BACKGROUND: In recent years, the sales of e-cigarettes have been increasing. However, an international recognized system has not been formed in the regulatory policy of e-cigarettes.
METHODS: The e-cigarette regulatory policies of different countries were reviewed and analyzed in five dimensions: e-cigarette sales restriction, protecting people from the harm of e-cigarettes, warning the harm of e-cigarettes, banning e-cigarette advertising, promotion and sponsorship and e-cigarette taxation.
RESULTS: Among 43 countries, 55.8% countries have banned e-cigarette use in certain places. 69.8% countries require health warnings on packaging, and 90.0% of them require a minimum area of at least 30.0% of the surface. 71.7% countries have banned or restricted e-cigarette advertising, with 25.6% specifically regulating the display of samples at retail points. The ratio of national e-cigarette tax to traditional tobacco tax is 20.0%~30.0%.
CONCLUSIONS: It is time to standardize the decoration standards of e-cigarette retail outlets in order to reduce hidden propaganda. Meanwhile, a nationwide push should be made to ban smoking in all indoor public places as soon as possible.