South Korea Debates Regulating Synthetic Nicotine Cigarettes

As the year 2024 draws to a close, South Korea finds itself at a crossroads in the battle against the unregulated sale and distribution of synthetic nicotine cigarettes. On December 27, a public hearing on the proposed amendments to the Tobacco Business Act was held at the National Assembly, highlighting the growing concerns over the “regulatory blind spot” that has led to massive tax deficits and an alarming increase in youth smoking.

Retailers and Youth Groups Call for Swift Action

E-cigarette retailers and youth groups are urging the National Assembly to act quickly in establishing regulations for synthetic nicotine cigarettes. Kim Do-hwan, executive vice-chairman of the Electronic Cigarette Association, issued a statement during the hearing, emphasizing the dangers of the current unregulated market.

“Synthetic nicotine is being sold online, in unmanned vending machines, and even in PCs without the necessary permits,” Kim stated. “Indiscriminate promotion is targeting unspecified numbers of people who do not want to smoke and youth who need protection.”

Currently, ten bills have been proposed in the National Assembly to expand the definition of cigarettes to include synthetic nicotine, which is not manufactured from tobacco leaves. The public hearing aimed to gather expert opinions on these bills.

Government Shifts Stance on Regulation

The Ministry of Strategy and Finance, responsible for overseeing the tobacco industry, has been cautious about regulating synthetic nicotine cigarettes. However, a recent research project conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare has prompted a change in the government’s position.

The study confirmed the presence of a significant number of harmful substances with carcinogenic and reproductive toxicity in synthetic nicotine concentrate. As a result, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance now believes that regulation is necessary.

Retailers Suffer Losses, Seek Market Normalization

Vice Chairman Kim claimed that retailers who have obtained tobacco retailer designation permits from the government and sell the products are suffering damages due to the indiscriminate distribution of synthetic nicotine cigarettes.

“It is threatening the livelihood of approximately 4,000 retailers nationwide who have received legal tobacco retailer designation permits and are doing business,” Kim stated. “I support the bill to regulate synthetic nicotine so that the market can return to normal as soon as possible, allowing us to do business with peace of mind.”

Opposition from Synthetic Nicotine Manufacturers

On the other hand, the Korea Electronic Liquid Safety Association, representing synthetic nicotine manufacturers and distributors, expressed opposition to the revised bill. In a statement, the association argued that synthetic nicotine does not contain carcinogenic ingredients and that regulating it would lead to increased consumption of more harmful conventional cigarettes and tobacco nicotine liquid electronic cigarettes.

The association also questioned the credibility of the research project commissioned by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, suggesting that the study may have used fake synthetic nicotine or that the research method was intentionally distorted. They called for a re-evaluation of the harmfulness study.

Ministry of Health and Welfare Stands by Research

Despite the opposition’s claims, the Ministry of Health and Welfare maintains that there are no significant issues with the research process or results. An official from the ministry, appearing before the Economy and Finance Subcommittee of the National Assembly’s Strategy and Finance Committee last month, defended the study.

“We have extensive experience analyzing tobacco ingredients and have already completed many projects commissioned by the government or public institutions,” the official stated. “Procedurally, we legally entered into a contract and carried out the project because it is considered specialized academic research under the Public Contracts Act.”

As South Korea enters 2025, the debate over regulating synthetic nicotine cigarettes is expected to intensify. The National Assembly must carefully consider the evidence and expert opinions presented during the public hearing to strike a balance between protecting public health, particularly that of the youth, and addressing the concerns of retailers and manufacturers. The outcome of this legislative battle will have far-reaching consequences for the country’s fight against the dangers of unregulated synthetic nicotine products.

News souce: “청소년 무방비 노출” 합성니코틴 담배 규제 입법 공청회 개최

Author
Recent Posts

Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.