Market & legal data of the tobacco alternatives sector in Asia

19th March 2025: Vietnam: The Department of Domestic Market Management and Development has instructed market management sub-departments to strengthen inspections and controls to prevent smuggling of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, which are currently banned in Vietnam. The sub-departments must direct department forces to strengthen local management and inspections, using grassroots networks and regular inspections, and coordinating with the local police. They should also strengthen propaganda, mobilise organisations and individuals to not trade or store these products, and coordinate with media to inform about violations and risks to health. Heads of market management departments will be held responsible for any violations in their area, and officials who cover up or assist perpetrators will face strict enforcement.
19th March 2025: United Arab Emirates: Today, the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security (ICPS) announced the official launch of the Integrated Central Customs Tariff System for 1st April. This initiative is the first of its kind in the country’s customs sector, and aims to reduce transaction time, facilitate trade, and raise compliance levels. The Central Customs Tariff project, part of the United Arab Emirates customs platform project, is a federal system that includes electronic classification, categorisation, and updating of goods and merchandise, as well as the customs duties imposed on them, using 12 digits, in accordance with the tariff standards approved by the World Customs Organization and the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
19th March 2025: Saudi Arabia: Yesterday (18th March), the Saudi Council of Ministers decided to include the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority; the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO); the Public Health Authority; and the Coordinating Committee of Tobacco Products Protection Associations as members of the National Committee for Tobacco Control. Saudi Arabia established the National Committee for Tobacco Control in 2007 by virtue of council decision 5797/B, which is chaired by the minister of health, with the membership of representatives from nine government agencies, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education. The committee has several tasks, including drawing a comprehensive national strategy to raise awareness about combating smoking and address its effects. The inclusion of these agencies is indicative of the country’s commitment to tobacco control within a comprehensive framework that involves technical agencies and bodies in the committee. For instance, the inclusion of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority would contribute to an increased oversight on tobacco imports, ensuring their compliance with regulations and specifications. The inclusion of the SASO might suggest that the organisation could impose strict standards and specifications for tobacco and nicotine products.
19th March 2025: Jordan: Yesterday (18th March), the government permitted the establishment of a cigarette factory as well as another factory for the manufacture of heated tobacco devices in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone. It should be noted that Jordan had previously banned, in 2021, the manufacture and production of cigarettes, tobacco and maassel in free zones and development zones, owing to smuggling operations on the northern and northeast borders.
18th March 2025: United Arab Emirates: The government has issued cabinet resolution (2) of 2025, regarding the technical regulations for tobacco-free nicotine pouches. The resolution, published in the official gazette on 30th January 2025, will come into effect on 29th July 2025. The standard specification (UAE.S 5061:2025) attached to the resolution, which was recently obtained by TobaccoIntelligence, outlines the requirements for the manufacturing and distribution of tobacco-free nicotine pouches in the United Arab Emirates.
17th March 2025: Malaysia: From 1st April 2025, all dining establishments and retail shops in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia must store tobacco and vape products in closed cabinets. Public display of these products was prohibited by the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act in October 2024, but the ban now becomes enforceable after a grace period of six months. However, Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng warns that without strict enforcement the ban may be ineffective. He urged cooperation between the Ministry of Health Malaysia and the Sarawak government to ensure compliance. He also questioned whether simply hiding these products would be effective, as users still know where to buy them. Instead, to ensure meaningful results, he suggested reviewing the policy, increasing enforcement personnel, or empowering other agencies.
17th March 2025: Bahrain: The government has announced in the country’s o fficial gazette the implementation of law (29) of 2025, which enforces the unified customs tariff schedule for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Under this regulation, a minimum customs tax of 100% will be imposed on tobacco products.
17th March 2025: Bahrain: Executive and legislative authorities held a joint meeting on 16th March to discuss the 2025-2026 state budget. Selective excise tax increases on tobacco products, soft drinks and energy drinks will be introduced to promote public health.
14th March 2025: Taiwan: Yesterday (13th March) legislators criticised the delayed review period for heated tobacco products (HTPs) during the meeting of the Health and Environment Committee of the Legislative Yuan, media reports. They argued that this has led to a decrease in tobacco tax revenue, as HTPs are being imported and sold on the black market. In response, the Ministry of Health and Welfare promised to speed up the review process.
14th March 2025: Lebanon: Today, the minister of finance submitted a draft law to amend the 2025 budget that was passed on 6th March 2025. The bill proposes reductions in fees to acquire smoking licences for hotels and guesthouses, and a reduction in the annual fee imposed on shops that sell tobacco products. The bill proposes a reduction in the annual fees for smoking licences in five-star hotels from LBP900m ($10,000) to LBP460m ($5,100); in four-star hotels from LBP450m ($5,000) to LBP230 ($2,500); in three-star hotels from to LBP270m ($3,000) to LBP138m ($1,500); and in cafes from LBP90m ($1,000) to LBP46m ($510). Furthermore, the bill proposes to reduce the annual tax on shops engaged in the sale of tobacco, which includes heated tobacco products (HTPs) and e-cigarettes, from LBP35m ($390) to LBP5m ($56).
14th March 2025: Jordan: Yesterday (13th March), the minister of government communication, Mohammad Momani, met with the World Health Organization (WHO) representative to Jordan, Jamela Al-Raiby, and discussed the results of the national survey on tobacco use prevalence, published in February 2025. The minister highlighted that the Ministry of Government Communication will enhance its media role in supporting efforts to combat smoking and mitigate its health and economic impacts. This will be executed through the development of a national plan to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking and the importance of combatting smoking in all of its forms.
12th March 2025: Bangladesh: Mohammad Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser of the interim government, announced that a committee is currently reviewing tobacco tax policies following discussions on the matter within the cabinet division. Speaking at a journalists' workshop, he also highlighted calls for the government to set a minimum price of BDT9 ($0.07) per cigarette stick in the upcoming budget by merging the lower and middle tax tiers for cigarettes. The increase will likely be extended to novel tobacco products as well.

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