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Category: Global Regulation

  • Uzbekistan Imposes Harsh Criminal Penalties on E-Cigarette Trade

    Uzbekistan Imposes Harsh Criminal Penalties on E-Cigarette Trade

    Uzbekistan enacted strict amendments to its Criminal Code, introducing severe penalties for the import, export, production, and sale of e-cigarettes and other nicotine-containing devices, according to local media reports. The nationwide ban now criminalizes all forms of circulation, including purchase, storage, and transportation. Large-scale violations or repeat offenses after administrative penalties can result in fines, corrective labor, restrictions of freedom, or up to five years’ imprisonment.

    Authorities say individuals may avoid prosecution if they self-report and surrender prohibited products voluntarily.

  • India Proposes New Taxes on Tobacco and ‘Sin Goods’

    India Proposes New Taxes on Tobacco and ‘Sin Goods’

    India’s government introduced two new tax bills today (December 1) aiming to maintain high levies on tobacco and other “sin goods” after the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation cess expires next year. The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill 2025, proposes excise duties of 60–70% on such products, with cigarette taxes calculated by length and filter type. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the GST compensation cess on tobacco will end once all related loan and interest obligations are cleared. A second bill would impose a fixed monthly levy on pan masala and other notified goods.

    The revenue is expected to fund health programs and national security while keeping high-risk products expensive to discourage consumption and reduce under-reporting. Both bills require manufacturer registration, including for small-scale and handmade producers.

    The legislation is part of a broader tax realignment and will next go to parliamentary panels for review before a likely vote in 2026.

  • Russian Deputies Call for Complete National Vape Ban

    Russian Deputies Call for Complete National Vape Ban

    A group of State Duma deputies proposed amendments to completely ban the sale of vapes and e-liquids in Russia, while also introducing stricter penalties for illegal trafficking and involving minors in nicotine use. The amendments, prepared by deputies led by Yaroslav Nilov, Yana Lantratova, and Nina Ostanina, have been submitted for consideration to relevant working groups and reviewed by RBC.

    The proposal is linked to the second reading of a bill on licensing the retail trade in tobacco and nicotine products. Deputies highlighted that the ban aligns with President Vladimir Putin’s call for radical measures to protect children and young people from vaping risks. The amendments were sent to multiple inter-factional working groups focusing on public health, moral education, and the protection of traditional Russian values.

    The initiative has been framed as a long-overdue measure to safeguard public health, according to Lantratova, who emphasized that partial restrictions are insufficient. The current bill, submitted by the government in September 2025, sets a licensing framework for retail sales of tobacco and nicotine products, with unlicensed sales prohibited from September 1, 2026, and a transition period until September 1, 2027. The Ministry of Finance has also proposed giving regional authorities the power to impose local bans on vape sales, notifying the Federal Service for Alcohol Tobacco Control accordingly.

  • Korean Lawmakers Advance Bill to Reclassify Synthetic Nicotine

    Korean Lawmakers Advance Bill to Reclassify Synthetic Nicotine

    South Korea’s National Assembly Judiciary Committee on November 26 approved an amendment to the Tobacco Business Act that would classify liquid and synthetic-nicotine e-cigarettes as tobacco, closing long-criticized regulatory gaps. The measure heads to a plenary vote on November 27 after nearly a decade of debate.

    The bill expands the definition of cigarettes to include products “manufactured from nicotine,” while excluding pharmaceutical nicotine products. To protect existing vape retailers from abrupt shutdowns, it grants a two-year suspension of distance rules for newly designated tobacco shops and urges government support for workers transitioning out of the sector.

    Lawmakers also recommended considering temporary tax relief as the new classification takes effect. Revisions made in committee shorten the rollout period to four months, require risk assessments for existing inventory, and set the taxable moment at manufacture or import.

    Finance Minister Koo Yoon-cheol said the government will begin risk assessments ahead of implementation to minimize disruption.

  • WHO Urges Vietnam to Ban Vapes and HTP Investment

    WHO Urges Vietnam to Ban Vapes and HTP Investment

    The World Health Organization recommended that Vietnam explicitly classify e-cigarette and heated tobacco trade as prohibited sectors in its amended Investment Law, leaving no exceptions. The call comes as the law is under parliamentary review, with the draft currently not listing these products as banned.

    WHO warned that the omission contradicts National Assembly Resolution 173, effective January 2025, which already prohibits the production, trading, and import of these products. The agency stressed that a clear, comprehensive ban is essential to protect public health and prevent regulatory loopholes.

    Data from Bach Mai Hospital indicate a 70% drop in emergency visits related to new-generation tobacco since the ban. WHO and Vietnam’s Ministry of Health oppose proposals allowing production for export, citing risks of smuggling and enforcement challenges.

