Market & legal data in the tobacco alternatives sector in Kazakhstan

20th March 2024: Kazakhstan: The Mazhilis (the lower chamber of parliament) has agreed with the senators’ additions to the bill banning the sale, distribution, and import of vapes and has sent it to the president for signature, media reports. The bill seeks to ban and criminalise the sale of vaping products in the country and introduce criminal liability for the sale of banned non-smoking tobacco products (nasvay, snus). Earlier this year, a spokesman from the Ministry of Health said in an interview that the implementation of the vaping ban is mainly due to health and under-age usage. The spokesman also added that while the existing health code includes measures aimed at preventing the consumption of vapes in the country, they do not work.
15th March 2024: Kazakhstan: Zharkynbek Amantai, a member of the Mazhilis (lower chamber of parliament), has called for action against sellers of nasvay, which is prohibited in Kazakhstan, media reports. Nasvay is a traditional oral tobacco product consisting of a moist, powdered tobacco dip consumed mostly in Afghanistan and surrounding countries.
13th December 2023: Kazakhstan: Several members of the Mazhilis (lower chamber of the Parliament) have proposed an amendment prohibiting tobacco companies in Kazakhstan from engaging in charity, media reports. The restriction would be added to the country's Health Code.
15th September 2023: Kazakhstan: The Ministry of National Economy published for public consultation a consultative document of regulatory policy to the draft of the Tax Code. The consultation will last until 29th September. The consultative document seeks to gradually increase the excise tax rate on cigarettes in Kazakhstan with the aim to harmonise excise tax rates on cigarettes in line with the rates in the other Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries (Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Russia). The document does not address any proposed changes to the tax regime for heated tobacco consumables.
4th May 2023: Kazakhstan: The Ministry of Finance is aiming to increase the minimum retail prices for heated tobacco products, media reports. If the draft amendment is adopted, after a public consultation due to end on 19th May, the minimum price for a pack of 20 consumables will rise to KZT710 ($1.60) on 1st July, then again to KZT770 ($1.73) on 1st January 2024.
22nd February 2023: Kazakhstan: The Ministry of Health has drawn up a proposed decree on graphic warnings about the dangers of using heat-not-burn (HnB) and other tobacco and nicotine products. The draft is open to public consultation until 3rd March.
1st February 2023: Kazakhstan: The Health Code specifies that manufacturers and importers of heated tobacco must submit reports on the results of laboratory tests on the maximum permissible nicotine content by 1st February of the year following the reporting period.
10th January 2023: Kazakhstan: The tax rate for heated tobacco consumables has changed from 1st January to KZT9,870 ($21.45) per 1,000.
9th January 2023: Kazakhstan: Kazakhstan has approved a new minimum retail price for tobacco products, including heated tobacco consumables. As of 1st January 2023, the minimum retail price of a pack of 20 heated tobacco consumables is KZT630 ($1.36).
9th November 2022: EAEU: Representatives of all five Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia – attended a meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to discuss the regulation of nicotine-containing products. Members said all such products were “harmful” and that in line with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, heated tobacco products should be considered not as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) but as tobacco and “regulated as strictly as traditional tobacco products” as there was no evidence that they are any less harmful than cigarettes.
7th October 2022: EAEU: In accordance with the decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission, heated tobacco products are included in the list of goods for personal use that can be imported into the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU, an economic union of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia) without payment of taxes, subject to quantity norms, namely up to 200 heated tobacco consumables. These norms apply to individuals age 21+ when entering Kazakhstan, and to those age 18+ when entering other EAEU member states. The decision comes into force tomorrow, 8th October 2022.

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