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Category: Global Regulation

  • Australia Tightens Import Controls on Nicotine Pouches

    Australia Tightens Import Controls on Nicotine Pouches

    Australia strengthened regulation of nicotine pouches under new rules that took effect over the weekend, placing the products under the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s therapeutic goods framework. The changes restrict the import of unapproved nicotine pouches, extending Australia’s strict regulatory approach beyond nicotine vaping products to another smoke-free nicotine category.

    The new rules do not prohibit all nicotine pouch use but require products to meet regulatory approval requirements before they can be legally imported or supplied. The move aligns nicotine pouches with Australia’s existing controls on nicotine products and reflects the country’s continued focus on regulating emerging nicotine alternatives through therapeutic product oversight.

  • Filipino Leaders Press for Smoke-Free Bill

    Filipino Leaders Press for Smoke-Free Bill

    A coalition of Philippine local government leaders is urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify House Bill 9603, the Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Environment Bill, as urgent legislation. The proposed measure would establish a nationwide ban on smoking and vaping in indoor public spaces and workplaces, building on smoke-free ordinances already adopted by several cities and provinces.

    Supporters say the bill would strengthen enforcement, expand smoke-free zones, fund cessation programs, and create incentives for local governments that effectively implement tobacco and vaping control measures.

  • Dutch Seize 1.2M Counterfeit Cigarettes at German Border  

    Dutch Seize 1.2M Counterfeit Cigarettes at German Border  

    Dutch authorities seized 1.2 million counterfeit cigarettes from a van near the German border during a joint Dutch-German police operation on the A7 near Bad Nieuweschans, arresting one suspect and transferring the case to customs for investigation. The seizure brings total illicit cigarette seizures in the Netherlands to 106 million so far this year, as authorities step up enforcement against tobacco smuggling amid high cigarette prices that have fueled demand for black market and cross-border tobacco purchases.

  • Indonesian Tobacco Groups Oppose New Controls

    Indonesian Tobacco Groups Oppose New Controls

    Indonesian tobacco industry groups are urging President Prabowo Subianto to delay implementing regulations under Government Regulation No. 28/2024, warning that proposed measures such as plain packaging, limits on tar and nicotine, and restrictions on additives could lead to job losses, lower sales, and increased illicit trade. The Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) said it supports measures including a ban on underage tobacco sales, raising the minimum purchase age to 21, and requiring health warnings to cover 50% of packaging, but argued that standardized packaging for cigarettes and e-cigarettes would undermine legitimate businesses and reduce government excise revenue.

  • Vietnam Proposes to Legislate Ban on Vapes, HTPs

    Vietnam Proposes to Legislate Ban on Vapes, HTPs

    Vietnam’s Ministry of Health is moving to codify the country’s ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products by amending the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms to align with existing National Assembly and Investment Law provisions. The draft legislation would formally define and prohibit the products while also introducing a nationwide ban on tobacco product displays at retail outlets. Health officials said the amendments are needed to address rising youth use of e-cigarettes, strengthen enforcement, and create a more comprehensive legal framework for tobacco control, with the revised bill now being finalized for submission to lawmakers.

  • Macau Tightens Tobacco Control Regs

    Macau Tightens Tobacco Control Regs

    Macau’s Legislative Assembly approved a bill expanding outdoor smoke-free areas, with the new law set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. The legislation prohibits smoking in designated public areas, including parts of Alameda Dr. Carlos d’Assumpção, the Border Gate checkpoint, and the Ruins of Saint Paul’s. Also, it bans smoking within 10 meters of entrances to hospitals, schools, and childcare facilities. Designated smoking areas will still be permitted in certain locations.

    The law also strengthens restrictions on alternative nicotine products and tobacco packaging. Possession and use of e-cigarettes in public areas will be prohibited from July 1, 2027, alongside higher fines for the use of nicotine pouches, herbal cigarettes, and water pipes. In addition, tobacco packaging will be required to display health warnings covering 85% of the front and back surfaces (70% for cigars) beginning July 1, 2028.

  • Indonesia Considering Vape Ban Over Drug Abuse

    Indonesia Considering Vape Ban Over Drug Abuse

    Indonesia is considering a total ban on e-cigarettes if a government review concludes they pose greater public health risks and continue to be used as a vehicle for illicit drugs, President Prabowo Subianto said. Speaking during the International Day Against Drug Abuse, the president directed multiple government agencies to develop stricter regulations governing vape imports, distribution, and sales, while warning authorities not to hesitate to impose a nationwide ban if warranted.

    The proposed review is driven by concerns that e-cigarettes are increasingly being used to consume narcotics. Prabowo cited studies claiming that 39.5% of vape users had used e-liquids containing recreational drugs, including cannabis, MDMA, and cocaine, arguing that drug syndicates are exploiting vaping devices to distribute illicit substances. He called for stronger oversight and a comprehensive policy response to protect young people from drug abuse.

  • Spain Moves Forward with Stronger Tobacco Control Laws

    Spain Moves Forward with Stronger Tobacco Control Laws

    Yesterday (July 21), Spain’s Council of Ministers approved a draft tobacco control law that expands smoke-free areas, bans tobacco use among people under 18, and applies stricter rules to e-cigarettes and other nicotine products. The reform updates Spain’s 2005 tobacco law and includes bans on smoking and vaping on hospitality terraces, beaches, public pools, sports facilities, national parks, work vehicles and public event venues, while creating 15-meter protection zones around entrances to schools, hospitals, and other public buildings. The bill treats e-cigarettes, including nicotine-free devices, as well as shisha and other smoking alternatives, under the same restrictions as traditional tobacco, with tighter controls on sales, advertising and sponsorship. The legislation now moves to parliament, where further amendments could be introduced before final approval.

  • Indonesia Adding, Not Subtracting Tobacco Tax Tiers

    Indonesia Adding, Not Subtracting Tobacco Tax Tiers

    Indonesia’s government plans to expand the country’s tobacco excise tax structure with additional tax tiers this year, according to Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. The proposal remains under discussion with the House of Representatives, but the minister said implementation would proceed after budget deliberations are completed. The government has said the additional tiers are intended to reduce illicit cigarette circulation and increase state revenue.

    The plan has faced criticism from public health and civil society groups, which argue that adding more tiers to Indonesia’s already complex tobacco tax system may not effectively address illegal cigarette sales. Indonesia currently has eight excise tax groups covering machine-made and hand-rolled kretek cigarettes, and industry observers have called for simplification rather than expansion. Supporters of reforming the structure say a more balanced approach is needed to limit illicit trade while maintaining government revenue from the legal tobacco market.

  • Canada Rolling Out New Graphic Warning Campaign

    Canada Rolling Out New Graphic Warning Campaign

    Canada will introduce 13 new graphic health warnings on cigarette packages beginning Aug. 1 as part of its effort to reduce tobacco use below 5% by 2035. The warnings, covering smoking-related cancers, second-hand smoke, and other health risks, will appear on cigarettes, little cigars, and cigarette tobacco for two years, with additional warnings required on individual cigarettes.

    Health Canada said smoking rates have declined to an estimated 13% in 2024 from 29% in 2001. The government said it is reviewing international tobacco control measures, including the UK’s generational smoking ban, but has no plans to adopt a similar policy.