Read articles from Asia

July 31, 2024 by businesstimes.com.sg

Indonesia increased the minimum age for buying cigarettes from 18 to 21 to reduce smoking rates, with 70 million adult smokers in a country that produces tobacco. The regulation also bans single cigarette sales and advertising, with penalties for violations. Sales near schools and on social media are restricted, effective immediately. A significant percentage of smokers in Indonesia are aged 10 to 18. While some anti-smoking advocates see the regulations as insufficient, others believe stricter enforcement is necessary. The tobacco industry expressed concerns about the impact on their business. Indonesia has been raising tobacco product excise rates annually to deter smoking.

July 31, 2024 by organiser.org

Health and child rights experts raised concern over the promotion of e-cigarettes and vapes as a safe alternative to smoking and healthier alternatives to traditional tobacco products. They warned that these products are also being used as a gateway to traditional tobacco use. They cautioned that this misleading narrative is a strategic attempt by the industry to target and trap the young population, particularly those aged 10 to 19 years.

July 31, 2024 by aa.com.tr

Indonesia on Wednesday banned the sale of cigarettes to people under the age of 21, as well as cigarette advertisements on websites, apps, and social media platforms, local media said. The minimum age has been raised from 18 to 21, and the sale of individual tobacco products has been prohibited, except for cigars and electronic cigarettes, the Jakarta Globe reported. The new regulations signed by President Joko Widodo also require tobacco packaging to contain at least 20 cigarettes and limit sliced tobacco packaging to a maximum of 50 grams, as cigarette packs currently vary in content, including 12, 16, and 20 cigarettes, the daily added.

July 31, 2024 by aa.com.tr

Indonesia on Wednesday banned the sale of cigarettes to people under the age of 21, as well as cigarette advertisements on websites, apps, and social media platforms, local media said. The minimum age has been raised from 18 to 21, and the sale of individual tobacco products has been prohibited, except for cigars and electronic cigarettes, the Jakarta Globe reported. The new regulations signed by President Joko Widodo also require tobacco packaging to contain at least 20 cigarettes and limit sliced tobacco packaging to a maximum of 50 grams, as cigarette packs currently vary in content, including 12, 16, and 20 cigarettes, the daily added.

July 29, 2024 by indiatimes.com

Health experts caution against the misleading promotion of e-cigarettes and vapes as safe alternatives to traditional tobacco, warning of their addictive nature, especially among young people. India's ban on these products has potentially saved 24 million youth from addiction. The tobacco industry's tactics targeting youth with false health claims are condemned. Strict regulations are seen as crucial to protecting the population. The WHO supports India's ban on e-cigarettes, emphasizing the importance of countering industry tactics and prioritizing public health over revenue concerns.

July 25, 2024 by thecable.ng

In the early 2000s, Sweden had and adopted the concepts and ideals behind Tobacco Harm Reduction when it introduced Snus, a smokeless tobacco product that has since become a national phenomenon. Snus is placed under the upper lip and does not require smoking. Its popularity in Sweden has contributed to a significant public health triumph. Today, over 20% of Swedish men (…)

July 25, 2024 by independent.co.uk

Thailand will regulate cannabis for medicinal use instead of re-listing the plant as a narcotic, the deputy prime minister said on Tuesday, in the government's U-turn on its previous policy. Prime minister Srettha Thavisin had vowed to make cannabis illegal by the end of 2024, just two years after Thailand became one of the first countries in Asia to decriminalise marijuana.

July 24, 2024 by planetofthevapes.co.uk

The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is urging governments across the Asia Pacific region to follow New Zealand's lead and allow the sale of oral nicotine products as part of a comprehensive tobacco harm reduction strategy.

July 18, 2024 by thestar.com.my

Calls for stricter vape laws in Malaysia have increased after vending machines were found selling vape products easily accessible by youth. Concerns about addiction among teenagers have prompted demands for online vape sales to be banned. Suggestions include registering vape retailers, regular inspections, and public awareness campaigns on the dangers of smoking and vaping. The proposed Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 aims to regulate vape products. The Malaysian Organization of Vape Entity emphasizes the need for clear regulations to prevent minors from vaping. The Health Ministry is reviewing regulations to ban electronic cigarettes and vape product sales, including through vending machines.

July 12, 2024 by travelandleisureasia.com

Hong Kong is planning to propose stricter tobacco laws and implement control measures to reduce smoking. The Health Bureau intends to impose 10 short-term control measures to create a “tobacco-free Hong Kong.” This includes the total ban on “alternative smoking products,” the government’s term for e-cigarettes or vapes. In recent years, new laws have prohibited the sale of e-cigarettes “for commercial purposes” and smoking products to minors. The Health Bureau’s suggested control measures will further extend these existing laws and propose new ones. Keep reading to find out the full control measures.