Ukraine proposes total ban on e-cigarettes to protect young people

A bill No. 13548 was registered in the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, providing for a total ban on the production and import ofation, sale and circulation of electronic cigarettes, their refills and associated e-liquids[1]The bill was proposed by several MPs: Mykhailo Bondar, Yana Zinkevych and Mykola Velychkovych from the European Solidarity party, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn from the Holos party, and independent MP Viktoriya Hryb. The bill proposes amendments to the existing legislation on smoking prevention and introduces sanctions for non-compliance with the new provisions.

Ukraine proposes strict ban on product popular among young people

The main objective of this initiative is to reduce the consumption of tobacco products among young people, particularly e-cigarettes.

Among adolescents aged 13 to 16, 40 % have already used e-cigarettes at least once, and approximately 20 % are current users. Half of the adolescents aged 15 to 16 surveyed have already smoked e-cigarettes, and 19 % have used them in the last 30 days.

The bill provides for a cessation of the production of electronic cigarettes, their import, all types of trade, registration of electronic cigarettes in the registers of products in circulation in Ukraine, any state support in this area, as well as the introduction of fines for violation of the new regulations and the consolidation of changes at the legislative level in order to protect public health.[2].

If parliamentarians vote in favor of the bill, a new article will be introduced that will directly ban the circulation of electronic cigarettes.

The law on state regulation of the alcohol and tobacco market will also be amended. Provisions relating to licensing and the circulation of e-cigarette liquids will be excluded.

Health and environmental risks already well known

The explanatory note states that, although e-cigarettes are a relatively new product, there is already undeniable evidence that their use poses a major health risk.[3]. Several illnesses associated with the use of e-cigarettes have been reported and are discussed in this brief, including EVALI, which is lung injury associated with the use of certain vaping products. In 2019, an outbreak of lung illness associated with the use of e-cigarettes, particularly vitamin E acetate, was recorded in the United States. Approximately 3,000 cases were recorded, including nearly 70 fatalities. 15 of the 3T patients were under the age of 18. Symptoms included shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and tachycardia.

Another danger associated with e-cigarettes is bronchiolitis obliterans, a disease affecting the small airways, often caused by exposure to diacetyl. This substance is used to flavor e-cigarette liquids and was previously used in popcorn production, hence the nickname "popcorn lung."

Finally, a known risk is lipoid pneumonia, a disease that develops due to the entry into the lungs of fatty substances, including oils contained in e-cigarette liquids, which causes an inflammatory reaction in the lungs.

The bill's authors also claim that used cartridges and batteries pollute the environment in Ukraine due to their heavy metal and plastic content. In addition, e-cigarette liquids contain unknown impurities, posing an additional health risk.

The authors of the bill point out that control over e-cigarettes is weak and young people have easy access to them despite the ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors since 1^er January 2021.

Since July 11, 2023, a ban on advertising tobacco products, a ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, and fines of up to 15,000 hryvnias (314 euros) for consuming e-cigarettes in public places have come into force in Ukraine.

In March 2025, Volodymyr Zelensky also signed a law on increasing excise duties on tobacco to gradually align Ukrainian taxation of tobacco products with that of the European Union, while nearly 130,000 premature deaths annually are attributable to cigarettes in Ukraine.

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[1]Mezha.net, Ukraine Proposes Complete Ban on E-Cigarettes to Protect Youth, published July 30, 2025, accessed July 31, 2025

[2]PRM.ua, The Verkhovna Rada wants to completely ban e-cigarettes, published July 30, 2025, accessed July 31, 2025

[3]UNN.ua, Ukraine proposes a complete ban on the sale of e-cigarettes: what it's about, published July 30, 2025, accessed July 31, 2025

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