2131In the Verkhovna Rada, four draft laws on the prohibition of e-cigarettes have been registered: the main one is №13548 and three alternative ones. A complete ban on e-cigarettes is a long-overdue decision for Ukraine, given the epidemiological data and international WHO recommendations.
According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), presented in 2025, 20% of children aged 13-15 use e-cigarettes. Among adolescents aged 16-17, this figure already reaches 30% (HBSC 2022/23 data). Meanwhile, among adults, 5% of the population consume e-cigarettes. Thus, e-cigarettes play a “childish” role.
The use of e-cigarettes is dangerous to health. The liquids and aerosols used in e-cigarettes contain nicotine, carbonyl compounds, solid particles, metals, volatile organic compounds, and tobacco-specific nitrosamines. Nicotine increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, contributes to the occurrence of malignant tumors, and harms the development of the brain and nervous system, especially in children and adolescents. Nicotine addiction is a mental and behavioral disorder according to the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (code 6C4a).
In addition to the direct harm to health, e-cigarettes pose a significant threat to the environment, as they contain plastic, batteries, or chemical batteries. When released into the environment, these components pollute water and soil with heavy metals and chemicals.
More than 40 countries worldwide have already banned the sale of e-cigarettes, acting in accordance with the provisions of the WHO FCTC. Ukraine has also embarked on this path.
Overview of draft laws
Among the draft laws submitted to the Rada, the one that fully complies with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the interests of Ukrainian society is the draft law №13548-4.
The draft law completely prohibits the production, export, import, and sale of e-cigarettes, refill containers, and liquids, as well as their transportation and storage by business entities. Additionally, the inclusion of e-cigarettes in humanitarian aid and their free distribution is prohibited.
Compared to the main one, the draft law №13548-4 contains more legally and technically correct constructions and establishes fines for violations at a level of no less than UAH 1 192 000 as of 01.01.2025 (no less than 149 minimum wage sizes).
The draft law also exhaustively specifies rules regarding the prohibition of any advertising of such products to exclude potential loopholes for unscrupulous business entities and prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes and devices for heating tobacco online.
The main draft law №13548 is also acceptable but requires technical and legal improvement, in particular, the exclusion of the provision that provides for the cancellation of tobacco raw material accounting as this creates opportunities for illegal trade and is not related to the subject of the initiative.
“The prohibition of e-cigarettes is an urgent task for Ukraine. For this step to be effective, the legislation must be consistent with international norms and free from the influence of the tobacco industry, as required by Article 5 of the WHO FCTC. The draft law №13548-4 meets these criteria and is a real step towards protecting children from nicotine addiction”, emphasizes Dmytro Kupyra, Program Director of the Advocacy Center “Life”.
The draft law №13548-1 is aimed at improving the current legislation that prohibits flavored e-cigarettes and liquids with flavorings. The initiator of the draft law proposes to eliminate the problem of “DIY mixes” trade (kits for mixtures, which include nicotine, glycerin, flavoring) that arose to circumvent the ban on the sale of flavored liquids.
This approach does not eliminate health risks, especially among young people, and does not achieve the main goal – a complete ban on e-cigarettes and liquids. Instead, a comprehensive ban makes their distribution, use, and aggressive marketing impossible, providing more reliable protection of public health.
The draft law 13548-2, initiated by tobacco lobbyist and multiple winner of the “Golden Scythe” anti-award Maryan Zablockyi, proposes a ban on disposable vapes. Such an initiative is common in the world but is strikingly weaker than a complete ban on e-cigarettes, as vapes as a phenomenon will remain on the market, which will continue to pose a serious threat to children and young people.
The draft law №13548-3 was withdrawn from consideration.
For Ukraine, the prohibition of e-cigarettes is undoubtedly the best solution to overcome the epidemic of the use of these products among children and young people and to preserve human capital, which is a key direction of the National Security Strategy of Ukraine. In addition, the prohibition of e-cigarettes is an important step in the implementation of the Demographic Development Strategy of Ukraine for the period up to 2040.
For contact information: Olha Masna, media coordinator of the Advocacy Center “Life”, 073 089 65 70, olha.masna@center-life.org.