About the Scan
From 2014 to 2023, the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) Policy Scan Project served as a resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners in the field of tobacco control. Our scans offered information on regulatory approaches for tobacco and nicotine products. We launched in 2014 with information on e-cigarette regulations in 68 countries before expanding to more countries, capturing information on additional tobacco and nicotine products, and updating the scans to provide the most accurate information possible. As of August 2023, we are no longer updating the scans. For up-to-date information, please visit the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ tobacco legislation tracker.
Our scans tracked information for the 194 member states recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as other jurisdictions, such as territories or autonomous regions. Each page contains text to indicate when the page was updated for the final time.
E-cigarette Policy Scan
Our inaugural policy scan sought to fill a gap in general understanding of how countries were regulating e-cigarettes –including the regulatory mechanisms used and the regulatory domains being applied. Since our first scan of e-cigarette regulations, significant global legislative action has occurred to directly address this group of products.
Publications and Presentations
- Nian Q, Welding K, Dai Z. An overview of national-level excise taxes on e-cigarettes across the world. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 2023;21(October):129. DOI: 10.18332/tid/171353.
- Atella LD, Duren M, Cohen JE, Welding K, Kennedy RD. Prevalence of policies requiring health warning labels on electronic nicotine delivery systems and heated tobacco products around the globe. Oral presentation at the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Annual Meeting. San Antonio, Texas. March 1-4, 2023.
- Atella LD, Duren M, Cohen JE, Welding K, Kennedy RD. Nature and extent of country-level policies regulating flavors in electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Poster presentation at the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Annual Meeting. San Antonio, Texas. March 1-4, 2023.
- Duren M, Atella L, Kennedy RD, Welding K, Cohen JE. Review of country-level policies regulating online e-cigarette sales. Poster presentation at the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Annual Meeting. San Antonio, Texas. March 1-4, 2023.
- Kennedy RD, Atella L, Duren M, Welding K, Cohen JE. Country-level policies regulating nicotine strength and liquid volumes for electronic nicotine delivery systems. Poster presentation at the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Annual Meeting. San Antonio, Texas. March 1-4, 2023.
- Robichaud MO, Duren M, Welding K, Atella LD, Cohen JE, Kennedy RD. Global policies regulating electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS). Poster presentation at the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Annual Meeting. San Antonio, Texas. March 1-4, 2023.
- Madar A. National policies regulated e-cigarette use in Africa. Presentation at the 1st African Conference for Tobacco Control and Development. October 2021.
- Awopegba A, Kennedy RD. A snapshot of global policies to regulate e-cigarette pack warnings. Poster presentation at the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. February 20-23, 2019.
- Awopegba A, Kennedy RD. Vape-free/clean indoor air laws: A global review. Poster presentation at the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. February 20-23, 2019.
- Awopegba A, Kennedy RD, Cohen JE. A global scan of policies regulating e-cigarette advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Moderated e-poster presentation at the World Conference on Tobacco or Health. Cape Town, South Africa. March 7-9, 2018.
- Awopegba A, Kennedy RD, Cohen JE. Global approaches to regulating nicotine content in e-cigarettes. Rapid response poster presentation at the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Annual Meeting. Baltimore, Maryland. February 21-24, 2018.
- Awopegba A, Kennedy RD, Cohen JE. Approaches to transposing the European product directive e-cigarette rules into legislation by European Union member states. Poster at the Society for Research on Nicotine & Tobacco Annual Meeting. Florence, Italy. March 8-11, 2017.
- Kennedy RD, Awopegba A, De León E, Cohen JE. Global approaches to regulating electronic cigarettes. Tobacco Control 26(4): 440-445 (2016). DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053179.
HTP Policy Scan
Heated tobacco products (HTPs) represented our first expansion to a different tobacco product. HTPs heat tobacco to create an aerosol that users inhale. While similar in some ways to e-cigarettes, HTPs heat tobacco rather than a nicotine liquid with many countries using different regulatory frameworks to oversee the importation, marketing, sale, and other aspects of these products. Our HTP policy scan first launched in 2020.
Nicotine Pouch Policy Scan
Our third scan tracked regulatory approaches for nicotine pouches. These products are sometimes marketed as tobacco-free products and are consequently evading many existing tobacco control regulations. Our nicotine pouch policy scan launched in 2022.
Papers and Publications
- Duren M, Atella L, Welding K, Kennedy RD. Nicotine pouches: a summary of regulatory approaches across 67 countries. Tobacco Control. 2024;33:e32-e40. DOI: 10.1136/tc-2022-057734.
How to Use the Scan
The information on these scans is updated through August 2023. Each of our policy scans offered breakdowns of regulations by country, policy domain, product classification, and regulatory mechanism. After navigating to the policy scans, click the dropdown menu to select the area of interest for more detail. To compare two countries, navigate to the comparison menu and select two countries to view side-by-side. The domain and classification comparison option enables you to view which countries regulate which policy domains according to how they classify the products included in our scans. When viewing a country page, you can click on a policy domain or product classification to see a listing of each country or other jurisdiction that has a regulation applicable to your selection.
Our Protocol
Prior to August 2023, we worked with knowledgeable in-country contacts such as local bureaucrats, including those working in a ministry of health, or other policy experts, to collect and confirm policy information. We updated information semi-annually, following a systematic and thorough process. For up-to-date information, please visit the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ tobacco legislation tracker.
Acknowledgements
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to those who contributed to our Policy Scans, including:
- Barbara McGaw, Tobacco Control Advisor, Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control/Healthy Caribbean Coalition
- Bharathi Viswanathan, Program Manager, Unit for Prevention and Control of CVD, Public Health Authority, Ministry of Health, Seychelles
- Department of Health, Government of Ireland
- Dr. Annette M. David, Chair, Guam State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup
- Dr. Aya Mostafa, MD, Regional Data Coordinator, GTCR IX (consultant for WHO EMRO), Professor of Public Health & Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt
- Dr. Labeeb Abdullah Alaghbari, Former General Secretary of Life Makers Forum, Former General Manager of National Cancer Control Foundation, Consultant Surgical Oncologist
- Dr. Lorenzo Spizzichino, Statistical Officer, Ministry of Health, Italy
- Fatimah MS El-Awa, PhD, Regional Advisor, Tobacco Free Initiative, UHC/NMH, EMRO-WHO
- German Cancer Research Center, Unit Cancer Prevention and WHO Collaborating Centre for Tobacco Control
- Gustavo Sóñora, Director of Tobacco Control –Latin America, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union)
- Mr. Bharat Vikram Shah, Administrative Officer, Action Nepal
- Mr. Mohit Singh Thagunna, Research Head, Action Nepal
- Ms. María Sæm Bjarkardóttir, Ministry of Health
- Pascal Bovet, Senior Consultant, Center of Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), Switzerland & Consultant NCDs, Ministry of Health, Republic of Seychelles