Maldives enforces blanket ban on vapes
The ban - which was implemented on Sunday December 15 - follows recent amendments to the island country’s Tobacco Control Act. These were signed into law by President Mohamed Muizzu on November 13.
Policy reporting, proposals and decisions, with their recorded status and country context.
The ban - which was implemented on Sunday December 15 - follows recent amendments to the island country’s Tobacco Control Act. These were signed into law by President Mohamed Muizzu on November 13.
But what exactly does the Bill include and what will it mean for vapers if it’s passed?
The decree, announced by Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, means consumers will only be able to legally buy vapes from retail outlets and tobacconists.
From June 1, 2025 it will be illegal to sell single-use vapes in England, Wales or Scotland, in a move designed to reduce their appeal to children and young people.
Until now, there has been no excise duty on vapes in the country. Now, there will be a vape tax of 50 cents per millilitre (ml) of e-liquid. The hike is due to come into force from the middle of 2025.
The European Commission did not disclose meetings it had with the European Network on Smoking Prevention (ENSP) to the European Ombudsman.
The European Network on Smoking Prevention declared that its staff members “have not…had any professional involvement in any project related to tobacco in the last four years”.
A government-funded health agency in the Maldives has proposed hiking the tax on vapes alongside cigarettes.
A tax on vapes in Ireland will be announced in October’s budget, the country’s finance minister has revealed.
Clearing the Air can today reveal which MEPs will sit on the European Parliament’s public health committee, known as SANT.
Malaysia is set to implement stricter regulations on vapes from August - but the industry is still in the dark over what they will be.
The Swedish Parliament has agreed to lower the tax on snus by 20 percent. Meanwhile, the tax on cigarettes, cigarillos, smoking tobacco, and other tobacco will rise by nine percent.