How Vaping Is Different Around the World: A Country-by-Country Comparison

Introduction

Vaping laws vary significantly from country to country. Some countries have completely banned vaping, and some have permitted it but under tight regulations, whilst some countries are a lot less strict when it comes to vaping. What is legal within the UK doesn't necessarily mean it's legal within other parts of the world. In this blog, we will cover the laws and regulations in place within the UK and compare them to those in other countries.

Staying up to date with the latest goings-on when it comes to vaping globally is imperative, especially as a vaper. No one wants to break the law just for the sake of the unknown, especially when travelling abroad.

In comparison to other countries, the UK is often perceived as having a relatively relaxed stance regarding vaping, especially when set alongside other parts of the world. That’s not to say that the UK endorses the ideology of youth vaping or the associated health risks. The disposable ban that took place on Jun 1, 2025 was another law governed by the UK to eradicate youth vaping and environmental concerns. Let's delve in. I'll stop rambling now.

What Are the UK’s Vaping Laws in 2025?

Is vaping legal in the UK?

Can you vape indoors or in public places?

Although vaping is legal, it is, however, not permitted in many indoor places within the UK.

Is it legal to vape indoors in the UK?
Yes - no national ban, but private policies apply.

Is it safe for others?
PHE finds "no evidence for harm to bystanders".

Typical organisational rules
Designated areas, especially outdoors; indoor only with etiquette rules.

Youth protection measures
Under-18s banned; schools treat vaping like other restricted items.

How Does the UK Regulate Vape Products?

The UK regulates vaping products through a multitude of national legislations and various governing bodies, such as the MHRA. Let's delve further into the details of how this all works.

What is the MHRA’s role in vaping regulation?

Who is the MHRA?

The MHRA is the governing body which regulates medicines, medical devices and vaping products for reference. They work with several other governing bodies and were in charge of putting forth the rules under Part 6 of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (TRPR).₂

What does the MHRA do when it comes to vaping?

• Before products are legally sold in the UK, they must be submitted to the MHRA.

• Need to keep a list that can be publicly accessed.

• Evaluate safety and risk to ensure there is no harm caused.

• Ensures all products are abiding by TPD rules and regulations (tank size, nicotine strength, etc.
  
  

🔎 Concerned about the legality of a vape product in the UK?

Use the MHRA e-cigarette product database to search approved products.

What are the UK’s TPD rules post-Brexit?

Although the UK left the EU and is now independent and can change the rules and regulations where it sees fit, nothing has changed since. The following rules still apply:

• • Restrict e-cigarrette thanks to a capacity of no more than 2ml
  • Restrict the maximum volume of nicotine-containing e-liquid for sale in one refill container to 10ml
  • Restrict e-liquids to a nicotine strength of no more than 20mg/ml
  • Require nicotine-containing products or their packaging to be child-resistant and tamper-evident
  • Ban certain ingredients including colouring, caffeine and taurine
  • Include new labelling requirements and warnings

Are Disposable Vapes Banned in the UK?

Disposables were banned in the UK on the 1st June 2025. This ban was pushed forward by the UK government due to the rise in underage vaping and their impact on the environment.

Why Is the UK Considered Vape-Friendly Compared to Other Countries?

There are many reasons why the UK is in comparison to other countries, and here we will break down the whys and hows.

What is the NHS’s stance on vaping?

Overall, the NHS’s take on vaping is quite a positive one all around, especially when it comes to it being a harm reduction tool. Here are a few of the observations and statements made by the NHS itself.

• They recommend vaping as a method twice as likely to quit smoking, especially when paired with one-to-one support.

• Clearly state on their website that vaping is not risk-free, whilst also stating the strict regulations and safety requirements.

• Whilst they do not strongly recommend vaping whilst pregnant, they do emphasise that it is the safer option when compared to smoking.

• Confirms there has been no evidence shown of passive vaping being a danger to others.