  • Luxembourg Snus Law Draws Criticism as ‘De Facto Ban’

    Luxembourg Snus Law Draws Criticism as ‘De Facto Ban’

    Luxembourg-based snus producer Heintz Van Landewyck criticized the country’s new anti-tobacco legislation, which effectively removes snus from the domestic market despite not explicitly banning it. The law, approved in late October, limits nicotine in snus pouches to just 0.048 mg per pouch—roughly the amount naturally found in two aubergines (eggplants)—making the product unappealing to consumers seeking nicotine.

    Georges Krombach, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, warned that the legislation will push consumers to buy snus online, fueling the black market. He described the situation as an “industrial nightmare,” noting that the company had recently invested over €1 million in tax-compliant machinery for domestic production.

    Heintz Van Landewyck had supported age restrictions, warning labels, a nicotine range of 6–16 mg per pouch, and excise taxes, but the new limits force the company to relocate domestic production abroad, with a new factory planned in Trier, Germany.

    While the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) and Pirate Party echoed concerns about market disruption, other lawmakers, including CSV MP Françoise Kemp, stressed that nicotine is addictive and warned that flavored products pose risks to youth.

    Krombach expressed hope that Luxembourg might reconsider the nicotine limit to allow legal domestic sales, rather than driving consumers to foreign online sources.

  • Mexico Committee Criminalizes Vape Sales

    Mexico Committee Criminalizes Vape Sales

    A congressional committee in Mexico approved an initiative that would impose prison sentences of one to eight years and fines of roughly 11,000 to 226,000 pesos ($594 to $12,204) for the “marketing and promotion of vapes and electronic cigarettes.” The ruling advanced with 27 votes in favor, eight against and one abstention, amid procedural complaints from opposition lawmakers.

    Opposition parties—PAN, PRI, and Movimiento Ciudadano—rejected criminal sanctions for people who purchase or possess vaping products, arguing the measure effectively criminalizes users and risks expanding the black market. PRI deputy Ana Isabel González warned that pushing vape sales underground would place youth at greater risk.

    Movimiento Ciudadano lawmakers went further, calling the proposal “one of the most punitive rulings” to date. Deputy Juan Ignacio Zavala noted that the initiative allows prison time even for those who acquire an e-cigarette. His colleague Amancay González argued that sentences of up to eight years would exceed penalties for selling drugs like cocaine.

    But Morena deputy Fernando Castro defended the reform, insisting it targets clandestine sellers rather than consumers and seeks to protect public health.

    The initiative now proceeds to the Lower House’s Board of Directors for further discussion.

  • Kazakhstan to Ease Ban on Hookahs, Not Vapes

    Kazakhstan to Ease Ban on Hookahs, Not Vapes

    Kazakhstan may ease restrictions on hookah use, according to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Sanzhar Adilov. He confirmed that the issue is under review, with a final decision to be made after assessments and public hearings. Officials are considering allowing the import of hookah equipment, permitting hookah use in entertainment venues, and defining a list of substances and conditions for use.

    Adilov emphasized that the current ban on vapes will remain in place, with additional measures introduced to strengthen criminal penalties for their sale and transport. “On vaping, our position is clear: increased responsibility and zero tolerance,” he said.

  • Nepal Court Leaves Packaging Warning in Limbo

    Nepal Court Leaves Packaging Warning in Limbo

    Nepal’s plan to mandate 100% coverage of tobacco packaging with health warnings has stalled nearly 10 months after its approval, following a Supreme Court interim order. The directive, sanctioned on February 3 by then-Health Minister Pradip Paudel, was set to take effect August 2. It aimed to expand on Nepal’s earlier 90% warning requirement, which won the country international recognition in 2015.

    The case was filed by Surya Nepal Company, the country’s largest cigarette manufacturer, which challenged the directive in court. As a result, implementation has been blocked, leaving the Ministry of Health unable to enforce the measure. Officials say the judiciary has become an obstacle to tobacco control efforts.

    The Ministry of Health has pledged to revive the stalled directive, stressing the need for dynamic laws to address tobacco’s growing toll.

  • Selangor Drafting Policy to Regulate Vape

    Selangor Drafting Policy to Regulate Vape

    The Malaysian state of Selangor is drafting a policy paper that could lead to a gradual ban on electronic cigarette use, according to state public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin. She said the policy will align with the Tobacco Product Control Act for Public Health 2023 (Act 852) and take into account market realities, public health impacts, and enforcement needs. The announcement was made during the Selangor state assembly sitting in Shah Alam in response to a query about prohibiting vapes.

    Jamaliah said the state government has already begun engagement sessions with stakeholders, including the Selangor State Health Department and local authorities, to discuss implementation. Initial steps include removing vape-related advertisements and promotional signage at retail outlets across the state. She emphasized that enforcement will be strengthened through cooperation between state agencies, local authorities, and federal bodies.

    The state also plans to expand awareness campaigns targeting youths, highlighting the risks and harmful health effects of vaping. Advocacy programs will involve secondary schools and universities through carnivals, talks, and interactive sessions. Health clinics will be equipped with support hotlines and nicotine addiction screening services to assist individuals seeking to quit vaping.