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Tag: vape ban

  • UK Sets New Vape, Nicotine Rules for October

    UK Sets New Vape, Nicotine Rules for October

    From Oct. 29, the UK’s minimum retail age of 18 will apply to all vaping and consumer nicotine products, including zero-nicotine vapes, nicotine pouches, strips, and pearls. The rules, under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, will apply to retailers and online sellers across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Adults will also be prohibited from buying or attempting to buy covered products on behalf of anyone under 18.

    The new requirements will also restrict promotional practices. Businesses will be prohibited from giving vaping or nicotine products, or related coupons, away for promotional purposes and from offering substantial discounts where the purpose or effect is promotional. Normal clearance sales, bulk discounts, and trade discounts will remain permitted. Medical and medicinal products are excluded, while free products may still be provided through certain publicly supported smoking-cessation programs.

    Relevant offences will carry a £200 fixed penalty in England, Wales and Scotland, while Northern Ireland plans a £250 penalty subject to Assembly approval. Repeat violations can result in temporary restrictions on a retailer’s ability to sell specified regulated products. The government is expected to provide further details on statutory age-verification requirements for England, Wales and Northern Ireland following parliamentary consideration.

  • Mixed Reactions as UK Wants Planning Controls on Vape Shops

    Mixed Reactions as UK Wants Planning Controls on Vape Shops

    Today (August 11), the UK government announced plans to give councils greater control over high-street businesses, including requiring planning permission for new specialist vape shops and adult gaming centers. The government said the measures are intended to help communities manage the mix of businesses in town centers, address concerns about the concentration of vape and gambling outlets, and give local authorities greater powers to close premises linked to organized crime.

    The proposal has received qualified support from parts of the vaping industry, although concerns have been raised over its scope. Dr Marina Murphy, Head of External Affairs at Haypp UK, said specialist, compliant vape retailers should retain a place on high streets, arguing that a planning framework recognizing vape retail as a distinct category could support responsible businesses while giving councils more control over poorly run or non-compliant outlets. Riot Labs CEO Ben Johnson similarly backed the objective but criticized the mechanism, describing planning permission as “a location test applied to a conduct problem.”

    Riot Labs and Action on Smoking and Health both noted that the proposed planning requirement would apply to new premises, meaning it would not directly address existing shops that breach regulations. Johnson is calling instead for the government to implement the retail licensing provisions contained in the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, which would apply to both existing and new retailers.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Vape Group Says UK Retailers Face £330M in Losses from New Packaging Rules

    Vape Group Says UK Retailers Face £330M in Losses from New Packaging Rules

    Vaping advocacy group We Vape warned that proposed UK restrictions on the packaging, appearance, and display of vaping products could cost retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers more than £330 million while providing no proven social benefit, according to Asian Trader. Citing the government’s impact assessment, the group said the measures — including plain packaging, restrictions on device colors and flavor names, and requirements to keep vaping products out of sight in stores — would result in an estimated £328 million in lost profits and £2.8 million in compliance costs for approximately 76,000 retailers. We Vape also criticized the government’s planned £100,000 enforcement budget as inadequate and argued that stronger enforcement of existing underage sales laws would be more effective than imposing additional regulatory burdens on legitimate businesses.

  • Switzerland Backs Cantons in Disposable Vape Ban

    Switzerland Backs Cantons in Disposable Vape Ban

    Switzerland’s Federal Court upheld the canton (state) of Valais’ ban on the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, dismissing legal challenges brought by the Swiss Tobacco Trade Association, Philip Morris Switzerland, and other parties. The ruling confirms that the ban, which took effect in May 2025 after being approved by the canton’s parliament in 2024, is compatible with federal law and serves legitimate public health and environmental objectives.

    The court found that while the federal government has the authority to prohibit disposable e-cigarettes nationwide, individual cantons may enact their own restrictions until such action is taken at the national level.

  • Alabama Denies Injunction Fighting Vape Regulatory Laws

    Alabama Denies Injunction Fighting Vape Regulatory Laws

    The Alabama Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s decision denying a preliminary injunction against the state’s 2025 law regulating electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), allowing the law to remain in effect while litigation continues. The court ruled that the Vapor Technology Association and retailer Southside Vape had standing to challenge the law, but were unlikely to succeed on their claims that it is preempted by federal law or violates the dormant Commerce Clause.

    The justices found that the federal Tobacco Control Act preserves states’ authority to regulate the sale and distribution of tobacco products more stringently than federal requirements, and that Alabama’s restrictions serve a legitimate public health purpose rather than unlawfully discriminating against interstate or foreign commerce. The law establishes certification requirements, fees, and an ENDS product directory, with penalties for retailers selling products not listed on the state-approved directory.

  • Hawaii Bans Disposable Vapes

    Hawaii Bans Disposable Vapes

    Hawaii Gov. Josh Green signed legislation banning the sale, distribution, and offering for sale of disposable electronic smoking devices beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Under SB 2175, violators face fines of up to $100 per day per violation. Green also signed HB 1573, which requires manufacturers of electronic smoking devices and e-liquids sold in Hawaii to provide documentation demonstrating FDA authorization, with penalties for noncompliance.

    State lawmakers said the measures are intended to curb youth nicotine use and strengthen oversight of vaping products. Rep. Scot Matayoshi also indicated that lawmakers may consider future regulation of nicotine pouches, citing concerns over youth access to emerging nicotine products.

  • UKVIA Forum Targets Vaping Policy Challenges

    UKVIA Forum Targets Vaping Policy Challenges

    The UK Vaping Industry Association will unveil new research on the expected impact of the UK’s Vaping Products Duty at its July 13 forum, including findings on consumer behavior, smoking cessation, illicit trade, and stop-smoking services. The association will also release results from a survey of more than 3,500 consumers highlighting the importance of flavors, along with Freedom of Information data on flavor use in local stop-smoking services. UKVIA said the findings are intended to inform debate on upcoming vaping regulations, retailer licensing, and enforcement against illicit sales as the UK prepares to implement the Vaping Products Duty in October.

  • Macau to Significantly Raise Vape Fines

    Macau to Significantly Raise Vape Fines

    Macau is moving to strengthen its tobacco control law by increasing the fine for illegally bringing e-cigarettes and other novel tobacco products into the territory from MOP4,000 to MOP10,000 ($480 to $1,200) as part of a broader legislative overhaul. The revised bill, which is proposed to take effect on January 1, 2027, would also introduce fines of MOP1,500 ($180) for individuals found in possession of e-cigarettes, while businesses could face penalties ranging from MOP20,000 to MOP200,000 ($2,400 to $24,000). The legislation would prohibit the possession and use of e-cigarettes beginning July 1, 2027, introduce standardized tobacco packaging and larger health warnings from July 1, 2028, and increase warning labels on cigars and cigarillos to cover 70% of each side of the packaging. Officials said the higher import penalties are intended to deter cross-border smuggling of e-cigarettes and other nicotine products.