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Category: Global Regulation

  • Malaysia to Enforce Tobacco Display Ban This Week

    Malaysia to Enforce Tobacco Display Ban This Week

    Restaurants and retail outlets across Klang Valley, Malaysia, are racing to comply with the upcoming tobacco display ban that takes effect October 1 under the Control of Public Health (Control of Sale) Regulations 2024. Operators have been covering cigarette shelves with shutters, tinted glass, and steel panels, while some businesses have chosen to stop selling tobacco products altogether.

    Industry associations say most members are on track, though challenges remain for smaller operators. “Some smaller operators may face challenges in terms of space and storage, but overall, members are aware that enforcement begins October 1, and are preparing accordingly,” said Datuk Jawahar Ali Taib Khan, president of the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners’ Association, which represents about 3,500 operators. The Petaling Jaya Coffeeshop Association added that shutters supplied by tobacco companies helped speed compliance, though design preferences vary.

    While operators brace for the ban, some anticipate a dip in cigarette sales and call for clearer guidelines and enforcement against illicit products. “Hopefully, the government will conduct frequent inspections to prevent the sale of illegal cigarettes as well,” Jawahar said. More than 51,000 shops nationwide will be affected by the new ruling.

  • Ireland to Ban Tobacco and Vape Vending Machine Sales

    Ireland to Ban Tobacco and Vape Vending Machine Sales

    Beginning today (September 29), Ireland will ban the sale of tobacco and nicotine inhaling products from self-service and vending machines under new rules contained in the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the measure will cut off a source of easy access for minors, calling it “another significant milestone” in the government’s tobacco control policy and Tobacco Endgame strategy.

    Minister of State for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drug Strategy Jennifer Murnane O’Connor stressed that the legislation aims squarely to protect children. “We are cutting off an avenue of easy access that has been shown to contribute to early experimentation and long-term addiction,” she said, adding that prevention is central to building a healthier Ireland. The Health Service Executive confirmed that Environmental Health Officers will conduct nationwide inspections to monitor compliance.

    The measure aligns Ireland with two-thirds of Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which recommends banning vending machine sales as a form of advertising and promotion.

  • Arizona Raises Tobacco Age to 21

    Arizona Raises Tobacco Age to 21

    A new law taking effect today raises Arizona’s minimum age to buy or possess tobacco products from 18 to 21, aligning the state with federal law passed in 2019. Lawmakers approved SB 1247 in June after federal officials warned Arizona risked losing funding if it failed to comply. Until now, Arizona was one of just seven states that had not updated its laws, leaving some retailers still selling to 18-year-olds.

    The law covers cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, vaping products, and hookah. Retailers who sell to under-21 customers face a Class 3 misdemeanor, while possession or distribution by those under 21 is a petty offense. A military exemption was included, but public health experts say base commanders are unlikely to honor it.

  • Russia to Require Licenses for Tobacco and Vape Sales From 2026

    Russia to Require Licenses for Tobacco and Vape Sales From 2026

    The Russian government approved a bill that will require licenses for the sale of all cigarettes and vaping products beginning March 1, 2026, in a bid to tighten market oversight and curb youth consumption. The bill now moves to the State Duma for debate and adoption.

    The law, modeled on alcohol industry rules, will mandate licenses for wholesale, retail, and delivery sales, with penalties including license revocation for violations such as selling to minors. Authorities are also weighing tougher measures, including mandatory registration in the national “Chestny Znak” digital tracking system and criminal liability for large-scale illegal trade.

  • U.K. Vape Industry Warns ‘Pride in Place’ Plan Could Backfire

    U.K. Vape Industry Warns ‘Pride in Place’ Plan Could Backfire

    The U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has branded Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s new Pride in Place program “seriously flawed,” warning it risks driving ex-smokers back to cigarettes and fueling the illicit vape trade. The plan would allow residents to block new vape shops on their high streets. UKVIA Director General John Dunne said this wrongly equates specialist vape stores with betting shops and other “unwanted” outlets, despite vaping being “the most effective method of helping adult smokers quit.”

    Instead, UKVIA is urging the government to introduce a compulsory vape retail licensing scheme, funded by retailers, to keep vapes out of unsuitable venues and support tougher enforcement against rogue sellers. Dunne argued that blocking legitimate vape stores undermines the U.K.’s smoke-free targets and risks strengthening the black market.

  • Concern That Malaysian Retailers Won’t be Ready for Vape Display Ban

    Concern That Malaysian Retailers Won’t be Ready for Vape Display Ban

    Anti-tobacco groups are raising concerns that some Malaysian retailers are still not compliant with the tobacco and vape retail display ban (RDB), which is scheduled for full enforcement on October 1 under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852). The Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) noted that out of more than 51,000 retailers nationwide, a significant number have yet to install the required enclosed cabinets for tobacco and vape products. Observations from the field show some stores leaving certain cigarette products openly displayed and vape products in glass cases.

