The Malaysian Vapers Alliance (MVA) has urged the Ministry of Health to reconsider the vape display ban introduced under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), which is set to take effect on April 1, 2025. MVA argues that the ban not only limits consumers’ right to make informed decisions but also places unnecessary restrictions on access to crucial product information.

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Health Secretary Wes Streeting will announce a new smoking ban outside playgrounds, schools, and hospitals today as part of the government’s efforts to create the first smoke-free generation. However, pub-goers will still be allowed to smoke in beer gardens, marking a victory for pub owners who have campaigned against the clampdown since plans were first revealed earlier this year.

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New Zealand is set to introduce significant changes to its Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 through the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Bill (No 2). The primary goal of these amendments is to make vaping products less appealing and less accessible to individuals under the age of 18. While the Bill is still going through the legislative process and may undergo further modifications, it is expected to come into force in November 2024, with changes taking effect gradually over time.

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A new study on smoking behavior, published in the international journal Addiction on November 4, 2024, by researchers from the University Hospital Düsseldorf, reveals that e-cigarette use in Germany is on the rise, particularly among young people. The study also found that the number of people who smoke traditional cigarettes remains high.

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President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu ratified the 19th Amendment to the Export-Import Act of the Maldives on Thursday, introducing significant changes to the import duties on tobacco and electronic devices. The amendment comes after the People’s Majlis recently approved a bill to increase cigarette prices starting from Friday.

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that the UK will introduce a tax on vapes for the first time starting in 2026. The move aims to discourage non-cigarette smokers, especially young people, from taking up vaping, which has soared in popularity in recent years. The announcement comes a week after the government’s decision to ban single-use vapes in England and Wales from June.

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The six-month extension period for selling e-cigarette liquids and flavors without a tax stamp has come to an end in Italy. As of Friday, November 1, all liquid products sold by authorized e-cigarette retailers must bear a tax stamp on the packaging. This regulation also applies to websites with a tax warehouse, which, according to a second rule, will no longer be allowed to sell nicotine-containing products starting from January 1, 2025.

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On October 30, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has issued warning letters to nine online retailers and one manufacturer for selling and distributing unauthorized disposable e-cigarettes that resemble smart technology devices such as phones and gaming consoles. The products cited in the warning letters feature designs and functionalities that may appeal to youth, including the ability to play games, connect to smartphones, receive notifications, play music, or customize the device with personalized wallpapers.

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The Spanish government has unveiled plans to tax nicotine in e-cigarettes, also known as vape products, as part of its search for new tax revenue. This measure forms part of a broader fiscal reform currently under discussion in Congress.

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French Health Minister Geneviève Darrieussecq has announced plans to ban nicotine pouches in the coming weeks, citing their popularity among teenagers and the high doses of nicotine they contain. Darrieussecq described the pouches as “dangerous products” that can induce nicotine addiction and serve as a gateway to smoking, especially when used by young people rather than former smokers.

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