Hong Kong Bans E-cigarettes in Public and Flavored Tobacco Products

Key Points:

·Starting from April 30, 2026, the use and possession of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products will be prohibited in public places in Hong Kong, China. 

·Sales of traditional tobacco products in flavors other than mint will be banned starting in the second quarter of 2027, with the exact implementation date still pending.

 On April 25, the Hong Kong government announced the draft of the "2025 Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill" (referred to as the "Bill"), proposing various amendments to strengthen tobacco control policies. Measures such as the prohibition of alternative smoking products (pods, heated tobacco pods, and herbal cigarettes) and banning flavored traditional tobacco products have attracted significant attention and are seen as important steps in reducing the appeal of tobacco products and protecting public health.

According to the draft regulation, the government plans to ban the possession of alternative smoking products, including pods, heated tobacco pods, and herbal cigarettes in public places starting from April 30, 2026. Anyone caught smoking or using the aforementioned products in public places will be considered in violation of the law. To address cases of small-scale possession for non-commercial purposes, the government is introducing a system of fixed fines, with violators facing a fine of HK$3000.

A spokesperson for the Health Commission pointed out that this measure is aimed at addressing the appeal of alternative tobacco products to the younger generation, preventing them from becoming a gateway to smoking, and stopping the indirect promotion of tobacco products. "We must block the spread of alternative tobacco products and prevent them from causing new public health crises," the spokesperson emphasized.

In addition, the government has proposed to reduce the attractiveness of tobacco products to young people by prohibiting the sale of flavored traditional tobacco products. In the first phase, the ban will only exclude mint-flavored additives. The government believes that flavored tobacco products often conceal their toxicity with flavor, making them highly attractive to young people and must be regulated.

The regulation also introduces a new supply management system, which stipulates that suppliers must hold a compliance certificate issued by the Director of Health before distributing traditional tobacco products. Offenders can be fined up to HK$50,000 and face up to six months in prison for non-compliance. These measures are scheduled to be officially implemented after the full implementation of the tax stamp system (expected in the second quarter of 2027).

The Department of Health emphasized that these revisions are an important part of implementing an overall anti-smoking strategy. According to government census data, the daily smoking rate in Hong Kong for individuals aged 15 and over was 9.1% in 2023, with approximately 580,000 citizens still smoking daily. The tobacco issue results in an annual economic loss of up to 8.2 billion Hong Kong dollars, putting a heavy burden on the healthcare system and social resources.

The government has stated that it will fully cooperate with the Legislative Council's review process and hopes that legislators will support the passage of the draft regulations, working together towards a "smoke-free Hong Kong.