• Currently not available on prescription.⁴

How does the UK differ from countries that ban vaping?

The UK differs significantly from countries that ban vaping in its approach to e-cigarettes. While countries like Thailand, India, and Singapore have imposed complete bans on the sale, import, and even possession of vaping products, the UK has adopted a more permissive stance, viewing vaping as a harm-reduction tool.

Has the UK encouraged switching from smoking to vaping?

The UK has encouraged the country to switch to vaping in many different ways. Here are some of the ways this transition has been pushed.

Messaging from the government - Public Health England (PHE) has publicly stated and is often quoted as saying, “Vaping is 95% less harmful than tobacco⁵.”

Guidance from the NHS - Yes, on the NHS site, they encourage people to move over to vaping if they are a current smoker, as it is twice as likely to kick the habit in comparison to other nicotine replacement products. They also highlight how much cheaper it can be to make the switch over⁶.

Policy & retail support - There is a swap-to-stop policy in place, put forth by the NCSCT. This was implemented under Khan's review in 2022 to make the UK smoke-free by 2030. Current smokers who want to quit cigarettes are given a free vape kit to help them kick the habit. Housing associations, mental health, outreach services, substance use services, debt management services and LGBTQ+ organisations can offer this service⁷.

What Kind of Vape Products Are Legal in the UK?

Currently, as it stands in the UK, there are no illegal vape flavours. There are, however, bans in place on particular ingredients. Colourings, caffeine, and taurine are all prohibited.

What types of nicotine are allowed?

There are two main types of nicotine, which are allowed within the UK: freebase nicotine and nicotine salt are permitted.

What’s allowed for devices and e-liquids?

There are rules and restrictions in place for what is allowed when it comes to both devices and e-liquids. Here is a list of the laws the UK follows.

• Vape tanks and pods are limited to 2ml.

• E-liquids that have nicotine must be limited to 10ml bottles. Any liquid that is larger than 10ml needs to be nicotine-free.

• The highest nicotine content in e-liquids must not exceed 20mg/ml.

• Products that contain nicotine or their packaging must be child-proof and have a tamper-resistant sticker.

• Certain ingredients are banned, colourings, caffeine and taurine.

• Requirements and warnings must be included on the label.

• All vapes and e-liquids need to be reported and published to the MHRA before they can be sold

Vaping Laws in the E.U

In this next section, we will explore how other parts of the world regulate vaping, from the EU, USA, to more strict parts of the world, Asia and the Middle East.

The EU follows TPD rules when it comes to vaping, which have been listed just above. However, there are certain countries which impose stricter restrictions of their own accord. Here are some countries in the EU that have slightly different rules.

How does the EU TPD compare to the UK's version?

Now you know the noticeable differences between certain parts of the EU and the UK, let's now look at them side by side.

Vaping in the United States

Now we move on to where the US stands when it comes to vaping. In this section, we will discuss all the key information you need to know.

Is vaping federally regulated in the U.S?

Yes, vaping in the U.S is controlled and legislated by the FDA, which is the governing body that works to protect the general public concerning food, drugs, medical devices and also cosmetics. They ensure all products are safe to use and consume, and then this information is released to the public so they can make an informed decision⁸.

• Eradicating youth's accessibility to vaping under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

• It is against the law to give out samples of e-cigarettes.

• Handle the manufacturing, import, packaging, labelling, advertising, promotion, sale and distribution of ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems).

• Customers must be 21 or older as of December 2019.

• The FDA must authorise all vaping products before they can be sold. This includes safety testing and assessment of the youth risk.

• Enforcing the removal and erasure of products that are being marketed illegally on a case-by-case basis.⁹

How do U.S. vaping laws vary by state?

Although the FDA is behind the main regulations and rules within the US, state by states have also implemented their own laws.

Flavour bans

Here are some examples of a few states that have implemented flavour bans with a few slight variations from state to state.

