Are you travelling? In which countries can you buy and use e-cigarettes? Or more importantly, in which countries can you NOT? The online medium Vaping360 has conducted a comprehensive survey and Road hill have taken a closer look at the list.

Updated July 2023

According to Vaping360's According to the survey, 40 countries worldwide have some form of ban on e-cigarettes. However, the extent of the ban varies. In some countries, it covers everything from the sale, import and possession to the use of e-cigarettes in general.

"Total bans are most common in Asia, the Middle East and South America," states Vaping360. "At the same time, Australia has an unusual ban on the sale of nicotine e-liquid without a doctor's prescription. Japan also bans nicotine e-juice but allows heat-not-burn systems like IQOS."

Cigarettes are always legal...

If you're planning a trip, it's a good idea to check the list and adjust your luggage (and purchases) accordingly. In countries not on the list, e-cigarettes are allowed to be sold, bought and used. However, there may still be restrictions on flavours.

It is worth noting that traditional cigarettes are legal to sell and consume in all of these countries.

Countries where e-cigarettes are COMPLETELY banned (sale, import and use):

Cambodia, Ethiopia, Gambia, Laos, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Korea, Qatar, Singapore, Syria, Thailand (see comment below), Vatican City and East Timor.

Countries where the sale of e-cigarettes is prohibited but use is allowed:

Antigua & Barbuda, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Jamaica, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macau, Mauritius, Mexico, Nepal, Oman, Panama, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Turkey (see comment below), Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Special rules and comprehensive bans

Australia

Vaping is legal in Australia and vape shops are allowed to sell mods, tanks and nicotine-free e-liquid. But - and this is important - it's illegal to import AND possess nicotine e-liquid without a doctor's prescription. Getting caught at customs can be costly - up to 222,000 Australian dollars (almost 2 million Danish kroner).

Turkey

Vaping is legal in Turkey, but the sale and import of vape products is banned. How the country's vape community obtains their products remains unsaid...

Thailand

In Thailand, it is illegal to sell and import vaping products. It's also illegal to use e-cigarettes in public and tourists have been severely penalised for vaping in the past. At the same time, some vapourists report conflicting information. According to Vaping360 it's unclear whether the use of e-cigarettes itself is outright illegal.

USA

Vaping and buying vaping products is legal in most states. However, some cities, such as San Francisco and a few smaller cities in California, have local bans on the sale of vaping products.

The Nordic countries

In Sweden and Iceland, there are no bans on e-cigarettes, flavours or vaping. However, vaping is prohibited in places where smoking is banned.

In Denmark, Finland and Norway the situation is different. Although vaping is allowed in all three countries, there are bans on the sale and import of certain products.

Denmark: Flavour bans and restrictions on disposable disposables

In Denmark, disposable models are effectively banned from sale (although they are still available in many places). In addition, all flavours other than tobacco and menthol are banned. However, it is legal to bring prohibited products across the border, but Danish citizens are not allowed to order them online.

Finland: Import and flavour ban

In Finland, similar restrictions apply as in Denmark. In addition, online trading of vapour products is illegal. Finns trying to import vaping products such as mods, e-juice and accessories often encounter problems at customs.

Norway: No e-juice with nicotine

In Norway, it is legal to vape and buy vaping products. However, it is still prohibited to sell e-liquid with nicotine. The ban also applies to pure nicotine pouches. However, snus and cigarettes are allowed, and manufacturers of nicotine pouches circumvent the ban by adding a small amount of tobacco to the product. However, Norwegian vapers are allowed to import nicotine for their own use.

Prohibition = Black market

It's worth noting that e-cigarettes - especially disposable models - are still readily available in many of the countries mentioned. The black market economy is extensive.

In some countries, vaping was already popular and the technology accepted before a ban was introduced. Demand was quickly met by established businesses and users who moved the trade underground.

At the same time, disposable tissues have exploded in popularity and can be found almost everywhere - even in countries with strict bans.