In a groundbreaking move, the Northern Ireland Executive has announced plans to end the sale and supply of disposable vapes by April 2025. The decision comes amidst growing concerns over the environmental impact of discarded e-cigarettes and the alarming rise in their use among children and adolescents. Read more

A bill aimed at increasing the tax on cigarettes and vaping products to support the University of Hawaii Cancer Research Center while reducing nicotine consumption is making its way through the state Legislature, albeit with some changes from its original form.

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The Russian State Duma is set to introduce a bill in May that would completely ban the retail sale of nicotine and nicotine-free vapes across the country. Yaroslav Nilov, head of the Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs, and one of the initiative’s authors, stated that they are currently gathering signatures and plan to submit the bill to the State Duma in the second half of May. Read more

A recent study conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has unveiled alarming trends in substance use among children in the United Kingdom, particularly among young girls. The comprehensive research, which analyzed data from 280,000 children aged 11, 13, and 15 across 44 countries, has shed light on the growing concern of vaping, smoking, and drinking among UK girls.

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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