A new draft law, No. 13548, has been registered in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (parliament), proposing a complete ban on the production, importation, circulation, and sale of all electronic cigarettes, refill containers, and their liquids within the country. The bill’s authors describe the initiative as a necessary response to alarming trends in youth vaping and the associated threats to public health.

The proposed legislation would amend existing laws on tobacco control and state regulation of alcohol, tobacco, and fuel. The explanatory note accompanying the bill highlights the dangers of e-cigarettes, citing the presence of carcinogens and toxic substances like formaldehyde, acrolein, diacetyl, and heavy metals in the aerosol. It also links vaping to serious lung diseases such as bronchiolitis obliterans (“popcorn lung”), spontaneous pneumothorax, and lipoid pneumonia.

This move is fueled by data from the Ministry of Health showing that in 2023, nearly one in five adolescents aged 13-15 smoked e-cigarettes, a 19.6% increase from 2017. Despite existing age restrictions, 47.3% of teenagers reported no difficulty in purchasing these products. The bill’s proponents reference international precedents, noting that countries like India, Brazil, Singapore, and Thailand have already implemented full bans on e-cigarettes.

The draft law must now undergo review in parliamentary committees before being put to a vote. If passed, Ukraine would become one of the first European countries to enact a complete prohibition on electronic cigarettes.

Matthew Ma
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