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Tag: vape ban

  • Belgium to Ban Flavored Vapes from 2028

    Belgium to Ban Flavored Vapes from 2028

    Belgium announced it will ban flavored e-cigarettes starting September 1, 2028, allowing only tobacco and neutral flavors under a measure approved by the federal government on April 30. The policy, proposed by Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, is aimed at reducing youth vaping by removing flavors, which officials say increase product appeal among teenagers. Government data cited in the decision shows more than one in three individuals aged 15 to 20 have tried e-cigarettes.

    The measure follows recommendations from the Superior Health Council and aligns with similar restrictions implemented in the Netherlands. Authorities said the delayed implementation allows time for EU procedures and for retailers to clear existing inventory. Retail groups, including Perstablo, have opposed the move, warning it could expand the illicit market and negatively impact businesses.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • South Korea Bans Online Sales of Synthetic Nicotine Vapes

    South Korea Bans Online Sales of Synthetic Nicotine Vapes

    South Korea will ban online sales of liquid e-cigarettes made with synthetic nicotine starting this week, as part of broader regulatory changes under the revised Tobacco Business Act, the finance ministry announced. The update expands the definition of tobacco to include nicotine—whether natural or synthetic—bringing these products under full tobacco regulation.

    Manufacturers and importers will now be required to obtain government approval, register with local authorities, and comply with taxation rules, including a temporary 50% tax reduction for two years. Sales to minors, promotional activities, and product modification for resale will also be prohibited, while use of these products will be banned in designated non-smoking areas.

    The rules also mandate graphic health warnings, ingredient disclosure, and regular testing for harmful substances. Vendors must be licensed as tobacco retailers to sell directly to consumers, while authorities are also reviewing how to regulate emerging “nicotine analog” products not yet formally classified as tobacco.

  • UK Passes Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Create ‘Smoke-Free Generation’

    UK Passes Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Create ‘Smoke-Free Generation’

    The UK Parliament has passed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, introducing a phased ban on cigarette sales to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, effectively creating a “smoke-free generation.” The legislation also grants ministers new powers to regulate tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products, including controls on flavors, packaging, and marketing.

    The bill expands restrictions on vaping, banning its use in cars carrying children as well as in playgrounds, near schools and at hospitals, while allowing use in certain outdoor and private settings. Smoking and vaping will remain permitted in homes and some outdoor spaces, including hospitality venues.

    Officials described the measure as a major public health intervention aimed at reducing smoking-related harm, while some lawmakers raised concerns about its impact on retailers. Health groups welcomed the legislation and called for additional support for smoking cessation programs, however, critics find the regulation too broad and obtuse.

    “A critically important element of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is that it gives the government the power to regulate nicotine pouch products,” said Markus Lindblad, head of legal and external affairs at Haypp. “Nicotine pouches do not contain tobacco, nor produce vapor, so they fell outside the scope of existing nicotine product laws. Introducing regulations such as an 18+ age-of-sale and an upper limit of 20mg of nicotine per pouch will help send the message that these products are for adult nicotine users only. Oral nicotine products have enabled Sweden to achieve smoke-free status, and with sensible regulation arising from this Bill, pouches can play a similar role driving down smoking rates in the UK.”

  • Malaysian Vape Industry Group Pushes Back on Drug Contamination Claims

    The Malaysian Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA) raised concerns over reports of vape products containing prohibited substances, while emphasizing that such cases are linked to illicit trade rather than the regulated industry. The group said products approved by the Ministry of Health must meet strict testing and compliance requirements and are distributed through licensed retail channels.

    MRECA said illegal or contaminated products are typically sold through unregulated markets, including unauthorized online platforms, and should not be conflated with compliant offerings. The association also warned about the spread of misleading content on social media, which it said has unfairly implicated legitimate retailers and created confusion about enforcement efforts.

    The group has filed complaints with authorities to address false claims and called for clearer distinctions between regulated products and illicit goods. MRECA said it will continue working with regulators to support enforcement and maintain industry standards.

  • 7th Circuit Upholds Wisconsin Ban on Unauthorized Vape Sales

    7th Circuit Upholds Wisconsin Ban on Unauthorized Vape Sales

    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has ruled that federal law does not preempt Wisconsin’s authority to ban the sale of e-cigarettes that lack FDA authorization, allowing the state to continue enforcing its restrictions. The decision rejects arguments from vaping industry groups that federal tobacco regulations should override state-level controls on product sales and marketing.

    The court found that while the FDA regulates tobacco products at the federal level, states retain the power to impose their own rules on how such products are sold within their borders. The ruling reinforces the ability of states to take independent action against unauthorized vaping products, particularly those that have not received marketing authorization from the FDA.