The government said all nicotine-based products will be reclassified as tobacco products, in a bid to rein in unregulated sales and promotion of e-cigarettes and vape juice that are in a legal loophole.
The legal revision is set to take effect on April 24, expanding the legal definition of tobacco to include products made from either tobacco leaf or nicotine, synthetic or otherwise, according to the Health and Welfare Ministry yesterday.
The change will bring liquid e-cigarettes under the same regulations as conventional tobacco for the first time in 37 years.
Under the expanded definition, all nicotine-based products must comply with the National Health Promotion Act, which mandates health warnings on packaging and tightly restricts advertising.
Flavoured-product labels, which previously attracted youth, will be prohibited.
Vending machines must be installed only by licensed retailers, equipped with adult-authentication devices and placed in restricted areas such as smoking rooms or adult-only zones.
Violations – including improper advertising, failure to display health warnings or non-compliant vending machine placement – may result in fines of up to 10 million won (RM34,200) or imprisonment for up to one year.
All tobacco products, including liquid-type e-cigarettes, will be banned in designated non-smoking areas, with penalties of up to 100,000 won (RM270). — The Korea Herald/ANN
