A recent announcement under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to potentially expand pro-health taxes to include vape products has sparked confusion and concern among anti-smoking advocates. They are now demanding clarity from the government on whether its ultimate goal is to regulate and tax vapes or to implement a complete ban on their sale and use.
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Vaping products sold in UK convenience stores and other retail outlets will face stricter checks and higher prices starting in 2026, as part of a new HMRC crackdown on the industry. The government is introducing a new vaping duty and a mandatory tax stamp scheme to tighten control over the market.
Read moreSmokers and vapers in New Jersey will now be paying more as tax increases on tobacco and nicotine products go into effect today, August 1st. The new rates are part of Governor Phil Murphy’s fiscal year 2026 budget recommendations.
Read moreThe Paraguayan Congress has passed a new law establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), similar nicotine-free systems (SSSN), and other vaping products. The bill, which has been sent to the Executive Branch for promulgation or rejection, aims to protect public health by controlling the import, production, sale, consumption, and advertising of these devices and their liquids, regardless of nicotine content.
Read moreMalaysia will expand its “pro-health tax” to include all tobacco and vape products, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced. The tax, previously only imposed on sugary beverages, is being extended as part of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
Read moreA new bill has been filed in Colombia’s House of Representatives by Representative Wadith Manzur to regulate and impose taxes on vaping products. The primary objective of the proposal is to discourage the use of these devices, especially among young people, due to growing public health concerns.
Read moreNew excise tax regulations are set to take effect in Poland on August 1, 2025, significantly impacting the market for alternative nicotine products. The legislation, enacted on February 20, 2025, expands the list of products subject to excise duty, targeting categories that have previously been less expensive alternatives to traditional cigarettes.
The changes primarily affect three new groups of products:
- Nicotine Pouches: Tobacco-free oral products containing nicotine or its derivatives.
- Other Nicotine Products: A new, broadly defined category for products that enable nicotine absorption but are not classified as cigarettes, e-cigarettes, e-liquids, or tobacco for smoking.
- Tobacco-Free Novel Products: Tobacco-free mixtures and products that fall under an expanded definition of novel products.
Under the new rules, both nicotine pouches and “other nicotine products” will be subject to an excise tax rate of 150 PLN per kilogram. Tobacco-free novel products will be taxed at the same rate as their tobacco-containing counterparts, equalizing their fiscal treatment.
Furthermore, the amendment introduces a mandatory requirement for tax stamps (banderole) on certain items, including vaporizing devices (vape hardware) and the e-liquids used in disposable e-cigarettes. Sets of parts for vaporizing devices are exempt from this requirement.
Businesses have been given a transition period to sell off existing, unstamped stock. The sale of these products without the new tax stamps will be permitted until April 30, 2026. After this date, all newly listed products must bear the tax stamps to be legally sold. These changes are part of a broader strategy to tighten the tax system, unify rules for all nicotine-containing products, and reduce the accessibility of previously less-regulated alternatives.
The Indonesian E-liquid Producers Association (PPEI) is calling on the government, specifically the Directorate General of Customs and Excise and the Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF), to re-evaluate and lower the current excise tariff structure for e-cigarettes. While commending the government for not increasing excise rates this year, the association warns that previous hikes have had a devastating impact on the industry.
PPEI Chairman Daniel Boy stated that his organization continues to push for regulations that favor vape industry entrepreneurs. However, the economic pressure from past policies has been severe. Agung Subroto, Deputy Chairman of PPEI, revealed that two consecutive multi-year excise tax increases of 19.5% per year have forced nearly half of their members out of business. “This has reduced our membership from over 300 producers to just 170. This means that almost half of our members are unable to purchase excise stamps to produce e-liquid,” Subroto explained.
He dismissed the notion that the industry’s decline was due to negative health narratives, attributing it instead to a lack of education and the heavy tax burden. Subroto pointed to research from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) which showed that many toxic substances found in conventional cigarettes, such as carbon monoxide, benzene, and 1,3-butadiene, were not detected in e-cigarette vapor, supporting the argument that vapes are a lower-risk alternative. PPEI hopes for further tax relaxation in the future to allow the legal industry to survive and provide these alternatives to adult smokers.
A special commission of the Israeli Tax Authority has presented recommendations to the Minister of Finance for a complete overhaul of how e-cigarettes are taxed and regulated, concluding that the current system has inadvertently created a massive black market. The report states that an exceptionally high tax rate, combined with ease of smuggling and a lack of effective oversight, has led to widespread tax evasion and significant loss of state revenue without successfully reducing consumption.
Read moreThe Paraguayan Senate has approved a bill to regulate the importation, production, distribution, and use of electronic cigarettes (vapes), including both nicotine-containing (ENDS) and nicotine-free (ENNDS) systems. The legislation, which now heads to the Executive Branch for promulgation or rejection, establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework but has drawn some criticism for its low tax rate.
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