Tag Archive for: Tobacco Regulation

The Iraqi parliament is set to vote on a comprehensive draft law aimed at combating smoking and imposing additional taxes on tobacco products next week. Majid Shingali, head of the legislature’s health and environment committee, told Rudaw on Wednesday that the final drafting stage of the law is underway, with plans to share the final draft with experts for legal and linguistic review before presenting it for discussion in next week’s session.

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As of 1 April 2025, all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, and e-cigarettes, can no longer be displayed in Belgian stores. This change is part of Belgium’s tobacco plan, a series of measures launched in 2022 that aims to create a smoke-free generation by 2040.

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Spain is currently facing a significant public health challenge with a smoking prevalence of 24%, one of the highest rates in Western Europe. In an effort to address this issue, the Spanish Ministry of Health has recently proposed a draft decree that includes strict regulations on vaping products and nicotine pouches. However, many experts argue that this approach is misguided and may ultimately undermine public health objectives while protecting the cigarette market.

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The European Commission is set to rule on the draft Royal Decree regulating certain aspects of tobacco products and their derivatives in Spain on April 28, 2025. The proposed legislation, spearheaded by the Spanish Ministry of Health, seeks to restrict the presence of flavors in electronic cigarettes and limit the nicotine concentration in nicotine pouches to 0.99 milligrams.

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Kentucky is on the verge of introducing new regulations for businesses selling tobacco, nicotine, and vape products, as Senate Bill 100 is expected to emerge from the House Committee this week. The proposed legislation aims to implement a licensing requirement for retailers and enforce harsher penalties for those caught selling these products to individuals under the age of 21.

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In January 2024, Chile implemented Law 21.642, which introduced stricter regulations on the sale and use of tobacco products, including a ban on selling e-cigarettes to minors. The Ministry of Health has been conducting inspections throughout the country to enforce these new rules.

According to the Ministry of Health, the Biobío region saw a total of 213 inspections related to the Tobacco Law in 2024. Of these, 106 took place in the province of Concepción, 62 in Biobío, and 45 in Arauco, resulting in three health summaries.

In the Biobío Province, only one out of the 62 inspections led to a summary, while in Arauco Province, just one summary was issued following 45 inspections.

Javiera Ceballos, the acting regional ministerial secretary of health for Biobío, stated, “For this year, we have set ourselves the challenge of increasing inspections in this area by 10% to continue protecting the health of the population.”

The new regulations prohibit smoking in enclosed spaces, including areas covered by a roof attached to one or more walls, terraces that are not open-air or have a roof attached to a wall, as well as in sports venues, stadiums, and gyms.

The new administration under President Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. presents a pivotal opportunity to address one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States: smoking. By reforming the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the administration could make it easier for smokers to access safer alternatives like e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and oral nicotine products. This shift could save hundreds of thousands of lives annually and mark a significant step forward in public health.

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South Africa’s Parliament has revived the Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, a piece of legislation that aims to impose stricter regulations on the sale, advertising, and use of tobacco products and electronic delivery systems. The Bill, which lapsed at the end of the previous administration, now sits in Parliament and is on the agenda of the seventh administration.

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