Iraq plans to pass legislation to completely ban the sale of vapes, focusing on the addiction risks and health burdens of teenagers. The bill will be accompanied by seizure, fines and criminal liability, marking a stricter regulatory path in its public health governance.
Key points:
- The Ministry of Health of Iraq plans to pass legislation to completely ban the import, sale and circulation of vapes, listing it as a key point of the national tobacco control policy.
- The name of the bill is the “Law on the Prevention of Harmful Effects of Tobacco”, which proposes to establish a fine, seizure and criminal liability mechanism. It is currently awaiting formal passage.
- The Ministry of Health warns that vapes are rapidly spreading among teenagers and children, especially posing health risks to cognitive function.
- Tobacco use causes nearly 12% of deaths across the country each year. Iraq consumes nearly 3 billion Iraqi dinars (2 million US dollars) of tobacco every day.
- The policy is simultaneously benchmarked against countries such as India. Thailand and Brazil, which have already implemented bans, reflect Iraq’s shift towards a more proactive path of public health intervention.
Iraqi Ministry of Health advances vape bill
According to Kurdistan24’s report on May 7th, the Iraqi Ministry of Health announced that it is promoting a bill to ban the import, sale and circulation of vapes nationwide as a measure to deal with the rapid spread of vapes among teenagers and the public health risks they pose. The bill, named “Law for Protection from the Harmful Effects of Tobacco”, is expected to be passed shortly.
According to Wasim Kilani, assistant director of Iraq’s National Tobacco Control Program, in a television interview on May 7th. The bill will explicitly prohibit all commercial activities of vapes within Iraq and establish specific law enforcement mechanisms, including fines, equipment confiscation and criminal penalties. After the bill is passed, it will be implemented by the joint law enforcement agencies of the health system.
Proposed total ban on importation, sale and circulation
Kilani, citing official data from the Ministry of Health, pointed out that currently, one in every five people in Iraq smokes, and tobacco use ranks among the top ten causes of death in the country. Among them, vape products have spread rapidly among teenagers and children due to their diverse designs and rich flavors, especially affecting female minors.
The Ministry of Health said that although vapes are still in a regulatory gray area in many countries, Iraq’s intention this time is to implement proactive intervention “before the trend spreads” to prevent nicotine addiction from becoming the norm among the next generation. Kilani called on parents and educational institutions to “intervene as early as possible” to prevent “the spread of wrong ideas among teenagers.”
According to the public data provided by the Ministry of Health of Iraq and the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction:
- Adult smoking rate: The proportion of the national smoking population is 18.7%, among which it is 36% for men and only 1.6% for women.
- The tobacco usage rate among teenagers: 11% of teenagers are current smokers.
- Health impact: Smoking accounts for 11.71% of the total national deaths, among which it is 15.47% for men and 6.05% for women.
- Economic burden: The daily tobacco consumption expenditure across the country is nearly 3 billion Iraqi dinars (approximately 2 million US dollars).
- The characteristics of vape usage: The main user group is middle school students. Attracted by the product design and taste, some users are as young as children.
The policy is simultaneously benchmarked against countries such as India
The Iraqi government’s current legislative action is also regarded as part of the country’s overall tobacco control strategy. Unlike most Western countries, which start to tighten regulations after the peak usage period, Iraq’s health system is attempting to “block potential addiction pathways in advance” through legislation.
Kilani emphasized that legislation alone is not enough to curb the spread of vapes; it also requires the joint participation of the public, families and the education system. The government has set up a special communication strategy, using schools, community institutions and mainstream media to guide public opinion and prevent teenagers from being exposed to and using vapes.
