Several cities and counties in Taiwan — including the capital Taipei — have already banned the sale of e-cigarettes and HTP, according to ECig Intelligence. Outright bans on vaping, such as the proposed Taiwanese law, are common in Asia. Health Promotion Department Director Lin Meng-hui (林夢蕙) supports the council`s decision, but said the city has not set a timeline for implementing the ban. At the national level, Taiwan`s Ministry of Health and Welfare has also proposed a draft amendment to the Tobacco Risk Prevention Act to raise the legal age limit for tobacco from 18 to 20 years. The amendment would also introduce such restrictions for non-combustible tobacco products such as vaping products. Smoking is legal for adults, so the government should not ban the use of e-cigarettes to deter teens from smoking, he said. The amendment was proposed by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and aims to raise the legal smoking age from 18 to 20 years. The bill also expands the list of places where smoking is prohibited. The legal situation in Taiwan is confusing and e-cigarettes currently exist thanks to a legal vacuum. Officially, retailers require a licence under the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act to sell e-cigarettes, and none have been approved. Taiwan has a Tobacco Risk Prevention Act (1997), but it does not appear to be able to regulate e-cigarettes because they do not contain tobacco. In 2017, it was reported that Taiwan`s executive arm, the Yuan Executive, was considering an amendment to the Tobacco Risk Prevention Act that would result in a complete ban on the sale of all vaping products, whether they contain nicotine or not.
The new law would codify the ban and result in severe penalties for violations. The penalty for manufacturing or importing e-cigarettes would range from NT$50,000 to NT$250,000 (US$1650-8250). The sale and use of e-cigarette products in smoke-free areas would be punishable by a fine of NT$10,000 to NT$50,000 (US$330-1650). Descriptions of the law in news reports are confusing, suggesting that some products are eligible for approval after being submitted to the government for evaluation. However, it would be almost impossible to prohibit personal use only of products that are not approved for sale. (The provision allowing certain legal products can only apply to heated tobacco products (HTP) and not to e-liquid-based vaporizers.) Panelist Wu Jui-che (吳瑞哲) also questioned whether illicit drugs should also be regulated to control their quality and because many people use them. Taiwan has opted for the latter option. Nicotine vapors are largely banned off the coast of mainland China in this country of 24 million people — though there are legal complexities and grey areas, with an ongoing lawsuit by vape sellers against the government and legislative changes. Should drugs be legalized simply because many people use them and tax revenue could be generated from their sales, Bi asked. Huang Kuan-lin (黃冠霖), said the government`s reasons for banning e-cigarettes — including teens curious to try them, consumers who can add nicotine to e-cigarette e-liquids, also known as vape juice, and an increased risk of teenage users smoking cigarettes — are inappropriate. Photo of Danny Wang filing a complaint against Taiwan`s Ministry of Health and Welfare, courtesy of Wang / VAPE Taiwan However, there are some legal loopholes that allow the industry to exist here. For example, there is the practice of openly selling nicotine-free products, while nicotine products are sold illegally.
And while Taiwan`s Tobacco Dangers Act specifically bans cylindrical devices, it`s less clear when it comes to other forms. Taiwan`s existing vaping laws are confusing, and some people argue that vaping is already banned. The customs administration issued a press release in 2019 stating that the importation of e-cigarettes – even for personal use – is not allowed. And nicotine-containing products are allowed to be sold illegally in Taiwan without permission from the country`s pharmaceutical authority. National data from 2018 showed that about 4 in 10 young vapers used flavored products, with flavors being more popular among girls. According to the Health Promotion Administration (HPA), a total of 81,000 teens reported starting smoking last year when they were first attracted to flavored products because they are perceived as less harmful. Last year, smoking among Taiwanese youth reportedly increased for the first time in a decade. However, vaping has grown even faster despite restrictions – and has been duly described by government sources as a “stepping stone” to smoking. It`s tempting to wonder if teen smoking would have increased in an environment where vapes were clearly more readily available than cigarettes. E-cigarettes are illegal, but many teens received them through various channels and smoked regularly, he said. Danny (Yu-Yang) Wang is a human rights activist who runs VAPE Taiwan, a media and tobacco rights organization he founded in Taipei, the Taiwanese capital, in 2017. Filter reached out to him to find out more about his work and the challenges he and his allies face.
