Regulatory reports - Analysis for professionals in the vape sector

Mostly legal: global conventions on CBD, the harmless cannabis extract

Written by Pablo Cano Trilla | 7th May 2018

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of many cannabinoids that can be found in cannabis. While the cannabis plant itself, and many drugs that are extracted from it, are illegal in most parts of the world, CBD,...

FDA guides on product labelling: US regulatory report

Written by ECigIntelligence | 2nd May 2018

In this latest report on American regulations, ECigIntelligence highlights the fact that all electronic vaping devices will have to comply with FDA label requirements from August 2018 ...

Relabelling and repackaging options could ease legal burden for US manufacturers

Written by Aidan Semmens | 24th April 2018

There could be some relief for manufacturers of “tobacco related” products for the US market who have been restricted by the complicated legal process of obtaining authorisation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)...

Hungary regulatory report: tough rules but weakening enforcement

Written by Marija Obradovic | 23rd April 2018

The regulation of vaping products in Hungary is substantially derived from the European TPD, but remains the most severe in the EU – although enforcement of many of the rules does appear to be slackening...

Focus is on minors: Atlanta and Georgia regulatory report

Written by ECigIntelligence | 19th April 2018

ECigIntelligence looks at regulation in Georgia and Atlanta and finds it is and mainly focused on preventing minors from accessing the products ...

Korean web of taxes brings HnB price in line with combustible cigarettes

Written by ECigIntelligence | 3rd April 2018

Regulators in South Korea have enacted new taxes on heat-not-burn (HnB) tobacco products, apparently building on previous government moves to bring prices closer in line with those of conventional cigarettes ...

Age limit up, flavour ban on the table: New Jersey regulatory report

Written by Berta Camps Bisbal | 28th March 2018

State regulation of vaping products in New Jersey is explained, including the recently raised age limit of 21 and proposals to ban flavours, to establish licensing for the sale of e-cigarettes, and to extend limits...

Change afoot in Russia as Moscow puts forward plan for national regulation

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 22nd March 2018

E-cigarettes and heated tobacco are currently subject to very little regulation in Russia – but that could be about to change, with proposals coming from both the federal trade ministry and the Moscow City Duma...

The medical route to market approval in the UK – the pros and cons

Written by Elba Manzanilla Zapata | 21st March 2018

The MHRA, Britain’s pharmaceutical regulator, is currently encouraging and supporting companies to submit medicines authorisation applications for e-cigarette products. Here we explain what that process entails ...

Shake and vape and the law in the EU

Written by Elba Manzanilla Zapata | 16th March 2018

As shake and vape products increase in popularity in Europe in response to the restrictions imposed by the EU’s TPD, we take a close look at country-by-country regulation ...

Ukraine regulatory report: TPD beyond the EU?

Written by Marija Obradovic | 12th March 2018

Ukraine's current regulatory setup is lenient on e-cigs but with politicians keen to foster stronger links with the EU, and with acts now in force to strengthen existing relations, it's only a matter of time...

Wholesale or volume taxes: a state-by-state analysis of US vapour taxation

Written by Berta Camps Bisbal | 7th March 2018

Eight US states currently tax e-cigarettes: five apply a volume tax, at a rate per ml of consumable product; three apply a wholesale tax, based on price sold at wholesale in the state – and...

Substantial equivalence: Eclipse and Glo – same difference?

Written by ECigIntelligence | 1st March 2018

BAT has chosen to seek market authorisation in the US for its heat-not-burn product Glo on the basis of its “substantial equivalence” to a previous product, Eclipse – but what are the pitfalls and the...

Neither banned nor entirely legal – the strange case of e-cigs in Vietnam

Written by ECigIntelligence | 27th February 2018

Visitors to Vietnam speculate about whether or not they can bring vaping products into a countrywhere the legislative status of e-cigs is unclear and the trade exists in a legal grey area ...

US tribal territories – a unique opportunity for the vaping trade?

Written by Aidan Semmens | 22nd February 2018

There are more than 320 tribal territories (Indian reservations) in the US, administered by federally recognised tribes – subject to federal, but not state laws. This affects the tobacco trade in various ways and may...

Domestic online sales ban looms: Estonia regulatory report

Written by Marija Obradovic | 16th February 2018

Estonia is one of the most severe environments for the vaping industry in Europe. Cross-border distance sales are prohibited, while domestic online sales will be banned as of 1 July, 2019 ...

