Although vaping products have been regulated in Egypt since 2018, legal uncertainty persisted until the end of 2021. The authorities are now focusing on implementing the new legal framework for e-cigarettes, combating the black market and local production of e-cigarettes. “Adult consumers will benefit from this decision, as they now have legal access to e-cigarettes, whether or not they want to switch to a better alternative to traditional cigarettes. Several health authorities and regulators, including the UK`s NHS and New Zealand`s Ministry of Health, have positively clarified their stance on vaping as a way for people to move away from smoking flammable cigarettes. Egypt is now connected to global and Middle Eastern markets, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, all of which have legalized the marketing and consumption of e-cigarettes. The group organizes excursions where beginners and experienced vapers gather in public parks to blow their flavored vapes and share their vape know-how. Khaled Mohamed, a vendor who smokes a pack worth 25 Egyptian pounds a day, says the same amount of steam consumption costs him only 3 Egyptian pounds a day. Experienced vapers also say that there is no way to calculate whether vaping would be a cheaper alternative, as it all depends on the rate of consumption and the prices of the products used, which can vary greatly. With its latest decision, Egypt joins global and regional markets such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have legalized and marketed the use of e-cigarettes. As regulators around the world continue to accept e-cigarettes, the market is expected to continue its steady growth in the coming years. With the lifting of this ban, Egypt joins other Arab markets, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the neighboring United Arab Emirates, to support the products. “The lifting of the ban underscores the Egyptian authorities` gradual approach to e-cigarettes and paves the way for the creation of a regulated market rich in business opportunities by meeting the demand for quality products easily accessible by adult (adult) consumers across the country,” wrote RELX International, a leading player in this segment.
in an April 24 statement. Following the decision of the Egyptian authorities, and in line with its commitment to be a responsible vaping brand, RELX International can officially work with market players in Egypt to protect minors, adult smokers and vapers, as well as economic livelihoods through the RELX Pledge Initiative. The initiative was launched in 2021 and reinforces the company`s already significant global commitment to corporate responsibility. It allows the company to contribute to the communities where it operates under three pillars: Guardian Program, Golden Shield and Green Shoots. The initiative covers areas ranging from product development to sales and prevention and deterrence of underage use of e-cigarette products through joint efforts with retailers to improve local identification. This ban has led to a plethora of illegal vape shops across the country selling the product and its accessories, which are often smuggled into the country. Last year, the Industry Committee of Egypt`s House of Representatives passed a new law against counterfeit brands and products, whether local or global, imposing harsh penalties on producers. Egypt`s vaping industry welcomed the move, which will also allow market players to crack down on dangerous black market products and donate tax revenue on products sold legally to the Egyptian government. “When I started in 2005, the brand of cigarettes I smoke cost 7 Egyptian pounds per pack, now the same EGP brand costs 35. I`m now thinking about vaping as an alternative to reduce smoking or quit smoking altogether,” Kamel adds.
This decision will undoubtedly pave the way for the adoption of appropriate rules to curb the illicit trade in e-cigarette devices and tools, which will help resolve the growing crisis in Egypt due to this illicit trafficking. The UK is one of the most tolerant countries for e-smoking, where vaping is not restricted by medical and smoke-free laws. Egypt recently announced the legal import and marketing of e-cigarettes into the country. If you just browse social media platforms these days, you can easily spot dozens of pages where users share information about vaping and trade their products. Due to this uncertainty and lack of studies, the legal status of vaping differs from country to country, from totally or partially legalized to completely prohibited, although more and more countries are choosing to legalize and regulate the product. For this process to succeed, you need “juice” in the mod`s tank, which produces the steam on exhalation. “The Egyptian authorities` decision reflects their commitment to supporting legal businesses in the country while cracking down on the illicit trade in these products, in line with what we are seeing in a growing number of markets around the world. The business and investment environment in the country will benefit significantly from this decision, as will adult consumers, who can now easily and legally purchase better alternatives to combustible cigarettes. Given that the trend has been going on for nearly a decade, the fact that “vaping” attracts a large portion of Egyptian smokers – whether for health, finances or as a trend – is undeniable. However, the founders of Electronic Smoking Developer advise anyone considering entering the world of vaping, look at scientific research, and research accurate information about vaping products before deciding what is best for them in terms of health or cost control. However, vape retailers say the real reason for the ban is that vaping is an alternative that can significantly reduce the sale of tobacco products, bringing in billions in taxes each year.
“The vaping sector was introduced individually and on a relatively narrow scale in Egypt in 2007, but we did not expect vaping product sales to reach this level in the last two years. In some places, we have not been able to maintain the level of supply due to the increasing number of customers,” says Ahmed Salem, who works in the store. “Nearly 80 percent of the people on our site who started vaping have completely quit smoking [tobacco],” says Hossam Hegazi, one of the site`s founders. CAIRO, 25. April 2022–(BUSINESS WIRE)–RELX International, a multinational e-cigarette company, welcomes the recent decision by the Egyptian authorities to allow the legal import and marketing of e-cigarette products in the country. The lifting of the ban underscores the Egyptian authorities` gradual approach to e-cigarettes and paves the way for the creation of a regulated market rich in business opportunities by meeting the demand for quality products easily accessible by adult (adult) consumers across the country. Although vaping is officially banned in Egypt, there are vape shops in the country selling the product and its accessories, which are often smuggled into the country. “Given my daily smoking rate in terms of finances, vaping has certainly done the job for me,” says Khaled, who has been vaping for a year and a half.