Kenya plans to impose strict restrictions on e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. Public comments will be accepted until August 26.

Kenya plans to impose strict restrictions on e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. Public comments will be accepted until August 26

Kenya's parliament has introduced a bill that aims to tighten controls on e-cigarette products and nicotine pouches by introducing strict restrictions and regulations, including giving the Minister of Health broad approval and prohibition powers. The bill also sets clear requirements for product labeling, nicotine concentration, container capacity, and plans to ban online sales and advertising. The Kenyan Senate will accept public comments on the bill until August 26.

According to Vaping360 on August 22, a bill introduced by the Kenyan parliament will impose strict restrictions on e-cigarette products and nicotine pouches, and the Kenyan Senate will accept public comments on the bill until August 26.

Senate Bill No. 35 has been supported by Kenya's tobacco control and public health groups.

If passed, the bill will amend the country's Tobacco Control Act to include e-cigarettes in all existing smoking restrictions, including restrictions on advertising and public use, and all online sales and advertising will be banned.

The bill will also prohibit the production, importation and sale of any product without prior approval from the Minister of Health, and give the Minister of Finance broad powers to tax and regulate the price of nicotine products. Those who violate various provisions of the new law face stiff fines and up to three years in prison.

The amendment introduces several new restrictions on e-cigarette products:
Products with specialty flavors are prohibited;
The nicotine concentration of e-liquids must not exceed 10 mg per milliliter (i.e. 1%); the capacity of bottled e-liquid containers must not exceed 10 milliliters;
Disposable e-cigarettes, refillable tanks, and refillable cartridges and cartridges must not exceed 2 milliliters;
All e-cigarettes and their refillable containers must be "child-safe and tamper-resistant" and must have "a refilling mechanism that ensures no leaks."

In addition, if the bill passes, nicotine pouches must not contain specialty flavors or contain more than 10 mg of nicotine per nicotine pouch and must carry a removable health warning label. Nicotine pouch containers must be "child-safe and tamper-resistant and capable of being used without spilling the contents."

If the bill passes, it will give the Minister of Health the power to ban any product that does not comply with the law. The Minister of Health will be required to publish a list of approved and banned products, as well as a list of authorized manufacturers and importers.

The bill passed its first reading in the Senate on August 6. It is now before the Senate Health Committee, which must submit its report to the Senate by September 6, and a companion bill is expected from the House of Representatives.

The public can submit comments on the bill by 5 p.m. on August 26.