Belarus Proposes Criminal Liability for Selling Vapes to Minors

Key Points

• On December 12, the expert council discussed a nicotine product regulation bill
• Criminal liability proposed for selling vapes to minors
• Proposal to ban domestic production of non-tobacco nicotine products
• Suggested restrictions on store signage using vape-related terms
• Discussions included stricter administrative penalties and import limits

2Firsts, December 15, 2025 – According to the Belarusian Telegraph Agency (BELTA), Belarus has proposed introducing criminal liability for selling vapes to minors. The proposal was announced by Mikhail Rusy, Chairman of the Standing Commission on Legislation and State Building of the Council of the Republic, during a meeting of the expert council.

Rusy noted that the circulation of vapes is a significant and widely discussed issue and has been repeatedly considered by the Council of Ministers and other institutions, including the Council of the Republic. The expert council is currently reviewing the draft law “On Tobacco Raw Materials, Tobacco Products, Non-Tobacco Nicotine-Containing Products, Electronic Smoking Systems and Liquids for Them, and Tobacco Consumption Systems.”

He stated that new regulatory approaches were reviewed in detail by members of the expert council, with most supporting the bill, noting that its adoption would allow for effective control over the circulation of both tobacco and non-tobacco nicotine products and electronic smoking systems. At the same time, several comments and proposals were submitted.

These included proposals to remove provisions allowing domestic production of non-tobacco nicotine products, electronic smoking systems, and e-liquids, and to introduce criminal liability for selling such products to minors.

Additional proposals included banning signage indicating the sale of such products, such as the word “vape,” setting quantitative limits on imports by organizers of international exhibitions and fairs, and tightening administrative liability for violations of production and circulation rules.

Marina Ilyina, a member of the Standing Commission on Education, Science, Culture, and Social Development, emphasized that the issue concerns the health of children and adolescents and mentioned proposals for mandatory licensing, certification, and a complete ban on advertising such products.

Image source: BELTA