Holiday special: e-cig bans in 40 countries

Are you going on a trip? In which countries can you buy and use e-cigarettes? Or perhaps more importantly, in which countries can you NOT do so? Online magazine Vaping360 did a deep dive and Vejpkollen has taken a closer look at the list.

Updated July 2023

According to the survey that Vaping360 made 40 countries around the world have some form of ban on e-cigarettes. However, the scope can be different. In some countries, the ban ranges from sale to import, possession to use. 

"Total bans are most common in Asia, the Middle East and South America" notes Vaping360. "Meanwhile, Australia has an odd ban on the sale of e-liquid with nicotine without a doctor's prescription. Japan also bans all e-juice with nicotine while allowing heat-not-burn systems like IQOS"

Cigarettes are always legal...

So, for those going on a trip, it might be wise to go through the list first and adjust your packing (and purchases) accordingly. In the countries that not are listed, it is possible to sell, buy and use e-cigarettes. However, there may be regulation of flavors and flavorings. But that is a story in itself.

It is worth noting that traditional cigarettes are allowed to be both sold and consumed in all countries below. Of course.

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E-cigarettes are COMPLETELY banned from sale, import and use in the following countries:

Cambodia, Ethiopia, Gambia, Laos, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Korea, Qatar, Singapore, Syria, Thailand (see comment below), Vatican City and East Timor.

E-cigarettes are prohibited for sale, but allowed for use in the following countries:

Antigua, Barbuda, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Jamaica, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macao, Mauritius, Mexico, Nepal, Oman, Panama, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Turkey (see comment below), Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uruguay, Venezuela.

In the following countries, e-cigarettes are subject to specific rules and quite extensive bans:

Australia

It is legal to vejpa in Australia and vejpshops are allowed to sell mods, tanks and nicotine-free e-liquid. However, and this is important to note, it is illegal to import AND possess e-liquid with nicotine unless you have a prescription from a doctor. Getting caught in customs can be expensive - up to $222,000 (almost $2 million!). Vejpkollen has written about the situation in Australia repeatedly. Read more here.

Turkey

It is allowed to vejpa in Turkey. But there is also a ban on the sale and import of vejp products. How the country's vejpers (there is a fairly large community) get hold of their stuff we leave unwritten ...

Thailand

In Thailand, it is illegal to sell and import vejp products. It is also forbidden to use e-cigarettes openly and even tourists have faced harsh penalties for vejping. At the same time, there are some reports from vejpers with conflicting information. According to Vaping360, it is unclear whether the act of vejping itself is actually illegal. Vejpkollen has written about the situation in Thailand on a few occasions. Read more about this here.

USA

It is legal to vejp and buy vejp products in the vast majority of states. However, according to Vaping360, there are local bans on the sale of vejp products in San Francisco and some smaller cities in California.

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The Nordic countries: 

I Sweden There are no bans on e-cigarettes, flavors or use in Iceland. It is forbidden to vejpa in places where smoking is normally prohibited.

Denmark, Finland and Norway are different. By all means, vejpa is allowed in our Nordic neighbors. Nevertheless, the sale and import of certain products is prohibited. 

Denmark's taste ban and disposable vapes

In Denmark, the practice of disposable models banned from sale (they're a bit everywhere anyway, mind you). Even flavorings other than tobacco and menthol are banned in Denmark. However, it is allowed to bring prohibited products across the border. However, Danes can not importing prohibited products online.

Import and taste bans in Finland

Finland has a similar taste ban to Denmark. In addition, the online sales of vejp products Illegal. Finns trying to import everything from mods, e-juices and accessories often run into trouble at customs. 

Norway - no juice with nicotine

In Norway, it is allowed to vejpa and buy products. But so far it is not allowed to sell e-liquid with nicotine. The ban also applies to pure nicotine pouches. However, snus and cigarettes are allowed on the market and nicotine pouch manufacturers get around the ban by adding a small amount of tobacco to the pouch. Norwegian vejpare is allowed to import its own nicotine for personal use.

Prohibition = black market

It is worth noting that e-cigarettes, and in particular disposable models, are actually relatively easy to obtain in several of the countries mentioned. The black market is widespread. In some countries, vejpning was popular and the technology accepted when a comprehensive ban was introduced. It is likely that demand there was met by both established companies and users who moved the business underground. At the same time disposable models have exploded in popularity and can be found everywhere even in countries with bans.