Malaysian Medical Association Calls for Nationwide Vapes Ban

The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) calls for a nationwide prohibition on all vaping products, citing severe health risks, youth addiction, and rising healthcare costs.

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Monaco Bans Disposable Vapes, Raises Smoking Age in New Law

Monaco has implemented a significant anti-tobacco reform, unanimously approved by its National Council on May 15th. The new law notably bans single-use electronic cigarettes, commonly known as “puffs,” raises the legal smoking age to 18, and expands no-smoking zones throughout the Principality.

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18K People Caught and Fined for Vaping in Singapore Over 15 Months

Nearly 18,000 caught for vape offenses in Singapore (Jan 2024-Mar 2025) as HSA seizes $41M in illicit products amid stricter enforcement.

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Gran Canaria Implements Public Vaping Ban on Beaches

New rules in Gran Canaria prohibit vaping on beaches, aligning it with smoking restrictions. Implications for vape businesses and tourist consumers.

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North Carolina’s New Vaping Law HB 900 Took Effect Recently

North Carolina’s House Bill 900, now in effect, prohibits certain vape products, targeting youth access, while vape shops face a June deadline and express concerns over business impact.

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Malaysia Pahang Urged to Ban Vape Sales & Use

The Pahang PAS Youth Wing has called on the state government to enact laws prohibiting the sale and use of electronic cigarettes (vapes) in Pahang, primarily to protect the younger generation from nicotine addiction. Youth Chief Ustaz Mohd Zarimi Abu Zih Al-Hafiz highlighted the worrying trend of widespread vape use among teenagers and students, demanding immediate action from authorities.

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Russia Proposes Licensing for Tobacco, Vape & Hookah Sales

Russia’s Ministry of Finance has put forward a proposal to introduce licensing for both wholesale and retail trade of tobacco products, e-cigarettes (vapes), and hookahs, slated to begin in March of next year. Businesses would need to pay a fee to obtain a sales permit, ensure their products comply with registration requirements in the national goods marking system, and have no outstanding tax debts.

The initiative to tighten control over tobacco product circulation has garnered support from the Federation Council. Anatoly Artamonov, head of the Council’s Committee on Budget and Financial Markets, stated, “This is absolutely correct, as there are many counterfeit products on the tobacco market today. Smoking is already harmful, and when people smoke surrogates, it’s a catastrophe. Moreover, the budget loses significant funds from illegal tobacco trade.” Senator Artamonov also suggested imposing criminal liability for unlicensed tobacco sales as a preventative measure. Federation Council Chair Valentina Matviyenko has advocated for sharing a portion of tobacco excise tax revenues with regional authorities to incentivize their efforts in combating illegal cigarette sales.

Argentina Tucumán Province to Ban Vape in Public Spaces

Health Commission in Tucumán, Argentina, approves legal reform to ban vaping in enclosed public spaces, citing significant health risks and rising youth usage.

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Switzerland Canton of Solothurn Bans Disposable Vapes, Reusables Still Allowed

The Swiss canton of Solothurn votes to ban sales of single-use e-cigarettes due to youth addiction and environmental concerns; reusable vapes remain legal.

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Tax Disparity Between Liquid and Solid E-Cigarettes in South Korea Sparks Equity Concerns

Concerns raised in South Korea over lower taxes on solid-form e-cigarettes compared to liquid types, prompting calls for tax system reform for fairness.

A significant difference in taxation standards based on product structure persists in South Korea’s e-cigarette market, leading to debates over fairness and calls for regulatory reform. Specifically, products using nicotine in solid form are subject to much lower tax rates compared to their liquid-based counterparts.

Tobacco Control Center Calls for Tax System Revision

The Tobacco Regulation Research and Education Center highlighted this issue on the 13th, stating that solid-form e-cigarettes are in a tax blind spot and urging an overhaul of the current taxation method. Currently, liquid-type e-cigarettes, where nicotine-infused liquid is absorbed by cotton, are taxed based on the total volume of the nicotine-containing liquid (approx. 628 KRW per 1ml). In contrast, solid-type products, which use solid nicotine with a non-nicotine liquid, are taxed based only on the weight of the solid nicotine, regardless of the liquid volume. This results in a significantly lower tax (e.g., approx. 70 KRW for a 2ml liquid/0.8g solid product).

Experts point out that this discrepancy means consumers pay vastly different taxes for similar nicotine consumption, creating an unfair advantage for certain products and potentially serving as a tax avoidance method. While the government is discussing overhauling the tax system for new tobacco products, including synthetic nicotine, critics argue that detailed measures for solid-type e-cigarettes are lacking. Lee Sung-kyu, head of the Center, emphasized that tobacco taxation is directly linked to health policy and the current system could undermine fairness and policy trust.