Kuwait’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Osama Boodai, has issued a sweeping ban prohibiting the sale of tobacco, its derivatives, and “all types of cigarettes,” explicitly including electronic cigarettes, through delivery platforms or any similar digital channels. The ban also covers the tools, devices, and accessories used for consumption—language broad enough to capture not only disposable vapes and refillable devices, but also pods, coils, chargers, and potentially even empty hardware depending on enforcement interpretation.
The decision takes effect immediately from the date of issuance, repeals any conflicting provisions, and will be published in Kuwait’s Official Gazette. Officials across relevant jurisdictions have been instructed to implement the order.
Enforcement: Warnings, Closures, and License Revocation
The ministerial decision authorizes the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to impose administrative sanctions once a violation is confirmed. These include:
- A warning
- Temporary administrative closure
- License revocation for repeat offenses
Notably, the decision states these sanctions apply “without prejudice to stricter penalties under other laws,” signaling that businesses could face additional legal consequences beyond commerce-related administrative actions if other statutes are triggered.
Broader Market Policing: Price Controls and Inspection Campaigns
The announcement comes amid an intensification of retail inspections by Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI). In a separate enforcement push, MOCI reported a field inspection tour in Hawally governorate that resulted in 13 violation reports against multiple shops. According to a statement carried by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the campaign—led by Minister Boodai and conducted by the ministry’s emergency inspection team—identified infractions including non-compliance with decisions regulating fixed prices for food items.
MOCI said its emergency teams will continue campaigns across markets to monitor pricing, protect consumers, and enforce regulatory decisions.
Social Affairs Ministry: Monitoring Supply Stability
Separately, Kuwait’s Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs, Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah, conducted an inspection tour of cooperative societies in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate to review stock levels and the availability of food and basic commodities. During the visit, she met citizens and gathered observations about product availability.
Al-Huwailah stated that food supplies remain stable, cooperatives are meeting consumer needs without shortages, and urged officials to maintain adequate quantities of essentials and prioritize national products. She framed the tours as aligned with political leadership directives to monitor market conditions and ensure continuity of essential goods.
More Violations in Other Governorates
MOCI also announced additional inspection campaigns in Farwaniya and Ahmadi governorates targeting commercial shops, issuing violation reports for a range of retail compliance failures, including:
- Not complying with fixed food pricing decisions
- Selling above the approved prices
- Failure to display prices
- Improper promotional offers
- Failure to issue invoices
- Not specifying the country of origin
- Mismatch between actual commercial activity and licensed activity
Legal measures were taken against violators, and MOCI reiterated that inspection campaigns will continue to ensure establishments comply with market regulations.
See also: Azerbaijan sets fines for e-cigarette trade and production
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