Uzbekistan to put vapes and e-cigarettes under “anti-smoking law”

Uzbek legislators have drawn up a new bill that is set to improve the regulation in the field of restriction of the distribution of and use of alcohol and tobacco products.

According to MPs, despite the fact that a number of legal acts have been adopted in this direction, the state of their implementation in practice remains unsatisfactory.

Due to the weakness of the organizational and legal mechanisms and the existence of gaps in the existing legislative acts, including the failure to establish specific tasks of the authorized bodies in the field of control, as well as the responsibilities of persons responsible for creating a smoke-free environment in public places, the level of compliance with the rules and restrictions established by the current legislation remains low.

In addition, the current legislation does not reflect the issues of regulating the turnover of modern tobacco products. And this opens a wide road for the spread of the use of such products among the population, especially among young people, the deputies noted.

Thus, the bill proposes to equate electronic systems for the supply of nicotine, nicotine liquids, tobacco products, tobacco heating systems, devices for the consumption of tobacco and nicotine (including hookahs) with tobacco products, and to adopt all appropriate restrictions to them. The list of authorized state bodies is also being expanded, and their powers and duties, as well as the rights and obligations of citizens, are being defined.

A clear list of public places where the use of alcohol and tobacco products is prohibited is defined, minimum requirements for special places for smoking are introduced, and persons responsible for compliance with the established rules are appointed.