Experts Discuss Legislative Amendments on E-cigarette Taxation and Regulation

According to a report from Newsis on September 10th, the Korea E-cigarette Safety Association (KELSA) held a symposium on September 10th to discuss legislative amendments that would classify synthetic nicotine as tobacco and subject it to taxation. The meeting brought together experts in the fields of legislation, law, public health, and taxation to collectively examine the potential impacts of the proposed amendments.

During the seminar, experts pointed out that the terms in the revised bill are unclear and may violate legislative principles. They expressed concerns that failing to differentiate between natural and synthetic nicotine could potentially increase the market advantage of traditional e-cigarettes, leading to negative effects on public health. The experts emphasized that legislation should prioritize protecting public health over simply increasing tax revenue.

Experts have put forward four suggestions to address market chaos.

Include synthetic nicotine, which is equivalent to natural nicotine, in the definition of tobacco.

Secondly, adjust the tax rates of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products based on harmfulness ratios.

Thirdly, taxing natural nicotine e-liquid during the importation stage.

Fourth, establish reliable standards for distinguishing natural and synthetic nicotine, and unify the identification methods of the drug regulatory authorities and customs.

Experts are calling for the rapid formulation and revision of relevant laws to strengthen protection for teenagers purchasing and using e-cigarettes. They emphasize that, after conducting thorough investigative research, legislative impact analysis should be carried out before making cautious decisions to amend tobacco business laws.

The discussion results of this forum will provide important reference for the revision of legislation on e-cigarettes in South Korea, aiming to ensure that the legislation can effectively regulate the market while also protecting public health, especially among the youth population.