Aktau Region Authorities to Implement Strict Ban on E-Cigarettes

Jul.08.2024
Aktau Region Authorities to Implement Strict Ban on E-Cigarettes
Kazakhstan's Aktau region police crack down on e-cigarette trade, with severe penalties for production, import, and distribution violations.

According to media reports in Aktau on July 8, the police in the Aktau region of Kazakhstan conducted inspections of local trading venues and publicly announced a complete ban on the production, import, sale, and distribution of e-cigarettes, flavorings, and e-liquids. Any transaction involving these products will be criminally prosecuted.


According to Section 301 of the country's law, Part 1 states that those who commit the crime of selling and distributing e-cigarettes may face a maximum fine of 200 MCI (a benchmark value used to calculate and adjust various fines, taxes, and other financial expenses), or a maximum of 200 hours of community service, or a maximum of 50 days of detention. Part 2 states that those who commit the crime of importing and producing e-cigarettes may face a maximum fine of 2000 MCI, or a maximum of 600 hours of community service, or a maximum of 2 years of restriction/deprivation of liberty.


The police department in Aketao District stated that if these illegal activities are committed multiple times by criminal organizations and involve obtaining large profits, the penalties will be increased: fines of up to 5000 MCI, or up to 1200 hours of community service, or up to 5 years of restricted/deprived liberty.


At the same time, those caught vaping in unauthorized areas will face sanctions, with penalties equal to fines for smoking in such locations, up to a maximum of 3 MCI.


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