regulation of electronic cigarettes regulation of electronic cigarettes regulation of electronic cigarettes varies across countries and states, ranging from no regulation to banning them entirely. as of 2015, around two thirds of major nations have regulated e-cigarettes in some way. dynamics because of the potential relationship with tobacco laws and medical drug policies, e-cigarette legislation is being debated in many countries. the companies that make e-cigarettes have been pushing for laws that support their interests. in 2016 the us department of transportation banned the use of e-cigarettes on commercial flights. this regulation applies to all flights to and from the us. in 2018, the royal college of physicians asked that a balance is found in regulations over e-cigarettes that ensure product safety while encouraging smokers to use them instead of tobacco, as well as keep an eye on any effects contrary to the control agencies for tobacco. e-cigarettes were illegal in japan, which forced the market to use heat-not-burn tobacco products for cigarette alternatives. others have introduced strict restrictions and some have licensed devices as medicines such as in the uk. as of february 2018, there is no e-cigarette device that has been given a medical license that is commercially sold or available by prescription in the uk.: 46 the legal status of e-cigarettes is currently pending in many countries. many countries such as brazil, singapore, uruguay, and india have banned e-cigarettes. canada-wide in 2014, they were technically illegal to sell, as no nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are not regulated by health canada, but this is generally unenforced and they are commonly available for sale canada-wide. in 2016, health canada announced plans to regulate vaping products. in the us and the uk, the use and sale to adults of e-cigarettes are legal.: us : uk the revised eu tobacco products directive came into effect may 2016, providing stricter regulations for e-cigarettes. it limits e-cigarette advertising in print, on television and radio, along with reducing the level of nicotine in liquids and reducing the flavors used. it does not ban vaping in public places. it requires the purchaser for e-cigarettes to be at least 18 and does not permit buying them for anyone less than 18 years of age.: 39 the updated tobacco products directive has been disputed by tobacco lobbyists whose businesses could be impacted by these revisions. as of august 8, 2016, the fda extended its regulatory power to include e-cigarettes, e-liquid and all related products. under this ruling the fda will evaluate certain issues, including ingredients, product features and health risks, as well their appeal to minors and non-users. the fda rule also bans access to minors. a photo id is now required to buy e-cigarettes, and their sale in all-ages vending machines is not permitted in the us. as of august 2017, regulatory compliance deadlines relating to premarket review requirements for most e-cigarette and e-liquid products have been extended from november 2017 to august 8, 2022, which attracted a lawsuit filed by the american heart association, american academy of pediatrics, the campaign for tobacco-free kids, and other plaintiffs. in may 2016 the fda used its authority under the family smoking prevention and tobacco control act to deem e-cigarette devices and e-liquids to be tobacco products, which meant it intended to regulate the marketing, labelling, and manufacture of devices and liquids; vape shops that mix e-liquids or make or modify devices were considered manufacturing sites that needed to register with fda and comply with good manufacturing practice regulation. e-cigarette and tobacco companies have recruited lobbyists in an effort to prevent the fda from evaluating e-cigarette products or banning existing products already on the market. in february 2014 the european parliament passed regulations requiring standardization and quality control for liquids and vaporizers, disclosure of ingredients in liquids, and child-proofing and tamper-proofing for liquid packaging. in april 2014 the fda published proposed regulations for e-cigarettes. in the us some states tax e-cigarettes as tobacco products, and some state and regional governments have broadened their indoor smoking bans to include e-cigarettes. as of april 2017, 12 us states and 615 localities had prohibited the use of e-cigarettes in venues in which traditional cigarette smoking was prohibited. in 2015, at least 48 states and 2 territories had banned e-cigarette sales to minors. e-cigarettes containing nicotine have been listed as drug delivery devices in a number of countries, and the marketing of such products has been restricted or put on hold until safety and efficacy clinical trials are conclusive. since they do not contain tobacco, television advertising in the us is not restricted. some countries have regulated e-cigarettes as a medical product even though they have not approved them as a smoking cessation aid. a 2014 review stated the emerging phenomenon of e-cigarettes has raised concerns in the health community, governments, and the general public and recommended that e-cigarettes should be regulated to protect consumers. it added, "heavy regulation by restricting access to e-cigarettes would just encourage continuing use of much unhealthier tobacco smoking." a 2014 review said regulation of the e-cigarette should be considered on the basis of reported adverse health effects. asia armenia: the sale of e-cigarettes and liquids with and without nicotine is not regulated. bahrain: the country allows the import of e-cigarettes and taxes them like tobacco products. bangladesh: currently e-cigarette is not illegal in bangladesh and there is no regulation for it. but the secretary for health education to the ministry of health and family welfare stated that they have plan to impose ban on the production, import and sale of electronic cigarettes and all vaping tobaccos to prevent health consequences. china: e-cigarettes are regarded as tobacco products in mainland china. sales of e-cigarettes to people under 18 years of age is prohibited, and non-tobacco flavored e-cigarettes are banned from sale in china. east timor: e-cigarettes are banned. hong kong: alternative smoking products ("asps") are defined under part 2 of schedule 7 to the smoking (public health) amendment ordinance 2021. import, promotion, manufacture, sale or possession for commercial purposes of asps is banned and punishable to a fine of hk$50,000 and imprisonment for 6 months. india: on 18 