Travel with your e-cigarette

England

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes
• Additional information: England is probably the most enthusiastic country in the world in terms of e-cigarettes, make the most of it!

Austria

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes
• Restrictions: the same laws as in the rest of the European Union apply.

 Australia

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes
• Restrictions: A law classifies nicotine as a restricted poison if it is not used for therapeutic purposes. However, according to a statement, import for personal reasons may be permitted in certain instances, particularly with a medical prescription. Non-nicotine e-liquids are not regulated. Warning: the legislation may vary from State to State.

 Canada

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes
• Restrictions: In Ontario, only neutral (unflavoured) e-liquids are permitted. Vapers are also not permitted to try a device in a shop, before purchasing it. In the rest of the country, a Health Canada guidance document classifies e-cigarettes containing nicotine as new medicines and therefore subject to the FDA. As such, there are restrictions on their sale, advertising, promotion, sponsorship, import, and manufacture. Non-nicotine products are not regulated.

Chile

• No vaping product regulations

China

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes
• Restrictions: none

Colombia – Warning

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: No
• Restrictions: Local laws classify vaping as tobacco imitation. The sale and advertising of vaping products is banned. It is banned to vape in enclosed public places.

South Korea

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes
• Restrictions: The use of e-cigarettes is banned in public places and public transport with the exception of designated smoking areas.
  E-cigarette products are subject to a number of taxes and charges (national health promotion, tobacco consumption, local education, and individual consumption taxes) proportional to 1,799 won/mL (approx. $1.53 USD) nicotine liquid; in addition, there is a waste charge of 24 won/20 cartridges (approx. $0.02 USD) and a 10% Value Added Tax (VAT).

Scotland

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes

Spain

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes

Finland

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes
• Restrictions: E-liquid must not contain certain additives and flavours (fruity and gourmet flavours are prohibited). Advertising, promotion and sponsorship (including at the point-of-sale) is banned as is display at point-of-sale. Use is banned in places where smoking is prohibited, including in vehicles where minors under 15 years are present. A tax is also applied to e-liquids.

Greece

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes
• Additional information:  The country applies a tax of €0.10 per ml for e-liquid sales.

Guadeloupe

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes

Mauritius – Warning

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: At your own risk
• Local presence of shops: No
• Restrictions: A public health regulation prohibits the sale, offer for sale or distribution of e-cigarettes, as they look like tobacco products.
• Additional information: It is strongly recommended to bring your own gear as local sale is prohibited. However, bear in mind that you may encounter problems at the airport, if taking your gear with you, as there have been a number of reports of confiscations by local authorities.

India – Warning

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: No
• Local presence of shops: No
• Restrictions: Vaping is completely prohibited in this country.

Indonesia

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes, essentially in Bali
• Restrictions: E-liquids are taxed at 57%.
• Additional information: It is strongly recommended to bring your e-liquid refills with you, while bearing in mind that they may get confiscated at the airport.

Ireland

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes

Italy

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes
• Additional information: Tax on e-liquids for the year 2019 is €0.08 per mL of e-liquid, which is linked with the weighted average price (WAP) of tobacco cigarettes calculated each year, there is also a 22% Value Added Tax (VAT) on the final retail price.

Japan

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Vaping stores are not common and only sell non-nicotine e-liquids.
• Restrictions: Tobacco consumption and e-cigarette use are highly regulated in Japan. As such, it is for example prohibited to vape in the street, outside designated smoking areas.
• Additional information: Non-nicotine e-liquids are not currently regulated. However, nicotine-containing vaping products are classified as medicinal products and are regulated under the Japanese pharmaceutical affairs law. Marketing approval for the sale, advertisement, manufacture, importation and distribution of medicinal products must be sought under this law. No medicinal e-cigarettes have been approved to date. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare issued a statement permitting the private importation of e-cigarettes, provided they are for private use only and the amount is less than one month supply.

Malaysia – Warning

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes
• Restrictions: Nicotine is classified as a poison in this country. The sale, distribution or importation of products containing nicotine is prohibited Since January 2021, e-liquids are subject to a tax of 10%, along with a further tax of €0.40 per millilitre.

Morocco

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes

Martinique

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes

New Zealand

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes
• Restrictions: Since 2019, vaping products have been regulated like tobacco in New Zealand. There is a ban on sales to persons under 18 years of age, and it is prohibited to vape in places where smoking is prohibited.

Netherlands

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes

Portugal

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes
• Additional information: For 2017, the excise duty on e-liquid is €0.31 (USD 0.33) per millilitre.

Thailand – Warning

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: No
• Local presence of shops: No
• Restrictions: E-cigarettes are prohibited under several regulatory mechanisms. The Tobacco Products Control Act prohibits importation and sale of products imitating cigarettes. A notification by the Ministry of Commerce bans the import of e-cigarettes, including those without nicotine. A Consumer Protection Board order bans sale of e-cigarettes, including those without nicotine. The Customs Act prohibits people from bringing untaxed products into Thailand. There is no explicit law banning the use of e-cigarettes, but e-cigarettes are banned where laws prohibit smoking.
• Additional information: Thailand is one of the most restrictive countries in the world, as far as e-cigarettes are concerned. We strongly advise against bringing your own gear.

Tunisia – Warning

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes
• Restrictions: There are very few e-liquids licensed for sale in the country.
• Additional information: In Tunisia, vaping is under the monopoly of Régie Nationale des Tabacs et Allumettes (RNTA). Only e-liquids included in the official catalogue are licensed for sale, and this catalogue only lists a few items.

USA

• Legal to own an e-cigarette: Yes
• Local presence of shops: Yes

Sources: Global Tobacco Control, EcigIntelligence

This article was created with the intention of providing vapers with information on the different regulations in force in countries around the world, primarily those considered as Europeans’ most popular tourist destinations. The information provided above is liable to vary and change in the coming months / years, according to new laws implemented by future governments of each of these countries.

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