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Tag: regulations

  • Canada’s Vape Shops Struggle with Compliance: Report

    Canada’s Vape Shops Struggle with Compliance: Report

    Nearly half of Canada’s specialty vape retailers were found non-compliant during federal inspections between April 2024 and March 2025, according to a new enforcement report from Health Canada. Inspectors found 43% of 546 specialty stores breached the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act and the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, resulting in product seizures at 235 locations — up from 38% non-compliance the previous year.

    Violations most commonly involved prohibited flavor promotion, improper health warnings, and nicotine concentrations exceeding 20 mg/mL. In contrast, fewer than 1% of 2,136 gas and convenience stores inspected were non-compliant. Manufacturer oversight also revealed compliance gaps, with 45% of 343 samples collected from 119 producers failing key regulatory requirements, prompting the seizure of 286,764 non-compliant products.

  • Morocco Creates Mandatory Standard for Smoke-Free Products

    Morocco Creates Mandatory Standard for Smoke-Free Products

    Morocco will implement mandatory standards for smoke-free nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, muassel, and nicotine pouches, from February 2026, under new rules developed by the Moroccan Institute of Standardization, according to Médias24. The framework introduces requirements covering product composition, labelling, traceability, and safety, and will apply to imports as Morocco has no domestic production of these products.

    Consumer groups say the regulations strengthen transparency by requiring detailed labelling, including manufacturer information, ingredients, origin, and production date, while supporting broader legal updates covering emerging nicotine categories such as heated tobacco. Authorities stress the measures are intended to improve consumer protection and market oversight rather than promote product use.

  • 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.

  • Panama Begins Strict Vape Regulations Today

    Panama Begins Strict Vape Regulations Today

    Panama’s Ministry of Health (MINSA) announced that new rules governing the sale, promotion, and use of electronic cigarettes—both with and without nicotine—take effect today (August 13). The regulations, aimed at protecting public health and youth, ban vaping in all smoke-free areas, prohibit sales to minors, and outlaw all advertising and promotion. Products must be stored out of public view, with only closed displays allowed for the first two years. Violations can result in confiscation and fines, with health and customs authorities tasked with enforcement.

  • NZ Reminds Vape Retailers No Grace Period for Impending Regulations

    NZ Reminds Vape Retailers No Grace Period for Impending Regulations

    Three weeks in advance of the second step, Health New Zealand and the Ministry of Health sent reminders to nicotine retailers warning them that the next step of significant enforcement changes will begin June 17, with no grace period, and with stronger penalties attached. The June changes include a complete ban on disposable vapes, visibility restrictions on vapes for retailers, and increased restrictions on advertising. They build on those established in December that centered around significant fine increases for sales to under-18s, and proximity restrictions relating to early childhood education centers.

    Director of Public Health Dr. Corina Grey says these changes bring vaping regulations more in line with restrictions on tobacco products. Retailers with stores will no longer be able to promote vaping products, and those online will no longer be able to display images of their products or link to sites with non-compliant pages, including links to sites outside of New Zealand.

  • Monaco Tightens Tobacco Regs, Raises Legal Age to 18

    Monaco Tightens Tobacco Regs, Raises Legal Age to 18

    In an effort to “protect young people,” Monaco’s 18 National Council members unanimously adopted a bill that raises the age to buy tobacco products from 16 to 18, extends the number of places where smoking is banned, and bans disposable electronic devices. Bill 1104 amends Law 1346.

    Over the months, the bill, with its 14 articles, has been the subject of numerous amendments in response to several observations “testifying to a convergence of views between the institutions.”

  • Australia’s Latest Tobacco Regs Looming

    Australia’s Latest Tobacco Regs Looming

    Australian officials sent reminders to retailers that the nation’s harsh new tobacco regulations will be in full effect beginning July 1. The new regulations were announced in October 2024 and gave manufacturers five months to comply. Retailers were then given a three-month transition period to phase out old stock that will end in June.

    The new rules include banning certain flavors and ingredients that mask the taste of tobacco; using words like “smooth” or “gold” that make the product seem safer; having 20 sticks per pack and 10 packs per carton; making each cigarette the same size; and updating health warnings that will be printed on the packaging and products.

