The Ministry of Health has spoken about the possibility of a complete ban on the sale and smoking of hookahs in Kazakhstan, reports the national portal “Adyrna,” citing Tengrinews.kz.
In response to an official inquiry from Tengrinews.kz, the Ministry of Health stated that discussions are underway on banning the sale of hookahs in public places. “Due to the widespread use of hookahs, there is a need to strengthen regulation. Issues such as tightening control over the sale and consumption of hookah bowls and hookah mixtures, as well as implementing preventive measures to reduce their use, are being discussed,” the ministry’s response noted.
In Kazakhstan, smoking hookah in public places is prohibited by law. However, there is currently no ban on the sale of hookahs, which means businesses can sell them, though they can only be smoked in private residences.
According to the ministry, a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) must be conducted according to current legislation. This includes consideration of proposed regulatory measures, definitions by the regulatory authority, and potential changes to fines. After the RIA, public hearings will be held with representatives of the business community.
It is worth noting that in the spring, the Ministry of Health announced it was discussing a full ban on hookah use in Kazakhstan. According to ministry officials, Kazakhstanis do not comply with the hookah ban law due to insufficient fines.
