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Tag: ban on e-cigarettes

  • Bangladesh Readies to Ban E-cigarette Imports

    Bangladesh Readies to Ban E-cigarette Imports

    Bangladesh will ban the import of e-cigarettes and related products, reports bdnews24.

     According to a statement issued by the cabinet division, the health services division proposed to take urgent measures to ban the import of all products tied to the electronic nicotine delivery systems or e-cigarettes “to protect public health and keep future generations safe.”

     After the discussion, it was decided that e-cigarettes will be included in the list of banned products in the import policy order of the ministry of commerce.

  • Mexico’s Lower House Passes Ban on Vape Products

    Mexico’s Lower House Passes Ban on Vape Products

    The lower house of Mexico’s Congress voted to alter the constitution to include a ban on e-cigarettes, reports Reuters. The measure passed with 410 votes in favor and 24 against.

    The reform also sanctions “production, distribution and sale of toxic substances, chemical precursors, the illicit use of fentanyl and other non-authorized synthetic drugs.”

    Less than 1 million people from ages 12 to 65 reported regularly using a vape in 2022, according to federal data cited by lawmakers. Meanwhile, around 500,000 teens and 300,000 adults used e-cigarettes.

    The proposal was sent to Congress by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who argued that smoking devices were damaging public health, with children particularly susceptible to getting hooked.

    Lopez Obrador had already banned such devices through a presidential decree, though they remain widely available for purchase. Millions of Mexicans, meanwhile, smoke traditional cigarettes, which remain legal.

    Opposition legislator Ector Jaime Ramirez said banning fentanyl and vaping in the same reform was excessive and “trivializing to the effort being made to combat the most addictive and dangerous drugs.”

  • Vietnam Approves Measure to Ban Vapes Next Year

    Vietnam Approves Measure to Ban Vapes Next Year

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    Vietnam will ban vapes next year, reports VN Express.

    On Nov. 30, the country’s National Assembly approved a measure to prohibit the production, sale, import, storage, transportation and use of e-cigarettes starting in 2025.

    Previously, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said e-cigarettes need to be banned “due to their harmful health effects.” NA delegates also agreed that policies to ban and tightly monitor illegal sales are necessary.

    World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Vietnam’s action. “Congratulations, Vietnam, on making this bold decision to protect your citizens, especially the young ones, from vaping and heated tobacco products,” he wrote on social media platform X.

  • Kyrgyzstan Signs Law to Ban Vaping Products

    Kyrgyzstan Signs Law to Ban Vaping Products

    Photo: Taco Tuinstra

    Kyrgyzstan will ban vapes from mid-2025.

    President Sadyr Japarov signed a law prohibiting the import, circulation and use of electronic cigarettes.

    After July 1, 2025, those caught vaping will risk a fine $115 and sellers of e-cigarettes will be subject of a penalty ranging from $230 to $750.

    Importing electronic cigarettes will result in correctional labor for two months to one year or a fine of up to $1,390. Meanwhile, importing electronic cigarettes in large quantities will result in a fine of up to $2,300 or imprisonment for up to two years.

    The law, titled “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts in the Sphere of Protecting Citizens’ Health,” will come into force on July 1, 2025.

  • No Tourists Allowed to Bring Vapes Into Maldives

    No Tourists Allowed to Bring Vapes Into Maldives

    Credit: Visual Content

    The Maldives is implementing new regulations on November 15, which will result in tourists having their vapes confiscated upon arrival to the country.

    If a traveler arrives with a vape, they can deposit it at a designated counter at the airport for a receipt and collect it again upon departure, tourism officials in the popular Indian Ocean holiday destination told media.

    Turkey, Singapore, Mexico, India, Brazil, and Thailand are among the other countries that do not allow travelers to bring vapes with them.

    The Maldives import ban also applies to tobacco, smoking accessories, shishas, and flavored cigarettes, with one exception: travelers aged 18 and over with a tourist visa may import up to 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco.

    People who vape are generally advised to double-check whether they are allowed to bring their device with them on holiday before getting on a flight.

    In Thailand, which has some of the world’s strictest anti-vaping rules, anyone caught breaking the e-cigarette laws can be punished with a steep fine or even imprisonment for up to five years.

    In Australia, there has been a ban on the import of all types of vapes since March 2024 unless a special license or permit has been obtained.

  • Vietnam Continues to Seek Ban on Vapes, HnB

    Vietnam Continues to Seek Ban on Vapes, HnB

    A vape shop in Vietnam.

    E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products were the focus of a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam on Monday, during which the health minister proposed a ban on these products. Vietnam has been seeking to ban vaping products for more than a year.

    In response to a query raised by a deputy from the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on solutions to vapes and heat-not-burn ((HnB) products, which are a danger to human health, Minister of Heath Dao Hong Lan said that the use of these products is rapidly increasing and poses potential health and safety risks, especially for young people.

    She cited the results of a survey conducted in 34 provinces and cities in 2020, which showed that the rate of e-cigarette use among adults aged 15 and over increased 18 times. It went from 0.2% in 2015 to 3.6% in 2020, with the highest concentration in the age group of 15 – 24.

