Tag: regulation

Serbia to Fine Retailers Selling Vapes to Youth

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Sellers of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products will be fined around €430 ($469) for selling to minors, according to a recent amendment to the Law on Consumer Protection.
In Serbia, minors can purchase e-cigarettes and other products such as vapes in local markets, kiosks, and even in coffee shops, though sellers will now be fined for selling them, according to EurActive.
“In the legislative system of the Republic of Serbia, this issue is not regulated. There is no definition of electronic cigarettes and other products with or without nicotine, as well as a ban on selling them to minors. This is precisely why the urgent need for regulatory action, which is being implemented now, is emphasized,” Serbia’s Internal and Foreign Trade Ministry stated.
The relevant ministry announced that it is starting to work on amendments to the Law on Consumer Protection in this part because it believes that this is the solution to a major national problem.
“The main goal is to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes and other products to minors, as a particularly sensitive category. In this way, sanctions will also be enabled in the case of the sale, service and gifting of these products,” the Ministry stated.
With the new decision, a merchant will be fined 50,000 dinars (around €430) if they sell to a minor, the Ministry said.
The popularity of e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems among non-smoking youth and adults represents a significant public health problem, as they encourage nicotine addiction and expose users to carcinogenic substances.
They also increase the likelihood that individuals will start using other tobacco products, such as cigarettes, according to the Ministry.
“The conclusion of all conducted research is that by consuming an electronic cigarette, with or without nicotine filling, not only water vapor is sent into the air, but also a number of chemicals. The harmful effects of these products reflect on the health of individuals and intensively spread to all components of the environment,” it added.
The change in the law will prohibit the sale, service and gifting of electronic cigarettes with or without nicotine as well as other products intended for smoking, snorting, sucking, chewing, or inhaling vapor to persons under 18. It is also prohibited for persons under 18 to sell them.
April 12, 2023
Texas House Bill Would Ban Vaping at Colleges

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A bill introduced in the Texas House of Representatives would ban the use of all tobacco and vaping products at colleges and universities in the state of Texas by Aug. 1, 2024.
Rep. Suleman Lalani has introduced H.B. 3124, requiring “each institution of higher education shall adopt a policy prohibiting the use” of tobacco products and e-cigarettes by Aug. 1, 2024, according to Charlie Minato of Halfwheel.
The bill received a public hearing Monday in the Texas House’s Higher Education Committee. It currently does not appear to have any additional sponsors.
The five largest universities in the state all have some sort of tobacco-free policy on campus though some—Texas A&M and UT Arlington—are stricter than others like the University of Houston.
April 12, 2023
Numerous Vape Shops Close After Taiwan Vape Ban

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Since the vaping ban was enacted in Taiwan on March 22, 15 out of 44 vape shops in Kaohsiung City have closed, according to the city’s Department of Health.
Among the city’s 44 stores, 10 have completely shut down their businesses while 15 have closed their doors, according to media reports. The rest of the stores have switched to selling other products, as the store owners said that the fines are too high to risk, according to Taiwan News.
In addition to intensive inspections of physical stores, the health department is monitoring online sales and social media advertisements. So far, one violator who made e-cigarette advertisements will be interviewed and fined.
The amended regulations to Taiwan’s Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act ban e-cigarettes entirely, raise the smoking age to 20 and increase penalties for violators.
According to the new regulations, manufacturing or importing e-cigarettes is punishable by a fine of up to NT$50 million ($1.65 million). Advertising agencies, media, and advertisers are subject to a maximum fine of NT$2 million if they are caught advertising unsanctioned tobacco products.
Selling or displaying unsanctioned tobacco products is punishable by a maximum fine of NT$1 million. The fine for supplying novel tobacco products and their paraphernalia is NT$10,000 to NT$250,000, and vaping is punishable by a fine between NT$2,000 and NT$10,000.
April 12, 2023
UK to Offer 1 Million Smokers Free Vapes to Quit

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Up to 1 million smokers will be encouraged to swap their cigarettes for vapes, according to the British government. Pregnant women will be offered financial incentives to switch, reports Reuters.
“Up to two out of three lifelong smokers will die from smoking. Cigarettes are the only product on sale which will kill you if used correctly,” Health Minister Neil O’Brien will say in a speech later on Tuesday, the government said.
“We will offer a million smokers new help to quit. We will be funding a new national ‘swap to stop’ scheme—the first of its kind in the world.”
One million smokers will be given a free vaping starter kit to encourage them to give up tobacco products.
Pregnant women will also be offered up to £400 to stop smoking as part of a package of measures in England unveiled by the government on Tuesday.
A consultation will be launched on compelling cigarette manufacturers to put advice on quitting inside packs.
April 11, 2023
Public Hearing for Manufacturing Rules Tomorrow

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will hold a public hearing tomorrow, April 12, concerning its proposed guidelines for vaping product manufacturers. When finalizing its rules, the agency weighs the public’s perspective and the perspective of stakeholders like the vapor manufacturing companies that produce the products.
The FDA will also bring together its Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee on May 18 to get the opinions of those independent experts. The proposed rules would apply to all FDA-regulated bulk and finished tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes.
The hearing is an opportunity for the public to verbally comment on the agency’s proposed rule “Requirements for Tobacco Product Manufacturing Practice.” The FDA is proposing new requirements for vaping and other tobacco product manufacturers regarding the manufacture, design, packing and storage of their products.
Registration also includes a “listen-only” option for those who want to attend the session but do not want to request to speak.
When announcing the hearing, the FDA said speaking spots were limited, and the agency could not guarantee that it would be able to accommodate all requests. The agency asked groups and organizations to select a single spokesperson to help the agency hear as many different perspectives as possible.
Registration to provide oral comments closed on March 31, 2023. The oral session will be recorded, and a transcript will be added to the docket of the proposed rule.
April 11, 2023
UK to Launch Youth Vaping ‘Enforcement Squads’

