President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree amending the “List of officials authorized to draw up protocols on administrative offenses considered by district (city) courts and military courts,” originally approved on May 3, 2017. This legislative update introduces stricter regulatory oversight regarding the circulation of electronic cigarettes within the country.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the new decree empowers three specific state bodies to draft administrative protocols concerning electronic cigarettes and their components. This move is part of the government's broader effort to regulate the rapidly growing market for alternative tobacco products and ensure compliance with national health and trade standards.
Under the new regulations, the State Customs Committee is authorized to act regarding the import and export of electronic cigarettes. The State Agency for Antimonopoly and Consumer Market Control under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been granted authority over the production, wholesale, and retail sale, as well as the storage of these products for sale. Furthermore, the State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy is empowered to issue protocols when violations are identified during tax inspections. These measures reflect Azerbaijan's commitment to strengthening market supervision and consumer protection in the tobacco and vaping sector.