The Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan has put forth a comprehensive bill aimed at curbing the circulation of various tobacco and nicotine products, including electronic cigarettes and tobacco heating systems. The proposed legislation, currently open for public discussion until April 18, underscores the government's commitment to safeguarding public health, particularly among children and adolescents.
Proposed Restrictions and Penalties
Under the draft law, a ban is proposed on the import, production, sale, and use of a wide range of tobacco and nicotine products. These include traditional tobacco products, nicotine-containing non-smoking products, electronic cigarettes with or without nicotine, and devices used for consuming tobacco and nicotine. The bill seeks to categorize tobacco products based on their composition rather than smoking method, aiming to eliminate ambiguity in legal interpretation.
The penalties for violating these regulations are significant. Individuals and legal entities found guilty of importing, producing, or selling prohibited tobacco products may face fines, corrective labor, restriction of freedom, or imprisonment, depending on the severity and scale of the offense. Additionally, provisions are made for the confiscation of items associated with violations, with leniency granted to those who voluntarily surrender prohibited items.
Rationale for the Proposed Legislation
The explanatory note accompanying the draft law outlines the urgent need for regulatory measures in response to the increasing prevalence of "modern" nicotine and tobacco products in Uzbekistan. The rapid rise in the use of electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating systems, and related products among the population, particularly young people, has raised concerns about nicotine addiction and its long-term health implications.
Statistics cited in the document reveal a dramatic surge in the importation of electronic cigarettes into Uzbekistan in recent years, indicating a growing market for these products. Law enforcement efforts have intercepted significant quantities of prohibited items, highlighting the prevalence of smuggling activities in this sector.
During this period, law enforcement agencies prevented the smuggling of 105,300 pieces of such products worth UZS 11.8 bn ( over $932,000).
At the moment, the country has created a system of legal restrictions to regulate the circulation of electronic cigarettes:
The number of electronic cigarettes seized from schoolchildren during raids in schools and public places increases every year: 6 cases in 2019, 27 in 2020, 31 in 2021, 856 in 2022, 1040 — in 2023.
Among the population aged 18−29 years, the level of use of the tobacco heating system (252,000 people) is more than 2.5 times higher than among the population aged 30−69 years (94,200 people).
If the necessary measures are not taken, every fifth (20%) young person will suffer from nicotine addiction in the future, warns the Ministry of Health.
“These negative trends are the main goal of the tobacco industry’s marketing strategy and threaten to instill a “subculture” that is popularized abroad through false advertising of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco systems as “safe, less harmful, enjoyable, helping to quit smoking traditional cigarettes” among the population. especially our youth,” the note says.
In recent years, tobacco companies have increased their budget for online advertising by 12-15 times, spending $2 mn a year in the U.S. and Canada, the document notes.
In December 2023, the World Health Organization called on countries to take “urgent action” to control the spread of e-cigarettes
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