TobaccoReporter logo

Tag: vape ban

  • Luxembourg Snus Law Draws Criticism as ‘De Facto Ban’

    Luxembourg Snus Law Draws Criticism as ‘De Facto Ban’

    Luxembourg-based snus producer Heintz Van Landewyck criticized the country’s new anti-tobacco legislation, which effectively removes snus from the domestic market despite not explicitly banning it. The law, approved in late October, limits nicotine in snus pouches to just 0.048 mg per pouch—roughly the amount naturally found in two aubergines (eggplants)—making the product unappealing to consumers seeking nicotine.

    Georges Krombach, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, warned that the legislation will push consumers to buy snus online, fueling the black market. He described the situation as an “industrial nightmare,” noting that the company had recently invested over €1 million in tax-compliant machinery for domestic production.

    Heintz Van Landewyck had supported age restrictions, warning labels, a nicotine range of 6–16 mg per pouch, and excise taxes, but the new limits force the company to relocate domestic production abroad, with a new factory planned in Trier, Germany.

    While the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) and Pirate Party echoed concerns about market disruption, other lawmakers, including CSV MP Françoise Kemp, stressed that nicotine is addictive and warned that flavored products pose risks to youth.

    Krombach expressed hope that Luxembourg might reconsider the nicotine limit to allow legal domestic sales, rather than driving consumers to foreign online sources.

  • ‘Cappuccino Strip’ Has Illicit Tobacco Hiding in Plain Site: Story  

    ‘Cappuccino Strip’ Has Illicit Tobacco Hiding in Plain Site: Story  

    Today (November 26), the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), published a story titled “Why convenience stores along Fremantle cafe strip are the front line of WA’s illegal tobacco trade,” highlighting how Australia’s famous “cappuccino strip” has become a hub for illegal tobacco sales, with dozens of convenience stores quietly selling unlicensed cigarettes and loose tobacco.

    The story says each store is a carbon copy of the others, with scant products on the shelves, with the illicit money-making products that keep the store open hidden in cabinets and under counters. Despite widespread concern, Western Australian authorities lack the legal power to immediately shut down offenders, allowing the trade to flourish in plain sight.

    The Australian Council on Smoking and Health (ACOSH) has long called for updated laws, pointing to South Australia and Queensland, where tougher enforcement and heavy fines have successfully curtailed illicit sales. ACOSH chief Laura Hunter described the problem as an enforcement issue, not a tax one.

    WA Health reports nearly one million cigarettes and 160 kg of loose tobacco seized in the past two years, but these figures pale in comparison to federal-level busts. Nationwide, tobacco excise revenue has fallen from A$16 billion ($10.4 billion) in 2019 to A$7.4 billion ($4.8 billion)  this year, while major retailers like Coles and Woolworths have lost over half their tobacco revenue, leaving the market open to criminal operators.

    Local leaders are exploring measures to curb the spread. Fremantle Mayor Ben Lawver noted that the city has 16 convenience-type shops in the CBD alone and is considering rezoning them as discretionary uses, giving the council some control over new openings.

    In the meantime, the illicit tobacco trade continues to thrive, with limited state resources available to enforce existing laws, the story concluded.

  • Kazakhstan to Ease Ban on Hookahs, Not Vapes

    Kazakhstan to Ease Ban on Hookahs, Not Vapes

    Kazakhstan may ease restrictions on hookah use, according to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Sanzhar Adilov. He confirmed that the issue is under review, with a final decision to be made after assessments and public hearings. Officials are considering allowing the import of hookah equipment, permitting hookah use in entertainment venues, and defining a list of substances and conditions for use.

    Adilov emphasized that the current ban on vapes will remain in place, with additional measures introduced to strengthen criminal penalties for their sale and transport. “On vaping, our position is clear: increased responsibility and zero tolerance,” he said.

  • Selangor Drafting Policy to Regulate Vape

    Selangor Drafting Policy to Regulate Vape

    The Malaysian state of Selangor is drafting a policy paper that could lead to a gradual ban on electronic cigarette use, according to state public health and environment committee chairman Jamaliah Jamaluddin. She said the policy will align with the Tobacco Product Control Act for Public Health 2023 (Act 852) and take into account market realities, public health impacts, and enforcement needs. The announcement was made during the Selangor state assembly sitting in Shah Alam in response to a query about prohibiting vapes.

    Jamaliah said the state government has already begun engagement sessions with stakeholders, including the Selangor State Health Department and local authorities, to discuss implementation. Initial steps include removing vape-related advertisements and promotional signage at retail outlets across the state. She emphasized that enforcement will be strengthened through cooperation between state agencies, local authorities, and federal bodies.

    The state also plans to expand awareness campaigns targeting youths, highlighting the risks and harmful health effects of vaping. Advocacy programs will involve secondary schools and universities through carnivals, talks, and interactive sessions. Health clinics will be equipped with support hotlines and nicotine addiction screening services to assist individuals seeking to quit vaping.

  • Philippines Pushing for Vape Ban

    Philippines Pushing for Vape Ban

    The Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) called for a nationwide ban on vape products, warning that advertisements portraying vaping as a safer alternative to cigarettes are misleading. In a news release on November 22, the DOH stressed that both vapor and devices contain harmful chemicals linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and lung illnesses. The agency also raised concerns about flavored varieties and colorful packaging that appeal to minors. Citing the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, the DOH reported that seven out of 10 Filipino youths aged 13 to 15 use vape products, and noted the country’s first recorded death from two years of vape use in the past year.

