LATEST ALERTS
Oman: Mansour Al-Hajri, chairman of the Health Committee of Oman's Shura Council (a consultative assembly), has said that Oman is the only Gulf Cooperation
South Korea: The bill seeking to expand the definition of tobacco products to products derived from all parts of the tobacco plant (including
Taiwan: The Health Promotion Administration (HPA) is warning about the risk of e-cigarette explosions, with the headline: “Don’t let e-cigarettes become the firecrackers in
Hong Kong: The health minister has announced that the expected ban on possessing and using e-cigarette cartridges in public places is set to
Indonesia: The director of prevention and control of infectious diseases at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, has said she is
South Korea: The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has opened the enforcement regulations and the enforcement decree of the Tobacco Harmful Ingredients Disclosure Act for
Philippines: During a speech at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) National Tax Campaign Kick-off 2025, president Ferdinand R Marcos Jr. voiced his
Indonesia: The director of prevention and control of infectious diseases at the Indonesian Ministry of Health, Siti Nadia Tarmizi, has emphasised that e-cigarettes
China: The Ministry of Finance has announced retaliatory tariffs on US imports. A 15% tariff will apply to coal and liquefied natural gas
Philippines: Yesterday (3rd February), the House of Representatives (lower chamber of parliament) approved House Bill 11360, which aims to rationalise excise tax rates
Philippines: Senator Win Gatchalian, chair of the Senate (upper chamber of parliament) Ways and Means Committee, has criticised online shopping platforms for enabling
Philippines: Yesterday (3rd February), the House of Representatives (lower chamber of parliament) approved House Bill 11286 – which seeks to strengthen excise tax
Malaysia: Minister of health Dzulkefly Ahmad has said that the ministry is ready to review the possibility of a complete ban on vaping
Malaysia: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is intensifying its enforcement efforts against vape-smuggling groups, press reports, after the commission recently dismantled a syndicate that
Uzbekistan: According to the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers “On measures to introduce the ‘social card’ system in social support of the population”,
Philippines: The Sin Tax Coalition, a campaign to secure the passage of a high tax on products such as tobacco, urged the Senate (upper chamber of
Kuwait: Minister of finance Noora Al-Fassam has confirmed that she is preparing the Selective Tax Law, also known as the Harmful Goods Tax,
Saudi Arabia: The CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), Hisham bin Saad Al-Jadhey, said in a TV interview that e-cigarettes
Hong Kong: The city’s Health Bureau has decided to ban the possession and use of alternative tobacco products, as well as flavoured cigarettes,
Uzbekistan: On 24th January, the lower chamber of parliament adopted a bill to ban the circulation of nicotine consumption devices, including e-cigarettes and
Philippines: During the public hearing on the illicit trade of excisable products, senator Win Gatchalian said one of the policy recommendations of the
Bangladesh: The government has finalised a draft bill to amend the Tobacco Control Law, aiming to ban public smoking, prohibit e-cigarettes, and prevent tobacco
Turkey: The Tax Inspection Board (VDK) of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance uncovered TRY300m ($8.4m) in unregistered trade of e-cigarettes, according to
Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Office for the Special Mandate on Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products (OSMV) has asked stakeholders and the public
Philippines: The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) supports more decisive actions to combat the illegal trade of tobacco and vaping products, media reports. “The illicit tobacco
Philippines: A group of House leaders has proposed a bill to temporarily suspend the annual increase of 5% in tobacco excise taxes for
Uzbekistan: The Committee on Labour, Healthcare and Social Affairs of the lower chamber of the parliament has held a working group meeting to discuss
Indonesia: The Ministry of Health has said that the draft regulations potentially introducing plain packaging for all tobacco and nicotine products are still being finalised, press
Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has suspended 14 manufacturers and importers of vaping products for failing to meet packaging requirements. A preliminary
Thailand: On 26th December 2024, the chairman of Thailand’s Special Committee on E-Cigarette Control, presented a comprehensive report to the Thai parliament following
Saudi Arabia: The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has launched a public consultation, running until 28th January, on additional requirements for tobacco shops.
Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reminded importers and manufacturers of vaping products and heated tobacco products to register for the Philippine Standard
Philippines: The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has confirmed a decrease in excise tax collection from 2021 to 2024 that led to a
Uzbekistan: At a meeting of the lower chamber of the parliament, health minister Asilbek Khudayarov announced that a bill aimed at banning the
Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Health Council published a warning on its official X account last week about short-term effects from the use of e-cigarettes. The
Bangladesh: The government has banned the import of e-cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), with immediate effect. The ban follows a government decision to
Bangladesh: Bangladesh Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Traders Association (Bendsta) and Consumers Rights of Sales Alternatives (Corsa) have proposed a new regulatory framework. Bendsta
Vietnam: As of 1st January, the sale and import of “electronic cigarettes”, including related equipment and accessories, are prohibited, according to resolution 17/TCHQ-GSQL. In
Armenia: In response to complaints about the frequent disregard for the ban on smoking and vaping in various locations, the Ministry of Health
Uzbekistan: Today, at a meeting of the lower chamber of the parliament, a bill aimed at banning the distribution of certain types of tobacco
Kyrgyzstan: According to the Tax Code, the tax rate for nicotine e-liquids in cartridges, reservoirs and other containers will increase from KGS15 ($0.17)
Armenia: The Tax Code will increase the tax rate for e-liquid cartridges – regardless of nicotine content – including disposable e-cigarettes, from AMD65
Armenia: In October 2024, the government adopted a resolution according to which traceability control marks would apply to e-cigarettes. Products produced in Armenia
Indonesia: The minimum retail price of electronic cigarettes will increase from 1st January 2025, following the publication of Ministry of Finance regulation 96
Indonesia: The Ministry of Finance has issued regulation 96 of 2024, to take effect on 1st January 2025, press reports. The regulation sets
Vietnam: The National Assembly has issued resolution 173/2024/QH15 in which it formally asks the government to ban the production, trading, import, storage, transport and use
Bangladesh: The interim government has decided to add e-cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) to the list of prohibited items under the Import
Indonesia: Merrijantij Punguan Pintaria, director of Beverages, Tobacco Products and Refreshment Materials within the Ministry of Industry, said that the draft regulations introducing
