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Category: Global Regulation

  • Philippines Advocates Alleging Violations from Zyn, IQOS

    Philippines Advocates Alleging Violations from Zyn, IQOS

    Anti-smoking groups in the Philippines are calling on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to act on complaints alleging violations of the Vape Regulation Act of 2022 by brands including Zyn and IQOS, according to the Sun Star. Advocacy organizations claim the products were promoted at public events such as the Sinulog Festival and through collaborations with artists, which they say are prohibited under the law that bans sponsorships and celebrity endorsements tied to nicotine products.

    Additional concerns were raised over product compliance, with some groups alleging that Zyn nicotine pouches are being sold without proper registration. The DTI, which has jurisdiction over vape-related regulation, is being urged to investigate and enforce existing rules, as advocates warn that continued non-compliance could increase youth exposure and undermine public health protections.

  • South Korea Delays Enforcement of New E-Cig Rules

    South Korea Delays Enforcement of New E-Cig Rules

    South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it has postponed enforcement of new regulations on liquid-type e-cigarettes just hours before they were set to take effect, creating confusion among local governments. The revised Tobacco Business Act, which classifies liquid e-cigarettes as tobacco and enables their restriction in no-smoking zones, officially came into force on April 24; however, the ministry announced a two-month delay until June 23, citing the need for a “grace period” to address existing stock that falls outside the scope of the new law.

    The last-minute reversal led to inconsistent enforcement across municipalities, with some proceeding with crackdowns while others halted planned actions. The ministry said the delay is based on a supplementary provision limiting the law’s application to products imported or manufactured after the implementation date, meaning previously stocked products cannot yet be regulated. Local officials have criticized the move, noting that guidance issued earlier this year had encouraged immediate enforcement, and warning that ongoing ambiguity—particularly around verifying product dates—could complicate compliance even after the grace period ends.

  • Spain Moves to Restrict Vape Sales

    Spain Moves to Restrict Vape Sales

    Spain’s two main political parties—the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and the Popular Party (PP)—agreed to support restrictions on the sale of vaping products to licensed and controlled retail channels. The non-legislative proposal, approved by a parliamentary commission, would limit the sale of e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and related products to tobacconists and specialized stores, excluding online platforms and general retail outlets.

    The measure is aimed at reducing youth access and improving oversight in a market authorities say has significant control gaps, particularly around imported and non-compliant products. While the proposal seeks to strengthen age verification, traceability, and regulatory compliance, it comes as Spain’s broader anti-smoking legislation, currently under consultation, does not include similar controls on points of sale, highlighting ongoing policy inconsistencies.

  • Hong Kong Believes Vape Ban Won’t Impact Tourism

    Hong Kong Believes Vape Ban Won’t Impact Tourism

    Hong Kong health officials say an upcoming ban on alternative smoking products, including vapes and heated tobacco, is not expected to impact tourism as a public awareness campaign ramps up ahead of enforcement beginning April 30. The new rules will prohibit possession and use of such products in public, with penalties of up to HK$50,000 ($6,500) and six months in prison. Authorities are working with tourism and transport agencies to inform visitors through signage, outreach, and media, while maintaining measures aimed at reducing smoking rates, currently at 8.5%, and addressing health risks associated with alternative nicotine products.

  • Delaware Advances Bill to Raise Nicotine Taxes; Cigs by 71%

    Delaware Advances Bill to Raise Nicotine Taxes; Cigs by 71%

    Delaware lawmakers advanced legislation to significantly increase tobacco taxes and update licensing requirements, with House Bill 215 proposing to raise the cigarette tax from $2.10 to $3.60 per pack while also increasing taxes on vapor products, moist snuff, and other nicotine items. The measure would expand the definition of tobacco to include all nicotine-containing products, raise licensing fees across the supply chain, and is projected to generate up to $26.7 million annually, with implementation beginning in late 2026.

  • Iowa Senate Passes 5-Cent Tax on Vapes, Nicotine Products

    Iowa Senate Passes 5-Cent Tax on Vapes, Nicotine Products

    The Iowa Senate has passed a bill establishing a new excise tax on alternative nicotine products, introducing a 5-cent per-unit tax on nicotine pouches and a 5-cent per milliliter tax on e-liquid used in vape products. The tax applies to both disposable vapes and refill cartridges, creating a standardized levy across emerging nicotine categories that have historically gone untaxed in the state.

    Lawmakers said the extra revenue would go toward pediatric cancer research. “I understand that the level of tax we’re looking at here is not likely to be enough to deter usage, but it is enough to create this investment in pediatric cancer research that we all want to get behind,” Sen. Kara Warme (R-Ames) said.

  • FDA Expands List of Harmful Tobacco Constituents

    FDA Expands List of Harmful Tobacco Constituents

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it finalized the addition of 18 chemicals to its list of Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents (HPHCs), bringing the total to 111 substances identified in tobacco products, smoke, or aerosol. The list is intended to highlight compounds that pose known or potential risks to human health and applies across cigarette, e-cigarette, cigar, and hookah tobacco product categories.

    The newly added constituents include a range of flavoring agents, solvents, and byproducts, many of which are commonly associated with e-liquid formulations. FDA said the update provides greater transparency for the public while also signaling to manufacturers which chemicals may receive increased scrutiny during the review of new product applications. The agency emphasized that inclusion on the HPHC list does not constitute a ban, but triggers reporting requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

    The agency also opened a new consultation on three additional compounds—pulegone, furfuryl alcohol, and methyl eugenol—frequently used as flavoring ingredients, with public comments due by May 26. In addition, FDA confirmed that respiratory toxicants identified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) will now be considered as a criterion for future additions to the list. The agency said it expects to continue updating the HPHC list as new scientific evidence emerges.

    The constituents added to the Register are: Acetic Acid, Acetoin (also known as 3-hydroxy-2-butanone), Acetyl Propionyl (also known as 2,3-pentanedione), Benzyl Acetate, Butyraldehyde, Diacetyl, Diethylene Glycol, Ethyl Acetate, Ethylene Glycol, Furfural, Glycerol, Glycidol, Isoamyl Acetate, Isobutyl Acetate, Methyl Acetate, n-Butanol, Propionic Acid, and Propylene Glycol.

  • South Korea Bans Online Sales of Synthetic Nicotine Vapes

    South Korea Bans Online Sales of Synthetic Nicotine Vapes

    South Korea will ban online sales of liquid e-cigarettes made with synthetic nicotine starting this week, as part of broader regulatory changes under the revised Tobacco Business Act, the finance ministry announced. The update expands the definition of tobacco to include nicotine—whether natural or synthetic—bringing these products under full tobacco regulation.

    Manufacturers and importers will now be required to obtain government approval, register with local authorities, and comply with taxation rules, including a temporary 50% tax reduction for two years. Sales to minors, promotional activities, and product modification for resale will also be prohibited, while use of these products will be banned in designated non-smoking areas.

    The rules also mandate graphic health warnings, ingredient disclosure, and regular testing for harmful substances. Vendors must be licensed as tobacco retailers to sell directly to consumers, while authorities are also reviewing how to regulate emerging “nicotine analog” products not yet formally classified as tobacco.

  • 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.