Harsher Penalties, Including Revocation of Permits and Re-Entry Bans, to Take Effect September 1st
Foreigners caught vaping in Singapore will face significantly harsher sanctions, including the potential revocation of residency permits, deportation, and a ban on re-entry, under a strict new policy effective September 1st. The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the crackdown to combat the rampant use of vapes.
Read moreThe government of Macau is exploring a full ban on the possession of e-cigarettes, a move that would significantly tighten its already strict tobacco control laws. While the manufacturing, sale, and import of vapes are already prohibited, the Health Bureau is now studying this further restriction in response to strong public feedback favoring stricter regulations.
Read moreThe head of Batam’s tourism agency has suggested that Singapore’s recent decision to crack down on vaping and treat it as a “drug issue” could provide a tourism boost for the nearby Indonesian island. Situated less than an hour away by ferry, Batam is being positioned as an “alternative” destination for Singaporeans.
Read moreFrench Polynesia’s Assembly has taken a decisive step towards a complete ban on electronic cigarettes, surpassing the government’s initial regulatory plans. Following an amendment introduced by Senator Lana Tetuanui during the review of an anti-tobacco bill, a new article was added to prohibit the importation and sale of all vaping devices, including “puffs” and e-cigarettes.
Read moreSingapore is set to implement a significant crackdown on vaping, introducing a suite of harsher penalties for both users and suppliers that will take effect on September 1st. The new measures include increased fines for vape users, mandatory rehabilitation programs for repeat offenders, and severe penalties, including caning and lengthy prison sentences, for those who supply vapes laced with the anaesthetic agent etomidate. This move underscores the government’s firm stance against the rising tide of vaping, particularly among youth, and the emergence of drug-laced e-cigarettes known as “Kpods.”
Read moreThe Malaysian state of Sarawak is formulating a new law to implement an outright ban on the sale and use of all vaping devices and electronic cigarettes. State Minister for Women, Community Wellbeing, and Family Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah, announced that her ministry is preparing a Cabinet paper on the matter and is consulting with the state attorney general, state secretary, and state financial officer.
Read moreRussian President Vladimir Putin has supported a proposal to grant regions the authority to implement a complete ban on the sale and distribution of vapes (e-cigarettes). The idea was presented by Gleb Nikitin, the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, who expressed his region’s readiness to become a pilot for the initiative.
Read moreThe Perak state government expects to review a complete working paper on banning the sale of electronic cigarettes (vapes) at its State Executive Council meeting early next month. State Health Committee chairman A. Sivanesan stated that the proposed move will focus on restricting local authorities from issuing new vape sales licenses.
Read moreThe Malaysian Ministry of Health is finalizing a detailed report on a proposed ban of e-cigarettes and vapes, which will be presented to the Cabinet, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad has confirmed. He stated that the government’s direction is clearly towards a ban, emphasizing, “It is no longer a question of if we ban, but when we ban.”
Read moreA draft bill from Spain’s Ministry of Health, led by the far-left Sumar party, has ignited a significant dispute in Brussels. The proposal aims to impose sweeping restrictions, including a ban on all vape flavors except tobacco and a nicotine cap that would effectively outlaw oral nicotine pouches. However, the plan has stalled amid strong objections from seven EU member states and the European Commission itself.
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