Government attitudes toward vaping and nicotine vary. In the United Kingdom, vaping has largely been encouraged by government health agencies. Because smoking creates a costly burden for the UK\u2019s National Health Service, the country stands to save both lives and money if smokers switch to e-cigarettes.<\/p>\n
Many other countries also allow a regulated vaping market, but are less enthusiastic about the practice. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has had authority over vapor products since 2016, but has refused to create a plain system of standards for e-cigarettes and e-liquids. In recent years, some U.S. states have imposed flavor and online sales bans. Canada somewhat followed the U.K. model for a short time, but has recently\u00a0imposed nicotine-strength limits\u00a0and extreme flavor restrictions.<\/p>\n
There are more than 40 countries that have some type of ban on vaping\u2014either on possession and use, sales, importation, or a combination. What we have attempted is to list U.S. state flavor and online sales bans, and the sales and use bans imposed in other countries.<\/p>\n
The FDA has federal\u00a0authority to regulate vaping products. In September 2020 the agency began reviewing premarket tobacco applications (PMTAs), and has signaled it\u00a0will not authorize flavored products without extraordinary evidence. Whether the agency will be successful creating an unwritten standard that eliminates legal flavored products (except tobacco) may be determined by federal courts.<\/p>\n
Most vape bans in the U.S. happen at the state and local levels. And while a few California cities\u2014notably San Francisco\u2014have banned outright the sale of all vaping products, most American vape restrictions involve flavors and online sales. There are only a few of each, despite the large number of vaping bans that have been proposed in state legislatures in recent years\u2014proof that grassroots opposition can stop bad legislation.<\/p>\n
Arkansas - online sales ban<\/strong><\/p>\n Tobacco permits issued to Arkansas businesses only allow face-to-face transactions, so online sales are prohibited<\/p>\n California - flavor ban on in-store sales<\/strong><\/p>\n California now\u00a0bans the in-store sale of vaping products in flavors other than tobacco\u2014with or without nicotine. The statewide law, approved by voters in 2022, does not ban online sales, but some localities have stricter laws<\/p>\n District of Columbia (D.C.) - flavor ban<\/strong><\/p>\n The D.C. city council\u00a0passed a flavor ban\u00a0on all vaping and tobacco products in 2021.<\/p>\n Georgia - online sales ban<\/strong><\/p>\n Georgia allows only face-to-face retail transactions of vaping products, so online sales are prohibited<\/p>\n Hawaii - online sales ban from out of state<\/strong><\/p>\n Hawaii bans online sales from outside the state, except to licensed retailers<\/p>\n Maine - online sales ban<\/strong><\/p>\n Maine bans online sales, except between licensed businesses<\/p>\n Massachusetts - flavor ban<\/strong><\/p>\n The first statewide flavor ban was passed in late 2019 by Massachusetts. It includes all tobacco products, and prohibits sales of all vape flavors except tobacco<\/p>\n Nebraska - online sales ban<\/strong><\/p>\n Nebraska bans online sales, except between licensed businesses (law effective July 19, 2024)<\/p>\n New Jersey - flavor ban<\/strong><\/p>\n New Jersey\u2019s ban covers all flavors except tobacco. Legislators decided not to ban menthol cigarettes after realizing how much tax revenue the state would lose<\/p>\n New York - flavor ban + online sales ban<\/strong><\/p>\n The New York flavor ban, which covers all flavors except tobacco, was passed in April 2020. The state also adopted an online sales ban (of all vaping products) at the same time<\/p>\n Oregon - online sales ban<\/strong><\/p>\n Oregon bans online sales, except between licensed businesses<\/p>\n Rhode Island - flavor ban<\/strong><\/p>\n In March 2020, then-governor Gina Raimondo bypassed the state legislature and used the Department of Health to create a permanent ban on all vape flavors except tobacco. In 2024, the legislature converted the ban from a health department rule to a law<\/p>\n South Dakota - online sales ban<\/strong><\/p>\n Shipping of all tobacco products (including vapes) is prohibited in South Dakota<\/p>\n Utah - flavor ban + online sales ban<\/strong><\/p>\n Utah bans online sales, except between licensed businesses. In March 2024, the state\u00a0passed a ban on vape flavors\u00a0(other than tobacco and menthol), which will take effect Jan. 1, 2025<\/p>\n Vermont - online sales ban<\/strong><\/p>\n Vermont bans online sales, except between licensed businesses<\/p>\n Major cities with flavor bans<\/strong>\u00a0include Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland and San Jose, CA; and Boulder, CO. Hundreds of smaller cities and counties\u2014mostly in California and Massachusetts\u2014have flavor bans, as do some larger cities whose bans have since been superseded by state bans (like New York City and Newark, NJ)<\/p>\n Complete bans on vaping product sales<\/strong>\u00a0have been adopted by San Francisco and some smaller California cities. Brookline, Massachusetts has\u00a0passed a so-called generational ban\u00a0on tobacco and nicotine product sales (including vapes). The city increases the legal age to buy nicotine products by one year each year. No one born after Dec. 31, 1999, can ever buy nicotine products legally in Brookline<\/p>\n In some nations, vaping is completely illegal, including both sales and possession. Prohibition is most common in Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Australia has a bizarre prescription-only model for vaping products, and unauthorized importation can result in huge fines. In Japan, nicotine vaping products are illegal, but\u00a0heated tobacco products like IQOS\u00a0are completely legal and widely used.