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Category: Global Regulation

  • Russia Moves Toward Ban on E-Cigarettes and Vapes

    Russia Moves Toward Ban on E-Cigarettes and Vapes

    Yesterday (March 25), Russia’s State Commission for Combating Illicit Trafficking in Industrial Products, chaired by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, backed a proposal to fully ban the production, import, and sale of electronic cigarettes, vapes, and refill liquids. Sources told Vedomosti that the next step will be drafting a bill, with authors likely to include State Duma deputies, the Ministry of Health, or the Ministry of Industry and Trade. A specific list of devices to be banned, potentially including e-hookahs and electronic pipes, will be finalized after further discussion.

    President Vladimir Putin has previously expressed support for restrictions. However, experts warn that a ban could fuel Russia’s already large gray market, which accounts for roughly 68% of e-cigarette sales, potentially undermining enforcement. In 2024, the Russian e-cigarette market was estimated at over 250 billion rubles ($3 billion), with more than 245 million devices sold and 1.2 million liters of liquids produced for retail.

    While the ban’s official legislation is still pending, the State Commission’s approval marks a significant step toward stricter regulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems in Russia.

  • Belgium Health Minister Wants EU to Tighten Vape Regs

    Belgium Health Minister Wants EU to Tighten Vape Regs

    Belgium’s Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke called on the European Union to tighten regulations on vaping, citing rising health risks and accusing the e-cigarette industry of targeting young people. Speaking during a visit by EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Michael McGrath to Sciensano in Brussels, Vandenbroucke urged stricter EU-wide limits on substances in e-cigarettes, a ban on disposable vapes, and restrictions on flavors, mirroring measures already in place in Belgium and the Netherlands.

    McGrath emphasized the scale of the issue and the need for stronger coordination and the use of scientific research across member states. The European Commission is expected to propose updated market surveillance rules later this year.

  • Tasmania’s New Bill Aims at Illicit Tobacco, Vapes

    Tasmania’s New Bill Aims at Illicit Tobacco, Vapes

    Days after retailers called on the government to change tactics that it said were largely ineffective, Tasmania introduced new legislation to crack down on illegal tobacco and vaping products. The Public Health Amendment (Prohibited Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2026, introduced in Parliament by Health Minister Bridget Archer yesterday (March 24), creates new offences and increases penalties for selling illicit products, grants authorities powers to close non-compliant businesses, bans vending machine sales and public displays of smoking paraphernalia, and strengthens enforcement against sales to minors.

    Police Minister Felix Ellis emphasized the need for tough action to prevent organized crime linked to illegal tobacco, while calling for a coordinated national approach to complement Tasmania’s measures.

  • Arizona Lawmakers Debate Bill That Would Regulate Alternative Products

    Arizona Lawmakers Debate Bill That Would Regulate Alternative Products

    After passing through the full House, Arizona’s HB 4001, has been read by the Senate and is currently in the early stages of debate. Introduced by Rep. Jeff Weninger, the Bill would create a new regulatory framework for “alternative nicotine products” such as vapes and nicotine pouches. The bill would require manufacturers and distributors to obtain state licenses, with non-transferable permits tied to specific locations, and bring oversight under the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control rather than traditional health regulators. It also mandates that products meet federal standards — either having U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorization or being made in FDA-registered facilities — and, by 2028, requires consumable materials to be manufactured and assembled in the U.S. The Bill would impose fines of up to $10,000 for repeat violations.

    Supporters, including industry representatives, argue the measure fills regulatory gaps, aligns enforcement with existing alcohol ID checks, and supports harm reduction by maintaining access to alternatives that can help adults move away from cigarettes. However, critics — including Rep. Cesar Aguilar, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, and public health advocates — warn the bill could weaken enforcement by shifting oversight away from health authorities and limiting undercover investigations. They also argue the proposed fines are too low to deter large retailers and that the legislation falls short of a comprehensive licensing system covering all nicotine products, potentially leaving loopholes that undermine efforts to prevent youth sales.

  • South Korea to Regulate Vapes as Conventional Tobacco

    South Korea to Regulate Vapes as Conventional Tobacco

    South Korea announced it will regulate synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes under conventional tobacco laws starting April 24, closing a loophole that previously exempted these products from oversight. Under the revised Tobacco Business Act, synthetic nicotine is treated like traditional tobacco, banning its use in smoke-free zones with fines up to 100,000 won ($69), requiring sellers to register as authorized retailers, and prohibiting online sales. The law also targets youth-focused marketing, limiting flavor descriptors and packaging imagery, with violations carrying fines up to 5 million won ($3,472).

    The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported a youth vaping rate of 2.9% in 2025, close to 3.3% for conventional cigarettes, with 61.4% of youth smokers using both. Health officials said the revision establishes a youth smoking prevention network aligned with WHO FCTC standards.  

