A victory for health: Mongolia🇲🇳 adopts landmark amendments to the Tobacco Control Law 16 October 2026 – The State Great Khural (Parliament of Mongolia) adopted landmark amendments to the Tobacco Control Law and related legislation, including the Law on Excise Tax. This marks a major milestone in Mongolia’s efforts to protect public health, particularly the health of children and young people, from the harms of tobacco and nicotine products, including electronic cigarettes. More than a decade after the previous major reform, the amendments strengthen Mongolia’s tobacco control framework and further align national legislation with international best practices and evidence-based measures for tobacco control and public health protection. Key amendments include: · Expanding the definition of tobacco and nicotine products to cover new and emerging products, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. · Introducing regulations for e-cigarettes and other emerging tobacco and nicotine products for the first time. · Banning flavours in tobacco and nicotine products and display of the products at points-of-sale. · Increasing graphic health warnings to cover at least 70% of product packaging, up from 50%. · Introducing annual increases in excise taxes on tobacco and nicotine products from 2027 to 2031. · Allocating a portion of tobacco tax revenue to health promotion, tobacco cessation services and disease prevention. · Strengthening penalties and increasing fines for violations. Higher taxes make tobacco and nicotine products less affordable and are an evidence-based way to reduce consumption, particularly among young people. The amendments are projected to reduce tobacco use among the population by 11.5% by 2031, once the law is fully implemented. Effective implementation and enforcement of the amendments can help reduce tobacco and nicotine use, protect young people from taking up these products, support current users in quitting, and ultimately reduce tobacco-related disease and premature deaths, protecting the health of current and future generations. WHO’s support for tobacco control in Mongolia has spanned many years, including generating local evidence, sharing international good practices, providing technical support for evidence-based policies on taxation and regulation, supporting public awareness campaigns, and continuously advocating for the adoption and implementation of measures under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). WHO will continue to support Mongolia in effectively implementing and enforcing the amended legislation, which is scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2027. WHO commends Members of Parliament and the Government of Mongolia for their leadership and commitment to protecting the next generation and build a healthier, tobacco-free future for Mongolians.