<\/p>\n Some countries have outright bans on sales and possession, others just prohibit sales, and some ban only nicotine-containing products. In many countries, the laws are ignored and black markets flourish. In others, they\u2019re enforced (but those still have black markets too). If a country is not listed, vaping is either allowed and regulated, or there is no specific law governing e-cigarettes (as of now anyway).<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t meant as a definitive legal\u00a0guide for traveling vapers. If you\u2019re visiting an unfamiliar country you should first check with an up-to-date official source like your country\u2019s state department, or the travel bureau of the country you\u2019re visiting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Antigua and Barbuda<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Argentina<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Australia<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell (outside of pharmacies), illegal to possess more than nine products. Beginning Oct. 1, 2024, purchase will\u00a0no longer require a doctor's prescription, but vapes will still only be legally available in pharmacies<\/p>\n Bangladesh<\/strong><\/p>\n Bangladesh currently has no laws or regulations specific to vaping. However, in 2021 the government\u00a0announced it would update the country\u2019s tobacco control law with an outright ban\u00a0on the sales of e-cigarettes<\/p>\n Bhutan<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Brazil<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Brunei Darussalam<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Cambodia<\/strong><\/p>\n Banned: illegal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Chile<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Colombia<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell (however, the prohibition is widely disregarded)<\/p>\n Cook Islands<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n East Timor<\/strong><\/p>\n Believed to be illegal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Ethiopia<\/strong><\/p>\n Believed to be legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Gambia<\/strong><\/p>\n Believed to be illegal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Ghana<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell (except when prescribed by a doctor)<\/p>\n Hong Kong<\/strong>\u00a0(a Special Administrative Region of China)<\/p>\n Legal to use,\u00a0illegal to sell since 2022<\/p>\n India<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell. In September 2019, the Indian central government banned the sale of vaping products. The government, well aware that 100 million Indians smoke and that tobacco kills nearly a million people a year, did not make any moves to reduce access to cigarettes. Not coincidentally, the Indian government owns a large share of the country\u2019s largest tobacco company<\/p>\n Iran<\/strong><\/p>\n Believed to be illegal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Jamaica<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell nicotine-containing products without a medical license<\/p>\n Japan<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, legal to sell devices and zero-nicotine e-liquid, but illegal to sell nicotine-containing liquid (although individuals can import nicotine-containing products with some restrictions). Heated tobacco products (HTPs) like\u00a0IQOS\u00a0are legal and extremely popular<\/p>\n Kazakhstan<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell. (The\u00a0ban passed in April 2024\u00a0took effect June 20, 2024.) The law, which prohibits sale, manufacture and import, also\u00a0bans imports for personal use.<\/p>\n Kuwait<\/strong><\/p>\n Believed to be legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Kyrgyzstan<\/strong><\/p>\n Vapes are currently legal, but as of July 1, 2025, a\u00a0complete ban, including sales and personal possession, will take effect.<\/p>\n Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos)<\/strong><\/p>\n Illegal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Lebanon<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Macau<\/strong>\u00a0(a Special Administrative Region of China)<\/p>\n Possibly legal to use, illegal to sell. In late 2022 a law took effect that\u00a0bans the manufacture, distribution, sale, import, export, and transport of all vaping products. While personal use may be technically legal, there seems to be no way to acquire products without violating the import or transport bans<\/p>\n Malaysia<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell nicotine-containing products. Although consumer sales of nicotine-containing products is illegal, Malaysia has a thriving vaping market. Authorities occasionally\u00a0raid retailers and confiscate products. Sales of all vaping products (even without nicotine) are banned outright in the states of Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Penang and Terengganu<\/p>\n Mauritius<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Mexico<\/strong><\/p>\n Probably legal to use, illegal to sell. The Mexican president\u00a0issued a decree banning sales of all vapes\u00a0and heated tobacco products in May 2022. The law includes nicotine-free products. It is, however, widely ignored and Mexico has a thriving black market.