Vietnam Halts on E-Cigarette Imports to Comply with National Assembly Resolution

The General Department of Vietnam Customs has issued Official Letter No. 17/TCHQ-GSQL to provincial and municipal Customs Departments, directing them to stop carrying out customs clearance procedures for e-cigarettes/vape products, heated tobacco products, and their components and raw materials starting from January 1, 2025. This move follows the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 173/2024/QH15, passed on November 30, 2024, which prohibits the production, trade, import, harboring, transportation, and use of these products to ensure public health and social order and safety.

The General Department of Vietnam Customs also requires the Customs Departments to compile statistics on the remaining inventory of these goods within their jurisdictions, including components and raw materials for manufacturing e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, semi-finished and finished products, and waste and scrap materials. The Customs Departments must propose handling measures and submit the data to the General Department of Vietnam Customs before January 10, 2025, for consolidation and further action.

This decisive step by the Vietnamese government aims to protect public health and maintain social order by curbing the availability and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in the country. The vaping industry will need to adapt to these new regulations and explore alternative markets or product lines to sustain their businesses.

Philippines Issues New Regulation on Mandatory Certification of E-Cigarettes and Non-Nicotine Products

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Department Administrative Order No. 24-11 Updates Testing and Certification Process

The Office for the Special Mandate on Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products (OSMV) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of the Philippines issued Supplemental Technical Regulations Department Administrative Order No. 24-11 on January 2, 2025. This order aims to regulate the mandatory product certification of e-cigarettes and non-nicotine products.

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Alberta Canada Introduces New Tax on Vaping Products, Matching Federal Rates

As of January 1, 2025, Albertans face higher costs for vaping products due to the introduction of a new provincial tax. The tax, which matches existing federal rates, adds $1.12 per 2 ml of vaping fluid for the first 10 ml, and an additional $1.12 for every 10 ml thereafter.

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San Antonio, Texas Bans Vaping in Public Places, Aligning with Existing Smoking Ordinance

City Council Unanimously Approves Addition of E-Cigarettes to Indoor Smoking Prohibition, Effective January 1, 2025

The San Antonio City Council has unanimously voted to add vaping to the city’s smoking ordinance, effectively banning the use of e-cigarettes in all enclosed public spaces, including restaurants, bars, and other public places. The new regulations will take effect on January 1, 2025, as part of an effort to further protect public health and improve the quality of life for all residents.

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Vietnam Bans Vapes, Imposes Hefty Fines on Tourists and Jail Time for E-Cigarette Traders and Producers

New Rules Effective January 1, 2025, Aimed at Addressing Health Concerns Over Irreversible Lung Damage

Vietnam has joined a growing list of countries, including Singapore, Thailand, India, and Australia, in banning travelers from bringing e-cigarettes into the country. As of January 1, 2025, tourists arriving in Vietnam with vapes face substantial fines under new rules that prohibit the possession, sale, and use of vapes and e-liquids.

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Latvia Bans Flavored Tobacco Products and Introduces Stricter Regulations

Latvia has implemented a comprehensive ban on the sale of flavored e-liquids for electronic smoking devices and tobacco substitutes, as part of a broader effort to curb youth access to tobacco products and promote public health. The new regulations also raise the legal age for purchasing all types of tobacco products to 20 years old.

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Estonia Currently Has No Plans to Ban Disposable Vapes

Ministry of Social Affairs Favors EU-Wide Regulatory System Over Individual State Bans

Estonia currently has no plans to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, despite Belgium becoming the first EU member state to implement such a ban starting January 1, 2025. Aive Telling, head of the Department of Environmental Protection and Chemical Safety at the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs, stated that while the possibility of banning disposable vapes has been discussed in Estonia for years, the government currently supports a pan-European approach to regulation.

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Italy Introduces New E-Cigarette Tax and Online Nicotine Sales Ban in 2025

Vaping Market Faces Significant Changes as Government Implements Stricter Regulations

On January 1, 2025, two significant changes will come into effect in the Italian vaping market, despite the government and Parliament not directly intervening in this year’s budget law to modify vaping regulations. These changes, although anticipated for some time, are expected to have a substantial impact on market dynamics, particularly concerning online sales and the tax burden on e-liquids with and without nicotine and flavorings.

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Heath, Ohio to Regulate Flavored Tobacco and Vape Sales Starting January 2025

Licking County Board of Health to Conduct Annual Inspections of Retail Stores Selling ENDS Products

A new ordinance in the city of Heath, Ohio, will take effect on January 1, 2025, regulating the sale of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) to ensure that only FDA-approved products are available for purchase at local stores. The ordinance, approved by city councilors last year, aims to protect Heath citizens from purchasing unapproved vaping devices and e-cigarettes.

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Rhode Island Flavored Vape Ban and New Taxes on E-Cigarettes Takes Effect

Rhode Island has implemented a ban on the sale or “possession with intent to sell” flavored vape products, effective January 1, 2025. The ban is one of several new laws taking effect across Southern New England at the start of the year.

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