Countries That Banned Vaping: A List of Vape Laws Around the World

Whether you are planning a trip to a new country or are simply curious to find out where vaping is banned, this blog was made for you. In it, you’ll find a quick rundown of more than 100+ countries that have either banned or allowed the sale and use of vaping products. Be aware, though, that laws are constantly changing, so to be sure of the legal status of whether vaping is or is not allowed in the country you plan on visiting, we suggest you contact the embassy or local authorities. Now, if you’re ready, let’s get started. 

Table of Contents:

1. Why Do Countries Ban Vaping?
2. Vape Laws Around the World
3. Conclusion

Why Do Countries Ban Vaping

There are two major reasons why vaping is banned in some countries. The most important reason is that the World Health Organization (WHO) has deemed vaping to be “harmful to health and not safe” ; they also recommend that the use of e-cigarettes is banned everywhere and, if not banned, that they be regulated. 

The second major reason many countries have banned vaping is that there are no long-term vaping studies that can conclusively determine that vaping is completely safe. Because of these two major reasons, many countries have either tried to ban vaping or have gone on to regulate the sale and advertising of e-cigarettes.

Vape Laws Around The World

The following is a list of all the countries that have either banned or regulated vaping and e-cigarettes. The list contains countries that have national laws that regulate the sale of vaping products, advertising of vape products, the packaging, use of, etc. We hope this list serves as an introduction for anyone traveling to a specific country. However, the laws are constantly changing, so we advise you to call the country’s embassy or get in touch with local authorities if you plan on bringing or selling vape products. 

This list was created using the information found on the Institute for Global Tobacco Control website and The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction website. 