september 2019, the government of india imposed a ban on sale and production of e-cigarettes. importing e-cigarettes is also banned in india. indonesia: from 1 july 2018, indonesian government starting to impose 57% tax on e-liquid, but then postponed until 1 october. indonesian government estimates the contribution from the tax would contribute around 100-200 billion rupiah. the tax is based on finance ministerial regulation no. 146/010/2017 on tobacco. iran, islamic republic of: sale or distribution of e-cigarettes is illegal. israel: in 2013, the ministry of health planned to extend existing laws on smoking in public places to e-cigarettes, a year after warning against the product's usage. japan: e-cigarettes containing nicotine were banned starting in 2010. non-nicotine e-cigarettes are sold to adults and minors since no regulation exists for non-nicotine e-cigarettes in japan. now it is legal if the e-cigarette is registered as a medicinal product. kuwait: in 2016, the sale, importation and usage of e-cigarettes was made legal. malaysia: in 2015, the malaysian national fatwa council issued a fatwa declaring e-cigarettes haram (forbidden) because of their harmful health effects and bad smell. though the fatwa is not legally binding, it carries weight for religious muslims and has caused the governments of four majority-muslim states—penang, kedah, johor, and kelantan—to ban vaping. as a response to the fatwa, the malaysian federal government began regulating e-liquid ingredients and vape sales to minors in 2018, marking the first federal regulations of the 2.5 billion ringgit (us$610 million) industry. a petition called "selamatkan anak-anak malaysia" was launched by parent & teacher action group malaysia to urge government to ban (totally) e-cigarette and vape in malaysia, which they managed to collect more than 100,000 signatures so far. nepal: under current cigarette laws, the sale of e-cigarettes is permitted. pakistan:the import and sale of e-cigarettes is legal, but pakistan medical and dental council find that the current health safety assessments of e-cigarettes to not yet be satisfactory. palestine: regulations of e-cigarette use is unknown, but the sales of e-cigarettes is banned by the palestinian national authority. philippines: the sale of e-cigarettes had been regulated under executive order 106 from 2020 under former president rodrigo duterte, and is now regulated under republic act 11900 or the "vape regulation bill", which lapsed into law on july 25, 2022 under the administration of president bongbong marcos. the government bans the use and sale of e-cigarettes, heated nicotine products, novel tobacco products, or their components to a person below 18 years of age, and was drafted under the principle of harm reduction. qatar: e-cigarettes have been illegal since 2014. saudi arabia: importation of e-cigarettes is banned as of 2012, except in small quantities for personal use, as is sale in public shops. however, personal consumption of e-cigarettes is permitted for those over age 18 in saudi arabia. use of e-cigarettes is banned in many public, educational, religious, and cultural spaces, as well as in certain private spaces such as elevators, restrooms, and food production facilities. the ministry of health considers e-cigarettes tobacco products. singapore: e-cigarettes are currently prohibited under section 16 (1) of the tobacco (control of advertisements and sale) act, which is enforced by the health sciences authority (hsa). this legislation prohibits the importation, distribution, sale or offer for sale of any confectionery or other food product or any toy or other article that is designed to resemble a tobacco product or the packaging of which is designed to resemble the packaging commonly associated with tobacco products. hsa takes a serious view on any person who contravenes the law. those guilty of the offence are liable to a fine of up to $5,000 upon conviction. according to health minister khaw boon wan, e-cigarettes are the industry's attempt to attract new users and were marketed to appeal to younger customers, including women. south korea: the sale and use of e-cigarettes is legal, but is heavily taxed. electric cigarette possession among teenagers remains an issue. thailand: thailand has banned e-cigarettes since 2014. taiwan: the sale and import of e-cigarettes is illegal in the taiwan area. passengers are not allowed to carry e-cigarettes and e-liquids into taiwan. united arab emirates: the sale and use of e-cigarettes has become legal from 15 april 2019. turkey: sales and importation are effectively banned. regulation of e-cigarettes is done by law 4207, which regulates smoking and was amended in june 2013 by article 26 of law 6487 to also apply to items which do not contain tobacco: "herbal water pipes and all kind of cigarettes which do not contain tobacco but are used in a way to imitate tobacco products shall also be deemed as tobacco products." this law requires for tobacco and related products to be licensed in order to be produced and to be imported. since there have been no licenses given for production and importation has been banned. vaping, being under regulation of the 4207th law, is thus forbidden indoors and on public transport, and also therefore forbidden for people under 18 years old. and thus, like tobacco products, personal import by mail or courier is forbidden. in may 2013 the minister of health stated that e-cigarettes, which contain nicotine, are medical devices and thus cannot be imported unless approved by the "turkish medicines and medical devices agency". but according to a who report as of 2014 e-cigarettes are not regulated as a therapeutic product. oceania australia: the federal department of health and ageing classifies every form of nicotine, except for replacement therapies and cigarettes, as a form of poison. in australia, there are no laws pertaining to the regulation of e-cigarettes. although there are a number of laws that are relevant to the regulation of poisons, therapeutic goods, and tobacco control which are applicable to e-cigarettes in certain cases. australia is developing regulations on e-cigarettes. the sale of e-cigarettes must be registered with the therapeutic goods administration (tga) before being sold. importation of e-cigarettes and their related products, if they claim to help people quit smoking, is illegal unless approved by the tga. the tpa has said that there were no laws preventing the importation of e-cigarettes bought over the internet for personal use, unless prohibited by state and territory legislation. state laws