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Category: Global Regulation

  • Cambodia Solidifies Public Tobacco Ban

    Cambodia Solidifies Public Tobacco Ban

    Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport issued a directive banning the use, sale, and advertising of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, across a wide range of public spaces, particularly those linked to education and sports. The ban covers schools, training centers, dormitories, workplaces, gyms, and sports venues, and also prohibits the distribution and promotion of such products in and around these locations. Authorities have been instructed to implement health awareness programs and work with parents to identify and report violations for enforcement action.

    Education Minister Hang Chuon Naron said the measures align with broader government restrictions targeting the import, sale, possession, and production of electronic smoking devices and shisha products. Health experts noted that tobacco use remains prevalent despite existing public smoking bans and called for stronger enforcement.

  • Belgium Retail Group Proposes Generational Tobacco Ban

    Belgium Retail Group Proposes Generational Tobacco Ban

    Belgian retail federation Comeos is advocating for a gradual phase-out of tobacco sales to younger generations, proposing a policy that would permanently ban purchases for anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. The approach mirrors the UK’s “smoke-free generation” model and could also extend to vaping products, to reduce tobacco use over time as older consumers age out of the market.

    The proposal comes as Belgium prepares to revise its tobacco retail framework after the Constitutional Court struck down a ban on supermarket tobacco sales based on store size. Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke has since pushed for broader restrictions, including a ban on tobacco sales in all food stores, while allowing sales to continue in specialized outlets such as newsagents.

  • Hong Kong Enforces Full Vape Ban with Strict Penalties

    Hong Kong Enforces Full Vape Ban with Strict Penalties

    Hong Kong implemented a city-wide ban on the possession and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products as of April 30, with authorities warning of strict enforcement and penalties. Offenders carrying small quantities may face an on-the-spot fine of HK$3,000 ($390), while possession above specified thresholds could lead to prosecution, with maximum penalties of HK$50,000 ($6,500) and up to six months’ imprisonment.

    Officials said enforcement will be carried out through inspections, with increased outreach efforts targeting both residents and tourists ahead of peak travel periods. The ban does not apply to traditional shisha, which remains regulated under existing tobacco laws.

  • UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill Officially Becomes Law

    UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill Officially Becomes Law

    The UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill has officially become law today (April 29) after receiving Royal Assent, introducing a phased ban on tobacco sales to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. Originally put forward in November 2024, the legislation makes it illegal for retailers to sell cigarettes to this cohort, effectively creating a “smoke-free generation” policy aimed at preventing future uptake of smoking.

    The law also grants the government new regulatory powers over vaping and nicotine products, including restrictions on advertising, sponsorship, packaging, and product displays, as well as expanded authority to introduce retail licensing and strengthen enforcement against illicit sales.

    “The passage of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill into law presents an opportunity for the government to shape the regulation of alternative nicotine products so that they can become a tool to enable the UK to achieve its ambition of a smoke-free future,” said Dr. Marina Murphy, senior director of scientific Affairs at Haypp. “A regulatory framework that prevents youth access but still gives adult smokers the opportunity to switch to a less harmful product is a win-win.”

  • Tobacco-Free Kids Launches Campaign to End F1’s Tobacco Ties

    Tobacco-Free Kids Launches Campaign to End F1’s Tobacco Ties

    Today (March 28), the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids launched a new advertising initiative, “End the Formula,” ahead of the May 3 Miami Grand Prix, calling on Formula 1 to eliminate all tobacco-related sponsorships. The campaign targets partnerships between major F1 teams and companies, including Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco, which promote nicotine pouch and e-cigarette brands such as Zyn, Velo, and Vuse through branding on cars, driver apparel, and digital media. The campaign ties into similar efforts that began in March, which included ads, coordinated outreach with 162 organizations across 57 countries, and more than 25,000 petition messages urging F1 and affiliated partners to end these sponsorship arrangements.

  • 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.