Netherlands-Led Initiative Seeks to Address Regulatory Fragmentation and Market Distortion
Sixteen European Union countries, led by the Netherlands, have called on the European Commission to propose a new law in the coming months that would include electronic cigarettes (vapes) in the bloc’s tobacco taxation legislation. The current EU tobacco taxation law, dating back to 2011, does not cover these new products, leading to fragmentation and an uneven playing field across the bloc.
Read moreDraft Royal Decree Aims to Regulate E-Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches
Spain’s Ministry of Health has proposed a new royal decree that aims to ban flavored and aromatic vapes in an effort to steer the smoking devices away from the youngest sector of the population. The vaping craze has caught on among young people in Spain, causing issues with social interactions and becoming a gateway to smoking.
Read moreThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on December 5 that it has issued warning letters to 115 brick-and-mortar retailers for selling unauthorized e-cigarette products. The warning letters specifically cite the sale of disposable e-cigarette products owned by Chinese manufacturers and marketed under popular brand names, including Geek Bar Pulse, Geek Bar Skyview, Geek Bar Platinum, and Elf Bar.
Read moreSouth Korea’s efforts to regulate synthetic nicotine cigarettes are encountering significant legislative obstacles, with potential implementation now likely pushed to 2025. The proposed amendments to the Tobacco Business Act have stalled in the National Assembly, highlighting complex political and regulatory challenges.
Read moreIn a meeting of health ministers in Brussels on Tuesday, European countries largely supported the European Commission’s plan to extend smoking bans for cigarettes and vapes to outdoor areas. This decision comes just days after members of the European Parliament opposed the measure. Germany and Greece were the only two countries to abstain from the vote, while other countries expressed dissatisfaction before ultimately passing the nonbinding recommendation.
Read moreThe European Union is set to introduce tougher anti-smoking regulations, including bans on smoking and vaping in various outdoor areas such as playgrounds and cafe patios. Health ministers from the EU’s 27 member states will discuss the recommendation during their meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.
Read moreThe Mexican Chamber of Deputies has approved, in general terms, a constitutional amendment to prohibit the use of vaping devices, e-cigarettes, and illicit fentanyl. The measure passed with an overwhelming majority of 410 votes in favor, 24 against, and zero abstentions.
Read moreEU health ministers are set to support stricter anti-smoking rules during their meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, backing bans on smoking and vaping in various outdoor areas, including playgrounds and cafe patios. The ministers will consider a non-binding recommendation that invites member states to crack down on second-hand smoke and vapor, which is likely to be approved despite political divisions on the issue.
Read moreThe Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has begun hearing arguments on whether to overturn the Trump-era Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ban on fruit-flavored vapes. The current regulations, implemented during the first Trump Administration in 2019, grant the FDA the power to deny marketing applications for fruit and mint flavored e-cigarettes. The ban was introduced in response to record-high youth vaping rates, with fruit-flavored tobacco products seen as a significant contributor to the number of children choosing to vape.
Read moreScotland has witnessed a staggering 19.4% increase in the number of illicit vapes seized between January and October 2024 compared to the entire year of 2023, according to the latest council data obtained by vape retailer Totally Wicked through hundreds of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests.
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