Background
Cambodia uses government orders, inter-ministerial coordination, and public communication measures to implement public health restrictions across schools, local administrations, and commercial channels. Regulation of electronic smoking devices falls within a broader governance framework that combines import control, market restrictions, advertising limits, and health protection measures.
School health governance in Cambodia links education administration with public health and provincial implementation mechanisms. Restrictions on electronic smoking devices and related chemicals affect multiple control points, including importation, online sales, public advertising, possession, storage, and use near education settings.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on School Health provides a coordination mechanism for ministries, institutions, subnational authorities, and partner organizations on health-related measures affecting students and school environments. Public information tools such as roadside displays, posters, LED boards, digital school platforms, and ministry media channels are used to support compliance and awareness.
Scope of Application
The implementation discussion concerned Government Order No. 02 and its prohibition measures relating to the import, distribution, sale, including online sale, advertising, use, production, possession, and storage of electronic smoking devices and chemicals used for smoking.
The measures were addressed to relevant ministries, institutions, and the governors and boards of governors of Phnom Penh and the provinces. The communication and awareness component also covered dissemination near schools, on national roads, through digital school platforms, ministry pages, YouTube, and support from the Ministry of Information.
Key Provisions or Decisions
On 10 April 2026 in Phnom Penh, MoEYS Secretary of State in charge Dr. Kim Sethany, serving as permanent vice chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on School Health, chaired a secretariat meeting on the implementation plan for the government order. She represented Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron, who chairs the committee.
According to the ministry statement, the meeting was convened to discuss and organize implementation of the order, with emphasis on prohibiting importation, online distribution and sale, production, possession, and storage of electronic smoking devices and related chemicals. Participants included leaders and officials from relevant ministries and institutions, development partners, and related organizations.
The meeting also reviewed and updated communication tools, including prohibition images and government-order content for display on billboards, posters, and LED boards along national roads and near schools. It further considered dissemination through digital school platforms, ministry pages, YouTube, and public information support to strengthen prevention of online advertising, sale, distribution, and use of e-cigarettes or vapes.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
The implementation plan signals continued cross-government coordination around a formal prohibition regime rather than a sector-specific school advisory. Businesses involved in import, retail, online sales, advertising, warehousing, or distribution of electronic smoking devices and related chemicals face compliance exposure if their activities fall within the prohibited categories described by the government order.
For schools, local authorities, and communication operators, the plan indicates that enforcement support will include visible public messaging and school-area dissemination. For digital platforms and advertisers, the focus on online advertising and online sales suggests that compliance attention extends beyond physical markets to electronic channels.
Official Source
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS) Facebook post published on 10 April 2026: official source.