    MCTC urged the Ministry of Health not to grant exceptions, though it suggested temporary measures—such as covering products with cloth or canvas—if cabinets are still being installed. The council warned that narratives claiming the ban harms small businesses are being used by some retailers to rally political support.

  • Indonesia Weighs Tobacco Tax Hike Amid Worker, Smuggling Concerns

    Indonesia Weighs Tobacco Tax Hike Amid Worker, Smuggling Concerns

    Earlier this week, Indonesia’s Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said that any increase in tobacco excise must be paired with safeguards for workers, warning that steep hikes could push the sector into decline without social protection programs. “You can’t kill the industry unless there’s a program to absorb the displaced workforce,” he told reporters, noting the risk of mass layoffs if cigarette excise rates rise too quickly.

    While higher taxes are designed to cut smoking rates and boost state revenues, Purbaya stressed the need for transition planning. He said he would review the condition of East Java’s cigarette industry and study the growing illegal market, which he warned is eroding legitimate businesses. The finance ministry is also investigating counterfeit excise stamps, which Purbaya believes could be costing the state significant revenue.

    Deputy Finance Minister Anggito Abimanyu confirmed that the 2026 excise tariff remains under review. Lawmakers recently agreed to raise the government’s 2025 customs and excise revenue target to Rp336 trillion ($19.7 billion), up from Rp334.3 trillion. Final details of next year’s tobacco tariff will be determined after an evaluation of this year’s performance.

  • CAPHRA Slams WHO Over Barriers to COP11 Participation

    CAPHRA Slams WHO Over Barriers to COP11 Participation

    The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) criticized the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) for imposing what it calls “insane” registration requirements for the upcoming COP11 in Geneva. Executive Coordinator Nancy Loucas said the late opening of registration, coupled with onerous demands for personal documentation, a letter of intent, a full CV, and a declaration of zero tobacco funding, is deliberately designed to exclude consumer advocacy groups and harm reduction voices. Despite the FCTC being in place for two decades, not a single consumer group has ever been granted observer status, while only 26 NGOs have been approved overall, far fewer than in comparable UN forums such as climate negotiations.

    CAPHRA said the WHO’s restrictive interpretation of Article 5.3 has been weaponized to silence stakeholders, including people who smoke or use safer nicotine products. Proceedings remain closed to the media and the public, with no live streaming or meaningful transparency, a practice Loucas calls fundamentally undemocratic. CAPHRA is urging reform to allow full and fair participation, stressing that genuine tobacco harm reduction requires including the very consumers most affected by global policy decisions.

  • Kenyan Retailers Push Back Against Tobacco Control Bill

    Kenyan Retailers Push Back Against Tobacco Control Bill

    Bar owners and retailers in Kenya held a protest today (September 24) and urged the Senate to halt the progress of the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024, citing a lack of public consultation. The Bars, Hotels and Liquor Traders Association of Kenya (BAHLITA) and the Retail Traders Association of Kenya (Retrak) also submitted a joint petition, arguing that consumers, retailers, and manufacturers—those most affected by the proposed law—have been excluded from the legislative process. They contend that the bill, sponsored by ODM Senator Catherine Mumma, has been rushed forward without meaningful stakeholder input.

    The petitioners warn that the bill’s stricter regulations on nicotine products, including synthetic nicotine and e-cigarettes, could harm small and medium-sized businesses, increase compliance costs, and inadvertently drive legal trade into the illicit market. With half of Kenya’s cigarette market already illegal, they argue that the legislation could exacerbate black-market activity, threaten livelihoods, and reduce employment in retail. The groups are calling for inclusive, transparent consultations before the bill proceeds to the Committee of the Whole House stage.

  • Bangladesh Pushes for Tobacco-Free Generation

    Bangladesh Pushes for Tobacco-Free Generation

    Tobacco industry stakeholders are closely monitoring calls from Bangladeshi experts and advocacy groups to amend the country’s tobacco control law with the stated goal of creating a “tobacco-free generation.” While public health advocates link tobacco use to rising rates of non-communicable diseases and urge stricter restrictions, the industry cautions that sweeping amendments could have wide-ranging economic and social impacts. Bangladesh’s tobacco sector supports millions of livelihoods, from farmers to small retailers, and contributes significantly to government revenue through taxes and export earnings. Industry representatives stress that any legal reforms must balance health objectives with the realities of employment, trade, and fiscal stability.

    From the industry’s perspective, an outright tightening of laws—such as bans on e-cigarettes and vaping—risks pushing consumers toward illicit markets, undermining both health and tax collection goals. The sector emphasizes the importance of pragmatic regulation, transparency, and meaningful dialogue between policymakers, public health groups, and industry stakeholders.