Home
Company
Product
Regulation
China
Data
Exhibition
Interview
中文版
Home
Company
Product
Regulation
China
Data
Exhibition
Interview
中文版
Search

Kazakhstan Prosecutor General’s Office: Illegal Import of E-Cigarettes Is a Criminal Offense, Punishable by Up to 2 Years in Prison

Jul.23.2025
Kazakhstan Prosecutor General’s Office: Illegal Import of E-Cigarettes Is a Criminal Offense, Punishable by Up to 2 Years in Prison
Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General’s Office and financial authorities discussed illegal e-cigarette imports. A 2024 law criminalizes importation, punishable by up to two years in prison. Since early 2025, 16 smuggling cases were recorded, nine now in court. Legal awareness campaigns are ongoing at airports, stations, and customs.

Key Points:

 

·The Prosecutor General's Office of Kazakhstan and the financial monitoring agency held a meeting to discuss responsibilities related to the smuggling of e-cigarettes. 

 

·In 2024, a legal amendment classified the importation of e-cigarettes as a criminal offense punishable by up to two years of imprisonment. 

 

·Since the beginning of 2025, there have been 16 recorded cases of e-cigarette smuggling, with some already in legal proceedings. 

 

·The Prosecutor General's Office has launched a legal awareness campaign to remind the public about the ban on importing e-cigarettes.

 

【2Firsts News Flash】According to a report by Zakon.kz on July 23, the Prosecutor General's Office of Kazakhstan held a cross-departmental meeting with representatives from the Financial Monitoring Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan to discuss the issue of responsibility for the illegal import of e-cigarettes.

 

The "Law Amending and Supplementing Several Laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Health Issues" passed on April 19, 2024, amended the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan, adding Article 301-1 that establishes legal responsibilities for the distribution of smokeless tobacco products, e-cigarettes, their flavors, and e-liquids.

 

According to the second part of this provision, importing e-cigarettes into the territory of Kazakhstan is considered a criminal offense, punishable by up to two years in prison, regardless of the quantity. The Press Office of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan issued a statement on July 23, 2025, urging citizens to take note of this legal change.

 

Since the beginning of 2025, there have been a total of 16 cases of e-cigarette smuggling recorded, with 9 cases already in judicial proceedings and the rest under investigation. In particular, a 24-year-old woman from Kazakhstan was charged for illegally bringing 5 e-cigarettes into the country and was sentenced to one year of restricted freedom by the regional court.

 

However, regulatory authorities pointed out that the general public is largely unaware of the criminal liability associated with illegal imports of e-cigarettes. In response, the Supreme Procuratorate has ordered widespread legal interpretation activities at airports, train stations, and customs, including the placement of banners and video clips, as well as the establishment of facilities for voluntary submission of e-cigarettes.

 

On July 21, 2025, the Prosecutor General's Office once again reminded citizens and businesses in Kazakhstan to pay attention to this important legal change, which bans the import, production, and sale of e-cigarettes.

 

References:
[1] Генпрокуратура Казахстана сделала важное разъяснение по вейпам
Also Read:
[1] Kazakhstan Seizes $50,000 Worth of Smuggled E-Cigarettes; Two Sentenced to Six Months in Prison
[2] Kazakhstan Public Health Law Amendments Take Effect: Full Ban on Heated Tobacco, E-Cigarettes, and Vape Liquids

