Kazakhstan Vape Ban Faces a Test Under Eurasian Economic Union Rules
Kazakhstan's vape ban may be undermined by new EAEU regulations, as health advocates fear tobacco industry pressure could reopen the market.Summary
Kazakhstan banned vapes in June 2024, prohibiting production, import, and sale of electronic cigarettes, vaping liquids, and certain smokeless tobacco products. However, anti-tobacco organizations fear that new technical regulations being developed by the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) could create a legal basis for resuming trade in these banned products. The Coalition for a Smoke-Free Kazakhstan has appealed to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, accusing Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin of pressuring the Ministry of Health to approve the EAEU regulation despite objections. A November 2025 Russian draft of the regulation explicitly stated that products cannot be marketed in member states where their circulation is prohibited under national law, but it remains unclear whether this provision is retained in the current negotiating text. The tobacco industry generates significant revenue for Kazakhstan, with excise taxes totaling 330.7 billion tenge in 2025 and cigarette exports worth $42.5 million in early 2026. Additionally, in spring 2026 Kazakhstan debated relaxing anti-tobacco laws to allow hookah smoking in licensed establishments, a proposal opposed by health advocates and the World Health Organization. These debates highlight the ongoing tension between public health commitments and economic interests in the country.
(Source：The Times Of Central Asia)
