Tajikistan announces its intention to ban electronic cigarettes

Tajikistan has announced its intention to ban the use, production and distribution of electronic cigarettes[1]. This orientation was presented during the fourth session of the Majlisi Milli, the upper house of the Tajik parliament, on Majlisi Oli. President Rustam Emomali stated that this decision aims to strengthen the protection of public health, particularly that of young people and adolescents, against the risks associated with vaping. However, traditional tobacco remains far more entrenched in the Tajik population, especially among men, and the lack of provisions for these products suggests a very weak will to regulate this sector despite the commitments made by the country under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) since 2013.

Health concerns were cited as the reason for banning vaping.

The decision to ban e-cigarettes is based on the conclusions of medical experts highlighting their harmful effects. The use of these products is associated with respiratory problems, impacts on cardiovascular function, and initial suspicions are beginning to emerge regarding certain cancers.

In Tajikistan, electronic cigarettes are currently classified as tobacco products under existing regulations and are subject to the law on limiting the use of tobacco products.[2]. Their presentation at points of sale and their sale to minors under 18 years of age are already prohibited.

Regulations generally stipulate that these products must be sold in their original packaging as placed on the market by the manufacturer or importer, unrepackaged, undivided, and unaltered at the point of sale. This packaging must include health warnings about the risks, written in the official language, in accordance with the requirements applicable to tobacco products.

Information regarding ingredients and carcinogenic substances, among other things, must be clearly indicated and presented in a minimal size. Vaping is prohibited in certain public places, as well as in private vehicles when minors under 16 are present.

According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), which covers several European and Central Asian countries, current e-cigarette use among 15-year-old adolescents in Tajikistan is low compared to other countries and globally: approximately 2,000 boys and fewer than 1,000 girls reported vaping in the 30 days prior to the 2021-2022 survey.[3]. However, the WHO has warned about the rise in vaping among young people, with adolescents using it much more frequently than adults.

A ban measure that is part of a regional and global dynamic

The proposed ban would bring Tajikistan in line with its Central Asian neighbors, where e-cigarette bans are becoming widespread. Most Central Asian countries have already imposed a total ban on e-cigarettes.[4] :

In Turkmenistan, e-cigarettes have been effectively banned since 2023 as part of a strict anti-nicotine policy. A pioneer in the region, the country has set a goal of completely eradicating smoking.

In Kazakhstan, since 2024, the sale, distribution and importation of electronic cigarettes have been prohibited, under penalty of administrative and criminal sanctions.

Kyrgyzstan, since the 1^er July 2025, has banned the importation, sale and use of electronic cigarettes, and heavy fines are planned for violations of the provision.

Finally, Uzbekistan has, since November 27, 2025, completely banned the production, storage, sale, distribution, transport and use of electronic cigarettes and associated e-liquids., with penalties including fines and possible prison sentences.

Elsewhere in the world, similar measures have recently been implemented, notably in Mexico, illustrating an international trend toward stricter controls on products containing nicotine or related substances. Other countries such as Russia, Costa Rica, Malaysia And the Philippines have also recently announced their intention to ban electronic cigarettes in the near future.

In total, at least 46 countries have so far banned the sale and distribution of electronic cigarettes[5] according to available international censuses.

Traditional smoking rates are much higher, but political will in this area seems weak.

These essential health protection measures should not obscure the fact that traditional smoking is particularly high in the country.

According to the Tobacco Atlas, 16.9% of Tajik men aged 15 and over smoked in 2019 (compared to only 1.3% of women), and conventional tobacco was responsible for 8.4% of premature and preventable deaths in 2021.[6].

The social cost of tobacco at the time of the survey was 491 million somoni (45 million euros) lost to the Tajik state in health expenditure and productivity losses each year, or about 0.4 % of the national GDP.

In a context of low regulatory transparency, conducive to the influence of economic actors, the industry appears to be influential both in the country and globally. in Central Asian countries with weak health and environmental regulations, aggressively marketing its products to young people and low-income populations. In Tajikistan, a smoker must spend on average 9.3% of GDP per capita to buy 100 packs of the most popular cigarettes per year.

Furthermore, Tobacco Atlas noted at the time of its investigation that the country had not conducted any national anti-tobacco campaigns, nor implemented the prohibitions provided for in the WHO treaty, particularly regarding tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, nor had it allocated any funding for the application of the anti-tobacco law, nor set up any smoking cessation services.

Only the strict application of all measures of the FCTC, and protection of public health policies against interference from commercial interests, in accordance with Article 5.3, could enable the country to effectively achieve public health objectives.

©Generation Without Tobacco

AD

[1]2firsts, Tajikistan Signals Plan to Ban Use, Production and Circulation of E-Cigarettes, Published on December 16, 2025, accessed the same day

[2]Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction, E-cigarette vaping in Tajikistan, Updated on September 2, 2022, accessed on December 16, 2025

[3]World Health Organization, A focus on adolescent substance use in Europe, central Asia and Canada. Health Behavior in School-aged Children international report from the 2021/2022 survey. Volume 3, Published on April 25, 2024, accessed on December 16, 2025

[4]Asia-plus, Tajikistan to introduce full ban on vapes, Published on December 16, 2025, accessed the same day

[5]Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control, E-CIGARETTE BAN & REGULATION: Global Status as of May 2025, Published on June 4, 2025, accessed on December 16, 2025

[6]Drope J, Hamill S, Country profile: Tajikistan, The Tobacco Atlas, New York: Vital Strategies and Economics for Health, accessed December 16, 2025

National Committee Against Smoking |