15 EU countries, including Germany & France, urge European Commission to update tobacco tax laws, impose vape levy & raise cigarette excise.
Read moreKazakhstan’s Majilis (lower house of parliament) is set to review amendments to its criminal legislation that would introduce stricter penalties for offenses related to electronic cigarettes (vapes), including for their storage and delivery. This move comes after an official ban on the import, sale, and production of vapes was implemented in the country last year.
Read moreThe head of the Russian State Duma Committee on Health Protection, Sergey Leonov, has asserted the necessity of a complete ban on the production of vaping devices within Russia. Speaking on “Radio Rossii,” Leonov stated that despite existing laws prohibiting the sale of vapes to minors, cases of children using e-cigarettes continue to be recorded. He believes this warrants a total prohibition on domestic vape manufacturing.
Read moreKyrgyzstan is set to enforce a comprehensive ban on the import, sale, and use of all vaping products (e-cigarettes) starting July 1st. The legislation, signed into law by President Sadyr Japarov in November 2024 after parliamentary revisions, introduces significant penalties for violations.
Read moreLaw enforcement authorities in Minsk, Belarus, have published an interactive map detailing territories where a complete ban on smoking is in effect. The map, available on the “Minsk Police” Telegram channel, clarifies areas subject to these restrictions.
Read moreA coalition of 41 Malaysian activists and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has issued an urgent call for the federal government to implement a nationwide ban on all vape and e-cigarette products. Citing alarming rates of youth addiction and the infiltration of synthetic drugs into vape liquids, the group argues that current regulatory approaches are insufficient and that decisive action, including the potential reintroduction of the Generational End Game (GEG) policy, is needed to protect the nation’s youth.
Read moreThe retail landscape for vaping products in England has undergone a phenomenal expansion over the past ten years. New research tracking changes in high street amenities reveals a dramatic surge in the number of dedicated vape shops, with an increase approaching 1,200% between 2014 and 2024. This rapid proliferation indicates a significant shift in consumer demand and retail presence for e-cigarette products across the country, with notable patterns in their geographical distribution and concentration.
Read moreSouth Africa’s Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has confirmed increases in excise duties on tobacco and vaping products in the latest iteration of the budget, dubbed “Budget 3.0,” presented on May 21, 2025. While a controversial VAT hike was scrapped, consumers of cigarettes and alternative nicotine products like vapes will face higher prices.
Read moreTexas is poised to enact a significant ban on a wide range of THC-containing consumable hemp products, including popular items like delta-8 vapes, gummies, and THC-infused drinks that offer effects similar to marijuana. The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 3 (SB3), has navigated most of the legislative hurdles and, if it receives final approval and the Governor’s signature, will dramatically reshape the hemp and cannabis landscape in the state. This move aims to close what lawmakers describe as a loophole that emerged after hemp legalization, but it faces strong opposition from consumers, advocates, and businesses within the burgeoning Texas hemp industry.
Read moreIcelandic Member of Parliament Halla Hrund Logadóttir has raised alarms in parliament over the widespread use of nicotine pouches among the nation’s youth and the marketing tactics employed by sellers. Referencing a study showing Iceland has the highest rate of youth nicotine pouch use in the Nordic countries (30%), she criticized a specialty store’s mascot as appealing to a broad, young audience, likening the marketing of these “harmful products” to that of chewing gum.
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