Vietnamese Health Ministry Tightens Restrictions on E-Cigarettes and Heated Tobacco

According to Vneconomy, on January 24th, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health has issued a notification to the Ministry of Information and Communications, as well as the Ministry of Education and Training, requesting the effective implementation of Resolution 173/2024/QH15 by the National Assembly. This resolution comprehensively bans the production, sale, import, storage, transport, and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

The Ministry of Health pointed out that this resolution was passed at the eighth meeting of the fifteenth National Congress on November 30, 2024, deciding to ban all activities involving e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and other harmful substances to health from 2025 onwards.

A monitoring report has revealed that the purchase and advertising of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are quite common on the internet. Therefore, the Ministry of Health suggests that the Ministry of Information and Communication enhance cooperation to crack down on online advertisements for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and enforce strict penalties. The Ministry of Health also recommends increasing public awareness among government officials, employees, and the general public about the relevant bans in place.

The Ministry of Health has instructed the Ministry of Education and Training to widely promote, within all major educational institutions, the enforcement of laws and regulations banning the use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products starting from January 1, 2025. Additionally, they have emphasized the need for increased inspections and enforcement within educational institutions to crack down on illegal purchasing, selling, and usage of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and hookahs. The Ministry of Health has stressed the importance of ensuring cooperation between schools and local governments to strictly prohibit the sale of tobacco products around school premises, in accordance with Article 25(2) of the Law on the Prevention and Control of Tobacco Hazards.

The Ministry of Health is currently seeking opinions on proposed modifications and additions to certain provisions of Government Decree No. 117 of 2020. Among the suggestions is a proposal to impose fines of 1 to 2 million Vietnamese dong on individuals found using e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, with repeat offenders facing double the penalty.