Vape Bans: Vape Policies of Various Countries

• The chart above provides a clear and concise overview of the varying regulatory stringencies of e-cigarettes globally.
  Where 0 means no restrictions and 100 means a complete ban on e-cigarettes.
  The index is based on existing legal frameworks and does not take into account local enforcement.

Government attitudes toward e-cigarettes and nicotine vary. In the UK, e-cigarettes are largely encouraged by government health agencies. With smoking placing a heavy burden on the UK’s National Health Service, the country would save lives and money if smokers switched to e-cigarettes.

Many other countries have allowed for regulated e-cigarette markets, but have been less enthusiastic about the practice. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has had regulatory authority over e-cigarette products since 2016 but has refused to develop a simple standard system for e-cigarettes and e-cigarette oils. In recent years, some U.S. states have enacted bans on spices and online sales. Canada briefly followed the British model but recently implemented nicotine strength limits and extreme flavor limits.

More than 40 countries have some type of ban on e-cigarettes – whether they are possession and use, sale or import, or both. Here we attempt to list flavor and online sales bans by state in the United States, as well as sales and use bans in place in other countries.

US bans flavored e-cigarettes and online sales

The FDA has federal authority to regulate e-cigarette products. In September 2020, the agency began reviewing premarket tobacco applications (PMTAs) and said it would not authorize flavored products without special evidence. Whether the agency succeeds in establishing an unwritten standard to eliminate legal flavored products (other than tobacco and menthol) may be decided by a federal court.

Most e-cigarette bans in the United States are implemented at the state and local level. While some cities in California, notably San Francisco, have banned the sale of all vaping products, most vaping restrictions in the United States involve flavors and online sales. While many e-cigarette bans have been proposed in state legislatures in recent years, each has been limited to a handful — proving that grassroots opposition can stop bad legislation.

• California – Ban on in-store sales of spices

California now bans the in-store sale of e-cigarette products in flavors other than tobacco, regardless of whether they contain nicotine. Statewide laws do not prohibit online sales, but some places have stricter laws.

California voters approved the ban on November 8, 2022. The ban was challenged in court, but on Dec. 12, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to grant an injunction that would have halted enforcement of the new law while a lawsuit against the state was resolved

• Arkansas – No online sales

Tobacco licenses issued to Arkansas businesses only allow for in-person transactions, thus prohibiting online sales

• Georgia – online sales prohibited

Georgia only allows face-to-face retail transactions of e-cigarette products, thus banning online sales

• Maine – No online sales

Maine bans online sales, except between licensed businesses

• New Jersey – Spice Ban

New Jersey’s ban covers all flavors except tobacco. After realizing how much tax revenue the state would lose, lawmakers decided not to ban menthol cigarettes. Governor signs flavor ban and increases taxes on vaping products, but vetoes additional 20mg/ml nicotine strength limit

• New York – Tasting Ban + Online Sales Ban

New York State’s flavor ban, passed in April 2020, covers all flavors except tobacco. The country also passed a ban on online sales of e-cigarette products

• Hawaii – No out-of-state online sales

Effective July 1, 2023, Hawaii will ban the sale of vaping products shipped from out of state, except from authorized retailers

• Massachusetts – Spice Ban

Massachusetts passed its first statewide spice ban in late 2019. It includes all tobacco products and bans the sale of all e-cigarette flavors except tobacco

• Rhode Island – Taste Ban

In March 2020, then-Governor Gina Raimondo bypassed the state Legislature and used the Department of Health to enact a permanent ban on all flavors of e-cigarettes except tobacco.

• Oregon – No online sales

Oregon bans online sales, except between authorized businesses

• South Dakota -Online Sales Ban

South Dakota bans transportation of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes

• Utah – Online Sales Ban

Utah bans online sales, except between authorized businesses

• Vermont – No online sales

Vermont bans online sales, except between authorized businesses

• Vermont – No online sales

Vermont bans online sales, except between authorized businesses

Major cities with flavor bans include Chicago, IL; Los Angeles (effective in 2023), San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, and San Jose, CA; hundreds of smaller cities and counties (mostly in California) have flavor bans in place, and some large cities bans have been replaced by state bans (such as New York City and Newark, New Jersey).

