A wave of disposable vape bans is sweeping across the world, as policymakers aim to curb the rise in youth vaping. However, experts in the field are raising concerns about the potential unintended consequences of these bans, arguing that they may hinder adult smoking cessation efforts.

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In a recent development, Kazakhstan has joined the list of countries imposing bans on vaping products. President Kassym-Joomart Tokayev signed a measure prohibiting the import, production, and sales of devices, e-liquids (with or without nicotine), and related chemicals and flavorings used to produce inhalable aerosols. The new bill also extends to advertising for heated tobacco products, vapes, and e-liquids.

Penalties for violating the ban include fines of up to $1,600 or up to 50 days of arrest for selling banned products, while those caught importing or manufacturing electronic cigarettes could face fines of up to $16,500, a two-year restriction of liberty order, or imprisonment for up to two years. The law is set to take effect 60 days after its official publication.

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Kazakhstan, a Central Asian nation of approximately 20 million people, has recently passed legislation banning the sale and distribution of vaping products, including vapes, flavors, and liquids. The law, signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, will come into effect 60 days after its official publication, according to the Azerbaijan-based Trend News Agency. Read more

A recent development in Wisconsin has seen the implementation of a new law, Wisconsin Act 73, which mandates that vape shops obtain retail licenses to operate. Prior to the passage of this law in December 2023, retailers selling only electronic vaping devices were not required to possess a license to sell vape products. Read more

The Iowa General Assembly has successfully passed HF 2677, a PMTA registry bill that could potentially ban the sale of most vaping products in the state. The bill, which was approved by the House on April 3 and the Senate on April 19 with a vote of 42-4, now awaits Governor Kim Reynolds’ decision to either sign it into law or veto it. Read more

In a recent development, several Kentucky businesses that sell vapes, along with the Kentucky Hemp Association and Kentucky Vaping Retailers Association, have filed a lawsuit against the state government over the newly passed House Bill 11 (HB 11). The law, which is set to take effect in 2025, aims to restrict the sale of vape products to only those authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or those currently in the approval process. Read more

The Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) is set to reevaluate the ban on the sale of Electronic Smoking Devices (ESDs), including electronic cigarettes, pods, and vapes, in a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 17th, 2024. The prohibition has been in place since 2009, but recent developments and public consultation have brought the issue back into the spotlight.

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In a historic move to protect future generations from the detrimental effects of smoking, British lawmakers have overwhelmingly voted in favor of the government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The landmark legislation, which aims to create Britain’s “first smoke-free generation,” will make it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born after 2009.

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Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health has proposed a ban on the circulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), including e-cigarettes and liquids used in them, as well as tobacco heating systems, according to a report by Trend 1. The proposed ban is outlined in a draft law published on Uzbekistan’s portal for discussion of draft normative legal acts. Read more

After a three-year dormancy, the Canadian government has resurrected its plan to ban most vape flavors and impose stringent regulations on the manufacturing of e-liquids. The new rules, initially approved almost three years ago, will drastically limit the available flavoring ingredients and restrict manufacturers to producing only tobacco, mint, and menthol flavors.

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