Which Electronic Cigarette Regulations Will Be Implemented On January 1, 2024?

2023 is coming to an end, and a series of electronic cigarette industry related laws passed and promulgated by multiple countries around the world this year, many of which are scheduled to be implemented in 2024.
Standing at the beginning of the new year, the latest round of industry regulatory outlook:
Restrict brand exposure to the public
As the world's largest e-cigarette market, every move in the United States is seen as a barometer by the market. Starting from 2024, e-cigarettes that have enjoyed differential regulatory treatment will also be subject to marketing restrictions similar to traditional tobacco:
Starting from January 1, 2024, the state of New York in the United States will begin implementing stricter marketing restrictions on e-cigarettes and atomization products. Including: The brand name, logo, or other identification of electronic cigarettes cannot appear on any product other than the actual electronic cigarette; Gifts related to the purchase of electronic cigarettes cannot be provided; Brands cannot sponsor events such as sports competitions and concerts.
In addition to marketing methods, the United States will also further reduce the exposure of e-cigarettes to teenagers by restricting the design of the products themselves.
In June of this year, the governor of Texas signed a House of Representatives bill that prohibits electronic cigarettes from using designs primarily targeting minors, similar to candy or juice packaging, starting from January 1, 2024; The appearance cannot use symbols that depict children's cartoon characters, are used to promote products to minors, or celebrity images.
Restricting taste appeal to teenagers
Besides appearance and packaging, taste is also widely regarded as an important aspect of product appeal to teenagers.
The Dutch e-cigarette flavor ban, which was approved as early as 2021, will take effect from January 1, 2024. The ban was originally planned to take effect from June 2022, 18 months later than the original plan. The Dutch government's goal is to achieve a smoke-free society by 2040; The government is making every effort to reduce smoking, including raising the price of cigarettes to 10 euros during the current government term.
Starting this year, heated tobacco products will also face taste restrictions in more countries.
Starting from January 1, 2024, all heated tobacco products in Bulgaria, except for tobacco flavor, will cease sales. This regulation is included in the amendment to the country's Tobacco and Tobacco Products Act and was passed smoothly without any debate when approved by the House of Representatives. In addition, every packaging of heated tobacco products must display a warning, emphasizing the relevant risks during use.
The update of this amendment is a response to the Tobacco Products Directive issued by the European Union, otherwise the country may face criminal prosecution.
"Prohibition of Entry into the Country" and Rising Taxes
In addition to segmented regulation in terms of taste and marketing, regulatory agencies in multiple countries have also implemented stricter "package measures" starting from January 1st, thereby increasing the difficulty for specific groups to obtain disposable e-cigarettes.
Starting from January 1, 2024, disposable electronic cigarettes will be prohibited from entering Australia.
Starting from the same day, the country will also relax the authority to prescribe e-cigarettes, no longer limited to general practitioners; Australian doctors and nurses will have the right to prescribe e-cigarettes for patients, who can purchase them at pharmacies. This move is accompanied by criticism. Observers say that prescriptions in the country are just a formalistic policy. After banning disposable e-cigarettes from entering the country, it is foreseeable that Australia's legitimate e-cigarette business, which has almost no market, will be further compressed. It is reported that the market share of compliant electronic cigarettes in Australia is less than 5%.
Some countries also choose to reverse the trend of their own consumers using e-cigarettes by raising taxes.
Starting from January 1, 2024, Belgium will impose a tax on electronic cigarette oil at a rate of 15 cents per milliliter;
Indonesia's tobacco tax will increase by 10%, and the consumption tax on e-cigarettes will increase by 15%. After combining the two, the Indonesian e-cigarette industry will bear a tax rate of nearly 30% starting from this year.
The magnitude of the tax increase and the decision-making methods of the two countries have caused controversy. Belgian consumers and retailers have stated that this new tax may stimulate consumers to return to traditional cigarettes with greater health risks; Garindra Kartasasmita, Secretary General of the Indonesian Electronic Cigarette Industry Association, stated that a 30% tax is "unfair for emerging industries composed of small and medium-sized enterprises." He also stated that domestic interest groups were not fully involved in the planning of implementing an electronic cigarette tax in 2024. The entire decision-making process was "closed door.".
Can regulatory subdivisions in packaging, marketing, and taste effectively reverse the trend of adolescent e-cigarette use? Can a package of "lockdown measures" and high taxes help create a higher quality compliance market? Can the process of introducing new regulatory regulations become more transparent on a global scale? Can the voices of various stakeholders in the industry be better heard? In 2024, we will wait and see.