Tag: ban on e-cigarettes

  • Hong Kong to Consider Blanket Ban on Vapes

    Hong Kong to Consider Blanket Ban on Vapes

    Junk boat in Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong (Credit: Kamonrat)

    Hong Kong announced plans for a complete prohibition on e-cigarettes, citing a “consensus” on the necessity for action and their impact on the health of youth.

    The move comes nearly two years after the city banned the import, manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

    “We will fully ban all alternative smoking products,” Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said at a news conference, reports Barron’s.

    Hong Kong already bans the possession of e-cigarettes “for commercial purposes,” and the latest proposal would extend the ban to retail buyers, even if they intended to smoke in private.

    Under existing laws, anyone in Hong Kong who imports e-cigarettes can be punished by up to seven years in jail and a fine of HK$2 million ($256,000), while sellers and manufacturers can be jailed for up to six months.

    “A blanket ban on alternative smoking [vaping and heat-not-burn] products has become a consensus in society … It is time to ban all forms of possession of alternative smoking products, including for personal use,” said Deputy Secretary for Health Eddie Lee.

    City officials also announced other smoking curbs, including a ban on smoking while standing in line in outdoor public areas and sharing cigarettes with minors.

    The government also proposed banning flavored tobacco. Lo said he hoped the e-cigarette ban and other proposals would be introduced to the legislature this year.

  • Vietnam Taking Measures to Manage Illegal Vapes

    Vietnam Taking Measures to Manage Illegal Vapes

    Credit: Harvepino

    The Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh, has requested that authorities take various measures to manage the country’s illegal e-cigarette market.

    Chinh has requested that the Ministry of Health communicate more about the harmful impacts of e-cigarettes and propose solutions to restrict the market.

    The Ministry of Finance would instruct customs to manage the transportation of e-cigarettes through the border and to tackle smuggling, according to media reports.

    The Ministry of Industry and Trade needs to manage the domestic market and fine individuals and organizations that sell e-cigarettes.

    This move is strange because last month, the Ministry of Industry and Trade was assigned the task of presiding over and coordinating with ministries and ministerial-level agencies to develop appropriate regulations to manage the products.

  • Cook Islands Lawmakers to Table Bill Banning Vapes

    Cook Islands Lawmakers to Table Bill Banning Vapes

    Credit: Oleksii

    Lawmakers in the Cook Islands have proposed a ban on all next-generation tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

    The proposal is included in the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2024, which will be tabled in Parliament this month.

    Cook Islands residents, permanent residents and work permit holders are not allowed to bring in any vaping or heated tobacco products for personal use, sale or distribution if they leave and return to the Cook Islands, according to the Bill.

    Tourists over the age of 21 are allowed to bring only one “imitation tobacco device” and up to 30 milliliters of e-liquid, according to media reports.

    The Bill says any breach of the regulations by individuals will result in a fine of $100,000 or up to three months in prison.

    Businesses caught importing imitation tobacco products face a $1 million fine. Additionally, non-compliant businesses will incur a daily penalty of $100,000 for each day the violation continues.

  • Brazil Agency Upholds Ban on Vaping Product Sales

    Brazil Agency Upholds Ban on Vaping Product Sales

    Credit: Dragon Claws

    The board of directors for the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) voted unanimously on April 19 to maintain a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes and other vaping products.

    Manufacturing, selling, importing, and advertising vapes has been banned in the country since 2009, but e-cigarettes are easily found in small shops and online stores across Brazil. And consumption, especially among young people, is on the rise.

    According to a survey by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), a federal government agency that gathers population data, 16.8 percent of students aged 13 to 17 said they had tried vaping at least once, according to media reports.

    Also, data from Covitel, which carries out surveys related to health matters, reveal that 4 million people have already used electronic cigarettes in Brazil, even though sales have not been authorized for 15 years.

    In 2022, Anvisa approved a technical report that indicated the need to maintain the ban and adopt additional measures to curb irregular e-cigarette sales, including more inspections and educational campaigns about the harms of vaping.

