Delay Expected in Enactment of South Korean Synthetic Nicotine Tobacco Regulations

According to a report by Etnews on January 9th, the expected implementation of new regulations on synthetic nicotine tobacco in South Korea is likely to be delayed. Despite an agreement between the ruling party and opposition parties in the National Assembly on regulating such products, the discussion may be postponed due to the current special status of the government under the acting presidency system.

According to industry sources, the regulation of synthetic nicotine may be included in the revision of the Tobacco Business Act by the first half of 2025 at the earliest. However, due to the Planning and Finance Ministry, which is responsible for this law, being too busy to address this issue, the update process may be delayed. This is because Choi Sang-mok, the current Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Finance, is also serving as acting President and Prime Minister, leading to a heavy workload.

In addition, concerns from the planning finance department about bottlenecks in handling tax issues related to synthetic nicotine tobacco have made quick legislation difficult.

An industry insider stated, "Since both the ruling party and the opposition have no objections to the new regulations on synthetic nicotine regulation, it is imperative to amend the Tobacco Industry Law. However, if the specific implementation methods and practical examination, such as tobacco taxes, are delayed by the Ministry of Planning and Finance, it may be postponed until the regular session of the National Assembly in September.

The crux of the revision bill lies in whether to include synthetic nicotine in the legal definition of tobacco. Currently classified as an industrial product, synthetic nicotine is not subject to the current Tobacco Industry Law restrictions, allowing it to be sold through various channels such as online stores, unmanned vending machines, internet cafes, and even in the form of cosmetics and watches.