California has implemented a flavour ban across all flavoured nicotine products. In early 2025, online sales of flavoured vaping products were also banned. A list will be published by or before December 31st, 2025, of flavours that will be allowed.

Massachusetts permits flavoured e-cigarettes to be sold for on-site usage at licensed smoking bars. Non-flavoured vaping products with nicotine content above 35mg/ml can be licensed to retail shops and smoking bars.

New Jersey restricts the sale of all flavoured e-cigarettes.

New York bans the sale of all flavoured e-cigarettes except 6 menthol flavours that have been authorised by the FDA.

Rhode Island restricts the sale of flavoured e-cigarette flavours except menthol.

Utah bans all e-cigarette flavours except menthol, restricts high-strength vapes (over 40mg/mL), and unauthorised products not FDA-reviewed by September 9, 2020.¹⁰

Vape taxes by state

 The USA does not have one single tax (%) across the board; it varies from state to state.

Vaping in Asia and the Middle East

What does Asia say?

Vaping in Asia continues to rise and become more popular in some areas than others. The government, however, seems to be struggling with the balance of harm reduction and illicit trade occurring simultaneously.

✅ Legal but regulated

• It is legal to vape in Japan, but it is highly regulated. E-cigarettes that contain nicotine are classified as medicinal products, and the sale of these products is tightly regulated for both citizens and tourists. If you are bringing these products into Japan, you will be capped at a maximum of 120ml.

• South Korea, as it stands, has vaping classified as legal for people over the age of 19. Similar to the UK, health warnings need to be on all packaging. More changes and rules may come into play at some point this year, but nothing concrete at the moment.

• Vaping in the Philippines has been regulated under the 2022 Vape Regulation Act (RA 11900); these rules were strongly enforced from the middle of 2024. The rules are similar to South Korea, with the addition of sales being forbidden on premises that are within 100 meters of a school.

🚫 Banned or restricted

• All vaping products are banned in Thailand, which includes nicotine-free products as well as heated tobacco products. Anyone found with a vape could face imprisonment or a considerable fine.

• E-cigarettes were also banned in India in 2019; this ban covers all stages of vaping, from manufacturing to transportation and storage.

• Singapore follows a similar formula to India, with a full ban across the board. Even first-time offences can result in imprisonment.

And the Middle East?

✅ Legal but regulated

• It is legal to vape in Dubai; however, this must be done in designated vaping zones.

• In Saudi Arabia, the rules and regulations are akin to the EU Tobacco Products Directive.

🚫 Banned or restricted

• Qatar has imposed a complete ban since 2014; those who import, sell or use vaping devices can be fined 10,000 Qatari Rials (£2,200) or face a maximum of three months imprisonment.

• The sale of vaping devices and nicotine is banned in Kuwait; however, e-cigarettes are allowed. In order to obtain such products, individuals can purchase e-cigarettes online.

Global Vaping Laws - Final Thoughts

The laws can differ quite significantly from country to country, sometimes even within the same country, as stated above. Vaping is a legal grey area in a lot of countries and places - regulations are consistently changing.

We advise our readers to always check the local vaping laws before travelling to a country. Laws can change significantly and rapidly; being up to date with the current rules and regulations is strongly recommended.

Related Guides

Stay safe, informed, and stocked up - wherever you vape.

• Shop travel-ready vapes - Compact, TPD-compliant, and airport-friendly.
• Travelling soon?  Use our quick [Vaping Travel Checklist] to avoid surprises at the airport.

Sources

1. Legal age of vaping - gov.uk

2. MHRA rules - gov.uk

3. Single-use vape bans - gov.uk

4. NHS stance on vaping - NHS.co.uk

5. Public Health England - gov.uk

6. Vaping to quit smoking - NHS.co.uk

7. Swap to stop - ncsct.co.uk

8. FDA - usa.gov

9. How the FDA regulates vapes - fda.gov

10. California Law Updates - cdph.ca.gov

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