A bill that includes liquid-type electronic cigarettes in the legal definition of 'tobacco' did not pass the Economic and Financial Subcommittee of the National Assembly on the 10th. Some members raised concerns about the credibility of the government's findings, noting that synthetic nicotine is harmful, similar to existing tobacco products, and opposed the bill. There were also arguments that decisions should be deferred considering the survival rights of the liquid tobacco industry.
The Economic and Financial Subcommittee of the National Assembly held a meeting that day to review a proposed amendment to the Tobacco Business Act. As a result, the committee did not process the bill, accepting the industry's stance.
The main point of the amendment is to expand the definition of 'legal tobacco' to include liquid-type electronic cigarettes that use synthetic nicotine as a primary ingredient. Under current law, tobacco is defined as 'the leaves of the tobacco plant.' Electronic cigarettes containing synthetic nicotine are not classified as legal tobacco.
The issue is that liquid-type electronic cigarettes have a similar addictive quality to existing tobacco products and are effectively used as tobacco. However, they are not included in the legal definition of tobacco, thus escaping various regulations and taxation. In fact, electronic cigarettes that use synthetic nicotine as a primary ingredient are not subject to tobacco tax. They also do not face sales regulations such as advertising restrictions and online sales limitations.
Earlier, the Economic and Financial Subcommittee held a public hearing related to the amendment of the Tobacco Business Act in December of last year. At that time, both ruling and opposition party members reached a consensus that liquid-type electronic cigarettes should be regulated legally as if they were tobacco.
The governing Ministry of Economy and Finance also announced a research study in November of the same year. The research stated, 'Synthetic nicotine concentrate contains many harmful substances, and the residual amounts of harmful substances are not less than those of tobacco nicotine concentrate; therefore, it should be regulated in the same manner as tobacco nicotine.'
However, during the meeting that day, differing views were raised regarding the government's findings. During a closed-door meeting, comments were made such as, 'We cannot trust the government's findings that synthetic nicotine is harmful,' and 'This is a matter where the survival of liquid tobacco vendors is at stake, so the passage of the bill should be deferred.'
A member of the Economic and Financial Subcommittee noted, 'There is a consensus among (ruling and opposition party) members to define and regulate liquid-type electronic cigarettes as tobacco,' but added, 'However, additional discussions are needed on how to flexibly apply the Tobacco Business Act considering the survival rights of sales vendors.'