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Category: Global Regulation

  • UK Passes Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Create ‘Smoke-Free Generation’

    UK Passes Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Create ‘Smoke-Free Generation’

    The UK Parliament has passed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, introducing a phased ban on cigarette sales to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, effectively creating a “smoke-free generation.” The legislation also grants ministers new powers to regulate tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products, including controls on flavors, packaging, and marketing.

    The bill expands restrictions on vaping, banning its use in cars carrying children as well as in playgrounds, near schools and at hospitals, while allowing use in certain outdoor and private settings. Smoking and vaping will remain permitted in homes and some outdoor spaces, including hospitality venues.

    Officials described the measure as a major public health intervention aimed at reducing smoking-related harm, while some lawmakers raised concerns about its impact on retailers. Health groups welcomed the legislation and called for additional support for smoking cessation programs, however, critics find the regulation too broad and obtuse.

    “A critically important element of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is that it gives the government the power to regulate nicotine pouch products,” said Markus Lindblad, head of legal and external affairs at Haypp. “Nicotine pouches do not contain tobacco, nor produce vapor, so they fell outside the scope of existing nicotine product laws. Introducing regulations such as an 18+ age-of-sale and an upper limit of 20mg of nicotine per pouch will help send the message that these products are for adult nicotine users only. Oral nicotine products have enabled Sweden to achieve smoke-free status, and with sensible regulation arising from this Bill, pouches can play a similar role driving down smoking rates in the UK.”

  • Connecticut House Advances Bill to Limit Vape Shop Growth

    Connecticut House Advances Bill to Limit Vape Shop Growth

    Connecticut lawmakers have approved legislation aimed at reducing the number of smoke and vape shops and strengthening oversight of retailers selling nicotine products. The state House passed the measure 140-3, giving the Department of Consumer Protection expanded authority to deny e-cigarette dealer licenses based on business practices and market saturation.

    Under the bill, regulators could reject license applications if more than 50% of a business’s revenue comes from nicotine-related products or if such products occupy more than 25% of retail space. The proposal also allows the state to deny new licenses in municipalities that already have one dealer per 2,500 residents, while renewal applications would not be subject to this density limit.

  • 7th Circuit Upholds Wisconsin Ban on Unauthorized Vape Sales

    7th Circuit Upholds Wisconsin Ban on Unauthorized Vape Sales

    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has ruled that federal law does not preempt Wisconsin’s authority to ban the sale of e-cigarettes that lack FDA authorization, allowing the state to continue enforcing its restrictions. The decision rejects arguments from vaping industry groups that federal tobacco regulations should override state-level controls on product sales and marketing.

    The court found that while the FDA regulates tobacco products at the federal level, states retain the power to impose their own rules on how such products are sold within their borders. The ruling reinforces the ability of states to take independent action against unauthorized vaping products, particularly those that have not received marketing authorization from the FDA.

  • Cyprus Compromise May Solve EU Tobacco Impasse

    Cyprus Compromise May Solve EU Tobacco Impasse

    International Policy Digest is reporting that a new compromise proposal from Cyprus may help break the long-standing deadlock among EU member states over revising the Tobacco Excise Directive, which has not been updated since 2011. The European Commission’s 2025 proposal sought to raise minimum excise duties and extend taxation to newer products such as heated tobacco and nicotine pouches, but faced strong opposition from several countries concerned about market disruption and illicit trade.

    The Cyprus proposal retains higher taxes and broader product coverage but introduces a more gradual approach, including transition periods for implementation and limits on automatic inflation-linked increases. It also offers more flexibility for member states in applying taxes to newer nicotine products, addressing key concerns raised in earlier negotiations that stalled progress.

    Initial reactions from EU governments suggest cautious support for the revised approach, though unanimous agreement from all 27 member states remains required. The outcome is time-sensitive, as failure to reach a deal during Cyprus’s presidency could shift negotiations to Ireland, where officials are expected to push for stricter tax measures.

