Senate Health Commission Meets with Comptroller Dorothy Pérez to Discuss Pending Decrees and Regulations
The Senate Health Commission, represented by its president, Senator Javier Macaya (UDI), and Senator Juan Luis Castro (PS), met with Comptroller Dorothy Pérez at the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic to discuss pending requirements, regulations, and decrees, including the decree on high-cost medications and the regulation of electronic cigarettes.
Read moreThe Denver City Council voted 11 to 1 on Monday night to ban the sale of flavored vapes and other tobacco products within the city limits. The ordinance, which includes e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, vapes, and other flavored nicotine and tobacco products, aims to reduce nicotine use among teenagers and young adults.
Read moreOn December 17, deputies of the State Duma adopted amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in the second and third readings, tightening responsibility for selling vapes to minors. The new law establishes criminal liability for the repeated retail sale of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, as well as devices for their consumption, to underage individuals.
Read moreEffective January 1, 2025, amendments to the Law on Tobacco, Tobacco Products, and Related Products Control (hereafter referred to as the Law) will introduce significant changes to the retail sale of tobacco, tobacco products, and related products in Lithuania. The key changes are as follows:
Read moreTourists Prohibited from Bringing Vaping Devices as Government Takes Strong Stance Against Smoking
The Maldives has implemented a sweeping ban on vaping, making it illegal to import, use, possess, manufacture, sell, advertise, or distribute e-cigarettes and related products. The import ban took effect on November 15, while the prohibition on all other aspects of vaping came into force on Sunday, December 15. Alongside the vaping ban, the government has also significantly increased tobacco tariffs, resulting in the doubling of cigarette prices.
The Maldives has introduced severe penalties for those caught violating the vaping ban. Individuals found using vapes could face fines of $325, while those caught importing vaping devices may be fined $3,240. Selling e-cigarettes carries a fine of $1,300, with an additional $650 penalty for each device sold.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated that the government implemented the ban in response to public demand, particularly to protect the youth. The decision followed lobbying efforts by health and sports associations, who raised concerns about the growing use of e-cigarettes in schools.
The Maldives NCD Alliance, a group of NGOs including the Cancer Society, highlighted that 84 percent of deaths in the Maldives are attributed to non-communicable diseases, with tobacco being a significant risk factor. The alliance cited multiple studies linking vaping to an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and type-2 diabetes, and noted that more than 60 percent of young vape users start smoking before the age of 18.
Due to the harms and risks for NCDs, Maldives NCD Alliance calls for a ban on Electronic Cigarettes and Vape products in the Maldives. #NCDprevention pic.twitter.com/oJVaUf9Yo4
— Maldives NCD Alliance (@MaldivesNCDA) September 12, 2024
Despite the government’s stance, public opinion on the vaping ban remains divided. While some Maldivians have expressed strong support for the measure, others have vehemently opposed it. Vape shop owners protested the ban, calling for regulation instead of criminalization, and argued that the short notice for enforcement would force those who used vaping to quit smoking back to cigarettes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) commended the Maldives for its new policies, welcoming the vaping ban as an important initiative to curb the increasing trend of vaping, particularly among young adolescents. The WHO noted that in many countries, the rates of e-cigarette use by children and adolescents exceed adult use, and advised strong decisive action to protect children.
The vaping ban applies to tourists visiting the Maldives as well. Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan confirmed that from November 15, vape devices would be intercepted at the border if anyone attempted to bring them into the country. The government has no intention of offering tourists special status to use vapes, unlike the exemption for alcohol in resorts.
As the Maldives takes a firm stance against vaping and smoking, the government remains committed to protecting public health, particularly that of the younger generation. The comprehensive ban and increased tobacco tariffs represent the country’s most stringent measures against smoking in recent history.
New Effective Date Set for June 1, Aligning with UK-Wide Regulations
Environment Minister Andrew Muir has announced that the ban on the sale and supply of single-use vapes in Northern Ireland will be delayed by two months. Originally slated to take effect in April 2025, the ban will now come into force on June 1, coinciding with planned legislation being developed by the Scottish, Welsh, and UK governments.
Read moreNew Measures Target Clandestine Sale of Products Prohibited by Anvisa Since 2009
The Brazilian Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal) has intensified its enforcement efforts against the sale of electronic cigarettes, which have been prohibited in Brazil since 2009 by determination of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The clandestine sale of these products, openly displayed in shop windows of popular malls and commercial centers, now faces severe penalties, including the suspension and even cancellation of the National Registry of Legal Entities (CNPJ) for repeat offenders.
Read moreThe Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is in the process of revising the regulations for vape products, according to Perpetua Werlina Lim, the assistant director for the DTI’s consumer policy and advocacy bureau. The revisions, which are expected to bring significant changes to the auditing process for companies selling these consumer goods, will affect Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 22-06 and DAO No. 24-02.
Read moreSri Mulyani Indrawati Issues Regulation to Control Tobacco Consumption and Protect Labor-Intensive Industries
Indonesia’s Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, has officially issued a regulation setting minimum retail selling price limits for e-cigarettes and other tobacco processing products. The regulation, known as Minister of Finance Regulation (PMK) Number 96 of 2024, will take effect on January 1, 2025.
Read moreNew Regulations Aim to Reduce Pollution and Improve Public Health, Sparking Controversy
Milan, the capital of Lombardy, has become the first city in Italy to ban smoking outdoors, with the new regulations set to take effect on January 1, 2025. The ban prohibits smoking in open-air public spaces unless smokers maintain a minimum distance of 10 meters from other people. Violators face fines ranging from 40 to 240 euros, as reported by the Italian publication Fanpage.
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