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Category: Global Regulation

  • Kenya Overturns Enforcement of Shisha Ban

    Kenya Overturns Enforcement of Shisha Ban

    Kenya’s High Court ruled that the country’s 2017 shisha regulations are no longer legally enforceable, finding the government failed to correct procedural defects within the nine-month period ordered by the court in 2018. Justice Bahati Mwamuye declared that continued enforcement of the ban, including government directives and press releases issued in 2025, was unlawful and unconstitutional.

    The ruling prevents authorities from enforcing the 2017 shisha regulations against members of the Novel Tobacco Products Association and invalidates recent government crackdowns based on those rules. The court also held that tobacco products cannot be prohibited through subsidiary legislation that fails to comply with statutory requirements, effectively lifting enforcement of Kenya’s longstanding shisha ban until valid regulations are enacted.

  • Tennessee Increases Penalties for Fake IDs for Nicotine

    Tennessee Increases Penalties for Fake IDs for Nicotine

    A new Tennessee law will increase penalties for people under 21 who use fake identification to purchase nicotine or hemp products, imposing fines of $10 to $50. The measure also allows courts to order up to 50 hours of community service or participation in a court-approved program for repeat violations within one year, while parents or guardians of minors may also face financial penalties.

    The law expands Tennessee’s existing restrictions on underage purchases of nicotine and hemp products. Nashville Thrives, a substance use prevention coalition, said it also supports creating a state nicotine retail licensing system, arguing it would strengthen enforcement and help reduce illegal sales to minors.

  • 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.