Regulatory briefing
The regulatory briefing section offers regulatory news and updates from the e-cigarette industry worldwide. Briefings cover topics such as: introduction and passing of relevant bills and bans; changes to regulations in individual countries or regions; and how current affairs and government policies are affecting the industry. It also provides ECigIntelligence’s expert summary of events and analysis.
Philadelphia appeals court ruling striking down city’s ban on flavours
Written by ECigIntelligence || 10th May 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The US city of Philadelphia has appealed for the second time a court ruling halting a 2019 municipal ordinance that restricted the sale of flavoured vaping products to adult-only establishments ...
Future of first US federal vaping tax proposal remains unclear in Congress
Written by ECigIntelligence || 6th May 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Representatives in both US chambers have recently reintroduced an old piece of legislation that would establish the first ever federal tax on vapour products, but whether it will have enough political support to be adopted anytime soon remains...
Jordan’s Tobacco Unit enables businesses to bring e-cigs into the legalised market
Written by ECigIntelligence || 4th May 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Jordan’s Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) has licensed at least 184 establishments to display, sell, trade, and store e-cigarette devices, e-liquids and heated tobacco since such products were legalised in 2019 ...
Taiwan’s capital faces a blanket ban on tobacco alternatives as council decides
Written by ECigIntelligence || 3rd May 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The city council of Taiwan’s capital Taipei is this week considering a local ordinance for a blanket ban on the manufacture, import, sale, supply, display and advertising of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products ...
Scotland’s Conservatives call for e-cigs to be restricted like smoking products
Written by ECigIntelligence || 28th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
As next week’s Scottish Parliament elections approach, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party has said e-cigarettes should be subject to the same restrictions as combustible tobacco products ...
Saskatchewan’s 20% tax ‘won’t stop kids vaping’; limit on flavours also lies ahead
Written by ECigIntelligence || 27th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Businesses in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan are preparing for a new 20% tax on vaping products, while the government has also announced plans to further restrict sales of flavoured e-cigs ...
Juul executives face trial after US judge rules racketeering claims ‘plausible’
Written by ECigIntelligence || 26th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A major lawsuit in California against Juul Labs and Altria over youth marketing tactics is moving forward after a judge endorsed a new racketeering theory as “plausible” ...
EU tax harmony needed ‘urgently’ – but no decision is expected before next year
Written by David Palacios Rubio || 23rd April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Tax officials in Brussels are agreed that the harmonising of excise duties on tobacco alternatives is urgent after calls from EU member states and the sector to put an end to the different national tax regimes in Europe...
Germany’s government parties split on vaping tax plan ahead of Bundestag talks
Written by ECigIntelligence || 21st April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The plan for a new e-liquid tax is creating tensions in Germany’s governing coalition, with some members of chancellor Angela Merkel’s party opposing the scheme ahead of the start of the legislative process in the Bundestag ...
Canada plans new federal e-liquid tax from 2022 ‘to cut harmful vaping’
Written by ECigIntelligence || 20th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The Canadian government aims to implement a new federal excise duty on vaping products from 2022 “to help curtail harmful consumption” of e-cigarettes ...
Legal uncertainties are cramping the vaping industry worldwide, says Relx
Written by ECigIntelligence || 19th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Changes and uncertainty over regulatory approach in some big vaping markets, and the rise in compatible products, are major current challenges for big players in the e-cigarette industry, such as Relx International ...
Spain eyes total vaping ban on outdoor terraces to help combat Covid-19 spread
Written by ECigIntelligence || 16th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The Spanish Ministry of Health is looking at imposing a blanket ban on the use of tobacco products – including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco – on outdoor bar and cafe terraces ...
Industry and anti-tobacco opposed to vaping tax proposal in Texas legislature
Written by ECigIntelligence || 14th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A Texas House of Representatives committee hearing on Monday showcased a coincidence between the vapour industry and anti-tobacco groups: both camps are opposed to a bill, but for different reasons ...
MPs suggest Britain should cut WHO funding if COP9 sticks by e-cig stance
Written by ECigIntelligence || 12th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A group of UK members of parliament have suggested the government should think twice about its contribution to the World Health Organization (WHO) if it remains hostile towards vaping products ...
Regulatory pathways for e-cigarette products in Eurasia and the Middle East
Written by ECigIntelligence || 8th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
How are e-cigarettes regulated in the former Soviet countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Middle-Eastern states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – and what are the similarities and differences between the two? Those questions,...
