Myanmar joins a number of other Southeast Asian countries with stringent vape regulations. Photo credit: Vaper City, CC4.0.
Myanmar’s government has moved to ban the sale, import, export, possession, and use of vaping products under a new regulatory order that industry observers say places the country among the strictest in Southeast Asia. The policy, announced by the Ministry of Health and backed by cabinet approval, takes effect under the country’s Essential Supplies and Services Law.
The prohibition applies to the full lifecycle of vape products, covering cross-border trade, market circulation, personal possession, and use. It also includes vape accessories and electronic shisha products, leaving no legal commercial channel for vaping merchandise in the country. Conventional combustible cigarettes remain legal.
This shift marks a clear departure from Myanmar’s prior regulatory approach, which lacked a dedicated law for vape products and at times resulted in only sporadic enforcement. In the past, authorities occasionally seized shipments of vaping devices at borders without a formal legal framework defining their status.
Officials from the Department of Public Health said the decision responds to increasing use of vapes, particularly among young people. They said the policy aims to curb this trend and address what they describe as health risks associated with e-cigarette use. A public health official cited by press reports characterized e-cigarettes as posing risks similar to combustible tobacco.
Myanmar’s adult smoking rate stands at about 12.3 percent overall, with higher use among males and notable prevalence among boys ages 10–14, according to Vaping 360, citing Tobacco Atlas.
Observers say Myanmar joins a number of Southeast Asian countries with stringent vape regulations. Nations such as Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam already have laws that restrict the sale or use of vaping products, though the specifics vary by market. In some of those countries, possession and use also carry penalties. India and Bangladesh, to Myanmar’s west, similarly ban e-cigarettes.
Countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines remain exceptions in the region, with more permissive or evolving regulatory approaches. However, Malaysia is currently in the process of reversing the liberalization of its vaping laws and reimpose restrictions.