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Tag: vape ban

  • Nepal Court Lifts Ban on E-Cigarettes

    Nepal Court Lifts Ban on E-Cigarettes

    The Patan High Court in Nepal ordered the government to lift its restrictions on the import and sale of e-cigarettes, allowing vape businesses to resume operations. According to myRepublica, a Division Bench of Justices Kabi Prasad Neupane and Hemant Rawal issued the verdict in favor of Vape Mandu Traders, who filed a writ against several government bodies, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Health, and the Customs Department.

    The court ruled that the government’s attempt to enforce a vape ban, based on a 2015 tobacco directive, was not legally sufficient to justify blocking trade. Customs offices halted vape imports after circulars were issued by the Ministry of Health’s education and communication wing.

    In the last fiscal year, Nepal collected over Rs 230 million ($1.7 million) in customs revenue from vape imports, highlighting the sector’s economic footprint.

  • Irish PM Says Big Tobacco Using Old Playbook for Vape

    Irish PM Says Big Tobacco Using Old Playbook for Vape

    Speaking at the World Conference on Tobacco Control, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin urged governments worldwide to adopt “the strongest possible measures against vaping,” warning that e-cigarette manufacturers are replicating the “predatory playbook” of the traditional tobacco industry—particularly by targeting youth.

    “All the same issues we had to deal with in respect of cigarettes, we have to deal with vaping,” said Martin. “We’re catching up a bit later in Ireland with that.”

    Ireland’s new restrictions on flavorings, product placement, and packaging design are scheduled to be enforced in February 2026, based on legislation introduced by the previous government. Youth vaping is accelerating across Europe—10.8% of adolescents aged 13–15 now use some form of tobacco, including e-cigarettes.

    The rise in youth vaping spurred the European Commission to update its Recommendation on Smoke-Free Environments to explicitly include vapes and heated tobacco products, urging member states to ban vaping wherever smoking is prohibited, and is now further considering flavor bans, restrictions on online sales, and heavier taxation.

  • Op-Ed: SHORT-SIGHTED AND INEFFECTIVE – VAPE BANS ARE NOT THE ANSWER

    Op-Ed: SHORT-SIGHTED AND INEFFECTIVE – VAPE BANS ARE NOT THE ANSWER

    By Dato Adzwan Abdul Manas, President, Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA)

    Across Malaysia, we’re witnessing a growing wave of state-led attempts to ban vape products, with Perlis, Terengganu, and Kedah – all governed by opposition parties – announcing prohibitions, with Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan reportedly considering the same.

    Publicly, leaders and MPs are now echoing calls for a nationwide ban, citing concerns over vape products laced with drugs and growing concern over youth vaping.

    Let us be clear: these concerns are real, but the proposed solutions are dangerously flawed.

    The reason we are seeing issues like underage use and contaminated products is not because of the legal vape industry. It is because irresponsible, illegal retailers and criminal syndicates continue to operate without fear of consequences. These bad actors have no regard for regulations, age restrictions, or product safety. They are the ones supplying unregistered products, selling to minors, and introducing dangerous substances into the supply chain.

    Banning vape will not stop these criminals. It will only penalise legitimate, regulated businesses, whilst empowering the black market.

    The leaders now calling for a ban are reacting to the harm caused by illegal and unregulated players. But instead of focusing efforts on enforcement to eliminate these elements, they propose a blanket ban that would wipe out responsible retailers, many of whom are registered and comply with all current regulations.

    If we take the easy way out and ban vape outright, we risk creating an entirely unregulated underground market. Everything will be black market. No age checks, no quality control, no accountability. This is the worst possible outcome for public health.

    We must remember that the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), has now been introduced. This is the very tool meant to bring vape into a regulated space, to ensure product safety, protect youth, and allow only legal players to operate. Why are we not concentrating our energy on implementing this law effectively, with robust enforcement to weed out the bad actors?

    According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Malaysia 2023 survey by the Institute for Public Health under the Ministry of Health, the majority of vape users are aged 15 to 24 years. These numbers did not emerge under a regulated environment. They grew due the absence of a clear regulatory framework. This proves that prohibition does not work. What works is regulations, oversight, and the political will to enforce the law.

    MRECA fully supports regulations. We support clear rules that keep products out of the hands of minors and ensure safety for adult consumers. But we cannot support a system where the actions of criminal syndicates are used to justify blanket bans that harm legitimate businesses.

    With Act 852 already in place, the focus must be on moving forward: implementing it with urgency, investing in enforcement, and strengthening the regulatory framework so that only responsible, compliant players remain in the market.

    Banning regulated products is not a solution, it is an abdication of responsibility that hands the market over to criminals. If we want to protect public health and consumer safety, we must stay the course, enforce the law decisively, and commit to building a legal, transparent vape industry that operates within clear and accountable boundaries.

