Kazakhstan MP Urges Ban on E-Cigarettes

Recently, according to online news outlet Zakon.kz, Kazakhstani parliamentarian Nurgul Tau raised concerns in parliament regarding the threat of e-cigarettes to the younger generation and urged the government to take action to ban their sale.

Tao suggested to Prime Minister Alihan Smailov that electronic cigarettes are spreading and being widely used, particularly among students and young people.

The legislator is calling for a complete ban on the sale of electronic cigarette devices in the country, as well as a ban on their advertising, and strengthened accountability measures.

She stated, "The epidemic of addiction to e-cigarettes is currently growing at an alarming rate." Furthermore, health experts have reported that the toxic substances in e-cigarettes pose a significant threat to human health.

She stated:

Electronic cigarettes are harmful to the lungs, and due to uncontrolled sales within the country, their usage has been increasing every year.

She pointed out that these products are available for sale in all retail stores at a very low price, with an average price of no more than 2000 Janko (about 31 yuan in Chinese currency). Finally, the member of parliament mentioned that 32 countries have already banned the sale of electronic cigarette devices, including Uruguay, Argentina, and other countries.

The Ministry of Health in Kazakhstan had previously proposed a draft law that included a ban on the distribution of electronic cigarettes. However, industry representatives opposed the proposal, arguing that a ban on e-cigarettes would result in a loss of revenue for the country and contribute to the proliferation of a black market. The draft law ultimately did not pass.

Reference:

A deputy suggests banning vape sales in Kazakhstan.