South Korea to Regulate “Pseudo-Nicotine” Amid Vape Law Evasion

South Korea is moving to close a new loophole in its tobacco laws as the industry reportedly shifts to “pseudo-nicotine” to evade an impending crackdown on synthetic nicotine. An amendment to the Tobacco Business Act, which redefines “tobacco” to include products made from synthetic nicotine (such as e-cigarette liquids), has recently passed the parliamentary Strategy and Finance Committee. This change is expected to generate an additional 930 billion won in tax revenue.

However, during a parliamentary audit, People Power Party lawmaker Park Seong-hoon raised concerns that the industry is already transitioning to “pseudo-nicotine” products to circumvent these new regulations, which could nullify the expected tax revenue. He has proposed a further amendment to expand the definition of tobacco to also include pseudo-nicotine and other chemical raw materials designated by presidential decree.

In response, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Koo Yoon-cheol, acknowledged the concerns. He stated that the health risks of pseudo-nicotine have not yet been verified and that the government will assess these substances to determine if they can be classified and regulated as tobacco. The proposed additional legislation also includes a clause to prohibit advertising or labeling that could cause a non-tobacco product to be mistaken for one.

• News source: 합성니코틴 과세 9300억 기대..유사니코틴 규제도 시동

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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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