Targeted Products Include Brands Popular Among Youth, Such as Geek Bar and Lost Mary
On December 19, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it had issued warning letters to eight online retailers and one manufacturer for selling and/or distributing unauthorized flavored, disposable vapes. The warning letters cited several popular youth-oriented brands, including Geek Bar and Lost Mary, as well as products featuring the names and/or images of celebrities.
Read moreMove Part of Broader Anti-Tobacco Drive, as Government Data Shows Most Young Smokers Start with Vapes
Belgium will make history in January as the first European Union country to ban the sale of disposable vapes, driven by concerns over their appeal to children and the environmental damage caused by their disposal. This move is part of a larger anti-tobacco initiative in the country, where government data reveals that most young smokers begin the habit with e-cigarettes rather than traditional tobacco cigarettes.
Read moreCollaboration with Health Ministry to Analyze Situation and Make Responsible Decisions
Andrzej Domański, the Polish Minister of Finance, informed TVP Info on Tuesday that the Ministry of Finance is considering the possibility of raising the excise tax on tobacco products, such as nicotine pouches, for health reasons. He added that the Ministry of Finance, along with the Ministry of Health, is thoroughly analyzing the situation.
Read moreAssociation Promotes Vaping as Smoking Alternative, Warns Against Overregulation
Vape Business Ireland, an association advocating for sensible vaping regulation, has rebranded itself as Responsible Vaping Ireland. The organization has renewed its focus on promoting vaping as an alternative to smoking while cautioning against unnecessary restrictions that could harm small retailers and increase smoking rates.
Read moreHouse Bill 11 Aims to Curb Youth Vaping, Forcing Retailers to Cut Back on Inventory
Starting January 1, 2025, Kentucky will implement new vape restrictions for retailers, limiting sales to products that have received authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or have a “safe harbor certification.” The move, which aims to curb youth vaping in the state, is forcing businesses to reduce their inventory and select from a limited list of approved vapes.
Read moreSenate Health Commission Meets with Comptroller Dorothy Pérez to Discuss Pending Decrees and Regulations
The Senate Health Commission, represented by its president, Senator Javier Macaya (UDI), and Senator Juan Luis Castro (PS), met with Comptroller Dorothy Pérez at the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic to discuss pending requirements, regulations, and decrees, including the decree on high-cost medications and the regulation of electronic cigarettes.
Read moreThe Denver City Council voted 11 to 1 on Monday night to ban the sale of flavored vapes and other tobacco products within the city limits. The ordinance, which includes e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, vapes, and other flavored nicotine and tobacco products, aims to reduce nicotine use among teenagers and young adults.
Read moreOn December 17, deputies of the State Duma adopted amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in the second and third readings, tightening responsibility for selling vapes to minors. The new law establishes criminal liability for the repeated retail sale of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, as well as devices for their consumption, to underage individuals.
Read moreEffective January 1, 2025, amendments to the Law on Tobacco, Tobacco Products, and Related Products Control (hereafter referred to as the Law) will introduce significant changes to the retail sale of tobacco, tobacco products, and related products in Lithuania. The key changes are as follows:
Read moreTourists Prohibited from Bringing Vaping Devices as Government Takes Strong Stance Against Smoking
The Maldives has implemented a sweeping ban on vaping, making it illegal to import, use, possess, manufacture, sell, advertise, or distribute e-cigarettes and related products. The import ban took effect on November 15, while the prohibition on all other aspects of vaping came into force on Sunday, December 15. Alongside the vaping ban, the government has also significantly increased tobacco tariffs, resulting in the doubling of cigarette prices.
The Maldives has introduced severe penalties for those caught violating the vaping ban. Individuals found using vapes could face fines of $325, while those caught importing vaping devices may be fined $3,240. Selling e-cigarettes carries a fine of $1,300, with an additional $650 penalty for each device sold.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated that the government implemented the ban in response to public demand, particularly to protect the youth. The decision followed lobbying efforts by health and sports associations, who raised concerns about the growing use of e-cigarettes in schools.
The Maldives NCD Alliance, a group of NGOs including the Cancer Society, highlighted that 84 percent of deaths in the Maldives are attributed to non-communicable diseases, with tobacco being a significant risk factor. The alliance cited multiple studies linking vaping to an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, and type-2 diabetes, and noted that more than 60 percent of young vape users start smoking before the age of 18.
Due to the harms and risks for NCDs, Maldives NCD Alliance calls for a ban on Electronic Cigarettes and Vape products in the Maldives. #NCDprevention pic.twitter.com/oJVaUf9Yo4
— Maldives NCD Alliance (@MaldivesNCDA) September 12, 2024
Despite the government’s stance, public opinion on the vaping ban remains divided. While some Maldivians have expressed strong support for the measure, others have vehemently opposed it. Vape shop owners protested the ban, calling for regulation instead of criminalization, and argued that the short notice for enforcement would force those who used vaping to quit smoking back to cigarettes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) commended the Maldives for its new policies, welcoming the vaping ban as an important initiative to curb the increasing trend of vaping, particularly among young adolescents. The WHO noted that in many countries, the rates of e-cigarette use by children and adolescents exceed adult use, and advised strong decisive action to protect children.
The vaping ban applies to tourists visiting the Maldives as well. Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusan confirmed that from November 15, vape devices would be intercepted at the border if anyone attempted to bring them into the country. The government has no intention of offering tourists special status to use vapes, unlike the exemption for alcohol in resorts.
As the Maldives takes a firm stance against vaping and smoking, the government remains committed to protecting public health, particularly that of the younger generation. The comprehensive ban and increased tobacco tariffs represent the country’s most stringent measures against smoking in recent history.