Australia submits e-cigarette bill丨A roundup of e-cigarette policies and new products from companies around the world this week

According to the EU official website on September 17, as part of its fight against secondhand smoke, the EU called on member states to ban smoking and e-cigarettes in many outdoor places such as playgrounds, swimming pools and restaurant terraces.

The European Commission said in a non-binding recommendation that expanding smoke-free environment policies would better protect public health, especially that of children.

The Commission urged the 27 EU member states to extend existing restrictions on cigarettes to cover other new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco. As part of its "anti-cancer plan", the EU aims to reduce the proportion of smokers, currently around 25%, to less than 5% by 2040.

However, health policy is the competence of the Member States, which means that the Commission can only invite Member States to implement its recommendations according to their own circumstances.

2. Philippines

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has now banned the sale of e-cigarettes, cigarettes and heated tobacco products below the minimum price set by the tax agency, which is determined by the combined excise and value-added taxes.

On September 16, BIR Director Romeo Lumagui Jr. issued Revenue Regulation No. 16 of 2024 (RR No. 16-2024), which updated the latest floor prices for cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products.

Lumagui reminded online sellers, retailers and distributors of tobacco products that they will face criminal liability if they sell these products below the stipulated floor price . He stressed that selling these products below the floor price "is a criminal offense and the seller will be sentenced to prison."

3. Australia

According to Mirage News on September 18, the Liberal Party government of Tasmania, Australia, has submitted the Public Health Amendment (E-cigarettes) Bill 2024, which will take measures to combat the use of e-cigarettes .

Tasmanian Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing Guy Barnett said the government's move would protect the community from the dangers of e-cigarettes.

4. Republic of Bashkortostan

According to Lenta.Ru on September 18, members of the parliament of the Republic of Bashkortostan, one of the subjects of the Russian Federation, passed a measure on fines for smoking electronic cigarettes and hookahs in public places . The amendment has been incorporated into the Republic's Code of Administrative Offenses. Residents who violate the law for the first time will be fined 500 rubles ($5.5), and repeat offenders will be fined 1,000 rubles ($11).

The chairman of the regional council, Konstantin Tolkachev, stressed that the law equates the smoking of e-cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and hookahs with traditional tobacco products and applies existing penalties to these devices. Thus, the use of devices containing nicotine liquid will be prohibited in schools, hospitals, trains, public transport stations, parks, above-ground and underground pedestrian walkways, and at public events.

Earlier, Alexey Kurinny, deputy chairman of the State Duma Health Committee, said in an interview with the media that the issue of the legality of e-cigarettes in Russia remains unresolved.

The relevant bill was drafted by lawmakers as early as January 2022.

5. Switzerland

The Swiss Senate has insisted on retaining exceptions to nationwide restrictions on tobacco advertising, which will come into effect after they are approved in a national referendum.

The Swiss parliament is debating how to implement a national proposal approved by voters in 2022 to protect children from tobacco advertising. The Federal Council wants to ensure that advertising of tobacco products and e-cigarettes is no longer targeted at children and adolescents through legal amendments. As required by the constitution. In a vote on Monday (16th), the Senate clearly passed the bill with 28 votes in favor, 12 against and 4 abstentions. However, lawmakers did not ban tobacco advertising completely, but retained exceptions in the law.

6. United States

According to Westernmass News on September 19, the Northampton, Massachusetts, health committee will hold a meeting to discuss the implementation of a "smoke-free generation" policy that would ban the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to people born on or after January 1, 2004.

If the measure is passed, products including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco and nicotine Pouches will all be banned from sale to these young generations. The meeting will be held virtually on Thursday evening (19th) local time.

7. Latvia

According to BNN News on September 19, the Latvian government recently passed a series of changes to labor taxation, including an increase in excise taxes on tobacco products .

From 2027, the minimum excise and VAT share will increase by 46 cents per pack of cigarettes and 19 cents per pack of heated tobacco (5.3 grams). Each 40-gram pack of tobacco will increase by 62 cents, and a pack of 10 cigars or cigarillos will increase by 29 cents. In addition, the tax on e-cigarette refills will increase by 10 cents per 2 ml and 48 cents per 10 ml package. Alternative tobacco (such as nicotine pouches, 14-gram packages) will increase by 28 cents.

Company News

1. "Alp" nicotine pouch

According to The Hill on September 19, former Fox News host, current Internet celebrity and conservative commentator Tucker Carlson recently revealed plans to launch a nicotine bag product called "Alp" to compete with Philip Morris' (PMI) nicotine bag brand "ZYN".