New tobacco sales requirements proposed in January by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs explicitly include regulations for e-cigarettes in Saudi Arabia. Submitted on the Istitlaa platform – an online tool designed to gather feedback from the public, government bodies and the private sector before finalising legislation – the proposal aims to promote public health, safeguard non-smokers and children, and ensure stricter compliance with regulations by both investors and consumers.
This proposal will replace the tobacco sales requirements that took effect on 4th August 2023. If approved, it is expected to pass with minimal changes, as the previous law underwent a similar review process on the Istitlaa platform and was enacted without amendments. This suggests a high likelihood the current proposal will follow the same trajectory, reinforcing the government’s regulatory approach to tobacco sales.