• Argentina: The sale of vaping products is illegal. However, the use seems to be legal unless in confined spaces where smoking is prohibited. 
• Australia: The sale of vaping products is illegal. However, the use of vaping products falls to states and territories, however in most territories, it is also illegal to vape, but not in all territories. 
• Austria: Vaping products are legal to use and to sell. However, the amount of nicotine each e-cigarette must contain as well as other specifics, are regulated.
• Azerbaijan: Vaping products are legal to use and to sell. However, there are restrictions to where one can vape. 
• Bahrain: Vaping products are legal to use and to sell, although advertising is regulated. 
• Barbados: Vaping products are legal to use and sell, although advertising is regulated.
• Belgium: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. But there are restrictions on where one can vape.
• Brazil: The sale of vaping products is illegal, but not the use.
• Brunei Darussalam: The sale of vaping products is illegal, but the use is legal. It is prohibited to bring e-cigarettes into the country. 
• Bulgaria: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are restrictions on the amount of nicotine e-cigarettes can have and other specifics.
• Cambodia: The sale and use of vaping products are illegal.
• Canada: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. But ingredients, packaging, and labeling are all regulated.
• Chile: Vaping products are legal to use and sell.
• Colombia: Vaping products are legal to use and legal to sell. 
• Costa Rica: Vaping products are legal to use and sell, but there are restrictions on where they can be used and regulations on advertising.
• Croatia: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. 
• China: Vaping products are legal to use and sell, and there aren’t major regulations.
• Cyprus: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are some restrictions on where they can be used and how they are advertised.
• Czech Republic: Vaping products are legal to use and sell.
• Denmark: Vaping products are legal to use and sell but are prohibited in certain places (schools, hospitals, nurseries, etc.).
• Ecuador: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. But advertising can only be displayed at venues only accessed by adults.
• El Salvador: There seems to be no restrictions or bans on e-cigarettes.
• England: Vaping products are legal to use and sell and are strictly regulated by the government.
• Estonia: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are restrictions on how much nicotine e-cigarettes can have and other specifics. 
• Fiji: There is a tobacco control decree that includes nicotine and non-nicotine e-cigarettes. 
• Finland: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. But it is prohibited to use them in places where smoking is banned.
• France: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are some restrictions on where they can be used, and other restrictions on the quantity of nicotine each device can have, and other specifics. 
• Gambia: The sale and use of vaping products are illegal.
• Georgia: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are regulations on where vaping can be used, packing, and advertising of vaping products. 
• Germany: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are restrictions on how much nicotine each device should have and other specifics. 
• Greece: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, they can not order eliquids or e-cigarettes from other countries by mail order.
• Honduras: It seems vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are restrictions on where they can be used.
• Hungary: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are restrictions on where they can be sold and where they can be used.
• Egypt: Currently illegal to use and sell. However, there is new legislation being drafted that will allow the use of vaping products inside the country.
• Iceland: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are limitations on nicotine content for devices. 
• India: The sale and use of vaping products are illegal.
• Indonesia: It seems vaping products are legal to use and sell, with some regulations and taxes in place.
• Iran: It seems vaping products are illegal to sell but legal to use. 
• Ireland: Vaping products are legal to use and sell, but advertising is regulated.
• Israel: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are restrictions on how much nicotine each device can have.
• Italy: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are a number of restrictions and regulations.
• Jamaica: The sale of vaping products is illegal, but not the use. However, there are still some vape shops in the country.
• Japan: The sale of vaping products is illegal, but not the use. 
• Jordan: It seems vaping products are legal to use and sell.
• Kuwait: It seems vaping products are legal to use but illegal to sell.
• Laos People’s Democratic Republic: Vaping products are legal to use and sell but prohibited wherever smoking is prohibited. 
• Latvia: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, it is heavily regulated by the government. 
• Lebanon: The sale of vaping products is illegal; the use is unclear.
• Lithuania: Vaping products are legal to use and sell, but advertising and promotions are banned.
• Luxembourg: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are restrictions on how much nicotine each device can have and other specifics. 
• Malaysia: The sale of vaping products is illegal unless you are a medical practitioner; the use is unclear since territories and states have different laws that are different from national laws.
• Maldives: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are restrictions.
• Malta: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there is a ban on e-cigarette advertising
• Mauritius: The sale of vaping products and their use is illegal.
• Mexico: Vaping products are legal to use but illegal to sell. However, the decree that bans the use of e-cigarettes is widely disregarded as there are many vape shops in the country.
• Moldova: Vaping products are legal to use and sell.
• Nepal: the sale and use of vaping products are illegal.
• Netherlands: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are many restrictions on how much nicotine each device can have and other specifics.
• New Zealand: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are restrictions.
• Nicaragua: The sale of vaping products and their use is illegal.
• Norway: Vaping products are legal to use and sell, with some restrictions on where they can be used.
• Oman: The sale of vaping products is illegal, but the use is not.
• Palau: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, advertising is banned.
• Panama: The sale of vaping products is illegal, unclear whether the use is also illegal.
• Paraguay: Vaping products are legal to use and sell.
• Philippines: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are regulations and restrictions on advertising and the use of vaping products. 
• Poland: Vaping products are legal to use and sell, but there are restrictions on advertising and use.
• Portugal: Vaping products are legal to use and sell, but there are restrictions on where they can be used.
• Qatar: The sale of vaping products and their use is illegal.
• Romania: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there is a ban on advertising.
• Saudi Arabia: The sale and use of vaping products are illegal. However, there is some use reported in the country. 
• Senegal: Vaping products are legal to use and sell.
• Serbia: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are some restrictions on advertising.
• Seychelles: The sale and use of vaping products are illegal.
• Singapore: The sale and use of vaping products are illegal.
• Slovakia: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are restrictions. 
• Slovenia: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are restrictions on where they can be used.
• South Africa: Vaping products are legal to use and sell.
• Spain: Vaping products are legal to use and sell, but there are restrictions on how they can be advertised.
• Sri Lanka: The sale and use of vaping products are illegal.
• Suriname: The sale of vaping products is illegal; use is apparently legal.
• Sweden: Vaping products and legal to use and sell. There are some restrictions on advertising and other specifics.
• Switzerland: Vaping products seem to be legal to use and sell. However, there are some restrictions on where they can be used. 
• Syria: It seems that the sale and use of vaping products are illegal. 
• Tajikistan: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. There are some restrictions on where they can be used.
• Thailand: It seems it is legal to use but illegal to sell.
• East Timor: The sale and use of vaping products are illegal.
• Togo: Vaping products are legal to use and sell.
• Turkey: Status is unclear. Laws say it is illegal to sell but legal to use. However, there is a thriving vaping community in the country.
• Turkmenistan: Status is unclear; however, the sale of vaping products is illegal. 
• Uganda: The sale of vaping products is illegal, but not the use. However, it is illegal to bring vaping products into the country.
• Ukraine: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are restrictions on where they can be used.
• United Arab Emirates: Status unclear, but it seems vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are specific areas of use.
• United Kingdom: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. Nicotine quantity and other specifics are regulated by the government. 
• United States: Vaping products are legal to use and sell. However, there are strict government regulations on who can sell vaping products. 
• Uruguay: The sale and use of vaping products are illegal.
• Venezuela: Status unclear. Vaping products are believed to be illegal to sell but legal to use.
• Vietnam: Vaping products are legal to use and sell, with some restrictions on where they can be used. 

Conclusion

We hope that this serves as a starting point for your research into vaping legislation around the globe. Remember that this information is subject to change rapidly, and might be outdated at the time of reading, so always make sure to contact the embassy of the country you plan on visiting or contact local authorities to see if you can bring or sell vaping products into or in the country you plan on visiting or traveling to.

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