Uzbekistan Enforces Tough New Penalties on E-Cigarette Trade

Uzbekistan has enacted strict new legal amendments introducing severe penalties for the circulation of e-cigarettes and nicotine-containing devices.

Under the updated Criminal Code, anyone caught importing or exporting tobacco products or electronic nicotine delivery systems now faces serious liability, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

The ban also covers the production, purchase, storage, transportation, and manufacturing of e-cigarettes, which are prohibited nationwide.

Violations committed on a large scale or repeated after an administrative penalty will lead to harsh sanctions - including fines ranging from 300 to 500 basic calculation units. Offenders may also face two to three years of corrective labor, three to five years of restriction of freedom, or even three to five years of imprisonment.

However, individuals can avoid prosecution if they voluntarily report their actions to authorities and surrender the banned products.