Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally led the public destruction of nearly 3 million pieces of smuggled electronic cigarettes and vaping accessories in Manila on Monday, April 7th. The seized goods, valued at approximately P3.26 billion (Philippine Pesos, about $56.8M), were disposed of at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) facility in South Harbor, signaling the administration’s firm stance against illicit trade.

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The Russian government has once again declined to support a bill that would prohibit the sale of vapes and e-liquids in the country. The proposed legislation aimed to introduce a nationwide ban on the wholesale and retail trade of nicotine or its derivatives, including nicotine salts, as well as specialized e-liquids and devices for their consumption.

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New York City officials announced Tuesday they have filed a federal lawsuit against nine major distributors of disposable flavored e-cigarettes, accusing them of illegally selling youth-attracting products into the city in violation of federal, state, and local laws.

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Nevada lawmakers are considering a groundbreaking proposal that would permanently ban the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after December 31, 2004, with the exception of certain casinos. The bill, Assembly Bill 279, is a sweeping effort to cut down on future combustible tobacco use and phase out the sale of the most harmful nicotine products.

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The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has begun issuing non-compliance notifications and warning letters to premises found violating the Ban on Display of Tobacco Products at their Point of Sale counters. The move comes as part of a phased enforcement approach that will continue until October 1, 2024.

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Washington state lawmakers have resurrected a bill that aims to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, including vapes and menthol cigarettes, by July 2027. House Bill 2068, sponsored by Rep. Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way, received a committee hearing on Monday, despite a similar proposal failing to move forward earlier in the legislative session.

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The Netherlands is leading the charge in calling for a unified, EU-wide approach to combat the growing problem of youth vaping. In a letter signed by twelve EU member states, Dutch State Secretary for Youth, Sports, and Prevention, Vincent Karremans (VVD), has urged the European Commission to significantly strengthen legislation governing e-cigarettes and other nicotine products across the bloc.

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In Quintana Roo, Mexico, the Labor Party (PT) congressman, Hugo Alday, has presented a package of initiatives to the state’s Congress to reform the Political Constitution and the local Penal Code. The objective is to strictly regulate the consumption of vaping devices or electronic cigarettes and toughen sanctions against those who promote the consumption of synthetic drugs among minors.

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Switzerland is on the brink of a nationwide ban on disposable electronic cigarettes as the Council of States prepares to consider a motion already approved by the National Council in summer 2024. The growing concerns over health risks and environmental pollution associated with these devices have led to sales bans in several Swiss cantons, including Bern, Jura, and Valais, with others discussing similar measures.

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The Iraqi parliament is set to vote on a comprehensive draft law aimed at combating smoking and imposing additional taxes on tobacco products next week. Majid Shingali, head of the legislature’s health and environment committee, told Rudaw on Wednesday that the final drafting stage of the law is underway, with plans to share the final draft with experts for legal and linguistic review before presenting it for discussion in next week’s session.

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