As is known, starting from April 1, 2026, the import, export, production, wholesale and retail sale, storage for sale, and use of electronic cigarettes will be prohibited. In this regard, relevant fines have also been determined, as the Milli Majlis (National Assembly) has adopted the draft law on amendments to the Code of Administrative Offenses in its third reading.
According to “Qafqazinfo”, based on the draft, for the import, export, production, wholesale and retail sale, and storage for sale of electronic cigarettes and their components, the goods that were the direct object of the administrative offense will be confiscated, and individuals will be fined from 350 to 500 manats, officials from 1,650 to 2,200 manats, and legal entities from 4,000 to 5,000 manats. Additionally, those who use electronic cigarettes in public places will be fined 30 manats.
But does the ban applied to electronic cigarettes also extend to other nicotine and tobacco products, such as IQOS, which are inhaled without combustion?
Regarding the topic, Tural Hajizade, Sales Director of “Tabar” chain of stores, which is engaged in the sale of nicotine products in Azerbaijan, told Musavat.com that heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes are completely different categories, and the ban applies only to electronic cigarettes: “According to the relevant amendments made to the Law on Tobacco and Tobacco Products, heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes have been defined as two different categories, and it has been explicitly stated that the ban applies only to electronic cigarettes.”
It should be noted that the composition of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products also differs. Electronic cigarettes are consumed by inhaling vapor produced by heating a liquid that may or may not contain nicotine. Heated tobacco products, on the other hand, produce an aerosol by heating real tobacco, i.e., a tobacco stick.