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The UK is set to launch “illicit vapes enforcement squads” as part of a crackdown on the illegal sale of e-cigarettes to youth under the age of 18.
Led by Trading Standards, the squads will work across the country and share knowledge across regional networks and local authorities.
The government says its priority is to prevent people from smoking, and supporting them to quit. It has admitted vaping is a preferable alternative for adults, reports Sky News.
However, it recognizes it has an issue with illegal sales to children and illicit vapes being introduced into the market.
Neil O’Brien, the health minister who will unveil the new plans said the new illicit vapes enforcement squad will work across the country and clamp down on those businesses that sell vapes to children.
“Our call for evidence will also allow us to get a firm understanding of the steps we can take to reduce the number of children accessing and using vapes,” he said.
April 10, 2023
Palau Makes Sale, Use of Vaping Products Illegal

The small island nation of Palau has outlawed e-cigarettes and other vaping products after President Surangel Whipps signed a law for “a total ban on the import, advertising, sale, and use of e-cigarettes” on March 29.
The law – RPPL 11-27 – has expanded the country’s Tobacco Control Act to include e-cigarettes and will come into effect 60 days after being enacted, according to the NZ Herald.
Beginning May 29, businesses and individuals can be prosecuted if found with e-cigarette products.
Individuals who are caught violating the law could face a US$1000 (NZ$1588) fine and businesses or persons importing, distributing, and/or selling the product could face a US$20,000 (NZ$31,753) fine.
The initial bill was introduced in the Palau National Congress in July last year.
April 4, 2023
April 30 Deadline for Malaysian Vape Manufacturers

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Following the removal of nicotine e-liquid or gel from the Poisons Act 1952 to allow for e-cigarettes and vaping products to be taxed in Malaysia, local manufacturers producing e-liquid or gel products containing nicotine must register their manufacturing activities with the Customs Department by April 30, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF).
“Early registration within this prescribed period may prevent manufacturers from being charged a compound for the offense of late registration. This early registration will ensure comprehensive industry compliance and smooth tax collection by May 2023,” the MOF said in a statement on April 2, according to The Edge Markets.
This follows the imposition of an excise tax of 40 sen ($0.004) cents per milliliter on nicotine e-liquids or gels.
rime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the government’s plan to impose an excise tax on liquid or gel products containing nicotine when he re-tabled Budget 2023 in February.
The previous government under Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s administration also proposed to extend tax collection from gel or liquid products containing nicotine for vapes and e-cigarettes in the tabling of Budget 2022 by imposing a tax of RM1.20 per ml. However, the plan was postponed, because nicotine vape liquid was still classified as a Class C poison under the Poisons Act.
The new excise duty, the MOF said, would enable the government to tax the vape industry which is estimated to be worth over RM2 billion ($454 million), and at the same time help discourage the use of vapes.
It will also help improve rules and control of excise duty goods by the customs to avoid leakage of national income, according to media reports.
April 3, 2023
Malaysia Removes Nicotine E-Liquids From Poisons List

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Malaysia’s government has removed e-liquid containing nicotine used in e-cigarettes and other vaping products from the country’s Poisons List of controlled substances. The move enables taxation on e-liquids.
Media reports claim the removal effectively legalizes e-cigarettes with nicotine without any regulations in place, as the current Control of Tobacco Products Regulations 2004 under the Food Act 1983 only cover conventional cigarettes and other tobacco products.
The Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022 – which seeks to regulate both tobacco and vape products, besides a ban on these products for anyone born from 2007 – has yet to be tabled in the current 15th Parliament, reports Code Blue.
Health Minister Zaliha Mustafa gazetted an order Friday to exempt nicotine “preparation of a kind used for smoking through electronic cigarette and electric vaporizing device, in the form of liquid or gel” from the Poisons List under the Poisons Act 1952 – overriding the Poisons Board that unanimously rejected the proposal last Wednesday.
The Excise Duties (Amendment) Order 2023 – which subjects e-liquid or gel containing nicotine to excise duty of 40 sen ($0.004) per milliliter – gazetted by Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the prime minister, was dated last March 29, the same day as the Poisons Board meeting.
The tax on e-liquids with nicotine went into effect on April 1.
CodeBlue reported that the Poisons Board, an independent body formed under the Poisons Act, wholly objected to the government’s proposal to exclude nicotine-containing e-liquid from the Poisons List on the basis that the harm of allowing e-cigarettes to be sold to anyone, including children, outweighed the benefit of tax revenue from such products containing nicotine, a highly addictive substance.
April 2, 2023
UK to Consider Banning Flavors Other Than Tobacco

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The UK government will consider banning fruit-flavored vapes in order to combat youth, ITV News reports.
Public Health Minister Neil O’Brien is expected to make a speech next month calling for an investigation into the issue, with the possibility of banning the addictive fruity flavors that have exploded in popularity in recent years.
In the UK it is illegal to sell vapes to those under 18, there are also strict limits on nicotine content, refill bottle and tank sizes, as well as restrictions on advertising and labeling.
On Thursday, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said the Department of Health and Social Care is exploring ways to tackle youth vaping in response to a question in the Commons.
The government is still keen to promote vaping among adults as an alternative to smoking.
March 31, 2023