A bill to amend the law to regulate synthetic nicotine as tobacco passed a subcommittee of the standing committee.
The Strategy and Finance Committee's Subcommittee on Economy and Finance on the 22nd passed an amendment to the Tobacco Business Act that defines and regulates synthetic nicotine as tobacco. Regulation of synthetic nicotine began in 2016 but has failed to clear the National Assembly threshold for nine years. By passing the subcommittee of the standing committee this time, it effectively took its first step.
The current Tobacco Business Act defines and regulates only products made from tobacco leaves as tobacco. Synthetic nicotine, which is produced by synthesizing chemicals, is harmful—some even say it contains more harmful substances than tobacco-derived nicotine—but it has been distributed unchecked because it sits in a regulatory blind spot. In particular, as teenagers encounter liquid e-cigarettes using synthetic nicotine, it has emerged as a prime threat to adolescent health.
According to data submitted by the Korea Customs Service to People Power Party lawmaker Park Su-young's office, imports of synthetic nicotine increased from 98 tons in 2021 to 532 tons last year. This year, imports reached 491 tons from January to August alone, already nearing last year's level. Of the imported volume of synthetic nicotine, 98% was from China.
The amendment that passed the subcommittee expands the definition of tobacco from "tobacco leaves" to tobacco or nicotine. It provides that synthetic nicotine will be regulated the same as conventional tobacco. However, synthetic nicotine used for smoking-cessation aids and similar purposes is classified as a quasi-drug and excluded from tobacco.
The amendment that passed the subcommittee will go to the Strategy and Finance Committee's full session and the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee before reaching a plenary vote.