Kazakhstan: Market and legal data analysis of the vaping sector

26th March 2024: Kazakhstan: In the capital city of Astana, local authorities, together with police officers and volunteers, are engaging in proactive discussions with vape shop owners and sellers to emphasise the importance of not selling their products to minors, media reports. In addition, entrepreneurs have been told again that once the recently adopted law prohibiting vaping products enters into force, the sale of these items will be banned; however, it is still unclear when this will be, and the law still needs to be signed by the president.
20th March 2024: Kazakhstan: The Mazhilis (the lower chamber of parliament) has agreed with the senators’ additions to the bill banning the sale, distribution, and import of vapes and has sent it to the president for signature, media reports. The bill seeks to ban and criminalise the sale of vaping products in the country and introduce criminal liability for the sale of banned non-smoking tobacco products (nasvay, snus). Earlier this year, a spokesman from the Ministry of Health said in an interview that the implementation of the vaping ban is mainly due to health and under-age usage. The spokesman also added that while the existing health code includes measures aimed at preventing the consumption of vapes in the country, they do not work.
15th March 2024: Kazakhstan: Senators have returned a bill to the Mazhilis (lower chamber of parliament) that seeks to ban the sale, distribution and import of vaping products, media reports. Reportedly, senators want to add rules banning the advertising of such products as well as make other changes. If the Mazhilis approves the additions and changes, the ban will come into force in the country, and criminal liability will be in place.
13th February 2024: Kazakhstan: The Smoking Market Association has asked the authorities not to ban vaping products but to tighten the current legal framework instead, media reports. In January 2024, the Mazhilis (lower chamber of parliament) adopted the bill prohibiting the import, production, and sale of e-cigarettes; now, the decision is up to the senators. However, vape industry members believe this decision will lead cigarette smokers who have switched to a less harmful alternative to return to smoking.
24th January 2024: Kazakhstan: The Mazhilis (lower chamber of parliament) has adopted a bill prohibiting the import, production, and sale of vapes, media reports. The bill will now be considered in the Senate, and then, if approved, will go to president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for his signature. It is still unclear when it would take effect.
13th December 2023: Kazakhstan: Several members of the Mazhilis (lower chamber of the Parliament) have proposed an amendment prohibiting tobacco companies in Kazakhstan from engaging in charity, media reports. The restriction would be added to the Health Code. Reportedly, the proposed amendment includes a “scandalous” provision that aims to ban vaping products. The proposal has not yet been publicly circulated.
28th November 2023: Kazakhstan: According to a Ministry of Health representative, the ministry has developed a bill seeking to ban the circulation of e-cigarettes. The bill is being considered in the Mazhilis (lower chamber of parliament), media reports.
13th October 2023: Kazakhstan: At the plenary session of the Mazhilis (lower chamber) on Wednesday (11th October), members of Parliament (MPs) drew attention to the delay on the issue of limiting the use of or banning e-cigarettes and asked minister of health Azhar Giniyat about the next steps, media reports. Giniyat said that the corresponding amendments to the legal framework are now being considered. Reportedly, the government will give its conclusion regarding next steps within the coming two or three weeks. Meanwhile, social activists have demanded that the government consider a petition against the ban on vaping products that has gathered more than 100,000 signatures.
2nd October 2023: Kazakhstan: Members of the Mazhilis (lower chamber of parliament) have told the prime minister that they disagree with the idea of banning vaping products, believing that the complete ban proposed by the government is an ineffective solution, media reports. In July, the governmental interdepartmental commission decided to ban e-cigarettes and e-liquids in Kazakhstan. However, the corresponding changes have not yet been implemented.
15th September 2023: Kazakhstan: The Ministry of National Economy published for public consultation a consultative document of regulatory policy to the draft of the Tax Code. The consultation will last until 29th September. The consultative document seeks to gradually increase the excise tax rate on cigarettes in Kazakhstan with the aim to harmonise excise tax rates on cigarettes in line with the rates in the other Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries (Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Russia). The document does not address any proposed changes to the tax regime for e-liquids.
14th September 2023: Kazakhstan: The government intends to introduce an e-cigarette ban from 1st January 2024, media reports. International public health experts have reportedly expressed concern about the country’s upcoming total vaping ban, since it may lead smokers to return to cigarettes. In July, a governmental interdepartmental commission decided to completely ban e-cigarettes and e-liquids in Kazakhstan. However, the corresponding changes have not yet been implemented.

Stay up-to-date with key market trends and regulatory news and receive complimentary data on a regular basis

LATEST ALERTS

E-cigarettes in Kazakhstan

News analysis

Kazakhstan plans to impose full e-cig ban with aim of protecting nation’s health

Russia and its Eurasian economic allies eye harmonised vaping rules by 2022

World No Tobacco Day 2020: the debate about harm reduction

Alerts

Market reports

Under Russian influence: e-cig markets in the Eurasian Economic Union

Regulatory reports

Kazakhstan: e-cigarette regulation, March 2024

Top changes that matter in this month’s Policy Radar update, January 2024

Global policy on novel nicotine products: analysis from our new Policy Radar

Kazakhstan: e-cigarette regulation, April 2022

Regulatory report: Kazakhstan, September 2020

Interested in this region? Check our new country subscriptions

Regulatory trackers

Global regulatory tracker: current regulation of e-cigs, March 2024

Tamarind Intelligence Policy Radar, February

Market profile database

Key global e-cigarette markets database, April 2024

Regulatory databases

International e-cigarette stakeholders database

Sign up to our newsletter