San Francisco and some smaller California cities have banned the sale of vaping products entirely

Canada – Legal Sale

Legal sales, but not allowed to be sold to minors under 18 years old, nor products with appearance or usage that are attractive to young people are not allowed
For legal import and export, the importer needs to conduct another local inspection.
It is prohibited to use in non-smoking public places and public transportation, including shops, restaurants, and bars.
Nicotine content limit is 20mg/ml
Public consultation on tobacco and e-cigarette legislation review launched in April 2022

UK – Legal Sale

For legal sale, it must comply with TPD standards, and the tank capacity must not exceed 2mL. The refill volume shall not exceed 10mL.
Legal import and export
Allowed in smoking areas
Models under the age of 25 are banned from appearing in e-cigarette advertising

Russia – Legal Sale

Legally sold and not considered a tobacco product, it can be used in public places, bars and restaurants.

France – Legal Sale

Legal to sell, but not to anyone under 18 years of age. The nicotine content of e-liquid must be less than or equal to 20mg/mL. The tank capacity must not exceed 2mL
Legal to use, but e-cigarettes are prohibited on public transport, enclosed workplaces, and areas for minors

Germany – Legal Sale

Legal to sell, but not to anyone under 18 years of age. The nicotine content of e-liquid must be less than or equal to 20mg/mL. The tank capacity must not exceed 2mL
Legal import and export, use in smoking areas is not allowed

Italy – Legal Sale

Legal sales are regulated as tobacco types. Cross-border remote sales of electronic cigarettes are prohibited. No sale to minors (under 18 years old)
Allowed in smoking areas
Tax on e-cigarette products increased to €0.173719 per milliliter of e-liquid

Sweden – Legal Sale

Legal to sell, but not to anyone under 18 years of age. The nicotine content of e-liquid must be less than or equal to 20mg/mL. tank capacity must not exceed 2mL
Allowed in smoking areas
It is planned to completely ban all flavors including menthol in January 2023

Finland – Legal Sale

Legal to sell, but not to anyone under 18 years of age. The nicotine content of e-liquid must be less than or equal to 20mg/mL. tank capacity must not exceed 2mL
Legal to use but not allowed in no-smoking areas or in cars with teenagers under 15 years old
Only tobacco flavors allowed
Text-only health warnings in Finnish and Swedish must cover 32% of the front and back of the package.

About VECEE Disposable Vapes

VECEE is a sub-brand of Yocan， A leading healthy e-cigarette manufacturer since 2013. We specialize in designing and innovating concentrate vapes, disposable vapes, batteries, and other smoking products. Our mission is to become an innovative vape pen and customized vape hardware technology company that integrates R&D, design, manufacturing, and marketing.
Since 2013, Yocan’s business has expanded to more than 20 countries and 60 regions worldwide. Our representative products, such as the MAZE series, FINO series, VTEC PRO KIT series, LUMOS series, ELLO series, NORA series, and KIKO series, are popular among consumers. We have also established strong partnerships with major distributors from North America, Europe, Australia, South America, and the Middle East.

VECEE is our vision for a better future and healthy life, and it is also the original heart we have been upholding since the beginning of the brand.
We are committed to providing users with high-quality lives and healthy alternative solutions through e-cigarettes, creating a fashionable, fresh, and energetic lifestyle, and sharing and growing together with users.
We believe that our users are just like us – pursuing technological innovation, enjoying the beauty and simplicity of design, yearning for a free and carefree journey, and envisioning a healthy future!

Sources and updates

Our list is extensive, but may not be definitive. Laws change frequently, and there is no central repository of global e-cigarette legal information that is updated in real-time. While our list includes some original research, here are the main sources:

• Tobacco Control Laws (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)

• Institute for Global Tobacco Control (Johns Hopkins University)

• The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (Knowledge-Action-Change)

We welcome any new information. If you know of legal changes or new regulations for our list, please leave a comment and we will update the list.