Tag: vape ban

Protesters Demand End to Mexico’s Vaping Ban

Vapers protested in front of Mexico’s Congress of the Union, calling for the country’s vaping ban to be replaced with risk-based regulation. The protest was organized by the World Vapers’ Alliance and All Vape Mexico.
The protesters also demanded a halt to the constitutional reform proposed by President Andres Mauel Lopez Obrador that would elevate the ban to the Constitution. In addition, they called for approval of a risk-based regulation allowing adult smokers access to vapor products to quit smoking combustible cigarettes.
Mexico’s vaping ban has been in place since May 2020.
“The ban was introduced in order to prevent underage vaping; however, minors now have full access to potentially dangerous products on the black market,” said Alberto Gomez Hernandez, policy manager of the World Vapers’ Alliance. “At the same time, smokers who want to quit smoking have difficulty finding safe vaping products. The ban has clearly been a failure and must be reversed as soon as possible. Legislation cannot be based on whim or ideology; it must be based on scientific evidence and the experience of other countries that have had good results.”
Vapes can easily be obtained on the informal market from underground vape shops and on the black market, which is controlled by organized crime groups.
“It is very unfortunate that the federal government thought that the ban would prevent many young people from having access to vaping and does not give people who want to quit smoking the opportunity to use this option,” said Deputy Sergio Barrera. “We need to have clear rules. We need to know who can produce it, who can distribute it and who can consume it, and that is why we are pushing for regulation.”
“The president sees a problem where there is actually a solution to smoking,” said Antonio Toscano, All Vape Mexico spokesperson. “His prohibitionist stance unprotects adult users, who are forced to buy black market products, where there are no quality controls, let alone controls on sales to minors. Prohibition is a danger to public health; good regulation could benefit public health enormously and save millions of lives.”
March 14, 2024
Bangladesh Considering Ban on All Vaping Products

Bangladesh is set to ban vapes and nicotine pouches, according to Filter.
The government has been considering a vape ban since 2019 when the U.S. e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury outbreak occurred—later determined to be caused by adulterated illicit products.
The health ministry has now drafted an amendment to Bangladesh’s Smoking and Using of Tobacco Products (Control) Act, which has been reviewed by the cabinet and must now be approved by parliament.
If the proposed ban is approved, anyone caught vaping, regardless of nicotine content, will be subject to a fine of BDT5,000 ($46). Sales, production, import, export, storage and transportation of vapes would also be banned, with penalties starting at a higher fine, three months’ incarceration or both. Larger scale activity or repeat offenses would face longer sentences.
The amendment would also ban flavors in tobacco products, increase the fine for smoking in public places and include further penalties for unlicensed tobacco sales.
Organizations like the Bangladesh Medical Association support the proposed ban, equating vaping with smoking cigarettes.
“A ban on vaping devices will have disastrous consequences for people trying to quit smoking cigarettes,” said Nafis Farhan, a member of Voice of Vapers Bangladesh. He attributed continued high smoking rates in the country to “limited availability of cessation tools, such as vapes.”
The proposed ban represents “a missed opportunity for harm reduction and a setback for public health,” according to Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers’ Alliance.
September 6, 2023
India Health Ministry Wants Crack Down on Vape Sales

Credit: Dovidovich Mikhail
The Union Health Ministry in New Delhi, India on Monday issued a public notice for stricter implementation of ‘The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019’, which prohibits the production, manufacturing, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of e-cigarettes.
“The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019 on December 5, 2019, prohibits the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of electronic cigarettes and the like devices in the interest of public health,” the Ministry’s public notice said, according to The Print.
The Ministry’s public notice comes after finding that the norms allegedly being flouted by the producers, manufacturers, importers, sellers and distributors in selling and advertising electronic cigarettes.
“It is hereby informed to all Producers, Manufacturers, Importers, Exporters, Distributors, Advertisers, Transporters including Couriers, Social Media Websites, e-Commerce Websites, Online shopping websites, Shopkeepers/ retailers etc. not to directly or indirectly, produce or manufacture or import or export or transport or sell or distribute or store electronic cigarettes, whether as a complete product or any part thereof; and if advertise electronic cigarettes or take part in any advertisement (in print, electronic media, internet or website or social media etc.) that directly or indirectly promotes the use of electronic cigarettes.”
A 2022 survey showed that 94 percent of Indian vapers have given up e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine-delivery systems (ENDS) following their ban in 2019.
The survey, designed by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and conducted in collaboration with the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, was disseminated online and targeted those aged 18 to 34. Most respondents were from Karnataka.
The survey also showed that over 56 percent of respondents believed there was a health risk in using ENDS products while 24 percent were unaware of any risks.
May 23, 2023
Study: Local, State Vape Bans Lead to More Smoking

A new study in Value in Health shows that local vape bans are leading to higher rates of combustible cigarette smoking, according to Filter.
The study used state-level cigarette sales data, showing that Massachusetts had 7.5 percent higher than expected per capita cigarette sales following a full ban on nicotine vapor products. Rhode Island and Washington, which both enacted nontobacco-flavored nicotine vape bans, showed an average estimate of 4.6 percent higher than expected per capita cigarette sales.
Researchers suggested that an additional 3.4 million cigarette packs were sold through convenience stores in those states during the three-month study period.
The study was funded by Juul Labs.
April 8, 2022
Myanmar Makes Vaping Illegal After 5-Month Debate

Credit: Bill Oxford
The government of Myanmar has approved a complete ban on vapor products. Experts now say consumers will be forced to look towards the black market or return to combustible cigarettes.
The bill to ban e-cigarettes and shisha won cabinet approval and unanimous support in the lower house five months after it was proposed by by San Shwe Win, a physician representing Yegyi in Ayeyarwady region, according to a story on coconuts.co.
“Today, e-cigarettes and shishas are easily accessible at most bars, nightclubs, [karaoke clubs] and other modern tea shops, restaurants and stores in Myanmar – for all ages and genders. It has become even more popular, and that’s a threat for all the young people out there,” San Shwe Win said at a government meeting.
Vaping has been popular in Myanmar since around 2017, where it has been falsely promoted as a means to quit smoking tobacco. Vape shops have proliferated in Yangon, and smoking pens have become stylish accessories.
Last month, a Myanmar Custom Department petitioned to approve the import of e-cigarettes but was rejected by the Ministry of Health and Sports.
August 10, 2020