    The agency discussed the case again last week after a public consultation to hear contributions from experts, vape manufacturers, and consumers. Once more, Anvisa took a stance against the sale of vapes and based the decision on four main points.

  • Korolev: Russia Plan to Ban Vapes a ‘Radical Measure’

    Korolev: Russia Plan to Ban Vapes a ‘Radical Measure’

    A vape shop in Vladikavkaz, Russia in 2019. (Credit: irinabal18)

    A proposed ban on vapes in Russia is a “radical measure,” according to Maxim Korolev, editor-in-chief of the industry news agency Russian Tabak, reports HCH. 

    In an interview with NSN, Korolev commented on the recent bill that would completely ban the retail sale of nicotine and nicotine-free vapes in the Russian Federation “for the purpose of saving people.”

    “The ban is too radical a measure because it will deprive a significant number of Russians of the opportunity to receive nicotine without carcinogens, said Korolev, estimating this size of the impacted group at between 30 million and 40 million people.

    At the same time, he noted, a significant share of tobacco sales in Russia avoids taxes and regulations. “What our smokers who want to quit are now getting as an alternative is also not very clear,” said Korolev. “Perhaps this is not the worst measure if it later makes it possible to introduce legal products for alternative purposes, that is, with nicotine, but with carcinogens, without combustible tobacco.”

    Korolev insisted that Russians should be given the opportunity to choose alternative options to tobacco products.

    “[F]or decades, we hooked the entire male population on the nicotine needle through military service: almost everyone there started smoking. Now, we need to give people the opportunity to use alternative options before simply banning everything indiscriminately.”

    In 2023, the smoking rate in Russia was 18.7 percent, down from 24.2 percent in 2019. In 2022, there was a noted increase in smokers using e-cigarettes and vapes.

  • Nepal Readies to Place Ban on Vaping Products

    Nepal Readies to Place Ban on Vaping Products

    Credit: Patryk

    Preparations are underway to ban e-cigarettes in Nepal. Information Officer of the National Health Education, Information and Communication Center, Bhakta Bahadur KC, said.

    He said that the use of e-cigarettes is increasing among the youth in Nepal, and said legislation is being created to ban e-cigarettes as “they are as harmful to health as cigarettes.”

    Numerous studies have shown vaping to be at least 95 percent less risky than combustible cigarette smoking.

    According to statistics, in the last fiscal year alone, Nepal imported 3.2 million e-cigarettes and the business is worth Rs 210 million ($1.5 billion). Hookah and vape devices cost between Rs 10,000 and Rs 13,000.

    The letter of intent to ban e-cigarettes has already been sent to the Ministry of Health and Population, according to KC.

  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bans Vapes Provisionally

    Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bans Vapes Provisionally

    Photo: SakhanPhotography

    The government of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has banned the storage, sale and use of e-cigarettes for 60 days, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.

    All deputy commissioners have been directed to impose a complete ban on the sale of e-cigarettes and vapes to those under age 21 and its sale and storage within a 50-meter radius of all educational institutions in the province.

    Those caught violating these orders will face legal consequences under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

    The interim ban follows a series of meetings with the Provincial Alliance for Sustainable Tobacco Control, Blue Veins and KPTCC focused on the dangers of e-cigarettes and vapes and that examined global legislative and policy practices regarding the products’ sale and storage.

    “The decision has been taken in wake of alarming increase in use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vaping devices particularly among children and youth in the province,” said an official notification by the Home and Tribal Affairs Department of Khyber Pakhtukhwa, according to the Pakistan Observer.

    “This interim ban is a commendable step by the KP government, reflecting its proactive approach to public health,” said Qamar Naseem, civil society activist. “However, we must solidify this progress through comprehensive provincial legislation to ensure a permanent solution to this growing health concern.”

