Author: Emily Carter

A new bill filed in the Colombian Congress by Conservative Party Representative Wadith Manzur seeks to impose two new taxes on vaping products, aiming to raise over $390 billion pesos in its first year. The initiative, expected to be debated starting August 20th, aims to protect public health, particularly among youth, by increasing the cost and control of these devices. The proposal would expand the existing consumption tax on traditional cigarettes to include all non-combustible nicotine and tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and the devices required for their use. Manzur explained the bill establishes two new taxes for…

The regional government of Galicia, Spain, has approved a new draft law aimed at preventing addictive behaviors among youth, with a primary focus on prohibiting the sale and use of vapes (e-cigarettes) by anyone under the age of 18. The government intends for the law, which is part of a broader public health initiative, to take effect before the end of the year. A central provision of this new framework is to legally equate vapes with conventional tobacco products, thereby prohibiting their sale to and use by children and adolescents. This measure is a direct response to alarming local statistics…

A new draft law, No. 13548, has been registered in Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada (parliament), proposing a complete and comprehensive ban on the production, importation, wholesale and retail trade, and circulation of all electronic cigarettes, refill containers, and their liquids within the country. The bill's authors state its primary goal is to protect the health of the Ukrainian population, particularly its youth. The push for a total prohibition is fueled by alarming statistics on youth vaping. According to surveys, nearly one in five adolescents aged 13-15 (around 20%) are current e-cigarette users, and 40% have tried them at least once. Among…

European travelers planning to vape on their holidays are being urged to check local laws before they travel, as regulations in popular international hotspots can range from hefty fines to potential imprisonment. As vaping rules tighten globally, what is permissible at home may be strictly illegal abroad, leading to serious consequences for uninformed tourists. One of the most popular destinations with severe restrictions is Thailand. E-cigarettes are completely illegal across the entire country. This includes not only using them but also bringing them into the country. Airport officials frequently check luggage and will confiscate any vape devices found. Tourists caught…

Poland is rolling out significant changes to its excise tax system, with new regulations impacting a wide range of alternative nicotine products. Following amendments to the Excise Tax Act, new rules for vaporizing devices and the e-liquid in disposable e-cigarettes took effect on July 1, 2025. Now, further changes will come into force on August 1, 2025, targeting nicotine pouches and other novel products. As of August 1st, the following products will be subject to a new excise tax: These changes follow the July 1st implementation of a 40 PLN per unit excise tax on vaporizing devices (vape hardware) and…

The Malaysian government is actively considering a nationwide ban on the sale and use of e-cigarettes or vapes, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad has confirmed. He announced that a special committee from the Health Ministry will formally propose the ban to address the widespread abuse of these products. "It will come in the form of a proposal where the ministry will bring this agenda to ban vapes," Dr. Dzulkefly stated at a press conference in Parliament on Monday (July 28). He clarified that the current Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) regulates but…

The Paraguayan Senate has approved a new law to regulate the use, sale, and disposal of electronic devices, including vapes, pods, and mods. The legislation, which now awaits President Santiago Peña's signature, introduces a comprehensive framework aimed at protecting public health, with a strong focus on preventing youth access. A key provision of the new law is a complete ban on the sale of these devices to individuals under 18 years of age. Sales will also be restricted to exclusive, licensed stores rather than being available "on any corner," and the products will be subject to a new tax of…

The Spanish Ministry of Health has drafted a new anti-tobacco law that proposes to ban single-use disposable vapes and significantly expand smoke-free zones to more outdoor public areas. The legislation aims to equate the regulation of electronic cigarettes with that of conventional tobacco, with the goal of reducing tobacco consumption prevalence by 1-2%. A key provision of the new draft law is the prohibition of single-use (disposable) vapes. The primary argument for this measure is "the right of the non-smoking population to breathe uncontaminated air." Under the new rules, these emerging forms of consumption will face the same restrictions as…

Russian lawmakers are set to introduce a bill to the State Duma on June 23rd proposing a complete ban on both the wholesale and retail sale of all vapes and electronic cigarettes. The initiative, spearheaded by deputies Sergey Mironov and Yana Lantratova, aims to establish significant administrative fines for any violations. Under the proposed legislation, fines for illegal sales would range from 25,000 to 50,000 rubles for individuals and from 500,000 to 1 million rubles for legal entities. The penalties for selling to minors would be even more severe, with fines of 300,000 to 500,000 rubles for individuals and 1.5…

A significant increase in tobacco taxes in the Netherlands has led to a surge in smokers purchasing cheaper products abroad, raising questions about the effectiveness of national tax policies in small, wealthy countries with open borders. After the Netherlands raised cigarette prices by 24% and rolling tobacco by 45% in 2024, an estimated 60% of Dutch smokers bought tobacco products in other countries, up from 40% in 2023 and 30% in 2020. According to analysis by the Dutch Public Health Agency, while the tax hike did lead 7% of smokers to quit and 22% to reduce their consumption, the rise…