IQOS will remain unchallenged in Kyrgyzstan’s nicotine device market for another six months

The Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan has extended the ban on the import of e-cigarettes, liquid nicotine delivery systems, and nicotine-containing liquids for another six months. Adylbek Kasymaliev signed the relevant decree on June 1.

The basis for the decision was the law “On the Protection of the Health of Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic from the Consequences of Tobacco and Nicotine Consumption, as well as Exposure to Secondhand Tobacco Smoke and Aerosols.”

In effect, this is an extension of the existing restrictions. The previous six-month ban was introduced in December 2025 and was set to expire in mid-2026. Now, the authorities have decided to maintain the restrictions for another six months.

E-cigarettes, vapes, liquid nicotine delivery systems, and nicotine-containing liquids in cartridges, tanks, and other containers are once again banned.

However, the document does not explicitly mention tobacco heating systems that use tobacco sticks, such as IQOS.

In essence, for at least another six months, the e-cigarette market in Kyrgyzstan will remain closed to new shipments of vapes and nicotine liquids. This means that the tobacco heating system segment will continue to operate under conditions of limited competition from alternative nicotine devices.

In the new resolution, the Cabinet of Ministers also expanded the title of the document, specifically mentioning e-cigarettes, nicotine delivery systems, and nicotine-containing liquids. However, the list of prohibited goods has remained virtually unchanged compared to the previous resolution.

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has been instructed to notify the World Trade Organization and the Eurasian Economic Commission of the introduction of these restrictions, while the Customs and Border Services are to take measures to prevent the illegal import of prohibited products.