Industry Stakeholders Express Concern Over Potential Negative Impacts on Public Health and Economy
Vape importers, represented by Voice of Vapers, Consumer Rights of Sales Alternatives (CORSA), and Bangladesh Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Traders Association (BENDSTA), have submitted a memorandum to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, urging the government to reconsider its decision to ban the import of e-cigarettes and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS).
Read moreGovernment Sets Minimum Prices and Bans E-Cigarettes to Improve Public Health and State Budget
The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has approved minimum prices for tobacco products and vapes, effective January 1, 2025. The government signed the resolution to improve public health and replenish the state budget.
Read moreRussian President Vladimir Putin has signed two significant laws aimed at strengthening tobacco control and protecting minors from nicotine products. These legislative changes mark a substantial shift in Russia’s approach to tobacco regulation and youth protection.
Read moreAs the European Union aims to significantly reduce tobacco consumption by 2040, Austrian tobacco retailers, known as Trafikanten, fear losing their primary source of income. In response, they are calling for a new law that would restrict the sale of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches exclusively to their shops.
Read moreOn December 26, a group of deputies from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) faction introduced a bill in the State Duma that would prohibit the wholesale and retail sale of vapes and e-liquids. The proposed legislation, authored by Evgeny Bessonov, Nikolay Kolomeytsev, and Alexey Kurinny, seeks to amend Article 19 of the law “On protecting the health of citizens from exposure to ambient tobacco smoke, consequences of tobacco consumption, or consumption of nicotine-containing products.”
The bill would ban the wholesale and retail trade of nicotine, including synthetically derived nicotine or its derivatives such as nicotine salts, as well as nicotine-containing and nicotine-free e-liquids and devices for their consumption. In the explanatory note, the lawmakers cited the rapid spread of vapes, particularly among teenagers, and weak oversight by regulatory authorities due to a moratorium on unscheduled inspections introduced by the government, despite existing restrictive norms.
The parliamentarians also emphasized the significant health risks posed by devices for consuming nicotine-containing and nicotine-free e-liquids. They highlighted the potential for addiction development, serious respiratory diseases, and increased risks of cardiovascular and oncological illnesses as consequences of vape use.
The proposed legislation aims to tackle growing concerns over the prevalence of vaping and its potential long-term health effects, especially among youth. If passed, the law would effectively eliminate the legal market for vapes and e-liquids in Russia, making them unavailable through official channels. However, implementing such a comprehensive ban may present challenges in terms of enforcement and could potentially lead to the emergence of unregulated black markets.
As the bill begins its journey through the legislative process, it will likely spark further discussions among lawmakers, public health experts, and industry stakeholders regarding the best approach to address the challenges posed by the rapid rise of e-cigarettes while protecting public health.
The chairman of the Thai parliamentary committee on e-cigarettes announced that the committee has completed its study on amending the country’s vaping laws. The committee will submit its report to parliament, proposing to elevate the legal controls on e-cigarette imports and possession.
Read moreOn December 21, 2024, the Spanish government published Law 7/2024, which introduces a new tax on liquids for electronic cigarettes and other products related to tobacco (the “new Tax”). This law is part of a broader package of measures that also includes a Complementary Tax to comply with the EU’s Pillar Two directive on minimum corporate taxation and a Tax on the interest and commission margin of certain financial entities.
Read moreA recent global report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has revealed that 15-year-olds in Ireland have the lowest smoking rates in the European Union (EU) at just 7%. However, the same report also found that Ireland ranks fourth highest in the EU for regular vaping among young people.
Read moreSecretary Ma. Cristina Roque of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) announced that approximately 10 companies involved in the manufacture, distribution, and sale of vape products have registered with the department in 2024. These accredited vape firms have met the standards established by the Office for the Special Mandate on Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products, their Devices, and Novel Tobacco Products (OSMV).
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