Draft Of New Law On E-cigarettes in Belarus Has Been Released

According to the official website of Belarus on December 3rd: Belarus is preparing to reshape the e-cigarette market under strong state control - from the nationalization of import rights to the prohibition of online sales and restrictions on retail licenses. The authorities stated that currently about 77% of disposable e-cigarettes come from illegal channels, causing tax losses and regulatory crises. This has prompted the government to introduce a series of tough measures, but it has also faced significant opposition from consumers and retailers.
Key points summary: The new regulations will be monopolized by the state for tobacco and raw material imports, and strictly control the licensing qualifications of enterprises engaged in e-cigarette import, wholesale and sales. The authorities stated that 77% of disposable e-cigarettes are illegally circulated, resulting in a loss of approximately BRR 130 million (24 million US dollars) in consumption tax each year. The draft includes strict measures such as mandatory licensing, prohibition of online sales, prohibition of explicit display in stores, mandatory labeling of taxes, and prohibition of home-made e-liquid. During the public consultation period, a large number of consumers and merchants raised objections, warning that high threshold requirements (such as registered capital, storage requirements) would force 40% of retail stores to close and further push up transactions on the Telegram black market. Legislators rejected the proposal of a "total ban on e-cigarettes" and instead adopted a "controlled regulatory model" to reduce teenage use and prevent the expansion of the black market.