World No Tobacco Day | Review Of Tobacco Regulatory Policies Formulated By Various Countries To Protect Young People

World No Tobacco Day | Review of tobacco regulatory policies formulated by various countries to protect young people

Coinciding with the arrival of the 37th World No Tobacco Day, the theme set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for this year's No Tobacco Day is "Protecting Children from Interference by the Tobacco Industry". The two supremes have sorted out the regulatory dynamics related to this in the past year.

 

On May 31, 2024, coinciding with the arrival of the 37th World No Tobacco Day, the theme set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for this year's No Tobacco Day is "Protecting Children from Interference by the Tobacco Industry". In a report titled "Attracting the Next Generation", WHO pointed out that the tobacco industry is targeting young people to trigger a new round of smoking addiction.

 

Studies have shown that the use of e-cigarettes has increased the use of traditional cigarettes by nearly three times, especially among non-smoking adolescents. WHO urges governments to ban or strictly regulate tobacco, e-cigarettes and other nicotine products to protect young people from their harm. WHO's recommendations include establishing 100% smoke-free indoor public places, banning flavored e-cigarettes, banning marketing, advertising and promotion, raising taxes, raising public awareness of the tobacco industry's deceptive tactics, and supporting youth-led education and publicity activities.

 

E-cigarettes are intended to reduce the harm of tobacco to the body and achieve effective smoking cessation. However, the direct use of new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes by teenagers without using tobacco has become a new health topic. The two supremes have sorted out the regulatory dynamics related to this in the past year.

 

United States: Dual actions of regulation and legislation

 

In April 2023, New York and Texas passed legislation to ban the sale of e-cigarette products that attract minors and impose heavy penalties on violators.

In May 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warning letters to 14 online retailers. The e-cigarette products sold by these merchants were not authorized by the FDA, but were popular among teenagers.

 

UK: Crack down on illegal e-cigarette sales and ban disposable e-cigarettes

 

In April 2023, British Public Health Minister Neil O'Brien announced the establishment of the "Illegal E-cigarette Enforcement Team" and allocated 3 million pounds to crack down on e-cigarette sales to minors.

 

In January 2024, the British government stated that in order to solve the problem of more and more young people using e-cigarettes, the sale of disposable e-cigarettes will be banned in the UK from April 2025.

 

In April 2024, the UK Tobacco and Electronic Cigarettes Act was passed by 383 votes to 67. The bill will ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after 2009. The legal age for buying cigarettes in the UK will be raised by one year each year until the whole nation is banned from smoking. The bill also includes measures to combat the use of e-cigarettes by teenagers, such as banning the sale of low-priced disposable e-cigarettes and restricting their flavors to prevent children from becoming addicted to nicotine.

 

France: Starting a "smoke-free generation" policy

 

On November 28, 2023, France announced plans to increase the minimum price of cigarettes to 13 euros from 2026 and ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes, aiming to shape a "smoke-free generation" by 2032. In addition, Health Minister Rousseau announced that all beaches, public parks, forests, and some public places, especially around schools, will become smoke-free areas.

 

In December 2023, the French National Assembly unanimously passed a bill banning disposable e-cigarettes. The bill will then be submitted to the French Senate and approved by the European Commission. The government hopes that this process will be completed by the end of summer 2024.

Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg: New tobacco ban launched

 

In June 2023, the Dutch government decided to ban all e-cigarette flavors except tobacco from January 1, 2024.

 

In March 2024, the Belgian Minister of Health announced that Belgium will ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes from January 1, 2025 to achieve the goal of a "smoke-free generation".

 

In May 2024, Luxembourg decided to include nicotine bags in the same regulatory framework as tobacco products, prohibiting advertising, free distribution and remote sales to reduce youth exposure.

 

Ireland: Raising the minimum legal age for the sale of tobacco products

 

In May 2024, Ireland plans to raise the minimum legal age for the sale of tobacco products to 21 years old, aiming to reduce smoking rates. The Minister of Health also tightened restrictions on the sale of e-cigarettes.

 

Poland: Disposable e-cigarettes will be sold

 

On February 17, 2024, the Polish Ministry of Health said that the sale of disposable e-cigarettes may be banned in the next few months, preferably before the summer vacation. The Polish Minister of Health stressed that he supports a complete ban on these products.

 

Italy: Restrictions on tobacco sales locations

 

In July 2023, Italy clearly stipulated a ban on sales outside Italy, and e-cigarettes can only be delivered in tobacco shops or e-cigarette shops. In addition to tobacco shops and e-cigarette shops, products ordered from other EU countries (produced in the country or legally imported by EU companies) can also be picked up at pharmacies and health stores authorized by customs and monopoly agencies.

 

Canada: Regulate various new tobacco products

 

In August 2023, the official announcement of Quebec Province, Canada, stated that the province will ban the sale of e-cigarette products other than tobacco flavors (or unflavored), and at the same time, prohibit the sale of bottled e-liquids with a capacity of more than 30 ml and e-cigarette devices with a capacity of more than 2 ml.

