Kazakhstan's E-cigarette Ban Takes Effect: Police Crack Down On Two Online Sales Cases
Leave a message
Kazakhstan's e-cigarette ban takes effect: police crack down on two online sales cases
Kazakh police cracked down on illegal sales of e-cigarettes through instant messaging apps in Almaty and West Kazakhstan, with those involved facing a hefty fine of up to 738,400 tenge ($1,554.85) or up to 50 days of detention.
Kazakh police discovered illegal sales of e-cigarettes through instant messaging apps in Almaty and West Kazakhstan, Total.kz reported on July 5.
The Almaty Regional Criminal Police Department confiscated e-cigarettes worth 2 million tenge ($4,211) from a man who sold them through Whatsapp. Currently, the police have prosecuted the person involved for the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes, their accessories, and e-liquids.
Staff from the Drug Crime Prevention Office of the West Kazakhstan Regional Police Department arrested a resident from Uralsk who was caught illegally selling banned e-cigarettes to minors through the Telegram online store. When the police searched his residence, they found and confiscated more than a hundred disposable e-cigarettes, as well as 137 sets of smoking equipment and e-liquids.
Violators now face hefty fines of up to 200 MRP (up to 738,400 tenge [US$1,554.85] in 2024), or forced labor of the same amount, or detention for up to 50 days.
On June 20, Kazakhstan officially implemented a new regulation aimed at banning the sale, distribution and import of e-cigarette products.
Under the adopted Amendments to the Law on Health Matters, a new Article 301-1 "Circulation of non-tobacco products, electronic consumer systems (e-cigarettes), flavorings and their oils" was added to the law. Section 1 provides for penalties for the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes: a fine of up to 200 MRP (738,400 tenge [US$1,554.85] in 2024), or up to 200 hours of community service, or detention for up to 50 days. Part 2 sets out penalties for the import and production of e-cigarettes: a fine of up to MRP 2,000 (7.3 million tenge [US$15,371] in 2024), or up to 600 hours of community service, or restriction or deprivation of liberty for up to 2 years.
