Russia: Bill 310882-8 on the regulation of production and circulation of tobacco and nicotine-containing products has passed its third reading in the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, and now heads to the Federal Assembly. Among other things, it would introduce state licensing of production, storage, import and export of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, including raw materials. It would also establish mandatory state registration of the main technological equipment used for the production of such products. If adopted, licensing will be mandatory from 1st March 2024.

Bulgaria: A draft law to amend the Law on Tobacco and Related Products has been released for public consultation. The draft transposes EU Directive 2022/2100, banning heating tobacco flavours and adding packaging restrictions, depending on whether the product is considered smokeless or for smoking. The consultation ends on 14th June.

Spain: European Parliament members (MEPs) Nicolás González Casares and Domènec Ruiz Devesa of the Spanish Socialist Party, have urged the European Commission to regulate novel tobacco products, press reports. González Casares said “the new tobacco devices seek to create a new generation of addicts using electronic elements”. The two MEPs have jointly sent two formal questions to the Commission: the first about the discrepancies among EU countries on public vaping restrictions, calling for an EU-wide ban; the second seeking an explanation for the delay in the review of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and denouncing a “lack of clarity and rigour” in the EU approach towards e-cigarettes and heated tobacco.

Canada: Health Canada has announced the approval of the new Tobacco Products Appearance, Packaging, and Labelling Regulations, drawn up following public consultations last summer. Changes include rotating health-related messages and larger health warnings for heated tobacco products, covering 75% of the packaging. Health warnings will also be required on individual cigarettes, making Canada the first country to implement such a restriction. The regulations are set to be published in the Canada Gazette next week.

Vietnam: National Assembly member Nguyen Anh Tri has proposed a ban on the sale, distribution and use of “new generation cigarettes”, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco, press reports. Ministries are currently coordinating efforts to regulate such products, with a proposal expected to be submitted to the government by the end of June.