Tanzania Plans to Ban Shisha and E-Cigarettes.

Jun.25.2023
Tanzania Plans to Ban Shisha and E-Cigarettes.
Tanzania's Zanzibar plans to ban the import and consumption of shisha and e-cigarettes, posing a potential loss in revenue.

According to the Citizen newspaper in Tanzania, authorities in Zanzibar are planning to prohibit the import and consumption of shisha and e-cigarettes. However, shisha is very popular in tourist destinations and restaurants, and the ban could result in significant revenue losses.


The Minister of the Office of the President, Regional Management Agencies, and Local Government Departments in Zanzibar, Masoud Ali Mohammed, announced in a public statement that the government will soon issue a special directive.


The consumption of hookah and e-cigarettes has become commonplace, and we will be implementing specific regulations to govern those individuals who have obtained special import and sales permits for hookah or e-cigarettes.


This ban will also affect current importers, who are advised not to make any further purchases and instead to contact the authorities for new instructions.


The minister stated that importers will be required to cease ordering additional products once existing inventory is depleted, in compliance with a new law that the government is soon to enact.


According to a hotel operator in Zanzibar, shisha is very popular in tourist resorts and restaurants, and a ban could result in significant revenue loss.


This is not Tanzania's first implementation of a ban. Paul Makonda, the administrative commissioner of Dar es Salaam, previously issued a ban on hookah smoking throughout the city.


As of April 2021, around 500 shisha containers were still stranded at the port of Dar es Salaam. However, the ban was later lifted and now shisha has made a comeback in most bars in Tanzania.


Reference: [1] Zanzibar plans to prohibit the use of Shisha and E-cigarettes.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Product | BAT Rolls Out Vuse Pro in U.S. With App-Based Age Verification and Four 5% Flavored Pods
Product | BAT Rolls Out Vuse Pro in U.S. With App-Based Age Verification and Four 5% Flavored Pods
Reynolds American, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco (BAT), is rolling out the Vuse Pro vaping system in the U.S. The rechargeable closed-pod device requires users to complete age verification through the Vuse Pro App and pair the device via Bluetooth before first activation. The app also supports device locking, automatic locking and device-location functions. Vuse's U.S. website currently lists Peach, Berry, Watermelon and Fresh Mint Vuse Pro Pods, all at 5.0% nicotine by weight (NBW), using nicotine salts and offered in two- and four-pod packs. The products have not received FDA marketing authorization.
Sep.09
Philippines Weighs Unified Vape Tax as Lawmakers Back Risk-Based Rates and Government Seeks to Fill ₱66 Billion Revenue Gap
Philippines Weighs Unified Vape Tax as Lawmakers Back Risk-Based Rates and Government Seeks to Fill ₱66 Billion Revenue Gap
Philippine lawmakers are considering an overhaul of the country's vape excise-tax regime to eliminate the wide gap between taxes on nicotine salt and freebase nicotine liquids and reduce incentives for misdeclaration. House Bill 5364, filed by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., would impose a unified ₱10-per-milliliter tax on vapor products, with 5% annual increases beginning in 2027. Rodriguez says the proposal could generate an average ₱6 billion in annual collections from 2027 through 2030. The debate comes as the Philippine government considers tobacco, vape and other health-tax reforms to help offset around ₱66 billion in revenue expected to be forgone under a proposed tax-relief package.
Aug.18
UK PM Andy Burnham Shifts Business Rates Policy, Supporting Hospitality While Raising Pressure on Vape Shops
UK PM Andy Burnham Shifts Business Rates Policy, Supporting Hospitality While Raising Pressure on Vape Shops
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government is adjusting business rates policy to support hospitality businesses while some other sectors, including vape retailers, face higher operating cost pressures. According to Streamline Feed, AJ Bell and other reports, the policy shift reflects a redistribution of business rate burdens as the government seeks to support sectors facing economic pressure. For UK vape shops, the change comes amid a broader regulatory environment shaped by the disposable vape ban, the upcoming Vaping Products Duty and increased compliance requirements.
News
Jul.24
Canadian Court Allows Juul and Altria Vape Class Action to Move Forward Over Youth Marketing Claims
Canadian Court Allows Juul and Altria Vape Class Action to Move Forward Over Youth Marketing Claims
A Quebec Superior Court has allowed a class action lawsuit against Juul Labs and Altria Group related to vaping products to proceed, involving allegations concerning marketing practices, youth exposure and corporate responsibility. The ruling only allows the case to move forward and does not represent a finding that Juul or Altria are legally liable. The case highlights continued legal risks facing vape companies regarding product marketing, youth protection and corporate accountability.
Jul.28
Trump Picks White House Health Policy Aide Heidi Overton to Lead FDA, Pending Senate Confirmation
Trump Picks White House Health Policy Aide Heidi Overton to Lead FDA, Pending Senate Confirmation
U.S. President Donald Trump has chosen White House health policy aide Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Overton currently works on health policy at the White House and previously held a senior role at the America First Policy Institute. If confirmed by the Senate, she would take over an FDA that has experienced months of senior-level turnover. The agency regulates products representing roughly one-fifth of U.S. consumer spending, including e-cigarettes, drugs, vaccines and much of the food supply.
News
Aug.19
2FIRSTS EXCLUSIVE|China Breaks Up $6.8 Million Illegal Hookah Tobacco Operation as Market Expands
2FIRSTS EXCLUSIVE|China Breaks Up $6.8 Million Illegal Hookah Tobacco Operation as Market Expands
Chinese authorities have dismantled an illegal hookah tobacco operation worth more than 46 million yuan ($6.8 million), detaining five foreign suspects and seizing over 500,000 boxes of tobacco paste. The case comes as hookah expands across China’s nightlife sector and attracts overseas operators, including former vaping entrepreneurs. It also raises a central regulatory question: whether waterpipe tobacco will follow China’s private-sector e-cigarette licensing model or be reserved for the state tobacco system, as with nicotine pouches, in the years ahead.
Jul.31