  • Poland’s Bill to Ban Sale of Vapes, Pouches to Minors Moves Forward  

    Poland’s Bill to Ban Sale of Vapes, Pouches to Minors Moves Forward  

    Poland’s lower house of parliament backed a comprehensive ban on the sale of vapes and nicotine pouches to minors, including both disposable and reusable e-cigarettes, irrespective of their nicotine content. In yesterday’s (May 21) session, 417 MPs voted in favor of the bill, with one against and 10 abstaining. It will now be presented to the Senate, the upper house, and if passed, to the president to be signed into law. 

    The bill will also restrict the use of non-nicotine e-cigarettes in public spaces, mirroring the regulations applied to traditional tobacco products and e-cigarettes with nicotine.

    While Poland already had laws banning the sale of cigarettes to minors, the legislation had no provision for alternative forms of nicotine intake.   

  • GWI Study: Majority of Vapers Support Disposable Vape Ban

    GWI Study: Majority of Vapers Support Disposable Vape Ban

    PRESS RELEASE:

    New data from global insights platform GWI reveals that six in 10 (61%) UK vapers support the proposed ban on disposable vapes. This news comes ahead of the UK government’s decision on whether to ban single use vapes on the 1st of June.

    The new data, which looks into vaping habits, shows that health concerns may be a factor in supporting a ban on disposable vapes, with nearly a third (29%) of UK adult vapers claiming they ‘often’ think about the health risks associated with vapes, and 14% saying they ‘always’ think about them.

    In addition, nearly a third (29%) of UK adult vapers say that the health warnings on tobacco/nicotine alternatives, like vapes, impact their decision to purchase ‘quite a bit’, while 12% say it impacts their decision ‘very much’.

    Despite the obvious concern for their health and their support of a disposable vape ban, nearly half (46%) of UK adult vapers say that they vape daily and four in 10 (40%) say that they use single-use vapes.

    Interestingly, four in 10 (40%) UK adult smokers say that they are trying to ‘cut down’ on smoking traditional cigarettes with a further two in 10 (21%) stating that they are using vapes in order to help them stop smoking traditional cigarettes.

    In fact, vaping or e-cigarettes is the second most popular way UK smokers who plan to cut down on smoking aim to do it with a third (31%)  turning to vaping, second only to willpower (40%).

    Speaking on the data, Chartered Health Psychologist, Dr Ravi Gill, says: “The fact that a significant portion of adult vapers frequently think about the health risks suggests a growing cognitive dissonance regarding vaping— knowing the harm yet continuing the habit. From a psychological standpoint, this tension can lead to anxiety and guilt, but it also opens the door for meaningful change, as evidenced by vapers support of the ban on disposable vapes.

    “Disposable vapes encourage impulsive and automatic use by removing barriers such as refilling or recharging. As such, they’re easy, accessible, and also heavily marketed in ways that appeal to younger users. A ban represents a critical intervention—it disrupts habitual behaviour, reduces youth appeal, and alleviates the mental strain many users associate with ongoing health concerns.

    “Ultimately, removing easy access to products that users associate with health anxiety can be a protective public health strategy, not just physically but psychologically.”

    Chris Beer, data journalist at GWI also adds: “Cognitive dissonance crops up in research more often than most people would expect and the strong support for a vaping ban—even among people who vape daily— is a perfect illustration of the disconnect between what people want or believe they should do, and what they actually do.

    “We see this across categories: consumers passionately want brands to be eco-friendly, yet happily shop fast fashion from brands like Shein; people say they’re cutting down on social media, even as their usage metrics rise; and many express concern about how companies use personal data, while continuing to use data-heavy platforms.

    “These contradictions don’t make the data less valuable—in fact, they tell us a deeper story. They reveal emotional complexity, societal pressure, and the tension between values and habits. That’s where the real insight lies.”

  • Malaysian State Gets Aggressive with Ads as it Eyes Vape Regs

    Malaysian State Gets Aggressive with Ads as it Eyes Vape Regs

    All local authorities in Selangor, Malaysia, have been instructed to immediately seize and confiscate advertisements related to e-cigarette products in the state, The Star reported. State public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin said the decision was made during a coordination meeting on May 16 to discuss the proposal of banning the sale of e-cigarettes.

    “This action is in line with the provisions of the Control of Tobacco Product for Public Health Act 2023 (Act 852), which explicitly prohibits any form of advertising, promotion, and sponsorship related to electronic smoking products,” she said in a statement today (May 20).

    Jamaliah said the meeting also examined various issues related to the use and sale of e-cigarettes, including enforcement challenges, licensing, legal aspects, and monitoring.

    “The issue of online sales was also discussed, as it is difficult to control and is often the main channel for teenagers to obtain these products,” she said. “According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022 report, it is estimated that nearly 14.9% of male teenagers aged 13 to 17 in Malaysia use electronic cigarettes. This statistic is very worrying and calls for urgent proactive action at the state level.”

    Following this, she said the state government, through the Public Health Standing Committee, will hold a follow-up meeting soon to discuss policy options that should be considered before the final proposal is presented at the state executive council meeting for a decision.

