A new draft law, No. 13548, has been registered in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (parliament), proposing a complete ban on the production, importation, circulation, and sale of all electronic cigarettes, refill containers, and their liquids within the country. The bill’s authors state its primary goal is to protect public health and reduce the spread of nicotine addiction, particularly among the nation’s youth.
The push for a total prohibition is fueled by alarming statistics on youth vaping. According to the Ministry of Health, nearly one in five Ukrainians aged 13-15 (19.6% in 2023, up from 18.4% in 2017) regularly use e-cigarettes. The bill’s explanatory note highlights the serious health risks associated with vaping, citing the presence of toxic and carcinogenic substances like formaldehyde, diacetyl, and heavy metals in the aerosol. It also links vaping to severe lung diseases such as bronchiolitis obliterans (“popcorn lung”), lipoid pneumonia, and spontaneous pneumothorax.
The authors note that despite existing laws banning sales to minors, control is weak, with 47.3% of teenagers reporting no difficulty in purchasing these products. If passed, the law would amend existing legislation to remove e-cigarettes from all forms of legal circulation and introduce penalties for violations. The proponents reference international precedents, noting that countries like India, Brazil, and Singapore have already implemented full bans.
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