Kyrgyzstan’s E-Cigarette Ban Takes Effect in July — Violators Face Fines or Jail Time

Key Points:

1.As of July 1st, Kyrgyzstan has prohibited the import, sale, and use of e-cigarettes.

2.Individuals and businesses who violate the ban will face hefty fines, with individuals facing fines of up to $110 and businesses facing fines of up to $2200.

3.Illegal large-scale import of e-cigarettes can result in a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

According to the Kyrgyzstani media outlet Kaktus, Kyrgyzstan will completely ban the importation, sale, and use of e-cigarettes starting from July 1st.

This new law, based on the "Code of Unlawful Acts," stipulates that individuals caught using e-cigarettes will be fined 100 calculation units (equivalent to approximately 10,000 Som, or 110 USD), while businesses will face a fine of 600 calculation units (equivalent to approximately 60,000 Som, or $660).

In addition, the sale of e-cigarettes is also strictly restricted. The penalty for individuals selling e-cigarettes is 200 calculation units (approximately 20,000 som, $220), while for businesses the fine is 650 calculation units (approximately 65,000 som, $715). According to the Criminal Code, illegally importing e-cigarettes on a large scale could result in forced labor from two months to one year or fines ranging from 1,000 to 1,200 calculation units (100,000 to 120,000 som, 1,100 to $1,320), and may also result in a one-year ban from certain industries.

If the illegal import reaches a large or particularly large amount, fines of 1500 to 2000 calculation indicators (150,000 to 200,000 soms, 1650 to 2200 US dollars) may be imposed, or imprisonment for one to two years, and prohibition of engaging in certain activities for two years.

According to reports, the ban was proposed by members of parliament, including Shairbek Tashiev. In June 2024, the bill was passed by the parliament in its third reading, with 73 members voting in favor, 3 against. The bill was then submitted to the president for signature.

Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov returned the bill in August 2024, suggesting adjusting penalties for imported e-cigarettes based on the extent of harm. After appropriate modifications, Japarov signed the law in November 2024.