By Timothy S. Donahue

Top Takeaways:

• Mandatory standard coming: Morocco will enforce its first binding national standard for e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and muassel starting February 2026.
• Import controls tighten: With no domestic production, all smoke-free products sold in Morocco will have to meet IMANOR’s labeling, traceability, and safety rules to enter or stay on the market.
• Transparency over prohibition: Consumer groups say the framework is meant to protect users through clear information and oversight, not to legitimize or promote nicotine products.

Morocco will begin enforcing a mandatory national standard for so-called “smoke-free” products—including e-cigarettes, muassel, and nicotine pouches—in February 2026, marking the country’s first comprehensive framework for the fast-growing category.

The standard was developed by the Moroccan Institute of Standardization (IMANOR) and is intended to establish baseline consumer protections in a market that has expanded rapidly without a dedicated regulatory framework. Unlike voluntary standards, compliance will be mandatory for all covered products sold in Morocco.

Ouadi Madih, president of the National Federation of Consumer Associations (FNAC), said the framework is built on two core pillars: labeling and traceability.

“Consumers cannot simply be prevented from accessing these products,” Madih said. “But they must be protected through clear information and effective oversight.”

Under the standard, products will be required to include 11 mandatory labeling elements, including the manufacturer’s identity, product composition, country of origin, and production date. Madih described labeling as the first line of consumer protection, arguing that transparency is essential in nicotine and inhalation categories.

He also called for stronger public investment in awareness campaigns, noting that regulation alone is insufficient without consumer education. “An informed consumer is better equipped to protect themselves,” Madih said.

Because Morocco does not have domestic manufacturing of e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, or related smoke-free products, the standard will apply primarily to imports. Products that fail to meet IMANOR’s requirements will not be allowed to enter or remain on the Moroccan market.

The move aligns with Morocco’s broader legal updates addressing emerging nicotine technologies. In recent years, the country amended its tobacco control framework through Law 66-20, which revised Law 46-02 to formally incorporate heated tobacco products into national legislation.

Madih emphasized that standardization should not be interpreted as endorsement. “This is not about legitimizing these products,” he said. “It is about transparency, accountability, and ensuring consumers understand what they are using so they can make informed choices.”