South Korea Bans Online Sales of Synthetic Nicotine E-Liquids

South Korea is expanding its Tobacco Business Act to officially classify synthetic nicotine as tobacco. Starting this week, authorities will completely ban the online sale of synthetic nicotine e-liquids and subject them to the same strict regulations and taxes as conventional cigarettes.

The South Korean Ministry of Finance and Economy has announced a sweeping crackdown on synthetic nicotine. Ahead of the revised Tobacco Business Act taking effect this week, the government is expanding the legal definition of tobacco to include synthetic nicotine, effectively closing the regulatory loophole that allowed these e-liquids to be sold freely online.

Under the new framework, manufacturers and importers must obtain ministerial approval and register with provincial governments. Furthermore, vendors selling directly to consumers must be officially designated as tobacco retailers by local authorities.

The expanded regulations introduce several strict compliance measures for the e-cigarette market:

• Packaging Rules: Manufacturers must attach warning images, disclose nicotine content, and are banned from labeling flavoring substances.
• Product Integrity: It is now illegal to open products, add other substances, and resell them.
• Public Use: Vaping synthetic liquids is explicitly prohibited in designated no-smoking areas.
• Safety Testing: Harmful substance testing is mandatory every two years.

While synthetic nicotine will now be subject to individual consumption taxes, the ministry is applying a 50% tax reduction for the next two years to cushion the market impact. Separately, authorities are preparing safety assessments for emerging “nicotine analogs,” such as 6-methylnicotine, signaling further regulatory tightening on the horizon.

• News source: Online sales of liquid e-cigarettes to be banned; warning labels mandatory

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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.

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