IQOS Smoking Room at Manila International Airport

Advocates say the economic authority’s decision contradicts national health goals and violates a Supreme Court directive banning new tobacco ventures.

British Columbia, Canada is advancing what it calls the world’s first e-cigarette Public Health Accountability law, granting the government authority to sue companies for “deceptive marketing.” The move puts public-health risks at the center of vaping industry compliance.

South Korea Parliament discusses including "nicotine" in Tobacco Business Act; synthetic nicotine testing method established, awaiting legislation approval.

Indonesia’s National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri) will continue to take enforcement action against users and distributors of etomidate-laced vape liquids, even though the substance is not yet classified as a narcotic. Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Narcotics Crimes, said etomidate is an anaesthetic drug regulated under Health Law No. 17 of 2023, but has not been listed as a narcotic or psychotropic substance.

This week, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Victoria Police conducted a two-day raid on retailers on Church Street to enforce Australia's e-cigarette regulations. During the operation, they seized over $40,000 worth of illegal e-cigarettes and 24,000 nicotine pouches. Police also seized over 110,000 illegal cigarettes, over 40 kilograms of loose illegal tobacco, and a cache of cash. The raid targeted retailers illegally holding and selling e-cigarettes.

The head of Russia’s Republic of Dagestan has proposed a region-wide ban on the retail sale of e-cigarettes and has written to the State Duma seeking to designate Dagestan as a pilot region for a comprehensive e-cigarette sales ban.