  • Tasmanian Retailers Demand Tobacco Tax Overhaul

    Tasmanian Retailers Demand Tobacco Tax Overhaul

    Tasmania’s independent retailers are calling on the Australian government to overhaul its tobacco excise strategy, warning that the black market has spiraled “beyond control.” Tasmania Independent Retailers (TIR), representing 80 IGA and IGA-branded stores, said illicit cigarettes are being sold for as little as A$10 per pack ($7), compared with A$40–50 ($28–35) for legal products, fueling organized crime and undercutting legitimate retailers.

    TIR chair Michael Baxter criticized the government for persisting with high excise rates and heavy enforcement spending while failing to curb illegal sales, citing unregulated menthol products and weak age checks as risks to youth. Federal excise revenue has dropped from over A$16 billion ($11.2 billion) in 2019 to about A$7.4 billion ($5.2 billion) currently, and 2025 research by FTI Consulting estimates that illicit tobacco now accounts for roughly half of all cigarettes consumed in Australia. Baxter called for recalibrated excise settings and more targeted enforcement, labeling current policy “a disaster” that has left the government effectively losing control of the market.

  • Macau Pushes Ahead with Smoke-Free Plans

    Macau Pushes Ahead with Smoke-Free Plans

    Macau authorities are advancing plans to strengthen tobacco control through proposed amendments to the Tobacco Control Law, despite acknowledging enforcement challenges and a slowdown in the decline in smoking rates. Measures under consultation include expanding no-smoking zones in high-traffic areas, banning emerging products such as e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and hookahs, and introducing standardized packaging with larger health warnings. Pilot initiatives — such as smoke-free areas near schools and public spaces, and trial smoking booths — may be expanded if successful, alongside the use of body-worn cameras by inspectors to support enforcement.

    Officials cautioned that stricter rules must be balanced with practical enforcement and market dynamics. While public support for tougher controls is strong, concerns remain around compliance and personal freedoms. Authorities also warned that significant increases in tobacco taxes could drive cross-border purchases and illicit trade, noting that current tax levels are below global benchmarks. The government signaled a phased approach combining regulation, enforcement, and education to progress toward its long-term smoke-free objective.

  • Russia Announces Imminent Regs on Vape Products

    Russia Announces Imminent Regs on Vape Products

    Russia is expected to introduce legislation in the coming months to license the circulation of vape products, as authorities seek to address a market widely affected by counterfeit nicotine products. According to lawmaker Alexander Tolmachev, many products contain significantly higher nicotine levels than declared and often lack transparent ingredient information, underscoring the need for tighter oversight.

    The proposed licensing regime is intended to restore control over the market, alongside broader efforts to eliminate illicit products and standardize vape packaging with health warnings similar to those required for cigarettes. The move comes amid wider regulatory tightening, including new measures targeting youth health protection, restrictions on advertising, and enhanced enforcement against illegal online tobacco sales.

  • Latvia Continues Plan of Raising Tobacco Taxes

    Latvia Continues Plan of Raising Tobacco Taxes

    Latvia has seen a dramatic rise in cigarette prices over the past decade, with the excise tax on popular brands like Winston doubling since 2017. According to an analysis by Latvian Television’s investigative program “Aizliegtais paņēmiens”, excise revenue from tobacco grew 53% between 2017 and 2025, reaching €291 million last year. The price of a pack of Winston cigarettes increased from €3 in 2017 to around €5.40 in 2025, with taxes now making up roughly 81% of the retail price. Planned further excise increases of 15% in both 2027 and 2028 could push prices near €8 per pack.

    While higher excise duties have boosted government revenue, they have also raised concerns about the growth of the illegal tobacco market, as retail sales volumes fell approximately 22% over the same period. Tobacco is not domestically produced in Latvia, presenting fewer variables for authorities to weigh when considering excise policy.

  • Kazakhstan to Regulate Hookah Bars, as Ban Proved Ineffective

    Kazakhstan to Regulate Hookah Bars, as Ban Proved Ineffective

    Kazakhstan is moving toward the formal legalization and regulation of hookah businesses after more than a decade of largely unenforced bans. Despite prohibitions on smoking in public places and hookah use in catering establishments since 2013, hookahs remain widely available in cafes and restaurants, with authorities acknowledging that enforcement has been ineffective. An early draft of amendments to the Public Health Code notes that the country now has roughly 22,000 hookah establishments, four times the number before the ban, highlighting the gap between law and practice.

    The proposed legislation would create a licensed legal category for hookah establishments, with operators required to pay a fee of about $1,700. While legalization aims to regulate the industry rather than allow unrestricted use, smoking would still be prohibited in malls, theaters, cinemas, and sports facilities. Restaurants and cafes serving hookah would need to meet ventilation standards and maintain designated smoking areas, signaling a shift toward controlled oversight rather than outright prohibition.