Seeking to curb illegal vaping, Singapore authorities will soon begin stop and search enforcement against arriving tourists found traveling with e-cigarettes or vape gear.
Operations launch at Changi Airport, subjecting deplaning visitors to checks for vapes or components. Anyone caught possessing electronic cigarettes faces heavy fines under existing law. Read more
Concerned over growing youth addiction, Lithuania recently passed legislation prohibiting the import of vape liquids containing added sweeteners or sugar starting November 2024.
On December 15th, 2023, the Lithuanian parliament (Seimas) overwhelmingly voted to amend existing tobacco control laws, banning future imports of sweetened nicotine e-liquids for electronic cigarettes. Read more
As the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2024, Belgium ushered in a new era for vapers with the introduction of a tax on e-liquids used in electronic cigarettes. The tax, set at 15 cents per milliliter, has sparked controversy among users and retailers who fear it may lead to higher costs and drive some back to traditional tobacco cigarettes.
The federal Finance Minister’s spokesperson defended the tax, pointing out that it aligns with Germany’s tax rate, which is also set to increase in the coming years. They emphasized that the goal is not to encourage a return to smoking but to recognize that e-cigarettes are also tobacco products and should be viewed as a temporary aid in quitting smoking.
Despite these assurances, many in the vaping community remain skeptical about the potential impact of the new tax. As Belgium navigates this uncharted territory, only time will tell how the measure will affect the country’s vapers and the broader fight against tobacco use.
New source: Belgium to Implement New Tax on E-Liquids Amidst Criticisms
Ministry of Health to Collaborate with Other Agencies in Crackdown on E-Cigarettes
Despite Singapore’s ban on the sale and use of e-cigarettes, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has noted that the public still has access to these products. In response, the MOH plans to intensify joint enforcement efforts and public education to combat the circulation of e-cigarettes, according to a report by Lianhe Zaobao on December 19.
The MOH and the Health Science Bureau (HSB) issued a joint statement on December 19, revealing that the public can still purchase e-cigarettes through chat software like Telegram or while traveling abroad. To prevent the e-cigarette problem from escalating, the MOH will collaborate with other government agencies to strengthen enforcement and public education efforts.
The HSB will partner with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority to conduct joint operations at ports, land checkpoints, and airports, starting with Changi Airport. These operations aim to strictly inspect incoming passengers for e-cigarettes and impose fines on offenders. The HSB will also work with the Ministry of Communications and Information and the Infocomm Media Development Authority to enhance the monitoring and crackdown on online e-cigarette sales and advertisements.
The MOH has also joined forces with the Ministry of Education, National Environment Agency, National Parks Board, and Singapore Police Force to increase enforcement against the possession and use of e-cigarettes. Since December 1 of the previous year, environmental agency enforcement officers have been authorized to take action against e-cigarette users or owners, with some cases being referred to the HSB for follow-up.
Inspections will be intensified in public places such as the central business district, shopping malls, parks, smoking areas, bars, and clubs, with on-the-spot fines for offenders. In schools, e-cigarettes will be confiscated from students found using or possessing them, and parents and the HSB will be notified to strictly punish the offending behavior.
According to the latest data released by the HSB, 860 individuals were caught selling and smuggling e-cigarettes and accessories between 2018 and 2022, with 145 of them being brought to court. In the previous year, 4,916 people were arrested for using and possessing e-cigarettes, nearly tripling the number from 2020. From April to August of the current year, 18 people were sentenced for selling e-cigarettes and accessories.
Minister of Health Wong Yi Kang stated in a written response to a parliamentary inquiry in November of the previous year that approximately 20% of those arrested for buying or possessing e-cigarettes in the first nine months of that year were youths under the age of 18.
Under the Tobacco Act, importing, distributing, or selling e-cigarettes is illegal. First-time offenders face a maximum fine of 10,000 Singapore dollars or six months’ imprisonment, or both. Repeat offenders will be fined 20,000 Singapore dollars, sentenced to one year in prison, or both. Those caught possessing, using, or purchasing e-cigarettes face a maximum fine of 2,000 Singapore dollars.
A new public health law going into effect in Ireland prohibits retailers from selling vapes and e-cigarettes to anyone under age 18. First announced by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly earlier this year, the legislation aims to curb rising youth vaping rates. Read more
Experts Highlight Benefits of Higher Tobacco Taxes at Workshop in Phnom Penh
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Cambodia Movement for Health Organisation (CMH) jointly organized a workshop at the Royal Academy of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, where they called upon the Ministry of Economy and Finance to increase tobacco taxes. The organizations emphasized that Cambodia’s current tobacco tax rates of 25% on domestic cigarettes and 31% on imported cigarettes are relatively low, making cigarettes more affordable and encouraging young people to take up smoking.
Yel Daravuth, a Technical Officer at the WHO, stated that increasing tobacco taxes is the single most effective method to reduce tobacco use and smoking-related deaths. He explained that higher tobacco taxes not only improve public health by preventing youth from starting smoking but also increase government revenue without negatively impacting poor families.
According to a case study conducted by the WHO, increasing the price of a cigarette packet by 500 riels could prevent at least 30,000 people from smoking in the following year. Moreover, this measure could prevent 10,000 deaths over the next decade and generate approximately $53 million in annual revenue for the government.
Mom Kong, the executive director of CMH, highlighted that tobacco use claims more than 15,000 lives in Cambodia every year. A public survey conducted by the National Meanchey University in 2020 revealed that participants suggested a 62% increase in tobacco prices to encourage people to quit smoking.
Sin Sovann, the Deputy Director of the Public Health Centre, noted that the number of smokers in Cambodia has risen from 1.47 million in 2011 to 1.63 million in 2021.
Van Puthipol, an Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, acknowledged that tobacco taxes in Cambodia are currently 20% lower than in other ASEAN countries and the rest of the world. He stated that the ministry would examine the possibility of increasing taxes and auditing cigarette factories.
As the workshop concluded, the WHO and CMH reiterated their call for the Cambodian government to take decisive action in raising tobacco taxes to curb smoking rates, reduce smoking-related deaths, and generate additional revenue for the country.
The Bulgarian government has proposed a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes with characteristic taste-aromatic qualities and flavorings in any of their constituent parts, such as filters, paper, packaging, capsules, or other technical elements. The Council of Ministers submitted the bill for amendments to the Law on Tobacco and Tobacco-Related Products to the Parliament’s Registry on October 2nd.
Read moreThe Portuguese Parliament’s working group on smoking has approved the transposition of the European directive on smoking into Portuguese law, aligning the country with European Union regulations. Portugal faced the urgency to adopt the directive to avoid breaching EU requirements. Read more
A sweeping statewide prohibition on vaping within indoor establishments takes effect January 1st in Illinois. Legislators recently expanded existing smoke-free air laws to finally encapsulate e-cigarette usage.
Chief bill sponsor, Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) helped push the amendment’s approval through Springfield earlier this year. “We’ve made progress de-normalizing tobacco perceptions, and I’m proud e-cigarettes now join usage bans protecting public health,” she stated. Read more
With new vaping regulations set to take effect on December 21st, 2023 in New Zealand, millions of soon-to-be noncompliant disposable vape products face an uncertain fate. Retailers prepare to absorb significant losses either destroying stock or selling at steep discounts before the rules kick in. Read more