South Korea Mandates Disclosure of Harmful Vape Ingredients

South Korea Synthetic Nicotine

The South Korean government has finalized the list of harmful ingredients in tobacco and vaping products that manufacturers and importers must now test for and disclose to the public. This move is a follow-up measure to the new Tobacco Harmful Substance Management Act, which came into effect earlier this month.

Under the new law, all tobacco manufacturers and importers are required to submit analysis results for harmful ingredients in their products every two years. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced the finalized list after a meeting of the Tobacco Harmful Substance Management Policy Committee. The first round of analysis requests to testing institutions is due before January 2026, with the results expected to be made public in the second half of that year.

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The mandatory disclosure list specifies 44 harmful ingredients for conventional cigarettes and heated tobacco products, including nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, and benzene. For liquid-type e-cigarettes (vapes), a list of 20 ingredients has been designated for testing, including nicotine, propylene glycol, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde.

The testing methods are based on international standards from organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). While the inclusion of “tar” on the cigarette list has sparked some debate over its legal definition as a single “ingredient” versus a complex mixture, the government’s aim is to enhance public right-to-know and health protection. Officials have stated they will continue to expand the list of disclosed ingredients and testing requirements as analytical methods are further developed.

Matthew Ma
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