    “This ban is a significant victory for the health and well-being of our children and youth,” said Sana Ahmad, coordinator of the Child Rights Movement KP. “It prevents easy access to addictive substances and protects our future generations from the allure of harmful vaping products.”

    “We, the healthcare providers, appreciate the governor and chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for this decisive ban,” said Qazi Shahbaz, president of the Provincial Doctors Association. “It’s a step forward in the right direction, and we now urge the government to enact comprehensive legislation for a complete ban. This is not just a win for public health but a strong message that the health and safety of our citizens, especially our youth, are of paramount importance.”

  • Florida Bill Would Ban Vapes at State Parks, Beaches

    Florida Bill Would Ban Vapes at State Parks, Beaches

    Credit: Aleksandr Kondratov

    A Florida Senate panel approved a proposal to ban smoking and vaping in state parks and beaches.

    The Environment and Natural Resources Committee backed a measure (SB 1576), filed by Chair Ana Maria Rodriguez, that would lead to fines for smoking and vaping in state parks.

    Fines would start at $100 for the first violation and jump to $500 for each subsequent offense, according to media reports.

    The state park system mostly follows the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, which bars smoking inside buildings. The exception is Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, where smoking is prohibited. The park is deemed a “congested area” because of its layout and many visitors.

    While he supported the bill, Sen. Jonathan Martin suggested including an exemption for areas where people stay overnight.

    “I know a lot of state parks do allow for camping and RVs, enclosed containers where individuals might pay 30 bucks a night to stay there. Perhaps there could be a carve-out for that,” Martin said.

    The bill next goes to the Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government.

    A similar House bill (HB 495) has not been heard in committees.

    In 2022, lawmakers passed a measure that allows cities and counties to restrict smoking at beaches and parks that they own.

  • Tobacco Tax Not a Factor in Singapore’s Vaping Ban

    Tobacco Tax Not a Factor in Singapore’s Vaping Ban

    Credit: Andreykr

    The Singapore government said that the potential loss in revenue from tobacco tax was not a factor in its decision to ban the use of e-cigarettes in 2018.

    In his reply to a question by a Workers’ Party and Sengkang Member of Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also the Minister for Finance, said, “The Government’s decision to ban the use of e-cigarettes in 2018 was based on public health considerations, to protect our population from the harms of these products. The potential loss in tobacco tax revenue from the reduced consumption of tobacco products was not a factor in this decision.”

    … our priority is to protect the health of our population and prevent e-cigarettes from causing harm to our people, especially to younger Singaporeans.”

     

    Lawrence Wong

    Wong added that if the government were to legalize and tax e-cigarettes “the challenges would be similar to those we encounter for cigarettes and other tobacco products today.

    “In any case, the government has no plans to change our current approach, as our priority is to protect the health of our population and prevent e-cigarettes from causing harm to our people, especially to younger Singaporeans.”

  • Singapore Cracking Down on Illegal Vaping Imports

    Singapore Cracking Down on Illegal Vaping Imports

    A soldier is on duty in Changi Airport (SIN) – Credit: Phuong

    As part of a multi-agency effort to clamp down on vaping, Singapore authorities will step up checks at air, land and sea checkpoints in the coming months, starting with Changi Airport.

    “Incoming passengers may be screened for e-vaporizers and their components at the arrival halls, and those found with e-vaporizers or their components will be fined,” said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in a media release.

    Vaping is illegal in Singapore and offenders can be fined up to S$2,000 ($1,490). Those who import, distribute or sell such products face stiffer penalties, including a possible jail term.

    Passengers carrying vaping devices must pass through the Red Channel (for people with goods to declare) to dispose of the prohibited items. “Travellers who declare and surrender these items at the Red Channel will avoid penalties,” said MOH and HSA, according to reports.

    Additional Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) locations have been set up to flush out vaping violators, and security checks will also be conducted to detect and deter smuggling attempts.

    Apart from the border checkpoints, checks will be stepped up at places such as the central business district, shopping centres, parks, smoking areas, as well as public entertainment outlets such as bars and clubs.