 

In October 2023, Adrian Dicks, Minister of Health of British Columbia, Canada, closely followed the international e-cigarette regulatory trends. Although British Columbia has the lowest smoking rate in Canada, its youth e-cigarette use rate is higher than the average.

 

In February 2024, after British Columbia, Canada, decided to ban the sale of flavored nicotine bags behind the counter of pharmacies, Premier David Aby said when announcing the ban that the province had ordered to prevent children from accessing such "dangerous" and "addictive" products, while the Canadian Ministry of Health was working to regulate sales.

 

Russia: Limiting e-cigarette marketing activities

 

In May 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed a bill prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. Products containing nicotine can only be purchased in stores and pavilions. According to the document, from June 1, it will be prohibited to sell these goods at fairs, exhibitions, remotely or using vending machines. At the same time, the display of such devices and their demonstration in the sales area are restricted unless they are demonstrated directly to the buyer. Discounts on e-cigarettes are also prohibited, including by issuing coupons and vouchers.

 

Australia: A series of e-cigarette regulatory policies have been introduced

 

In November 2023, the Australian Ministry of Health announced a series of regulatory policies on e-cigarettes. From January 2024, disposable e-cigarettes will be banned from entering Australia; from January 2024, Australian doctors and nurses will have the right to prescribe e-cigarettes for patients, and patients can buy them in pharmacies. This shows that Australia has relaxed the e-cigarette prescription authority and is no longer limited to general practitioners; from March 2024, personal import of e-cigarettes will be prohibited.

 

In March 2024, Australian Health Minister Mark Butler proposed the Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (E-cigarette Reform) Bill 2024. The bill aims to protect young people from the harm of e-cigarettes by preventing the manufacture, advertising, supply and commercial industry from possessing non-therapeutic disposable e-cigarettes. Increased penalties for convicted offenders, up to seven years in prison.

 

New Zealand: E-cigarettes must implement a child safety mechanism

 

In August 2023, the New Zealand Minister of Health announced that all e-cigarette devices sold in New Zealand need to be equipped with removable batteries; e-cigarettes should be kept as far away from children and young people as possible, and new professional e-cigarette stores will be prohibited from opening anywhere within 300 meters of school grounds. The new regulations have special requirements for the flavor names of e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes must implement child safety mechanisms. Flavor names such as marshmallows, strawberry jelly, and donuts will be banned. Only generic names that accurately describe the flavors, such as orange or berry, can be used.

 

On November 27, 2023, the new government in New Zealand abolished a series of regulations implemented by the previous Labour government, including a ban on the sale of tobacco to citizens born after January 1, 2009, reducing the nicotine content of tobacco products, and reducing more than 90% of tobacco retailers.

 

Malaysia: Banning the sale of e-cigarette products to minors under the age of 18

 

In December 2023, the Malaysian Senate passed the Public Health Control of Smoking Products Act 2023. This bill includes a ban on the sale of tobacco and e-cigarette products to minors under the age of 18, and prohibits this group from purchasing and using such "smoking products". The bill requires all tobacco and e-cigarette products to be registered, and e-cigarette vending machines and online sales of e-cigarettes will be subject to the regulations of the bill.

 

Thailand: A special team will be set up to crack down on e-cigarette sales

 

In April 2024, a ministerial official from the Thai Prime Minister's Office said that the government plans to step up its crackdown and will set up a special team to deal with this issue specifically. This decision was made after not many people were arrested in the previous wave of law enforcement operations because of information leaks, so they plan to discuss with the legal department to increase penalties for such behavior.

 

Philippines: Police Action and Enforcement of Regulations

 

In July 2023, the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) plans to issue a directive requiring e-commerce platforms such as Shopee and Lazada to stop selling e-cigarette products until they have sufficient inspection mechanisms to ensure that sellers comply with laws regarding the sale of these products. Currently, e-commerce platforms have not implemented an age verification system, and the DTI's countermeasure is to require them to stop selling e-cigarette products until they resolve the issue.

 

In March 2024, the Philippine National Police issued a warning to minors who violated e-cigarette regulations and arrested illegal sellers, strengthening the enforcement of e-cigarette regulations.

 

In April 2024, the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry issued additional guidelines for mandatory e-cigarette product certification. Starting in June, all e-cigarette products produced or imported should be marked with the Philippine Standard (PS) mark or the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker.

 

India: A complete ban on e-cigarettes

 

In July 2023, the Department of Health issued a notice requiring strict implementation of the "E-cigarette Prohibition Law" and instructing all producers, manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors, advertisers and transporters, including couriers, social media sites and online shopping sites, to directly or indirectly produce, purchase or sell e-cigarettes.

 

Mexico: Proposed a bill to ban e-cigarettes and e-vaporizers

 

In December 2023, the President of Mexico said he planned to propose a bill to ban e-cigarettes and e-vaporizers before leaving office in 2024.

Faced with the potential threat of e-cigarettes to teenagers, countries around the world are taking positive measures to strengthen supervision. Protecting young people from interference from the tobacco industry is not only a health issue, but also a social responsibility. Through education, legislation and international cooperation, it is hoped that the impact of e-cigarettes on the next generation will be reduced.