    The minister proposed amending the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms to address this issue. She said it should include provisions to ban vapes and HnB products, and the ministry’s stance is “to prohibit these products,” hoping the government will take stronger measures against vaping, according to media reports.

    Feedback from various ministries and agencies showed that most of them highly support the proposal that the Government recommends to the NA on solutions to ban the use of novel nicotine products. The Ministry of Health has conducted impact assessments as scientific evidence and has also made public the harmful effects of heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes, she said, adding that these measures are key solutions to provide evidence and a legal basis for the Government to decide on measures to prevent the harms of these products.

    Responding to an inquiry by a deputy from the northern province of Quang Ninh on solutions to manage e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, the minister said her ministry has submitted a report to the government to propose that the NA Standing Committee release a resolution on the issue. The draft Law on Special Consumption Tax presented at the 8th session also includes content on taxes for novel nicotine products.

    The official said that Vietnam has participated in the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Regarding support for smoking cessation, Lan said that by implementing the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, the Government established a tobacco control fund with a network to help people quit smoking.

  • Health Ministry Wants to Ban New Tobacco Products

    Health Ministry Wants to Ban New Tobacco Products

    Image: sezerozger

    Vietnam’s health ministry has proposed a national ban on e-cigarettes and tobacco-heating products, reports  Vietnam News.

    During a conference last week, Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan stressed that all forms of tobacco, including new-generation products, pose a significant threat to public health.

    Nguyen Nho Huy, deputy director of the physical education department at the Ministry of Education and Training, shared that vaping among students had risen from 2.6 percent in 2019 to 8 percent in 2023.

    According to ministry of health data, nearly 1,224 people were hospitalized in 2023 due to health complications directly linked to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco.

    Tran also referenced risks such as battery explosions and nicotine poisoning.

    Heated tobacco, he noted, emits smoke containing toxins similar to those found in traditional cigarettes.

    Participants in the event also expressed concern about the market for illicit vaping products. In the first half of 2024, authorities uncovered 35 cases of illegal trade and possession of drug-infused e-cigarettes, according to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Duy Trung.

  • Maldives Readies to Ban Vaping Products

    Maldives Readies to Ban Vaping Products

    Photo: siraphol

    Maldives will ban e-cigarettes and related products, reports The Edition, citing an announcement by President Mohamed Muizzu on X. Lawmakers will receive proposed amendments to the island nation’s legislation this week.

    According to the post, Maldives will outlaw import of all vape products and parts of vape devices is to from Nov. 15, 2024. Additionally, the use, possession, production, sale, advertisement and distribution of all vape products will become illegal from Dec.15, 2024.

     This decision follows numerous requests from concerned parents, health service providers and groups such as NDC Alliance and the Doctors Association and Nurses Association.

     According to figures shared with Mihaaru News by Maldives Customs Service, local businesses imported vapes worth MVR124.34 million 2018 and July of this year.

    Currently, some 50 countries ban vapes, including at least five countries in Asia.

  • Kurdistan Bans Imports, Sales of Vaping Devices

    Kurdistan Bans Imports, Sales of Vaping Devices

    Credit: Dalpings

    Local authorities have vowed to take legal action against those who defy the ban.

    The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has intensified efforts to crack down on the use of e-cigarettes, with both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior enforcing a decision to ban their import and sale.

    E-cigarettes are prohibited under the new regulations, and local authorities are committed to taking legal action against anyone who violates the ban.

    According to media reports, Akar Mohammed, a local cigarette and hookah seller, supported the measure. “Dozens of men and children ask me about vapes and e-cigarettes every day,” he said. “This decision is appropriate.”

    In Erbil, the governor’s office has been leading the crackdown on e-cigarettes, announcing that more than 26,000 devices were seized and destroyed this month. Many were found hidden in shops and warehouses.

    Authorities are stepping up their efforts by increasing inspections at checkpoints and markets and monitoring online sales.

    Erbil Mayor Nabaz Abdulhamid stated on Aug. 19 that investigations have uncovered the illegal smuggling of e-cigarettes into Erbil from Sulaimani. “We want to control this phenomenon together,” Abdulhamid said, emphasizing the need for collective action to tackle the issue.

  • Australia Softens Stance on Vaping Product Ban

    Australia Softens Stance on Vaping Product Ban

    Credit: Yavdat

    Australia will soften a proposed groundbreaking ban on vaping following opposition from the Greens party, leading the government to agree to revise a bill that would have limited vapes to those with a doctor’s prescription.

    The agreement between the ruling center-left Labor party and the Greens will lead to the passage of legislation later this week that restricts the sale of vapes to pharmacies and removes them from retail shelves. This move is aimed at curbing the rise in youth vaping.

    However, the bill falls short of the government’s initial ambition to restrict sales only to those with a doctor’s prescription, which would have been a world-first. The amended bill will take effect on 1 July, reports Reuters.

    Under the compromise deal, vapes will be moved “behind the counter” in October. Customers will need to have a conversation with the pharmacist before making a purchase, and under-18s will need a prescription.

    Health Minister Mark Butler said in a statement that the government “welcomed constructive engagement with the crossbench and secured the support of The Greens for our world-leading vaping laws.”

    The Labor party does not have a majority in the upper house and must negotiate with other parties and independent senators to pass legislation.