Key Points
- Japan’s health ministry proposed not tightening heated tobacco rules to the same level as cigarettes.
- A ministry expert panel broadly agreed with the proposal.
- Japan’s indoor smoking restrictions took effect in April 2020.
- Heated tobacco products are currently covered by a transitional arrangement.
- The ministry said passive emissions contain harmful substances, but evidence remains insufficient to assess health impact.
2Firsts
July 9, 2026
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has proposed forgoing tighter regulations on heated tobacco products to the same extent as cigarettes, Jiji Press reported on July 9.
The proposal is part of a review of measures against passive smoking. An expert panel set up by the ministry broadly agreed with the approach, and the review is expected to be completed as early as this summer.
Japan May Keep Transitional Rules for Heated Tobacco
Japan’s Health Promotion Law, which took effect in April 2020, bans indoor smoking in principle at various facilities, including restaurants.
Under current rules, cigarettes may be smoked only in designated smoking rooms, where eating and drinking are prohibited.
Heated tobacco products are treated differently under a transitional measure. Users are allowed to eat and drink while using heated tobacco products in designated rooms, because the health effects of such products remain unclear.
The ministry’s latest proposal suggests Japan may continue to maintain a differentiated regulatory approach between heated tobacco products and conventional cigarettes in the near term.
Passive Emissions Contain Harmful Substances, but Evidence Remains Limited
The health ministry said passive emissions from heated tobacco products contain harmful substances, including carcinogens.
However, the ministry also said accumulated knowledge remains insufficient to assess the health impact of such exposure.
That assessment is a key reason behind the proposal not to tighten heated tobacco regulations to the same extent as cigarette rules for now.
Heated Tobacco Review Remains Focused on Passive Smoking
The current review concerns passive smoking measures, rather than market authorization for heated tobacco products.
The main policy question is whether Japan should end the transitional arrangement for heated tobacco products and apply the same indoor-use restrictions as those imposed on cigarettes.
Based on the expert panel’s position, regulators appear inclined to maintain the current arrangement while continuing to assess scientific evidence and health risks.
Industry Impact and Outlook
Japan is one of the world’s most important markets for heated tobacco products and a key market for multinational tobacco companies’ heated tobacco strategies.
The ministry’s decision to hold off on tighter rules means heated tobacco products may continue to retain more flexible indoor-use conditions than cigarettes in Japan. This has practical implications for manufacturers, hospitality venues and users.
However, the proposal does not mean Japanese regulators consider passive exposure to heated tobacco products risk-free. The ministry said such emissions contain harmful substances, including carcinogens, and its current position is based mainly on insufficient evidence to assess health impact.
From an industry perspective, Japan’s case shows that heated tobacco regulation remains shaped by a balance between scientific evidence, public health objectives and market realities. If more evidence emerges on passive exposure and long-term health effects, Japan could revisit indoor-use rules for heated tobacco products.
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Cover Image source: Jiji Press
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