Western Pacific Health Data PlatformElectronic Cigarette Dashboard
The Western Pacific Region has seen a surge in e-cigarette use, particularly among the youth. While some countries have implemented measures to regulate these products, significant policy gaps remain that undermine tobacco control gains and pose risks to public health. The Regional Action Plan for Tobacco Control in the Western Pacific (2020-2030) recommends banning or regulating e-cigarettes.
The e-cigarette dashboard provides:
- Regional summary of regulatory measures
- Country profiles of regulatory measures and e-cigarette use
- Comparison of measures across countries
The dashboard reflects the latest data available on the WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic.
E-cigarette regulations in the Western Pacific Region (as of December 2022)
Number of countries in the Western Pacific by regulations
Click << to see the status of countries on the map
❮❮ Ban or regulate
| Any regulation | 11 |
| Ban on sale | 6 |
| None | 10 |
❮❮ Use in indoor public places, workplaces and public transport
| Partial ban | 6 |
| Complete ban | 7 |
| None | 14 |
❮❮ Health warnings
| None | 14 |
| NA | (Sales banned) 6 |
| Required | 7 |
❮❮ Advertising, promotion, and sponsorship ban
| None | 15 |
| Partial ban | 9 |
| Complete ban | 3 |
❮❮ Flavour ban or restriction
| Complete ban | 0 |
| None | 18 |
| NA | (Sales banned) 6 |
| Restricted | 3 |
Notes
Ban or regulate
- Ban on sale: Sale of e-cigarettes is prohibited by law.
- Any regulation: At least one legal measure in place to regulate e-cigarettes (e.g., use in public places, warning labels, age restriction).
- None: No ban or regulation in place.
Use in indoor public places, workplaces and public transport
- Complete ban: E-cigarette use is prohibited in all indoor public spaces in accordance with the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic criteria.
- Partial ban: Use is restricted in some, but not all, public places.
- None: No legal restrictions on public use.
Health warnings
- Required: Health warnings are mandated on product packaging (either for e-liquids, devices, or both) in accordance with the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic criteria.
- None: No requirement to display health warnings.
- NA (Not Applicable): Measure does not apply due to a complete ban on sales.
Advertising, promotion, and sponsorship ban
- Complete ban: All forms of e-cigarette advertising, promotion, and sponsorship are prohibited (for both devices and e-liquids) in accordance with the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic criteria.
- Partial ban: Some forms of advertising, promotion, and sponsorship are prohibited (either for e-liquids, devices, or both).
- None: No restrictions on advertising, promotion, and sponsorship are in place.
Flavour ban or restriction
- Banned: All flavours are prohibited.
- Restricted: Specific flavours are allowed or restricted in accordance with the WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic.
- None: No restrictions on flavours.
- NA (Not Applicable): Measure does not apply due to a complete ban in sales.
Country Profile
Select country:
Current Use of E-cigarettes (%)
ADULTS
| Both | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 7.0 | 7.8 | 6.2 |
Age (Survey year) : 14+ (2022-23)
ADOLESCENTS
| Both | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 15.7 | 12.6 | 19.2 |
Age (Survey year) : 12-17 (2022-23)
E-cigarette Bans
None
| Regulations | Status |
|---|
| Regulated as | Poison |
| Use in indoor public places, workplaces and public transport | |
| Health warnings | |
| Advertising, promotion, and sponsorship ban | |
| Minimum age of sale | 18 |
| Flavour ban or restriction |
Source/s:
WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2023
Poisons Standard Regulations 2018 (revised) (appendix F)
WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2023
Poisons Standard Regulations 2018 (revised) (appendix F)
E-cigarette regulations in the Western Pacific Region (as of December 2022)
Regulatory status
| Regulation/Country | Australia | Brunei Darussalam | Cambodia | China | Cook Islands | Fiji | Japan | Kiribati | Lao People's Democratic Republic | Malaysia | Marshall Islands | Micronesia (Federated States of) | Mongolia | Nauru | New Zealand | Niue | Palau | Papua New Guinea | Philippines | Republic of Korea | Samoa | Singapore | Solomon Islands | Tonga | Tuvalu | Vanuatu | Viet Nam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ban: Manufacture, import, export, distribution, sale, use, possession | None | Ban on sale, import | Ban on sale, import, use | None | None | None | None | None | Ban on sale, use production, import, export, transport, trade | Ban on sale | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | Ban on sale, import, distribution, offer for sale, possession | None | None | None | Ban on sale | None |
| Use in indoor public places, workplaces and public transport | Partial ban | Complete ban | Complete ban | None | None | Partial ban | None | None | Complete ban | None | None | None | None | None | Complete ban | Complete ban | Partial ban | Complete ban | Partial ban | Partial ban | None | Complete ban | None | None | Partial ban | None | None |
| Health warnings | None | NA (sales banned) | NA (sales banned) | Warning required (for both devices and e-liquids) | None | None | None | None | NA (sales banned) | NA (sales banned) | None | None | None | None | Warning required (for both devices and e-liquids) | Warning required (for both devices and e-liquids) | None | Warning required (for device only) | Warning required (for e-liquid only) | Warning required (for e-liquid only) | None | NA (sales banned) | None | None | Warning required (for both devices and e-liquids) | NA (sales banned) | None |
| Advertising, promotion, and sponsorship ban | None | None | None | Partial ban (both devices and e-liquids) | None | Partial ban (both devices and e-liquids) | None | None | Complete ban (both devices and e-liquids) | None | None | None | None | None | Partial ban (both devices and e-liquids) | Complete ban (both devices and e-liquids) | Partial ban (both devices and e-liquids) | Partial ban (for device only) | Partial ban (both devices and e-liquids) | Partial ban (for e-liquids only) | Partial ban (for device only) | Partial ban (both devices and e-liquids) | None | None | Complete ban (both devices and e-liquids) | None | None |
| Flavour ban or restriction | None | NA (sales banned) | NA (sales banned) | Some are restricted | None | None | None | None | NA (sales banned) | NA (sales banned) | None | None | None | None | Some are restricted | None | None | None | Some are allowed | None | None | NA (sales banned) | None | None | None | NA (sales banned) | None |