Ukraine proposes total ban on e-cigarette production and sales to reduce youth consumption

Key points:

Ukraine is planning to completely ban the production, import, sale, and distribution of e-cigarettes, including pods and e-liquid. 

The aim of the legislation is to reduce the use of e-cigarettes among teenagers, with 40% of teenagers aged 13-16 having tried an e-cigarette at least once.

 If passed, the legislation will add new provisions prohibiting the distribution of e-cigarettes and amend relevant laws such as the Alcohol and Tobacco Market Regulation Law.

According to Generation Without Tobacco, the Ukrainian Parliament has registered Bill No. 13548, which proposes a complete ban on the production, import, sale, and distribution of e-cigarettes, pods, and related e-liquids. The bill suggests amending existing smoking regulations and establishing penalties for violations of the new provisions.

The main goal of this initiative is to reduce young people's consumption of tobacco products, especially e-cigarettes.

Among teenagers aged 13 to 16, 40% have used an e-cigarette at least once, with about 20% being current users. In a survey of teenagers aged 15 to 16, half have tried an e-cigarette, with 19% using one in the past 30 days.

The bill stipulates the cessation of production, import, trade, registration in the registry of products circulating in Ukraine, and any support from foreign countries in the field of e-cigarettes. It also establishes fines for violations of the new regulations and consolidates these amendments at the legislative level to protect public health.

If the lawmakers vote in favor of the bill, it will add a provision directly banning the distribution of e-cigarettes.

The national regulatory laws regarding the alcohol and tobacco market will also be revised, with provisions related to the licensing and distribution of e-liquid set to be removed.

The initiators of the bill pointed out that although Ukraine has banned the sale of e-cigarettes to minors since January 1, 2021, the control measures on e-cigarettes are weak, and young people can still easily access them.

Starting from July 11, 2023, Ukraine has implemented a ban on tobacco product advertisements, a ban on flavored e-cigarette sales, and fines of up to 15,000 hryvnia (314 euros) for using e-cigarettes in public places.

In March 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law to increase the tobacco consumption tax in an effort to gradually align Ukraine's tobacco tax system with the European Union. It is reported that approximately 130,000 people die prematurely in Ukraine each year due to smoking.

Earlier, 2Firsts released a report on Ukraine, detailing the impact of the war on the tobacco market.

Read more: Special Report | Ukraine’s Tobacco Market in Wartime: Cigarettes Dominate, All Nicotine Products Rise