Tobacco (Amendment) Bill, 2026
Government bill, sponsored by the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability
Deferred.
What this bill does
This bill extends the Tobacco Act to cover vaping products and renames it the Tobacco and Vape Act, 2026. It bans the import, manufacture, sale, advertising and promotion of disposable vapes, makes it illegal to sell vapes or nicotine products such as pouches to anyone under 18, and applies the existing tobacco rules on promotion, display, health warnings and smoke-free places to vaping.
- Disposable vapes banned from six months after the Act is published in the Gazette; according to the bill's explanatory memorandum, fines are CI$15,000 for a first offence and CI$30,000 plus 12 months' jail for a repeat offence
- Selling vapes or nicotine products to under-18s, or letting minors sell or buy them, is prohibited from the day of publication; looking 18 is no defence, but checking prescribed ID is
- Vaping is banned wherever smoking is banned in public places, with smoke-free and vape-free signs required; free samples, gifts and promotions for vapes are banned and internet, mail or vending machine sales are not allowed unless permitted by regulation
- Vape dealers must register, display health warnings and nicotine content on packaging, and keep products out of customers' reach; Cabinet can cap nicotine levels by regulation
Who it affects: vape and tobacco retailers, importers and wholesalers, vape users, young people under 18, managers of public places
This summary is AI-generated from the official document and may contain errors; it is not legal advice. Always consult the source text below.