Market & legal data of the tobacco alternatives sector in Asia

14th March 2025: Taiwan: Yesterday (13th March) legislators criticised the delayed review period for heated tobacco products (HTPs) during the meeting of the Health and Environment Committee of the Legislative Yuan, media reports. They argued that this has led to a decrease in tobacco tax revenue, as HTPs are being imported and sold on the black market. In response, the Ministry of Health and Welfare promised to speed up the review process.
14th March 2025: Lebanon: Today, the minister of finance submitted a draft law to amend the 2025 budget that was passed on 6th March 2025. The bill proposes reductions in fees to acquire smoking licences for hotels and guesthouses, and a reduction in the annual fee imposed on shops that sell tobacco products. The bill proposes the reduction in the annual fees for smoking licences in five-star hotels from LBP900m ($10,000) to LBP460m ($5,100); in four-star hotels from LBP450m ($5,000) to LBP230 ($2,500); in three-star hotels from to LBP270m ($3,000) to LBP138m ($1,500); and in cafes from LBP90m ($1,000) to LBP46m ($510). Furthermore, the bill proposes to reduce the annual tax on shops engaged in the sale of tobacco, which includes heated tobacco products (HTPs) and e-cigarettes, from LBP35m ($390) to LBP5m ($56).
14th March 2025: Jordan: Yesterday (13th March), the minister of government communication, Mohammad Momani, met with the World Health Organization (WHO) representative to Jordan, Jamela Al-Raiby, and discussed the results of the national survey on tobacco use prevalence, published in February 2025. The minister highlighted that the Ministry of Government Communication will enhance its media role in supporting efforts to combat smoking and mitigate its health and economic impacts. This will be executed through the development of a national plan to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking and the importance of combatting smoking in all of its forms.
12th March 2025: Bangladesh: Mohammad Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser of the interim government, announced that a committee is currently reviewing tobacco tax policies following discussions on the matter within the cabinet division. Speaking at a journalists' workshop, he also highlighted calls for the government to set a minimum price of BDT9 ($0.07) per cigarette stick in the upcoming budget by merging the lower and middle tax tiers for cigarettes. The increase will likely be extended to novel tobacco products as well.
12th March 2025: Thailand: The Royal College of Physicians of Thailand held a press conference to state its position against e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs). It highlighted the harmful effects of nicotine, especially on children and young adults, and the misleading marketing tactics of e-cigarette companies. The College has dismissed the harm-reductive properties that e-cigarettes and HTPs might have because its research shows they are very addictive products in themselves and lead to various health issues. It believes that the tax revenue from e-cigarettes would not outweigh the high cost of medical treatment for e-cigarette-related illnesses. It therefore urges lawmakers to maintain the ban on e-cigarettes and HTPs.
12th March 2025: Pakistan: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has rejected the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)’s proposal to lower taxes on cigarettes and beverages, press reports. The IMF stated that these taxes cannot be reduced immediately but suggested that a revision may be considered in the next budget. Following this decision, the tax-paying tobacco industry expects tax revenue from the sector to decline to PKR243bn ($866m).
12th March 2025: Middle East: The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean published a post on 11th March on the social media platform X that called on smokers to quit smoking, highlighting that smoking might decrease life expectancy by ten years.
11th March 2025: Vietnam: The National Assembly is discussing the Draft Law on Special Consumption Tax and has decided to delete Article 12. Previously, the article stipulated that if new tobacco products were to be imported or produced, they would also be subjected to the increased special consumption tax. However, members of the parliament pointed out that this conflicts with National Assembly Resolution 173/2024/QH15, which bans electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The aim of the resolution was to limit harmful and addictive substances; therefore, allowing for the possibility of new tobacco products is contradictory.
10th March 2025: Israel: The Ministry of Health announced last week that smoking and vaping products will have to bear graphic health warnings according to a draft regulation that has been published. Until now, vaping products were only required to carry text health warnings, but with the new amendment they will also have to bear pictograms. In addition to vaping products and heated tobacco, products like chewing tobacco will also be required to carry graphic health warnings. The Ministry of Health aims to implement the new requirements within 14 months.
10th March 2025: India: The director general of health services, Atul Goel, has called for a total ban on tobacco and alcohol advertisements during the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL), the country's largest domestic cricket event. In a letter to IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, Goel requested a prohibition on all forms of tobacco and alcohol advertising within stadiums, a ban on stalls selling these products at the event, and measures to prevent players and commentators from promoting brands linked to tobacco and alcohol.
10th March 2025: Philippines: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Office for the Special Mandate on vaporised nicotine and non-nicotine products, their devices, and novel tobacco products (OSMV) has called on stakeholders to provide comments on the draft Department Administrative Order (DAO) on “amended documentary requirements for the issuance of a statement of confirmation under Department Administrative Order 22-06 (2022)”. This DAO regulates the importation of vapes and novel tobacco products to prevent illicit trade, safeguard consumers, and streamline import procedures. The deadline for comment submission is 13th March 2025.
10th March 2025: Philippines: The Philippine Medical Association (PMA), Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS), Philippine Academy of Pediatric Pulmonologists (PAPP), Philippine Society of Public Health Physicians, Parents Against Vape, and the Sin Tax Coalition have called for higher taxes on tobacco products and stricter regulations on e-cigarettes, media reports. Doctors and public health advocates have declared an epidemic of tobacco and vaping use among Filipino youth.

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