By Timothy S. Donahue
Top Takeaways:
- Total prohibition: Uzbekistan now criminalizes production, sale, import, export and possession of vaping products.
- Criminal penalties: Violations can carry fines, labor restrictions or prison terms of up to five years.
- Regional trend: The ban follows Kazakhstan’s 2024 crackdown, signaling tightening vape controls across Central Asia.
Uzbekistan has enacted a sweeping nationwide ban on e-cigarettes and vaping products, making production, sale, import, export, and even possession criminal offenses.
According to state media reports, the law, signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in November, took effect on March 1. It prohibits the manufacture and sale of electronic cigarettes and e-liquids and subjects violators to criminal liability.
Penalties vary by the severity of the offense and may include substantial fines, corrective labor, restrictions on liberty, or imprisonment of up to five years.
Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Justice said that individuals who voluntarily surrender prohibited vaping devices and report violations may be exempt from liability, signaling limited amnesty provisions as enforcement begins.
The measure applies to both residents and visitors. Travelers entering Uzbekistan are prohibited from bringing vaping devices or e-liquids into the country, and possession alone may result in enforcement action.
The move places Uzbekistan among a growing number of Central Asian governments adopting strict anti-vaping policies. Neighboring Kazakhstan implemented a full ban on the sale, distribution, and import of vaping products in June 2024. Under Kazakhstan’s law, use itself is not criminalized, but commercial activity involving vapes is treated as a criminal offense.
Uzbekistan has not carved out exceptions for nicotine content, device type, or harm-reduction positioning, opting instead for a blanket prohibition across the category.
