Crackdown On E-cigarettes! On One Side, The UK Is Imposing Taxes; On The Other Side, The US Is Conducting A Crackdown.

Several countries have intensified their regulation of e-cigarettes, with taxation, licensing and prohibition becoming the mainstream trend.
Recently, countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States and Malaysia have successively introduced or are considering strict regulatory measures for e-cigarettes, through means such as taxation, licensing systems and even total bans.

UK: Electronic cigarettes tax officially implemented and retail licensing introduced
The UK's HM Revenue and Customs recently officially announced that as of October 1, 2026, two core policies will be implemented:
Vapor Product Duty (VPD): A uniform tax of £2.20 per 10 milliliters will be imposed on all electronic cigarette cartridges sold in the UK, regardless of whether they contain nicotine.

Vending Tax Scheme (VDS): All retail units must affix tax tickets. After April 1, 2027, products without tax tickets will be prohibited from sale.
In addition, as part of the "Tobacco and Electronic Cigarettes Act", the UK government is drafting a retail licensing system, stipulating that only licensed retailers can legally sell electronic cigarettes and other products. Unlicensed sales will face heavy fines. At the same time, the government is seeking expert opinions on the flavors, nicotine content, and packaging design of electronic cigarettes to further limit their appeal to minors.
US: FDA launches initiative to crack down on illegal electronic cigarettes
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a retailer initiative at the end of September, calling on them to voluntarily stop selling illegal electronic cigarette products. The FDA pointed out that approximately 54% of electronic cigarettes on the market are illegal products, often containing harmful substances and often marketed with flavors and features targeted at teenagers (such as built-in games). Therefore, the FDA will send guidance materials to over 300,000 retail outlets across the United States, clearly listing the list of legal products and sales regulations.

Malaysia: Healthcare Burden Exceeds Tax Revenue,酝酿ing a Phased Total Ban
The Ministry of Health in Malaysia stated that it is moving towards a total ban on e-cigarettes and the relevant proposal will be submitted to the cabinet soon. Data from the Ministry of Health shows that the healthcare burden caused by e-cigarettes in 2024 (223 million ringgit) has far exceeded their tax revenue (111 million ringgit). The authorities are aware that a ban could lead to smuggling risks, so any ban will be accompanied by a comprehensive strategy involving joint law enforcement by multiple departments, education, and community support, and will be implemented in phases.
Most governments around the world adopt taxation to increase costs, implement licenses to regulate channels, and crack down on illegal products to purify the market.