<\/p>\n Some manufacturers\u2014including Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco\u2014and vendors have challenged the government position in court, filing individual complaints and receiving favorable judgements. Unfortunately, these\u00a0\u201cjuicio de amparo\u201d\u00a0(protection trials) apply only to the specific complainant and the decisions cannot be broadly applied by all sellers. According to Mexican vape advocate Roberto Sussman, the amparo process is difficult and expensive, especially for small businesses<\/p>\n Myanmar<\/strong><\/p>\n Believed to be illegal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Nepal<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, possibly illegal to sell (although the government itself\u00a0seems unsure)<\/p>\n Nicaragua<\/strong><\/p>\n Believed to be illegal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)<\/strong><\/p>\n Banned: illegal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Oman<\/strong><\/p>\n Believed to be legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Palau<\/strong><\/p>\n Banned: illegal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Panama<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Qatar<\/strong><\/p>\n Banned: illegal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Seychelles<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell. However, the country\u00a0announced in 2019 its intention to legalize\u00a0and regulate e-cigarettes<\/p>\n Singapore<\/strong><\/p>\n Banned: illegal to use, illegal to sell. As of 2018,\u00a0possession of vapes is a crime, punishable by fines and even prison time. However, the threat of prosecution doesn\u2019t prevent a thriving black market<\/p>\n Sri Lanka<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Suriname<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Syria<\/strong><\/p>\n Banned: illegal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Taiwan (Republic of China)<\/strong><\/p>\n Banned: illegal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Thailand<\/strong><\/p>\n Believed to be legal to use, illegal to sell. Thailand has earned a reputation for enforcing its ban on importation and sales of vaping products with several high-profile incidents in recent years, including\u00a0detaining and even deporting tourists caught vaping<\/p>\n Timor-Leste<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Turkey<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to import. Turkey\u2019s laws are conflicting, and there is a vaping market and a vaping community in Turkey<\/p>\n Turkmenistan<\/strong><\/p>\n Believed to be legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Uganda<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Uruguay<\/strong><\/p>\n Legal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Vatican City<\/strong><\/p>\n Believed to be illegal to use, illegal to sell<\/p>\n Venezuela<\/strong><\/p>\n Banned: illegal to use, illegal to sell. In August 2023, the Venezuelan health ministry\u00a0banned the sale and personal use\u00a0of all vaping and heated tobacco products on order of President Maduro<\/p>\n Government attitudes toward vaping and nicotine vary. In the United Kingdom, vaping has largely been encouraged by government health agencies. Because smoking creates a costly burden for the …<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":47094,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abesmoke.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47093","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abesmoke.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abesmoke.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abesmoke.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abesmoke.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47093"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.abesmoke.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47093\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abesmoke.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47094"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.abesmoke.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47093"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abesmoke.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47093"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.abesmoke.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47093"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Countries that ban vaping product sales or use<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Sources\uff1ahttps:\/\/vaping360.com\/learn\/countries-where-vaping-is-banned-illegal\/<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"