About 330 million packs of e-cigarettes were sold in South Korea last year. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 4 (Korea Bizwire) — Some have pointed out that liquid-type e-cigarettes, which are classified as chemicals, are being distributed to the public due to lack of related laws, threatening national health.
According to data received by Rep. Ki Dong-min from several government ministries, under the current law, the Ministry of Economy and Finance will manage the manufacturing, sales and distribution of cigarettes and the Ministry of Health and Welfare will manage anti-smoking policy.
The problem is that many liquid-type electronic cigarettes on the market are not included in the definition of tobacco under the Tobacco Business Act.
The Tobacco Business Act defines tobacco as “manufactured in a condition suitable for smoking, sucking on, steam inhaling, chewing, or smelling of all or part of the raw material.”
However, many of the liquid-type e-cigarettes currently in circulation in Korea were made using tobacco stems, root-extraction nicotine or synthetic nicotine, not tobacco leaves.
For this reason, these products can be sold under the name of cigarettes at convenience stores or e-cigarette sales outlets without paying taxes such as individual consumption taxes or health promotion charges.
Even if used in non-smoking areas, there is no basis for imposing fines under current laws.
It is estimated that 30 to 40 liquid-type e-cigarette products are being distributed in the market without complying with the law.
Analysts say that is likely that the usage statistics of e-cigarettes would rise if e-cigarettes from overseas are included.
“The National Assembly should pass a revised bill to the tobacco business law that includes nicotine solutions in the definition of cigarettes to protect the lives and safety of the people,” Ki said.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
