South Korea’s Synthetic Nicotine Regulation Bill Stalls Amid Opposition

South Korea synthetic nicotine regulation

A bill seeking to regulate synthetic nicotine products, which make up a significant portion of the e-liquid vaping market, failed to pass the subcommittee stage of the South Korean National Assembly’s Planning and Finance Committee. The proposed amendment to the Tobacco Business Act aimed to expand the definition of tobacco products to include synthetic nicotine.

The bill, put forward by People Power Party Representative Park Sung-hoon and others, would have broadened the scope of tobacco raw materials from ‘tobacco leaf’ to ‘tobacco and nicotine.’ However, some representatives expressed opposition to the bill’s passage, questioning the government-commissioned research on the harmfulness of synthetic nicotine and arguing that the issue affects the survival of e-liquid businesses.

The Economic and Financial Subcommittee decided to further discuss the amendment after reviewing the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s position on retail location restrictions, price increase margins, and potential harm to industry stakeholders.

Currently, the Tobacco Business Act defines ‘tobacco’ exclusively as products manufactured from ‘tobacco leaf,’ exempting synthetic nicotine products from tobacco taxes, surcharges, and regulations such as health warning labels, advertising restrictions, and online sales limitations. Selling these products to minors also carries no legal penalties.

Civic organizations and the conventional tobacco industry have called for the regulation of synthetic nicotine products to prevent youth harm and tax evasion.

Matthew Ma
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