South Korea’s President Raises Safety Concerns Over Nicotine Alternatives at Cabinet Meeting
South Korea amended its Tobacco Business Act to regulate liquid e-cigarettes and synthetic nicotine products, addressing safety and taxation gaps.Summary
South Korea’s Cabinet, led by President Lee Jae-myung, approved an amendment to the Tobacco Business Act, classifying liquid e-cigarettes and products containing synthetic nicotine as tobacco products. This revision aims to close regulatory and taxation loopholes that previously existed for these items. The amendment stipulates that products released four months after enforcement will be subject to tobacco control and taxation. While nicotine-free alternatives remain largely unregulated, the government plans to strengthen safety assessments and inter-agency oversight, linking the Chemical Products Safety Act with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s oversight system. President Lee expressed concerns about the safety of substances mimicking nicotine’s effects without proper verification, particularly in light of reported lung injury cases linked to liquid e-cigarettes.
(Source：2Firsts)