Taipei`s municipal government on Wednesday became the first local government in the country to pass a judicial ban on e-cigarettes via a self-government ordinance. TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A total of 33 violations of the ban on new tobacco products were reported on Monday (March 28), the first day after the ban went into effect in Taipei. Personally, I was able to switch from cigarettes to electronic cigarettes. I then became involved in promoting tobacco harm reduction. In addition, vaping and the use of heated tobacco products must be prohibited within a 50-metre zone around schools. As a leading media organization for harm reduction from mandarin tobacco, VAPE Taiwan collects, analyzes, translates and disseminates the latest international industry news, research and national data to achieve the goal of a smoke-free Taiwan. At this time, we do not accept industry sponsorships. On cross-examination of Wu`s testimony, Huang asked whether heated tobacco products should also be banned if their health risks are uncertain, and what policies would be issued if all potentially risky products were banned. Smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and consuming sugary foods or drinks can be addictive, but they should be allowed and the public should be informed of potential health damage, he said. Michael is a journalist and researcher. Her work has been supported by the Knowledge-Action-Change Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Program; the independently administered scholarship is funded by a grant from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World.
Michael is also Journalist in Residence and Visiting Scholar on Tobacco and Drug Reduction Policy at the Center for Citizen Research at the American Consumer Institute. He conducts behavioral and consumer-focused research on the impact of public health regulations on people who use drugs, particularly nicotine. His work has been published in the Wall Street Journal, The Hill and the South China Morning Post. He lives in Colorado. Nowadays, e-cigarettes are very popular around the world as they are often labeled as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. However, it is still controversial whether it is good or bad for your health. E-cigarettes have also sparked debate in Taiwan. According to the relevant regulations, these products (mostly containing nicotine) are classified as medicines and not as tobacco products, which means that they cannot be sold without the authorisation of the competent authority. The question should be to what extent the government should interfere with individual freedom when members of the public are exposed to potential harm, Liu said. Taipei is cracking down on new tobacco products. (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Health) Taipei is cracking down on new tobacco products. (Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Health).
This is sad news – will inform the vaping community in Germany, Switzerland and Austria – it will drive away many tourists – myself included. Wang Hsiang-tsui (王湘翠) of NYCU School of Pharmacy said that many aspects of the issue can be discussed, but it is clear that e-cigarettes can have negative health effects, and supporters and opponents should clearly present this fact to the public in subsequent discussions. Taiwanese People`s Party MP Tsai Pi-ru (蔡壁如) said that from the perspective of a mother and a medical professional, she believes the government should ban all tobacco products in the long term, but as a legislator, she believes that the individual rights of smokers should be protected by mechanisms such as creating smoking areas in public spaces. Taiwan, officially called the Republic of China (ROC), has a population of about 24 million. It is estimated that about 19% of adults smoke. However, it is difficult to find reliable and up-to-date estimates of smoking rates because most organizations that collect such information do not recognize Taiwan as a country. The World Health Organization (a UN agency) is simply lumping Taiwan in with the People`s Republic of China. (The PRC asserts that Taiwan is a breakaway province, not a sovereign nation, and that Taiwan is not recognized by the UN or most other countries.) In addition, the Ministry of Health has detected nicotine in e-liquid refills during inspections, and authorities are particularly concerned about the appeal of flavored e-cigarettes to teenagers. Cigarette advertising is permitted. The prevalence of smoking among adults is 13.1 per cent (2.9 per cent of women and 23.1 per cent of men).