Market & legal data in the tobacco alternatives sector in Saudi Arabia

5th November 2024: Kuwait: The International Conference on Tobacco Control organised by the Ministry of Health has recommended that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries establish national observatories to monitor tobacco industry activities and align with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards on tobacco control. Additionally, the conference advocated for regulating novel emerging products in the region, such as nicotine pouches, and recommended increasing excise taxes on tobacco.
14th October 2024: Saudi Arabia: Turki Al-Sheikh, adviser at the Royal Court under the rank of minister and the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, tweeted in support of the nicotine pouch product DZRT, describing it as a smoking cessation tool that promotes “a healthy future”.
29th August 2024: Saudi Arabia: The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has proposed amendments to decree 3839 (14/12/1438H) on the executive regulations of the value-added tax (VAT). Among them is a proposal that tobacco products, derivatives and substitutes are not considered goods eligible for tax refunds under any circumstance. The proposal will be under consideration until 17th September. Heated tobacco products are subject a 100% excise tax, a customs duty of 100%, and 15% VAT.
30th January 2024: Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Health Council, a Ministry of Health-affiliated institution, has issued a warning on social media against using tobacco products due to nicotine negatively affecting adolescent brain development.
14th August 2023: Saudi Arabia: On 11th August, the Ministry of Municipal Rural Affairs and Housing passed Decision No. 4400984351/2023 amending the regulation on Tobacco Licence Fees. The decision levies an additional tax for selling or serving tobacco products in hospitality premises at a rate of 100% of the retail selling price (for each unit) provided that the value of the fee is not less than SAR25 ($6.66) per unit. Each month, the premises must submit an account of its sales to its municipality, including the amount of the 100% fee in a separate item, and pay the fee within 15 days.
29th May 2023: Saudi Arabia: The country's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has announced the establishment of a nicotine products company called Badeal. The company will support the country's Tobacco Endgame 2030 strategy, which aims to halve the current smoking rates, by developing and distributing tobacco-free nicotine products.
3rd May 2023: Saudi Arabia: The Ministry of Rural Affairs and Housing has introduced an initial draft through the public consultation platform on the requirements for offering tobacco and e-cigarettes on hospitality premises. The proposal prohibits signs advertising the use of tobacco and requires any premises selling tobacco to post a price list. It also requires health warning signs and a warning against providing tobacco to minors. The proposal will be under consideration until 10th May.
2nd November 2022: Saudi Arabia: The National Committee for Tobacco Control plans to increase the excise tax on all tobacco products to 150% in an attempt to limit the number of tobacco users, press reports.
5th October 2022: Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Shura Council has amended the Anti-Smoking Law, raising the purchasing and distribution age for all tobacco products from 18 to 21, press reports. The amendments also stipulate that designated areas for tobacco use and vaping will also be reserved to those aged 21 and above.
19th September 2022: Saudi Arabia: The Board of Directors of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has issued the decision No. 570/2022 approving the amendments to the executive by-law on excise tax. According to the decision, importers and producers of excise goods will now be obliged to disclose the tax to the authority within a period of 15 days from the date of the tax due. In addition, a warehouse will be eligible for licensing as a tax warehouse if it acquires an average of 250,000 units of alternative tobacco products, as opposed to the previous 500,000.
29th August 2022: Saudi Arabia: Yesterday, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing issued a draft rule on retail, licensing and advertising of tobacco products. The proposal prohibits product display in shop windows and advertising on the exterior of stores. It also requires retailers to display a health warning and a sign prohibiting sales to minors both inside and outside of their stores. The proposal will be under consideration until 11th September.
9th August 2022: Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has told TobaccoIntelligence it is not considering lifting the ban on oral tobacco and snus, being committed to circular No. (122/p) dated 1/1/1440 H banning the sale and circulation of oral tobacco.

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