Gov’t moves to raise e-cigarette import penalty to MOP10,000 in law overhaul

The newly revised text of the bill on the prevention and control of smoking has optimized and adjusted the penalties for tobacco control enforcement, with the fine for bringing electronic cigarettes and related products into Macau set to be raised to MOP10,000.

The bill proposes an effective date of January 1 next year, with provisions on the prohibition of e-cigarette consumption and possession, along with associated penalties, set to take effect on July 1 next year, while the standardized packaging system and the increased warning label ratio are scheduled to come into force on July 1, 2028.

While Macau has imposed a blanket ban on the importation, transit, cross-border carriage, and sale of e-cigarettes – with a current fine of MOP4,000 for violators caught carrying such products across the border – the government put forward a legislative amendment earlier this year that seeks to increase the penalty to MOP10,000.

The Legislative Assembly’s Third Standing Committee has been reviewing the government’s tobacco control amendments, with the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, O Lam, attending the session.

Committee chairman Leong Sun Iok told the media after the session that the latest version of the bill proposes a fine of MOP1,500 for natural persons found in illegal possession of e-cigarettes, while legal persons in private premises would face a penalty of MOP20,000. Tobacco industry entities found in illegal possession of e-cigarettes would be subject to fines ranging from MOP20,000 to MOP200,000.

Leong added that the government has also proposed, under the revised bill, to increase the fine for the illegal cross-border carriage of e-cigarettes, herbal cigarettes, water pipes, oral and nasal tobacco products, and nicotine products – raising it from the current MOP4,000 to MOP10,000 – in order to strengthen deterrence against “ant-moving” smuggling tactics.

Separately, according to Leong, the government has recommended that, in view of cigar and cigarillo consumption habits and Macau’s economic context, warning labels on such products should cover 70% of each side of the packaging, provided that public health objectives are not undermined.