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact
China Tobacco Regulation Shift：Policy Updates and Market Impact
NAS 2026 | FDA CTP Director Says PMTA Pathway Is “Predicated on Tobacco Harm Reduction”
NAS 2026 | FDA CTP Director Says PMTA Pathway Is “Predicated on Tobacco Harm Reduction”
At the 2026 New Approaches Summit in New York, FDA Center for Tobacco Products Director Bret Koplow said the PMTA pathway is “predicated on tobacco harm reduction.” He outlined four CTP priorities: youth prevention, helping adults quit or switch to lower-risk products, improving relative-risk communication, and reducing unauthorized products. Koplow also addressed flavored e-cigarettes, public risk perceptions, industry credibility and efforts to make PMTA reviews more efficient and predictable.
Sep.26
F1 Faces Renewed Pressure Over Tobacco and Nicotine Sponsorships as 67 Groups Target ZYN and VELO Ahead of Madrid Race
F1 Faces Renewed Pressure Over Tobacco and Nicotine Sponsorships as 67 Groups Target ZYN and VELO Ahead of Madrid Race
Ahead of the Formula 1 race in Madrid, 67 Spanish and international public-health, medical and consumer organizations have sent an open letter to F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali calling for an end to sponsorships linked to the tobacco and nicotine industry, including nicotine pouches, vaping products and heated tobacco. The letter focuses on Philip Morris International’s ZYN partnership with Ferrari and British American Tobacco’s long-running partnership with McLaren and exposure for VELO. The campaign follows a March letter in which more than 160 organizations worldwide made a similar request to Formula 1.
Sep.10
EU Tobacco Tax Reform Targets November Push as Sweden Holds Nicotine-Pouch Minimum at €20 per Kilogram
EU Tobacco Tax Reform Targets November Push as Sweden Holds Nicotine-Pouch Minimum at €20 per Kilogram
The Irish presidency of the Council of the European Union is using bilateral talks to push the bloc’s Tobacco Taxation Directive toward a political agreement in November. According to Law360, citing an EU official, Sweden is unwilling to accept a minimum excise threshold above €20 per kilogram for nicotine pouches. Council negotiations have already lowered the European Commission’s original proposal, but a May 2026 presidency compromise still set the minimum at 10% of the tax-inclusive retail price or €30 per kilogram in 2028-29, with higher levels later.
Market
Sep.17 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Special Report | How Capital Is Reassessing the Global Tobacco and Modern Nicotine Industry: Lessons from a New York Forum
Special Report | How Capital Is Reassessing the Global Tobacco and Modern Nicotine Industry: Lessons from a New York Forum
Capital is reassessing the global tobacco and modern nicotine industry as heated tobacco, vaping and nicotine pouches reshape demand, profitability and regulation. At the 2026 New Approaches Summit in New York, investors and analysts examined whether smoke-free growth can sustain earnings, how regulation shapes startup value, and whether shareholder engagement can be more effective than divestment. The debate points to a broader shift: tobacco transition is increasingly becoming a capital-allocation, governance and valuation question.
Capital Markets
Oct.05
China STMA Deputy Administrator Meets KT&G COO as Heated Cigarette Rules Advance
China STMA Deputy Administrator Meets KT&G COO as Heated Cigarette Rules Advance
Wang Gongcheng, deputy administrator of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, met KT&G Chief Operating Officer Lee Sang-hak in Shanghai on September 1, according to Oriental Tobacco News. The meeting comes as China seeks public comment on a draft mandatory national standard for heated cigarettes. The report did not disclose the subjects discussed or indicate whether heated tobacco products or market access were addressed.
News
Sep.02
Swedish Match Faces Broader Labeling Order After ZYN Inspection, Documents Obtained by 2Firsts Show
Swedish Match Faces Broader Labeling Order After ZYN Inspection, Documents Obtained by 2Firsts Show
Documents obtained by 2Firsts show that Sweden's Public Health Agency ordered Swedish Match to revise ingredient labels beyond the five ZYN products inspected. The dispute centers on whether flavoring ingredients must be individually disclosed, with Swedish Match citing trade-secret protection and the regulator insisting on full ingredient disclosure. The company faces a conditional penalty of SEK 2 million per month for noncompliance. As of October 22, the agency had received no appeal, despite the company's stated intention to challenge the decision.
Oct.22
Related Topics
News Regulation
Related Read
NAS 2026 | FDA CTP Director Says PMTA Pathway Is “Predicated on Tobacco Harm Reduction”
NAS 2026 | FDA CTP Director Says PMTA Pathway Is “Predicated on Tobacco Harm Reduction”
F1 Faces Renewed Pressure Over Tobacco and Nicotine Sponsorships as 67 Groups Target ZYN and VELO Ahead of Madrid Race
F1 Faces Renewed Pressure Over Tobacco and Nicotine Sponsorships as 67 Groups Target ZYN and VELO Ahead of Madrid Race
EU Tobacco Tax Reform Targets November Push as Sweden Holds Nicotine-Pouch Minimum at €20 per Kilogram
EU Tobacco Tax Reform Targets November Push as Sweden Holds Nicotine-Pouch Minimum at €20 per Kilogram
2Firsts Perspectives
Special Report | How Capital Is Reassessing the Global Tobacco and Modern Nicotine Industry: Lessons from a New York Forum
Special Report | How Capital Is Reassessing the Global Tobacco and Modern Nicotine Industry: Lessons from a New York Forum
China STMA Deputy Administrator Meets KT&G COO as Heated Cigarette Rules Advance
China STMA Deputy Administrator Meets KT&G COO as Heated Cigarette Rules Advance
Swedish Match Faces Broader Labeling Order After ZYN Inspection, Documents Obtained by 2Firsts Show
Swedish Match Faces Broader Labeling Order After ZYN Inspection, Documents Obtained by 2Firsts Show
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Contact: info@2firsts.com
Stay up to date.
Submit your email to receive weekly newsletter on the most relevant news of the e-cigarette industry.
© 2026 2FIRSTS. All Right Reserved.
2FIRSTS is only accessible to industry practitioners, researchers, media and other professionals. Access by minors is prohibited.
This website provides services to users outside the Chinese mainland.
English
English
中文