Norway regulatory report: nicotine e-cigarettes will soon be legal

Written by Marija Obradovic | 5th February 2018

Norway is likely to end its ban on e-cigarettes in mid-2018. However, vapour products are subject to detailed regulations and the Norwegian authorities have extended the EU’s TPD to cover nicotine-free products ...

Greece regulatory report: cross-border ban details and a legal challenge

Written by Elba Manzanilla Zapata | 2nd February 2018

Our updated report on the current state of e-cigarette regulation in Greece includes interpretation from the customs authority on what is covered by the cross-border distance sales ban and news of a legal challenge to...

A question of balance – do health benefits outweigh possible harms?

Written by Barnaby Page | 30th January 2018

Given the complexity of all the possibilities, how can you forecast the long-term effect of e-cigs on smoking-related harms? That was the challenge taken on by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)...

Online sales now banned: Italy regulatory report

Written by Elba Manzanilla Zapata | 25th January 2018

In our latest look at the Italian market, we see that distance sales, including domestic and cross-border, are now banned under the latest amendment (known as the “Vicari amendment”) approved in the Italian parliament ...

Proposed tax rate increase: North Carolina regulatory report

Written by Aidan Semmens | 12th January 2018

North Carolina's current regulatory status is explained by the ECigIntelligence team of analysts: decisions are made at state level for state-wide uniformity; vapour products are included in the definition of tobacco products; and the taxable...

Europe may demand new warning labels on lemon fragrance citral

Written by Aidan Semmens | 9th January 2018

Citral, a plant-derived chemical fragrance sometimes used in e-cigarette flavours, may be reclassified at European level, requiring a new warning label on products that use it ...

Hardware waste management in the EU

Written by Marija Obradovic | 8th January 2018

The hardware and batteries used in e-cigarette products must be disposed of in line with EU legislation. Packaging should display the crossed-out wheelie bin symbol, which indicates that hardware should be disposed of separately from normal...

Mexico: a new bid to legalise e-cigs

Written by Pablo Cano Trilla | 5th January 2018

The PRI party’s Senator Marcela Guerra Castillo has presented a new bill to legalise e-cigarettes in Mexico, in response to their continuing popularity. It is a bid to control the quality of products on the market....

Limiting youth access: Arizona, Maricopa County and Phoenix regulatory report

Written by ECigIntelligence | 3rd January 2018

E-cigarette regulation in Arizona and its state capital, Phoenix, is almost non-existent, with the exception of limiting access to those aged 18 or above ...

Re-drawn law less stringent than TPD: updated Switzerland regulatory report

Written by ECigIntelligence | 2nd January 2018

Our updated report looks at the newly re-drafted tobacco law that is likely to form the basis of future regulation of e-cigarettes and HnB products in a country that is in Europe but outside the...

European governments seeking different answers to the taxing question of e-cigs

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 21st December 2017

While the approval by Poland’s parliament of a tax on e-liquids causes consternation, much of Europe is in a state of indecision over the taxation of vaping products ...

A risk rather than an opportunity: San Francisco Bay Area regulatory report

Written by Aidan Semmens | 20th December 2017

ECigIntelligence's report on the Bay Area details how city and county regulation of e-cigarettes and vaping in San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and Fremont applies on top of California's statewide rules ...

Los Angeles: proactively restricting e-cigarettes

Written by Aidan Semmens | 11th December 2017

Los Angeles takes an active approach towards electronic cigarettes, including them in the definition of tobacco products for purposes of the Tobacco Retailing License and public smoking restrictions ...

An eye on minors in the Buckeye State: Ohio and Columbus regulatory report

Written by ECigIntelligence | 8th December 2017

E-cigarette regulation in Ohio and its state capital Columbus is chiefly focused on preventing vaping among young people – below 18 in the state, below 21 in the city ...

Could the TPD allow for reduced-risk claims?

Written by Elba Manzanilla Zapata | 6th December 2017

Nearly all EU member states have interpreted article 13 of the European TPD to ban all claims related to health in the absence of a medical certificate. However, there may be a pathway to a...

E-liquids enjoy a zero-tax regime: Croatia regulatory report

Written by Marija Obradovic | 30th November 2017

Unlike its Balkan neighbours Slovenia and Serbia, Croatia – one of the last countries in Europe to transpose the TPD – puts a zero rate of tax on e-liquids ...

E-cigs still consumer products – for now: Serbia regulatory report

Written by Marija Obradovic | 24th November 2017

ECigIntelligence's regulatory report on the state of e-cigarette legislation in Serbia - this report shows that e-cigs are presently regulated as a consumer product, but the country is likely to bring its laws in line...