  • South Korea to Regulate Vapes as Cigarettes from April 24

    South Korea to Regulate Vapes as Cigarettes from April 24

    South Korea will begin regulating liquid e-cigarettes under the same framework as conventional cigarettes starting April 24, following revisions to the Tobacco Business Act. The updated law expands the definition of tobacco products to include all nicotine-based products, bringing vapes under rules covering health warnings, advertising restrictions, and retail licensing requirements.

    The changes also extend smoking bans to vaping, prohibiting use in designated non-smoking areas, and introduce tighter controls on automated sales devices amid concerns over youth access. Authorities said enforcement checks will begin immediately, as vape use continues to rise despite declining conventional cigarette smoking rates.

  • Vanuatu Eyes Single Cigarette Sales

    Vanuatu Eyes Single Cigarette Sales

    Vanuatu health authorities intensified enforcement of the ban on single cigarette sales, imposing fines of up to VT700,000 ($5,740) for individuals and VT4 million ($32,800) for businesses found in violation. Compliance officers are targeting retailers selling “single sticks,” incorporating tobacco control into routine inspections and acting through confiscations and destruction of illicit products.

    Officials say the crackdown aims to curb youth access, as single-cigarette sales make tobacco more affordable and accessible to minors despite rising pack prices. Authorities are also reinforcing regulations requiring full-pack sales and age verification, alongside public awareness efforts including warning signage at retail points.

  • Alabama Extends Indoor Smoking Ban to Vapes

    Alabama Extends Indoor Smoking Ban to Vapes

    Alabama lawmakers approved amendments that extend existing smoking restrictions to electronic nicotine delivery systems under the state’s Clean Indoor Air Act, which it renamed the Vivian Davis Figures Clean Indoor Air Act. Under the changes, vaping will be prohibited in the same public places where traditional tobacco smoking is banned, including workplaces, restaurants, and government buildings. The updated law, set to take effect October 1, reflects a broader move to align the regulation of emerging nicotine products with established tobacco control measures.

  • Tasmania Intensifies Crackdown on Illicit Tobacco

    Tasmania Intensifies Crackdown on Illicit Tobacco

    Government officials in Tasmania said they are ramping up enforcement against illicit tobacco and vaping products, with authorities seizing goods worth more than A$6.8 million ($4.9 million) since July 2025 and issuing 159 infringement notices. Recent actions include a major Devonport bust where police confiscated illicit tobacco valued at A$390,000 ($281,000), part of broader efforts that have also removed millions of cigarettes, large volumes of loose tobacco, and tens of thousands of e-cigarettes from the market.

    The crackdown is set to be reinforced by new legislation, with the Public Health Amendment Bill 2026 introducing tougher penalties, new offences, and powers to shut down businesses involved in illegal trade. Officials say the measures aim to disrupt organized supply chains, reduce smoking rates, and limit youth access to unregulated nicotine products.

  • Indonesia to Enforce New Vape Rules from July

    Indonesia to Enforce New Vape Rules from July

    Indonesia is set to implement new e-cigarette regulations from July under Government Regulation No. 28/2024, aligning controls more closely with those for conventional cigarettes. The rules will introduce a minimum age of 21, restrict advertising (including social media), set limits on nicotine content, mandate pictorial health warnings, and create smoke-free areas. The move is part of broader efforts to strengthen public health protections, with officials also preparing additional guidelines and highlighting the need to address youth access and marketing practices.

  • Namibia Moves to Tighten Regs on Vapes, Alternative Products

    Namibia Moves to Tighten Regs on Vapes, Alternative Products

    Namibia is reviewing its Tobacco Products Control Act to strengthen oversight of e-cigarettes and other emerging nicotine products, amid rising youth usage and concerns over weak enforcement. Health officials say the reforms aim to close regulatory gaps and curb illicit trade, with plans to join international protocols targeting the black market. Public health experts warn that aggressive marketing and perceptions of reduced harm are driving uptake among young people. At the same time, authorities acknowledge ongoing challenges in enforcement and compliance as demand for vaping products continues to grow.