The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, approved on 8 July 2020 a comprehensive set of tobacco control measures as part of the so called Health Act. This legislation is finally adopted after strong efforts by the tobacco industry to interfere in this regulation process.

The Hon. Minister of Health of Bhutan launched on World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), 31 May 2020, the publication entitled “The Big Ban: Bhutan’s journey towards a tobacco-free society”.

This publication presents the long history of tobacco control in the country. It also reveals whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches in their efforts which culminated in "The big ban": the Royal Government of Bhutan banned the sale of tobacco and related products in the country in 2004, same year of ratification of the WHO FCTC.

The 2014 European Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU, in relation to the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products prohibited the placing on the market of cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco with characterising flavours as of 20 May 2016.

The Plurinational Legislative Assembly of Bolivia adopted, on 13 February 2020, the new Law No 1280 on Prevention and Control of the Consumption of Tobacco Products strengthens the protection of the population to the harms of tobacco use.

On 24 February 2020, the Official Gazette of Turkey published the Presidential Order issued by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, banning the importation of electronic cigarettes and related products in the country. Introduction of this measure follows a global trend that aims to prevent the negative consequences that novel and emerging tobacco and nicotine products have on populations, and in Turkey, this measure is part of the government’s campaign to reduce tobacco use.

The Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) 72(I)/2020 approved on 30 January 2020 bans online advertising of tobacco products, as well as point of sale advertising and display of tobacco products. This regulation completes and expands on the previous Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-smokers Health Ordinance from 2002, which included a ban on advertising of tobacco products in print and electronic media.

The Parliament of India passed on 5 December 2019, Act No. 42 of the Ministry of Law and Justice on the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes. The Act establishes the ban on the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertising of these products “in the interest of public health, to protect the people from harm and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”.

Des données récentes montrent que les taux de vapotage chez les jeunes au Canada augmentent à un rythme inquiétant. Le gouvernement du Canada a donc pris un certain nombre de mesures au cours des derniers mois pour contrer l’augmentation du vapotage chez les jeunes.

Evidence shows that youth vaping rates in Canada are increasing at a concerning pace. The Government of Canada has taken a number of steps in recent months to address the rise in youth vaping.

Please see Health Canada’s announcement related to the Government of Canada’s response to the rise in youth vaping through this link.