On 24 February 2020, the Official Gazette of Turkey published the Presidential Order issued by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, banning the importation of electronic cigarettes and related products in the country. Introduction of this measure follows a global trend that aims to prevent the negative consequences that novel and emerging tobacco and nicotine products have on populations, and in Turkey, this measure is part of the government’s campaign to reduce tobacco use.

The regulation will be enforced by the Ministry of Commerce. In accordance with the President’s Order, “Cigarettes, shredded tobacco products, pipe tobacco products, those consumed by burning and any products including electronic cigarettes and electronic hookahs used to mimic tobacco products, whether or not containing nicotine, and electronic products used in the consumption of these products as well as imports of accessories, spare parts and solutions are prohibited”.

The full text of the regulation can be found here (page 84, in Turkish).

For more information, please, contact Dr Peyman Altan, Tobacco and Drug Control Department, Ministry of Health, Turkey (e-mail: peymanaltan@gmail.com).