Author: Emily Carter

The Belgian government is moving to prohibit all e-cigarette flavors with the exception of tobacco, aiming to curb nicotine addiction among young people. Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke stated that flavored vapes are deliberately designed to attract children and mask the potential harms of vaping. This decision aligns with an updated stance from the Superior Health Council, which now supports stricter limitations. While previously cautious about a total flavor ban, the Council argues that protecting youth outweighs the potential benefits of flavors for adult smokers seeking to quit. Recent national surveys reveal a sharp rise in vaping among Belgian schoolchildren, with…

Russian lawmakers are advancing a legislative initiative to introduce licensing for the sale of tobacco products, including cigarettes, vapes, and hookah products. The proposal, supported by the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy, aims to legalize the market, reduce counterfeit goods, and increase tax revenues. According to committee chairman Maxim Tolilin, the licensing measures are expected to create conditions for market legalization and reduce the circulation of illicit products. He noted that the share of counterfeit cigarettes in sales is estimated at 9.5%, while for vapes, it is significantly higher, potentially exceeding 90% according to market players. The proposed licensing…

The Canton of Geneva is set to begin enforcing its ban on disposable e-cigarettes, known as "puffs," after the cantonal court rejected a request to suspend the law. The ban was initially passed by the Grand Council on August 29th, but enforcement was paused pending a judicial decision on several appeals that sought to suspend its effect. With the court's refusal to grant a suspensive effect, the law is now confirmed to be applicable throughout the entire judicial procedure. Geneva's Department of the Economy and Employment has stated it will now proceed with inspections, and the commerce police will sanction…

An astonishing 94% of all electronic cigarettes sold in Ukraine are part of an illegal "shadow" market, according to Nataliya Fesiun, CEO of the 'Ukrtyun' Association. She emphasized that implementing bans without effective control and enforcement is counterproductive, serving only to fuel the growth of this illicit trade. "The only thing the state should do is to seriously tackle the problem," Fesiun stated, urging the government to take decisive action. The situation is reportedly exacerbated by rising excise taxes on traditional tobacco products, which increases consumer demand for alternatives like e-cigarettes. However, this also incentivizes illegal manufacturers to evade taxes…

The Dutch government is significantly increasing financial penalties for the illegal sale of e-cigarettes in a move to deter illicit trade and protect children's health. Caretaker State Secretary for Health, Judith Tielen, announced that the fine for a first violation will be raised by €700 to €2,040. The new rules are scheduled to come into force on July 1st of next year. This measure strengthens existing regulations in the Netherlands, where flavored e-cigarettes are already banned, the legal purchase age is 18, and sales of all tobacco and vape products have been prohibited in supermarkets and hospitality venues since the…

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved the idea of introducing a complete ban on the sale of vapes across the Russian Federation. While endorsing the prohibition, Putin emphasized that any such decision must be accompanied by educational outreach to young people. The proposal for a full ban was presented by Ekaterina Leshchinskaya, head of the "Healthy Fatherland" national public movement, who cited the positive experience of similar restrictions in neighboring countries. Putin confirmed that the government supports the initiative, noting that Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko was also in favor. "It is important not only to make such a decision,…

A new petition, titled "Ne tuez pas la vape !" ("Don't kill vaping!"), has been launched in France to oppose a government finance bill that proposes to tax vaping products similarly to traditional tobacco. The bill suggests a tax of €30 to €50 per liter on vaping liquids, depending on nicotine content, in addition to the existing 20% VAT. It also includes a ban on online vape sales. The vaping industry federation FIVAPE, which launched the petition addressed to President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, argues that these measures wrongly equate vaping with smoking. They contend that vaping…

The Chamber of Deputies in Santa Fe, Argentina, has given initial approval ("media sanción") to a bill that aims to expand the province's existing anti-tobacco law to include electronic cigarettes, vaping, and heated tobacco products. The initiative seeks to strengthen prevention policies in response to the growing use of these devices, especially among adolescents. The bill's author, Deputy Sonia Martorano, explained the urgency: "We were worried that vapes are very much in vogue among adolescents and minors. They are colorful devices, with fruity aromas and designs that make them attractive." She stressed that "both e-cigarettes and vapes are toxic, not…

For the first time on record, the number of people who vape in Great Britain has surpassed the number of those who smoke traditional cigarettes, according to new 2024 data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The figures show that one in ten (10%) adults aged 16 and over now use e-cigarettes either daily or occasionally, equating to approximately 5.4 million people. This is compared to 9.1% who smoke cigarettes, representing about 4.9 million people. This milestone highlights a dramatic shift in nicotine consumption habits over the past decade. In 2014, nearly 19% of British adults were cigarette users,…

The Maldives has become the first country in the world to implement a "generational" tobacco ban, making it illegal for anyone born on or after January 1, 2007, to purchase, use, or sell tobacco products. The new law, initiated by President Mohamed Muizzu, took effect on November 1, 2025, aiming to protect public health and create a "tobacco-free generation." The prohibition applies to all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, and chewing tobacco. Retailers are now required to verify the age of all purchasers and face a fine of 50,000 rufiyaa (approximately US$3,200) for violations. Crucially, the ban extends not only…