President Mirziyoyev signs law banning circulation of electronic cigarettes in Uzbekistan

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a law on 27 November prohibiting the circulation of electronic cigarettes (vapes) in Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Justice reported.

The document introduces amendments to the Law on Restricting the Distribution and Consumption of Alcohol and Tobacco Products, banning the import and circulation of electronic cigarettes as well as liquids used in them. The violation of this ban will carry both administrative and criminal liability.

Criminal liability for the production, procurement, purchase, storage, transportation, sale, import or export of electronic nicotine delivery systems will apply in the following cases:

• when the violation involves a large volume;

• in the case of a repeated violation following an administrative penalty.

Amendments to the Criminal Code set penalties ranging from fines of 300 to 500 BCU (UZS 123.6–206 million), to two to three years of correctional labor, or restrictions on liberty or imprisonment for three to five years.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis passed the law in January this year, and the Senate approved it in April. Ahead of the second reading in the lower house, several amendments were introduced, including exemption from administrative liability for voluntarily handing over electronic cigarettes and related liquids.

During the first reading, Minister of Health Asilbek Khudayarov clarified that the current ban applies to flavored electronic cigarettes. He drew a distinction between vapes and heated tobacco systems.

“Most responsible users of electronic cigarettes who can afford it use heated tobacco systems instead of matches or lighters. At this stage, we are not introducing a ban on them. The focus is mainly on artificial electronic cigarettes containing flavorings and nicotine tastes, which are most commonly used among young people,” Khudayarov noted.

The minister also added that prohibited tobacco products will be confiscated from foreigners at the border. The Ministry of Health, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Customs Committee and Uzbekistan’s embassies abroad, will conduct information campaigns for tourists.