In a move to curb the rising use of tobacco products, particularly among adolescents and young people, 23 parliamentarians formally submitted a draft amendment to the Law on Tobacco Control to the Speaker of the Parliament, D.Amarbayasgalan. The proposal, backed by 76 members of the legislature, aims to tighten regulations on all forms of smoking including electronic cigarettes and introduce comprehensive prevention measures.
The proposed amendments seek to classify e-cigarettes under the same regulatory framework as traditional tobacco products, citing their growing popularity among youth and associated health risks. Lawmakers emphasized the urgency of the measure, noting that without decisive action, future generations could fall victim to harmful addiction and its long-term consequences.
According to data from the Parliament’s Press Department, tobacco-related illnesses are a major public health burden in Mongolia. Tobacco use is responsible for 17 percent of all deaths in the country approximately 4,300 deaths annually. The economic impact is equally alarming, with tobacco use costing the nation around 801 billion MNT each year, or 2.1 percent of its GDP.
Despite earlier efforts  including the original Tobacco Control Law adopted in 1993 and amended eight times since 2005, assessments show that weak enforcement, poor inter-agency coordination, and a rise in illegal tobacco trade have hampered progress. These gaps have contributed to a worrying surge in tobacco use among the country's youth. The new draft law is designed to close those gaps. It proposes regulating electronic cigarettes in the same manner as traditional cigarettes, strengthening enforcement mechanisms, and increasing excise taxes on tobacco products in stages from 2025 to 2030, in line with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.
Lawmakers cited the 2021 WHO report “E-cigarettes and Health,” which warns that e-cigarettes pose significant risks, including respiratory inflammation, cardiovascular issues, and nicotine addiction. The report also emphasized that e-cigarettes are not a proven tool for smoking cessation, but rather a new path to addiction, particularly for adolescents.
Researchers involved in drafting the amendment argue that Mongolia’s relatively low tobacco prices and lower-than-recommended tax rates are key factors behind the increased consumption. Drawing on international best practices, the bill aims to reduce both morbidity and mortality by making tobacco products less accessible and by supporting long-term public health strategies.
If passed, the law would reportedly mark a major shift in Mongolia’s approach to tobacco control to safeguard the health of younger generations and reduce the economic and social costs of smoking.

Published Date:2025-09-22