  • Papua New Guinea Bans Vapes

    Papua New Guinea Bans Vapes

    Papua New Guinea’s Health Department declared an immediate ban on the importing and use of any form of vape products, effective immediately. Health Minister Elias Kapavore announced the ban May 13, saying he was concerned about the effects tobacco products had on people between the ages of 11 and 17 in the country.

    “As of [May 13], I want to say that we are signing off [on] the ban on e-cigarettes and it will be now formally issued though gazettal notice,” Kapavore said. “And once it’s published on the gazette, it will take seven days to get full effect for its full implementation, and any e-cigarette products coming to our country will be deemed illegal under our law.”

    The proposed ban prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes and their components. Those guilty of breaching the ban would face a K10,000 ($2,400) fine as an individual and K100,000 ($24,000) fine for a company. The company fine could be doubled for a “tobacco company.”

  • Iraq to Ban E-Cigarettes as Part of Larger Tobacco Crackdown

    Iraq to Ban E-Cigarettes as Part of Larger Tobacco Crackdown

    Yesterday (May 7), Iraq’s Ministry of Health announced plans to implement a nationwide ban on the import, sale, and circulation of electronic cigarettes, citing growing health concerns and a disturbing increase in their use among youth, including children.

    Dr. Wasim Kilani, assistant director of Iraq’s National Anti-Tobacco Program at the Ministry of Health, said a new legislative measure, titled the “Law for Protection from the Harmful Effects of Tobacco,” is set to be passed soon. This law will decisively prohibit the entry and commercial exchange of e-cigarettes and will include clear enforcement mechanisms such as fines, legal penalties, and confiscation of the devices.

    According to Ministry of Health statistics, 36% of Iraqi males, 18.7% of adults, and 11% of youth smoke. Kilani said e-cigarettes pose serious health risks and are becoming particularly popular among children, teenagers, and even young girls, due in part to their colorful designs and appealing flavors. “These devices have a dangerous impact on the brain and cognitive functions,” he said.

    The crackdown on vaping is part of a broader national anti-tobacco campaign. Iraq, like many countries in the Middle East, has long battled high rates of cigarette smoking, but, according to the Ministry, the introduction of e-cigarettes has complicated the landscape by attracting a younger, tech-savvy demographic who often perceive vaping as a safer alternative.

     While the bill still awaits formal passage, Kilani affirmed that its implementation will be strictly enforced, and he urged citizens, especially parents and educators, to support the effort to curb the vaping epidemic before it spirals further out of control.

  • Thailand’s Education Ministry Bans Vapes at Schools and Offices

    Thailand’s Education Ministry Bans Vapes at Schools and Offices

    Thailand’s Ministry of Education officially banned the use of e-cigarettes in all schools and offices under its jurisdiction, citing the growing popularity of vaping among young people, a government spokesman said yesterday (May 7).

    Deputy government spokesman Karom Polpornklang said the ministry recognized that more young people have taken up vaping due to increased accessibility and online advertisements specifically targeting youth. To combat this, the Ministry introduced four key measures to coincide with the ban: awareness campaigns, no-vaping signage, monitoring and prevention, and disciplinary action.

  • Hong Kong to Ban Vapes, Crack Down on All Tobacco 

    Hong Kong to Ban Vapes, Crack Down on All Tobacco 

    Hong Kong is seeking to ban the possession of e-cigarettes and other alternative smoking products in public by the end of April next year, along with other proposed measures to curb smoking in the city. Authorities are proposing to raise the fixed fine for smoking violations from HK$1,500 to HK$3,000 ($195 to $390). The statutory no-smoking areas would also be expanded. These measures were published in the Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2025 last week.

    The bill, scheduled to be tabled at the Legislative Council April 30, covers eight smoking control measures that require legislative amendments.

    The bill also suggests authorizing the Secretary for Health to expand no-smoking areas based on the conditions of different districts, as well as to establish exemptions. Hong Kong residents will be barred from smoking while queuing for public transport or outside places with high foot traffic, such as sports venues and health centers.

    The sale of flavored traditional smoking products is banned under the proposed law, with the city’s authorities saying that tobacco companies have used flavorings to “disguise the toxicity” of the products and “entice young people to smoke.” The government plans to impose the ban in phases, with the first phase targeting products with specified additives, excluding menthol. A full implementation is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2027. Violators face a maximum fine of HK$50,000 ($6,500) and six months behind bars.

    In a move to crack down on illicit cigarettes, the government is proposing to require importers and local producers to ensure there is a label attached to every pack of taxed cigarettes sold. Selling or supplying any cigarettes that have no label on their packaging is prohibited.

    The bill also includes a prohibition on providing smoking products to individuals under 18, which is set to take effect on January 1 next year. Those who provide traditional smoking products to minors will face a fine of HK$3,000 for small quantities, while the maximum fine for larger quantities will be HK$25,000 ($3,250). Penalties for supplying alternative smoking products to underage individuals are higher, with a fine of up to HK$50,000 and six months’ imprisonment.