Turkey to Lift Ban on the Sale of E-cigarettes and Vaping Devices

Following several months of review, the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA) has announced plans to lift its ban on the sales of e-cigarettes and vaping devices by mid-April.

Before now, the sales of e-cigarettes and vaping devices were banned in the Turkey, but enforcement of the law was visibly inconsistent. More so, possession and use of vapes are not considered illegal in the Turkey.

However, late last year, Turkey’s consumer watchdog, the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA) Authorities began a preliminary project to review whether electronic nicotine devices should be allowed to be sold legally in the country.

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Before now, the sales of e-cigarettes and vaping devices were banned in the Turkey, but enforcement of the law was visibly inconsistent.

If passed into law, the bill will create a new set of standards to legalize the sale and use of electronic smoking devices. This will lift the ban on sales, manufacture, importation, distribution, or promotion of vaping devices and heat-not-burn (HNB) tobacco products in the Turkey, according to The Gulf News.

Speaking on the move, Abdullah Al Muaini, Director General of ESMA said, “ESMA aims to issue this standard to regulate and create awareness about the ingredients used in the products, in order to ensure no banned substances are mixed in these products, posing danger to public health,” said Abdullah Al Muaini, Director General of ESMA.

The new policy framework to come into effect in mid-April will cover all electronic nicotine products that are used as alternatives to traditional cigarettes, including vaping devices, liquid refills, electronic shisha, electronic cigarettes, and electronic pipes.

The new standards will reflect European and British regulations, and e-cigarettes and vaping devices will be required to carry health warnings on the packages, similar to traditional cigarettes.