Penalties, totaling millions of tenge, are being issued extensively for livestock violations and snus consumption offenses
In the heart of Astana, preventive raids are on the rise, targeting the illicit sale and use of non-cigarette tobacco products like vapes and smokeless tobacco. They're happening everywhere, as per reports on our site, in agreement with the Akimat of Astana.
Delving deeper, it's worth noting that there's a legal crackdown happening across Kazakhstan regarding these products. With increased law enforcement activity, the country is tightening regulations on vapes, flavorings, and smokeless tobacco. Recent proposals aim to punish large-scale storage and delivery of vapes and related products, with criminal liability now being considered for distribution and commercial activity (provided the threshold of 2,000 MCI, equivalent to approximately 7.8 million tenge in 2025, is exceeded)[2].
Despite the focus on commercial activities, individual users need not worry as storing or using these products for personal use is not prohibited[2]. In terms of large-scale storage, penalties are only applicable if there's proof of intent to distribute and the value exceeds the specified threshold. On a side note, home storage for personal use is within the law[2].
Moving back to Astana, there haven't been any detailed, recent reports of large-scale raids specific to the city. However, the nationwide laws and enforcement trends affect Astana as well[2]. So, while the city's streets might not be buzzing with news of large-scale raids, the nationwide crackdown and legal changes are casting a wide net that includes the capital. The law enforcement's primary focus remains disrupting the illegal commercial activities rather than penalizing individual users[2].
In a nutshell, the nationwide push is against large-scale commercial activities of non-cigarette tobacco products, with the spotlight on large-scale storage and distribution networks[2]. But, the average Joes using these products for personal enjoyment can breathe easy, as the law enforcement is not targeting them. Astana is no exception to this rule, as the broader legal changes and increased law enforcement activity apply to the nation's capital, too.
In the broader context of Kazakhstan, science and health-and-wellness intertwine as the nationwide push targets large-scale commercial activities of non-cigarette tobacco products like vapes, focusing on large-scale storage and distribution networks. Individual users, however, can find comfort in knowing that their personal use of these products is not prohibited by the law.
