The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) leadership strongly reaffirmed the agency’s opposition to tobacco and vape products during a meeting with health advocates on Thursday, April 10th. DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa and Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo met with representatives from HealthJustice Philippines to discuss the nation’s commitment to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

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The Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund Committee has passed HB529, a bill that introduces a 10-cent per milliliter tax on the retail sale of consumable vapor products in the state. This tax will be applied on top of the existing Alabama sales tax, with the consumer responsible for covering the additional cost.

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The Basel Grand Council has submitted a proposal to the government to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes in Basel-Stadt. The government expressed its willingness to accept the order, but only in a less binding form, arguing that a cantonal ban would violate higher-ranking federal law.

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An Oklahoma Senate bill that would create a state-managed directory of legally saleable vapor products has advanced to an oversight committee after a 5-2 vote. Senate Bill 1102 (SB 1102), authored by Senator Bill Coleman, aims to tighten regulations on the state’s vape market by requiring manufacturers to certify their products with the Oklahoma Attorney General.

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Several Arizona e-cigarette retailers have accused representatives from tobacco giant Altria of misleading them into appearing to support a proposed bill that would ban the sale of flavored nicotine vaporizer devices, which these sellers consider a significant source of revenue. The controversy highlights the high stakes and intense emotions surrounding the ongoing debate over vaping regulations in the state.

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Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally led the public destruction of nearly 3 million pieces of smuggled electronic cigarettes and vaping accessories in Manila on Monday, April 7th. The seized goods, valued at approximately P3.26 billion (Philippine Pesos, about $56.8M), were disposed of at the Bureau of Customs (BOC) facility in South Harbor, signaling the administration’s firm stance against illicit trade.

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The Russian government has once again declined to support a bill that would prohibit the sale of vapes and e-liquids in the country. The proposed legislation aimed to introduce a nationwide ban on the wholesale and retail trade of nicotine or its derivatives, including nicotine salts, as well as specialized e-liquids and devices for their consumption.

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New York City officials announced Tuesday they have filed a federal lawsuit against nine major distributors of disposable flavored e-cigarettes, accusing them of illegally selling youth-attracting products into the city in violation of federal, state, and local laws.

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Nevada lawmakers are considering a groundbreaking proposal that would permanently ban the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after December 31, 2004, with the exception of certain casinos. The bill, Assembly Bill 279, is a sweeping effort to cut down on future combustible tobacco use and phase out the sale of the most harmful nicotine products.

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The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has begun issuing non-compliance notifications and warning letters to premises found violating the Ban on Display of Tobacco Products at their Point of Sale counters. The move comes as part of a phased enforcement approach that will continue until October 1, 2024.

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