E-cigarettes in Kazakhstan

Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU): The Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission decided last week to introduce traceability marking for e-cigarettes throughout the EAEU. The five member states – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia – will reportedly determine individually their own procedure and enforcement dates.

Kazakhstan: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a bill to introduce changes to the Tax Code, media reports. The tax rate for nicotine e-liquids will rise to KZT53 ($0.11) per ml on1st January 2023 and to KZT55 ($0.12) on 1st January 2024.

Kazakhstan: The Senate, the upper chamber of Parliament, has approves a bill to introduce changes to the Tax Code, media reports. It would increase the tax rate on nicotine e-liquids to KZT53 ($0.12) per ml from 1st January 2023 and to KZT55 from 1st January 2024. The bill will now go to president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for signature. The recent call for a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes has not led so far to any legislative moves.

Kazakhstan: The concept of harm reduction, as well as the regulation of new nicotine products, has been discussed at the first Eurasian nicotine forum in the capital, Nur-Sultan, media reports. The forum was attended by scientists, doctors, representatives of leading tobacco firms and interest groups.

Kazakhstan: An online petition against a possible ban on the sale and use of e-cigarettes has so far been signed by 6,772 people, with 5,990 in support. The rapidly-growing petition comes in response to a proposal by the leader of the National Coalition for a smoke-free Kazakhstan that a ban on e-cig sales should be added to the Health Code.