European Commission overwhelmed by number of e-cig product notifications

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 23rd November 2017

Nearly 150,000 e-cigarette products have been notified to authorities in EU countries since the transposition of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) in member states – far more than officials expected ...

State falls back in line with US constitution: Indiana regulatory report

Written by Aidan Semmens | 23rd November 2017

The US state of Indiana was forced to repeal a number of its e-cigarette regulations following a successful plea to a federal court of appeal. This report details the relevant law in the state as...

Still European for now, Britain goes its own ways: UK regulatory report

Written by Elba Manzanilla Zapata | 22nd November 2017

Our updated report on the state of e-cigarette regulation in the UK unpicks the differences between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. ...

New regulatory initiatives create uncertainty in Italian e-cigarette market

Written by Pablo Cano Trilla | 17th November 2017

Uncertainty surrounds the Italian e-cigarette market, following a number of recent regulatory decisions and initiatives. These include a court decision on the long-running issue of whether to tax nicotine-free e-liquids; proposals to ban online sales...

E-Zigi law on its way – but don’t hold your breath: Switzerland regulatory report

Written by ECigIntelligence | 14th November 2017

Our updated report on Swiss law as it relates to e-cigarettes considers both current regulation and how it is likely to change in a country that is in Europe but outside the EU ...

South Korea tax rise threatens to make HnB more expensive than smoking

Written by ECigIntelligence | 13th November 2017

Heat-not-burn products will become more expensive than combustible cigarettes in South Korea unless manufacturers decide to absorb part of a new tax rise ...

Presence of nicotine determines applicable regime: South Korea regulatory report

Written by Elba Manzanilla Zapata | 8th November 2017

Different rules apply in South Korea to nicotine and non-nicotine products, one of which is defined as tobacco, the other as a quasi-drug. ...

District vapour tax may rise to keep in line with cigarettes: DC regulatory report

Written by Aidan Semmens | 6th November 2017

A 65% tax relative to the wholesale value of vapour products is imposed in the District of Columbia, with the aim of equalising them to some extent with traditional cigarettes ...

Malaysia regulatory report: uncertainty as government ponders new rules

Written by Marija Obradovic | 3rd November 2017

The Malaysian e-cig industry has cause for optimism as some members of the ruling party are strongly in favour of ending the pharma regime for nicotine-containing products ...

Scare stories get more attention than calmly issued research findings

Written by Marc Beishon | 1st November 2017

A research paper which led to the headline claim that e-cigs can trigger lung disease “just like cigarettes” was picked up by the media more eagerly than other studies which came to less alarmist conclusions...

South Africa regulatory report: vaping in legal limbo

Written by Marija Obradovic | 23rd October 2017

Nicotine e-cigs can only be sold legally in South Africa at pharmacies under medical licence. There is, however, a thriving black market, and a government promise – yet to be acted on – to regulate...

Belgium regulatory report: a year after TPD, are further restrictions in the pipeline?

Written by Elba Manzanilla Zapata | 18th October 2017

Transposition of the TPD into Belgian law has been force since January 2017. The restrictions it imposes include a ban on online sales as well as product, packaging, labelling and advertising restrictions ...

Germany regulatory report: more restrictions possible on advertising and zero-nicotine

Written by ECigIntelligence | 17th October 2017

ECigIntelligence’s updated review of Germany’s e-cigarette laws and regulations includes details of likely future tightening of...

Going hybrid: a route to regulatory benefits for Europe’s e-cig manufacturers?

Written by Pablo Cano Trilla | 16th October 2017

EU legislation is unclear on how to categorise hybrid devices, which may give manufacturers some degree of choice. This report aims to help them make that choice wisely ...

New licensing requirements in the Big Apple: New York City regulatory report

Written by Aidan Semmens | 11th October 2017

New ordinances in New York City place a cap on the number of e-cigarette retailers in each district of the city – and licences will only be granted to those who were already in business...

Two possible paths to e-cig legalisation: Mexico regulatory report

Written by Elba Manzanilla Zapata | 4th October 2017

The sale of e-cigarette products is banned in Mexico under the General Tobacco Control Law, although a modest e-cigarette market does exist. In 2015 Mexico’s highest court unanimously held that the regulator’s interpretation of Mexico’s Tobacco...

New incoming rules will mean further restrictions in Portugal

Written by Marija Obradovic | 27th September 2017

New legislation regulating nicotine-containing e-cigarettes came into force on 1st January 2016 in Portugal. Current taxes on nicotine e-liquids are €0.30/ml, but a new budget law is due for vote in November 2017 when it will become...

LATEST ALERTS