Officials Highlight MVR 40M+ Penalties, Suggest Fine Cap Amid Rising Smuggling
Maldives Customs officials have expressed serious doubts about the practicality of collecting multi-million Rufiyaa fines imposed on individuals caught smuggling vape products into the country. Speaking before a parliamentary committee reviewing the Tobacco Control Act, officials highlighted the issue of current penalties becoming unrealistically large.
Read moreHong Kong is set to tighten its tobacco control laws with a new amendment bill introduced on April 25, 2025. Key proposals target travelers bringing cigarettes and expand public no-smoking areas.
Read moreThe Armenian government has approved amendments to the “Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Armenia” to increase fines for selling tobacco products that do not meet the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) standards. The decision comes as the transitional period for compliance with EAEU technical regulations, which began in 2016, is set to end on January 1, 2024.
Read moreThe Parliament of Georgia has approved a draft law allowing tobacco and tobacco product manufacturers to operate without a license until January 1, 2026.
Read morePrince Edward Island has recently implemented changes to its Tobacco and Electronic Smoking Device Sales and Access Act, which came into effect on February 1, 2025. The amendments, passed during the fall sitting of the legislature, aim to crack down on youth vaping by imposing stricter penalties on businesses that violate the province’s rules.
Read moreThe UK government has unveiled strict penalties for retailers who violate the upcoming disposable vape ban, set to take effect on 1 June 2025. Businesses caught selling single-use vapes after this date could face fines of up to £5,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has outlined enforcement measures, which vary across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
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 moreAs the Mexican government takes steps to regulate vaping products, users may face severe consequences for smoking in public places or selling these devices without authorization. Although marketed as a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes, research has shown that vaping can pose serious health risks, particularly to the lungs.
Read moreRussia plans to introduce a ban on the use of vapes and disposable cigarettes while driving, as part of an effort to tighten control over drivers’ attention to the road. Violators could face a fine of 1,500 rubles, according to the Mash Telegram channel.
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