    The DOH said the government is strengthening its engagement with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to address the issue. It added that the Health Promotion Bureau continues to raise awareness in communities, schools, and workplaces about the dangers of vaping and smoking.

  • Virginia Defends Ban on Unauthorized Flavored E-Cigarettes in Federal Court

    Virginia Defends Ban on Unauthorized Flavored E-Cigarettes in Federal Court

    Virginia is pushing back against a challenge to its statewide ban on unauthorized flavored e-cigarettes, arguing in federal court that the restriction is both legally sound and critical to protecting youth from nicotine addiction. The law prohibits the sale of any flavored vaping product that has not been specifically authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—effectively barring nearly all flavored e-cigarettes currently on the market.

    In newly filed briefs, the state contends it has broad authority to regulate retail tobacco and nicotine sales to safeguard public health, pointing to rising youth vaping rates and the popularity of flavored disposable products. Virginia argues that the plaintiffs—primarily vape shop owners and industry groups—are seeking to bypass the FDA’s national regulatory framework, which requires companies to obtain marketing authorization for every product. Because the vast majority of flavored e-cigarettes have been denied or have not received FDA authorization, the state says the ban simply enforces existing federal law at the retail level.

    Plaintiffs claim the measure is unconstitutional, asserting it infringes on interstate commerce, unfairly harms small businesses, and effectively imposes a de facto prohibition. But Virginia maintains the law is narrowly tailored, does not conflict with federal authority, and is necessary to prevent youth from accessing high-nicotine flavored products that remain widely available despite federal restrictions. The case is being closely watched as the outcome could set a significant precedent for state-level enforcement of federal tobacco regulations.

  • Cambodia Issues Strict Nicotine Ban in Tourism Sector

    Cambodia Issues Strict Nicotine Ban in Tourism Sector

    Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism issued a stringent directive to all tourism service establishments, warning that, beginning today (November 20), businesses distributing, selling, storing, advertising, producing, or importing electronic smoking devices, vaping substances, and shisha will face penalties including written warnings, suspension, or revocation of tourism business licences.

    The warning applies to civil servants, contracted officials, and owners or managers of tourism-related businesses nationwide, prohibiting the import, distribution, sale, advertising, use, possession, production, or storage of these devices.

  • Belgium to Ban All Flavored Vapes

    Belgium to Ban All Flavored Vapes

    Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke announced plans to ban all vape flavors except tobacco, following new advice from the Superior Health Council. The move “aims to prevent vaping from becoming a gateway to nicotine addiction among young people.” Vandenbroucke cited the Netherlands, which introduced a similar ban in January 2024, where nearly 30% of users reported vaping less and over 20% quit without returning to cigarettes.

    The Superior Health Council, which had previously hesitated over a full ban, now supports stronger restrictions, arguing that protecting youth must take priority. Cancer charity Kom op tegen Kanker also extended its anti-smoking campaign to vaping, warning of rising use among students. Surveys show almost a third of Belgian students have tried e-cigarettes, with weekly use now four times higher than five years ago.

    Retailers, represented by Perstablo, condemned the proposal as “absurd” and warned it could fuel the illegal market, where flavored vapes continue to circulate despite bans. The group pledged to explore legal challenges, questioning the validity of the measure. Vandenbroucke’s plan follows earlier steps such as banning disposable vapes and restricting smoking in youth-popular areas, though the timeline for implementation remains unclear.

  • Laos Vape Ban Crackdown Affects 759,000 Online Members

    Laos Vape Ban Crackdown Affects 759,000 Online Members

    The Lao Ministry of Health, with support from WHO and Meta, shut down 288 online e-cigarette stores with more than 759,000 members, intensifying enforcement of the country’s 2021 ban on vaping products. Officials hailed the move as a public health success, but industry voices warn that consumers are being left without regulated alternatives.

    “Digital platforms must not become safe spaces for harmful products,” said Dr. Timothy Armstrong, WHO Representative to Lao PDR. “We are proud that these recent efforts have significantly reduced the visibility and availability of these products.”

    Critics argue the crackdown pushes demand underground, forcing adult users to rely on unregulated black-market channels where product quality and safety cannot be guaranteed.

  • Ireland Considering Disposable Vape Ban, Wider Nicotine Controls

    Ireland Considering Disposable Vape Ban, Wider Nicotine Controls

    The Irish Government is considering new legislation that would ban the retail sale of single-use or disposable vapes, amid growing concerns over youth uptake and the rapid evolution of nicotine products. According to The Journal, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is seeking Cabinet approval for the publication of the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025, which would outlaw the products six months after becoming law.

    In addition to the vape ban, MacNeill is pushing for broader regulation of nicotine products through amendments to the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill. The changes would extend oversight to nicotine pouches, which are currently outside existing tobacco and vaping legislation.

    Public health advocates, including the Irish Cancer Society, have criticized the government for being slow to regulate new nicotine products. In August, the Society warned that the lack of oversight risked exposing young people to addictive substances.