    According to the Daily Mail, cigarette prices in Australia are among the highest in the world due chiefly to heavy taxation. A standard 20-pack costs more than A$50 ($32.50), depending on the brand, with 70% of the retail price, A$35 ($22.75), going to the government as excise tax. Despite the tax increases, government revenue from tobacco dropped 39% as the tax hikes created a booming black market, with millions of Australians now buying illegal, counterfeit cigarettes sold in convenience stores. The Australian Tax Office estimates that nearly 20% of cigarettes smoked in the country come from criminal syndicates that evade taxes and sell at deep discounts.

  • Malaysian Officials Preparing Retailers for April 1 Ban 

    Malaysian Officials Preparing Retailers for April 1 Ban 

    Beginning April 1, Malaysian retailers will not be able to display tobacco products in open displays, but instead must keep them hidden from view in closed cabinets. Act 832, the Smoking Products Control Act for Public Health 2024, covers regulations on the registration, sale, packaging, labeling, and use of tobacco products in public places, as well as the display of them in retail outlets. The Act became law Oct. 1, 2024, but retailers were given a grace period which ends in April.

    Officials from Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Selangor have been communicating with retailers about the upcoming change in enforcement.

    “Since Act 852 came into effect, the Health Department has visited retail shops selling cigarettes and tobacco products,” said Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif. “They have provided explanations and announcements to the sellers, such as at convenience stores.”

    Penang health committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said the state Health Department will monitor stalls to ensure they don’t display smoking products at retail outlets.

    “Individuals can be fined from RM500 up to RM30,000 ($112 to $6,750), while organizations may be slapped with up to RM300,000 ($67,500) in fines, or jailed,” he said. “Retailers can only use designated signboards to show the availability of cigarette or vaping products and the prices. Certain specialized stores are allowed to display smoking products, but must prominently feature warning signs.”

  • Dutch Propose Raising Nicotine Purchasing Age to 21

    Dutch Propose Raising Nicotine Purchasing Age to 21

    The minimum age for purchasing cigarettes, vapes, and other nicotine products in the Netherlands could increase from 18 to 21, according to a new proposal published by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday (March 12). The Cabinet is also considering the introduction of higher fines for those caught selling vapes illegally and would include measures to reduce the number of places where vapes can be purchased and to require them to be sold in plain packaging.

    According to NL Times, the announcement comes as the Netherlands has seen an increase in the number of young people vaping in recent years. In 2023, almost a quarter of young people between 12 and 16 years old had tried vaping. “The presence of nicotine makes vapes highly addictive. This is not surprising: nicotine is the most addictive drug in existence after heroin and crack,” the ministry said, citing a report from health institute RIVM.

    According to the proposal, the €1,300 first-offense fine for selling vapes online would be increased substantially. Although flavored products are banned and it is illegal to sell tobacco products online, the market is flourishing.

    Vincent Karremans , the Dutch State Secretary for Youth, Prevention and Sport, announced the proposal as part of a larger plan to achieve a smoke-free and nicotine-free generation by 2040. He said the government will increase resources for law enforcement to crack down on the illegal vape trade and will launch a communication campaign in 2025 to educate parents about the dangers of vaping. Karremans wants to earmark €3 million for this purpose.

  • Philippines Looks to Tighten Vape Import Laws 

    Philippines Looks to Tighten Vape Import Laws 

    Potential new requirements have been drafted in an administrative order to tighten measures against the illegal trade of vape products, promote consumer safety, and streamline import procedures in the Philippines. Today (March 10), the Department of Trade and Industry asked the public and stakeholders to help provide insights for its amended documentary requirements in the issuance of a Statement of Confirmation (SOC) for product importers. The SOC is a mandatory certification that verifies the legitimacy and compliance of imported vape products and tobacco items.

    In the proposed order, importers would need to submit an expanded set of documents consisting of a packing list, commercial invoice, bill of lading/airway bill, production batch details, and a valid Philippine Standard License. Additional compliance requirements include a P150,000 ($2,550) surety bond, a valid certificate of registration from the Bureau of Customs, proof of billing and ownership, or lease of warehouse space, and an excise tax return with a Bureau of Internal Revenue stamp.