Kurdistan Bans Imports, Sales of Vaping Devices

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has intensified efforts to crack down on the use of e-cigarettes, with both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior enforcing a decision to ban their import and sale.

E-cigarettes are prohibited under the new regulations, and local authorities are committed to taking legal action against anyone who violates the ban.

According to media reports, Akar Mohammed, a local cigarette and hookah seller, supported the measure. “Dozens of men and children ask me about vapes and e-cigarettes every day,” he said. “This decision is appropriate.”

In Erbil, the governor’s office has been leading the crackdown on e-cigarettes, announcing that more than 26,000 devices were seized and destroyed this month. Many were found hidden in shops and warehouses.

Authorities are stepping up their efforts by increasing inspections at checkpoints and markets and monitoring online sales.

Erbil Mayor Nabaz Abdulhamid stated on Aug. 19 that investigations have uncovered the illegal smuggling of e-cigarettes into Erbil from Sulaimani. “We want to control this phenomenon together,” Abdulhamid said, emphasizing the need for collective action to tackle the issue.