Vape companies ask US Supreme Court to rule FDA deeming regulations invalid
Written by David Palacios Rubio || 8th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A group of eight vaping companies are escalating their legal fight against the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s oversight of e-cigarette products, and in particular the premarket approval (PMTA) process ...
UK consultation on post-Brexit review of regulations elicits broad mix of messages
Written by ECigIntelligence || 6th April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Interested parties on all sides have asked the UK government for an inclusive and open-minded review of the 2016 Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) that govern vaping products in the country ...
Government-appointed commission urges Sweden to ban e-cigarette flavours
Written by David Palacios Rubio || 2nd April 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A new report commissioned by the Swedish government suggests stricter regulation of tobacco-alternative products, including a blanket ban on all flavoured e-cigarettes and tighter rules on marketing and advertising ...
Philippine e-cig industry calls for ‘more realistic’ cost calculations by tax officials
Written by ECigIntelligence || 31st March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The Philippine E-Cigarette Industry Association (PECIA) has called for “more realistic” excise duties on e-cigarettes during a consultation by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) ...
US representatives urge FDA to ban flavoured e-cigs and deny Juul PMTA
Written by ECigIntelligence || 29th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A group of 40 House Democrats have written to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pressing it to remove from the market all flavoured e-cigarettes “fueling youth tobacco epidemic” and to make an example of Juul ...
The more EU politicians know about vaping, the less risky they think it is
Written by ECigIntelligence || 24th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
How much politicians know about e-cigarettes and other novel tobacco products has a major effect on their perceptions of safety and risk, new ECigIntelligence research suggests ...
Wales lets local councils decide whether to ban public vaping along with smoking
Written by ECigIntelligence || 24th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Officials in Cardiff are not insisting on vaping be included in the clampdown on smoking that came into force in Wales at the beginning of the month ...
Bid to limit vaping on Manitoba reserves ‘intrudes on First Nations’ rights’
Written by ECigIntelligence || 18th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The Canadian province of Manitoba has been accused of trampling on First Nations’ rights by trying to apply provincial restrictions on smoking and vaping to aboriginal reserves ...
World Vapers’ Alliance urges rethink as health ministers discuss EU cancer plan
Written by Barnaby Page || 16th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
One of the most influential vapers’ organisations has pleaded for a rethink of the approach towards alternative nicotine products in the EU’s wide-ranging new Beating Cancer Plan ...
Canada considers a national flavour ban to protect youth and close the ‘gateway’
Written by Marija Obradovic || 16th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A flavour ban is on the agenda again in Canada as the government’s commitment to reducing the appeal of vaping products to young people comes to a peak ...
Flavour ban and tax increases on the agenda for Minnesota legislators
Written by ECigIntelligence || 15th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Legislation moving through the legislature in the US state of Minnesota seeks to ban the sale of flavoured e-cigarettes and could increase both wholesale and retail taxes on vapour devices ...
Colombian Ministry of Health backs bill to introduce e-cigarette regulation
Written by ECigIntelligence || 11th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Colombia’s Parliament is considering a bill to update the country’s existing anti-tobacco law with fresh regulations on the use and sale of vaping products ...
Swiss referendum backs age limit and tighter vaping regulation in Bern canton
Written by ECigIntelligence || 9th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s is set to be banned in the Swiss canton of Bern after a referendum revealed a very clear majority in favour ...
City of Chicago takes legal action as well as inspections to enforce flavour ban
Written by ECigIntelligence || 4th March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Six months after implementing a ban on flavoured e-cigarettes, the city of Chicago has cited several businesses for breaking the rules and announced a lawsuit against a business accused of selling non-compliant vaping products ...
PHE report suggests medicine before or after vaping as best way to quit smoking
Written by David Palacios Rubio || 25th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Public Health England (PHE) is calling on local authorities to continue supporting e-cigarettes after new research confirmed they are more effective than nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) in smoking cessation ...
German higher court rules that online adverts CAN say e-cigarettes save lives
Written by ECigIntelligence || 24th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A high court in Germany has ruled that it is legal to promote e-cigarettes as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes, overturning a previous decision by a lower regional court ...
New York legislature aims to increase the state’s vaping tax 140%
Written by ECigIntelligence || 19th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Lawmakers in New York state recently introduced bills that would more than double the excise duties for vaping products with the aim of financially disincentivising citizens from using nicotine products ...
