FLER at APE

Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has proposed introducing mandatory labelling for electronic cigarettes and other electronic devices used to consume nicotine, starting April 1, 2026. The draft resolution has been published on the regulatory portal. Under the proposal, market participants would be required to register with the national monitoring system and label products accordingly, as part of efforts to enhance state oversight of production and circulation.

Malaysia’s vape industry has raised concerns over the government’s decision to ban refillable open-system e-cigarettes, describing it as a policy reversal despite earlier regulatory approvals.

Alan Zhao wrote an article interpreting China's highest-level law enforcement action against illegal tobacco and e-cigarettes. He believes that this is not only an upgrade of domestic governance but will also have a profound impact on the global new tobacco supply chain and market pattern.

Kenya’s Court of Appeal has paused the defamation proceedings filed by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula against the BBC. The case centers on a 2015 BBC documentary, Panorama: The Secret Bribes of Big Tobacco, which alleged that Wetang’ula received unlawful benefits from British American Tobacco (BAT) during his tenure as a senator.

The Welsh Parliament (Senedd) has approved new legislation banning tobacco sales to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. The law, passed on December 9, 2025, also imposes stricter controls on how vapes and nicotine products are advertised and sold. Designed by the UK Government but voted on separately in Wales, the bill passed with 36 votes in favor, two abstentions, and nine against. It grants stronger enforcement powers to Trading Standards to combat illegal tobacco and vape sales.

Philip Morris International said it presented scientific evidence to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee to support its ZYN nicotine pouches seeking a modified risk tobacco product designation, which would allow the company to communicate to adult smokers that switching completely to ZYN could reduce the risk of multiple smoking-related diseases.