Vaping Ban in Palau
Vaping and IQOS devices are Banned
Vaping Ban
Vaping Ban: As of May 29, 2023, the import, possession,
distribution, and use of electronic cigarettes (vapes) are illegal.
Palau enforces one of the strictest vaping bans in the world,
completely prohibiting the import, sale, possession, and use of
e-cigarettes under amendments to its Tobacco Control Act. The law
strengthened by RPPL No. 11-27 (2022) explicitly bans all electronic
nicotine delivery systems, including devices labeled "nicotine
free," because regulators determined they often still contain
harmful chemicals. Enforcement is uncompromising: customs officers
confiscate all vaping products on arrival, with no exceptions for
tourists, and violators face $1,000 fines for possession or use,
while businesses importing or selling vapes can be fined up to
$20,000. Palau frames the ban as part of its broader public health
and youth protection strategy, aligned with its environmental ethos
and WHO supported tobacco control policies.
Punishment
Violators face a $1,000 fine for individuals and
$20,000 for businesses.
Enforcement is uncompromising: customs officers
confiscate all vaping products on arrival, with no exceptions for
tourists, and violators face $1,000 fines for possession or use,
while businesses importing or selling vapes can be fined up to
$20,000. Palau frames the ban as part of its broader public health
and youth protection strategy, aligned with its environmental ethos
and WHO supported tobacco control policies.