AZE.US
New regulations governing electronic cigarettes will come into force in Azerbaijan on April 1, introducing stricter penalties for violations related to their sale and use.
Under amendments to the country’s Code of Administrative Offenses, fines ranging from 30 to 5,000 manats will be imposed on individuals or businesses that breach the new rules. The changes were approved after the law was signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Health experts have welcomed the tougher regulations, warning that vaping poses significant risks to human health. Specialists note that the aerosol produced by electronic cigarettes contains numerous chemical compounds that can damage the respiratory system and contribute to nicotine addiction.
Researchers have pointed to substances such as diacetyl, sometimes found in vaping liquids, which has been linked to the serious lung condition known as “popcorn lung.” Medical studies have also associated vaping with EVALI – e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury – a potentially life-threatening respiratory illness.
Concern about the health effects of vaping has led several countries to introduce strict controls or outright bans on electronic cigarettes. Nations such as Thailand, Singapore, and India have imposed strong restrictions on the sale or import of vaping products, while Turkey has also taken a restrictive approach toward their distribution.
In Azerbaijan, the new measures are aimed at strengthening oversight of the vaping market and reducing the growing use of electronic cigarettes, particularly among young people.