The Macau Legislative Assembly has approved an amendment to the Regime for the Prevention and Control of Smoking, outlawing the possession and consumption of e-cigarettes. This policy expands outdoor smoke-free zones and authorizes enforcement officers to use body cameras during patrols.
The new regulations will take effect in 2027. However, the specific ban on e-cigarette possession and use will be phased in, becoming active in July 2027 – six months after the law’s initial implementation. Health Bureau Director Alvis Lo stated that equipping inspectors with cameras will protect staff safety and improve the efficiency of field operations.
This update targets the health risks associated with tobacco and alternative nicotine products. By criminalizing possession and use, Macau closes a regulatory loophole; the city had previously banned the manufacture, distribution, import, export, and sale of e-cigarettes, but personal use and possession had remained legal until this amendment.
During the same legislative session, lawmakers also approved changes to the internal structure of the Legislative Assembly. The administrative reform simplifies the body’s internal organization, reducing its divisions and cutting the number of deputy secretaries-general from two to one to improve operational efficiency.
