WHO Urges Countries to Ban Flavored E-cigarettes for Public Health

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Dec.28.2023
WHO Urges Countries to Ban Flavored E-cigarettes for Public Health
WHO Urges Nations to Treat E-Cigarettes like Traditional Tobacco, Ban All Flavors to Protect Citizens from Harmful Risks.

According to a report by Bisnis.com on December 28, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called on countries to treat e-cigarettes the same way as traditional tobacco and to ban all flavors.

 

According to a survey conducted by WHO, approximately one-fifth of American adults, or 11 million people, are using e-cigarettes. Increasing evidence suggests that the harmful substances produced by e-cigarettes can damage the lungs and increase the risk of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.

 

The WHO is urging countries to implement stringent measures to prevent the spread of e-cigarettes in order to protect their citizens, especially children and adolescents. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that young people who use e-cigarettes may become addicted to both e-cigarettes and nicotine from an early age.

 

As of July this year, a total of 34 countries, including Brazil, India, Iran, and Thailand, have banned e-cigarettes. However, in 74 countries, including Pakistan, Colombia, and Mongolia, primarily located in Africa, there is still no formal regulation on e-cigarettes. In major markets such as the United States and China, e-cigarettes are allowed by the government but subject to certain usage regulations.

 

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

Australia Extends Illicit Tobacco Crackdown From Tougher Penalties to Customs and Logistics Supply Chains
Australia Extends Illicit Tobacco Crackdown From Tougher Penalties to Customs and Logistics Supply Chains
Australia's federal government introduced a new illicit tobacco enforcement bill on September 10 that would strengthen evidentiary presumptions, representative sampling, seizure and forfeiture procedures, proceeds-of-crime powers and obligations for customs and logistics operators. The proposal follows the Combatting Illicit Tobacco Act 2026, which took effect in August and increased penalties while expanding investigative and asset-recovery tools. Together, the reforms extend Australia's crackdown from tougher criminal sanctions into import, logistics and evidentiary enforcement.
Sep.14
Iowa Sets November 16 Vape Directory Launch: Unlisted Products Face Sales Ban, Manufacturers $1,000 Daily Fines per Product
Iowa Sets November 16 Vape Directory Launch: Unlisted Products Face Sales Ban, Manufacturers $1,000 Daily Fines per Product
Iowa plans to publish its first vapor products directory on November 16, 2026, after which products not listed will be prohibited from sale or offer for sale in the state. The Department of Revenue expects to begin penalty enforcement on December 17, following an initial 21-business-day period focused on compliance education. Under House File 2677, retailers, distributors and wholesalers selling unlisted products face civil penalties of $300 per product per day, while manufacturers face $1,000 per product per day. Eligibility extends to FDA-authorized products and certain products meeting historical marketing and pending PMTA requirements. The directory program resumed after a federal appeals court vacated a preliminary injunction in July 2026.
Regulations
Nov.05
2Firsts First Look|China to End VAT Export Rebates on Vape Devices and Nicotine in April 2027, Following Earlier Removal for HTP Devices and Nicotine Vapes
2Firsts First Look|China to End VAT Export Rebates on Vape Devices and Nicotine in April 2027, Following Earlier Removal for HTP Devices and Nicotine Vapes
China's Ministry of Finance and State Taxation Administration announced on October 12, 2026, that value-added tax (VAT) export rebates for vape devices, nicotine and its salts, and certain non-combustible inhalation products will be eliminated from April 1, 2027. The measure adds four tobacco- and nicotine-related customs codes, including 8543400010, which covers vape devices and qualifying empty pods. China previously eliminated rebates for nicotine-containing vaping products and devices under code 8543400090 in April 2026. According to industry classification information held by 2Firsts, the latter currently corresponds to heated tobacco devices. Export excise tax refund and exemption arrangements will remain unchanged.
Special Report
Oct.12
Special Report | From New York to Washington: How FDA’s Tobacco Center Is Reworking Product Review
Special Report | From New York to Washington: How FDA’s Tobacco Center Is Reworking Product Review
FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products is reshaping how it approaches tobacco product review. Based on 2Firsts’ on-site reporting in New York and Washington, this report traces CTP’s emerging direction: stronger links between PMTA and tobacco harm reduction, more category-specific review, greater emphasis on decision-relevant science, more predictable timelines and expanded use of sPMTA for product modifications. CTP also acknowledged major constraints, including just nine PMTA review teams, persistent backlogs and limits on hiring capacity.
Regulations
Oct.08
FDA Revises Import Alert 98-07 Rules, Bringing May Enforcement Priorities Into Unauthorized ENDS Detentions
FDA Revises Import Alert 98-07 Rules, Bringing May Enforcement Priorities Into Unauthorized ENDS Detentions
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has revised the rules under Import Alert 98-07 to incorporate its May 2026 enforcement-priority policy for certain electronic nicotine delivery systems marketed without premarket authorization. The alert continues to allow detention without physical examination, or DWPE, for ENDS lacking required marketing authorization, while directing field divisions to apply the May risk-based framework. When necessary, detention or refusal decisions must also undergo review by the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. Products including PACHA and Vuse Pro have already emerged as industry examples of the May policy, although enforcement discretion does not constitute FDA marketing authorization.
News
Sep.28 by 2Firsts Perspectives
On-Site Report | After FDA Announces Review of PMTA Framework, CTP Director Details Reform Priorities
On-Site Report | After FDA Announces Review of PMTA Framework, CTP Director Details Reform Priorities
FDA CTP Director Bret Koplow used his FDLI keynote in Washington to outline how the agency is rethinking the PMTA framework. He discussed category-specific review, nicotine pouch and sPMTA pilots, AI-assisted review, a 70% reduction in pending applications, and a major staffing constraint: CTP currently has only nine scientific review teams. He also reaffirmed tobacco harm reduction while stressing youth protection, flavored products, risk communication, and the challenge of unauthorized e-cigarettes.
Regulations
Oct.06