Germany proposes new €0.02 per mg tax on nicotine e-liquids from 2022
Written by ECigIntelligence || 17th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The German government is proposing a new tax scheme for nicotine-containing vaping products to come into force in summer 2022 as “a response to current market developments” ...
COP9 ‘will be UK’s chance to put the case for more progressive vaping regulation’
Written by ECigIntelligence || 16th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Britain will have an “incredible opportunity” later this year to spread the message that appropriate vaping regulation saves lives, members of the Westminster parliament have been told ...
Uncertainty over leaked government plan for new e-cigarette tax in Germany
Written by ECigIntelligence || 11th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Rumours of a German government proposal to introduce a tax scheme for e-cigarettes from 2022 have been greeted with both surprise and doubt among the industry and federal policymakers ...
‘Incomprehensible and deadly’: store owners’ verdict on Dutch flavour ban
Written by ECigIntelligence || 10th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Members of the vaping industry in the Netherlands have voiced concern at the legislative bid to ban non-tobacco flavours in e-cigarettes from 2022, accusing the Dutch government of proposing dangerous regulations ...
European strategy on beating cancer comes under MEPs’ legislative scrutiny
Written by David Palacios Rubio || 8th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Intense debate has begun in the European Parliament on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, presented by the European Commission last week, including suggested measures to tighten regulation of tobacco alternatives ...
Indiana lawmakers adopt last-minute change in bill to increase vaping tax
Written by ECigIntelligence || 5th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The Indiana House of Representatives has proposed a change to the taxation scheme for e-liquids presented in a bill after lawmakers raised concerns about exactly how the money collected would be used for public health purposes ...
European Commission commits to taking ‘stricter’ approach to tobacco alternatives
Written by David Palacios Rubio || 3rd February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The European Commission has committed itself to a more restrictive legislative approach to tobacco-related products, to protect the public “from picking up lasting habits that are damaging to health” ...
Canadian court turns down application to suspend Nova Scotia’s vaping rules
Written by ECigIntelligence || 1st February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A Canadian judge has refused to grant an injunction to suspend application of Nova Scotia’s vaping laws until a challenge to its constitutionality is decided ...
US Postal Service unsure about federal e-cigarette delivery ban implementation
Written by ECigIntelligence || 29th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A month after the US Congress passed a federal ban on delivering e-cigarettes by mail, the US Postal Service (USPS) is still unsure how to implement and enforce the new regulations ...
E-liquid tax among tobacco reform plans put forward by Mexico’s ruling party
Written by ECigIntelligence || 27th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Members of the ruling party in Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies aim to establish a new tax for e-cigarette products, while officials are working to tighten advertising restrictions and enforce the ban on vaping imports ...
Bavarian High Court rules vape stores can open during coronavirus lockdown
Written by ECigIntelligence || 25th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The High Administrative Court of Bavaria has ruled that vape stores provide essential goods and services and can remain open during the Covid-related lockdown in Germany’s largest state ...
Beijing kicks off China’s second round of inspections of vaping businesses
Written by Tao Hong || 21st January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
The Chinese government is increasing the regulatory pressure on the vaping industry and expects to strengthen the supervision of the e-cigarette market in the country this year ...
US judge dismisses investors’ ‘meritless’ case against major Juul distributor
Written by David Palacios Rubio || 19th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
A class-action lawsuit against one of Juul’s largest distributors has been dismissed by a US judge who described it as “meritless” and “a hammer in search of a nail” ...
Senators’ letter to FDA on PMTAs hints at tougher US policies on vapour products
Written by ECigIntelligence || 18th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Twelve US senators, including 11 leading Democrats, have called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enforce tougher reviews of premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) ...
US agents seize 33,000 fake Puff e-cigarettes flown in from China
Written by ECigIntelligence || 14th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
More than $700,000 worth of counterfeit e-cigarettes arriving from China have been seized in the US as part of a joint-agency operation to crack down on fraudulent vaping products ...
Royal Navy bans vaping at sea as UK armed forces aim to cut it out
Written by David Palacios Rubio || 12th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |
Vaping is no longer allowed on UK Royal Navy vessels under a Ministry of Defence strategy to achieve a smoke-free – and vape-free – generation among all the armed forces ...