South Korea Develops Method to Identify Synthetic Nicotine in E-Cigarettes

Nov.15.2022
South Korea Develops Method to Identify Synthetic Nicotine in E-Cigarettes
South Korea developing method to identify natural versus synthetic nicotine in e-cigarette oil to combat tax evasion.

According to the South Korean Customs Service, they are implementing a plan to combat the practice of claiming that nicotine is synthetic in order to avoid import taxes on tobacco-derived electronic cigarette products.


South Korean customs officials have announced that they have developed a high-precision analysis method that can distinguish whether the nicotine in e-cigarette liquid is extracted from natural tobacco or manufactured in a laboratory.


According to a report by The Korea Biz Wire, a sample preparation technique called derivatization has been utilized to increase the detection sensitivity of specific components in tobacco by 30 times.


In South Korea, e-cigarette liquid containing natural nicotine is classified as cigarettes under tax laws and is subject to an inland duty of 1,799 South Korean won (approximately $1.32 USD) per milliliter.


However, e-cigarette oil produced with chemical materials, based on synthetic nicotine, does not fall under tobacco cigarettes but is considered a manufactured product, and therefore exempt from cigarette consumption tax.


In certain cases, electronic cigarettes that use tobacco-derived nicotine have been falsely reported as synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes in order to avoid taxes.


Statement:


This article is a compilation of third-party information and is intended for industry professionals for educational purposes only.


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the authenticity or accuracy of the article's content. The translation of this article is only for industry exchange and research purposes.


Due to limitations in our translation abilities, the translated article may not fully express the same meaning as the original. Please refer to the original text for accuracy.


2FIRSTS maintains complete alignment with the Chinese government's stance on any domestic, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, or foreign-related issues and positions.


The copyright of the compiled information belongs to the original media and authors. If there is any infringement, please contact us for deletion.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Adani’s Mumbai Airport Duty-Free Shops Face Scrutiny Over Nicotine Pouch Sales in India
Adani’s Mumbai Airport Duty-Free Shops Face Scrutiny Over Nicotine Pouch Sales in India
An Indian investigation found that duty-free shops at Mumbai international airport operated by billionaire Gautam Adani’s business group sold nicotine pouches in breach of the law, Reuters reported, in a case that could shape how India regulates sales of new nicotine products at airport retail outlets.
Jul.08
PMI Oral Products Chief Says Lack of Rules May Push Nicotine Pouch Market Into Illicit Trade
PMI Oral Products Chief Says Lack of Rules May Push Nicotine Pouch Market Into Illicit Trade
Nick Ricketts, President of Oral Products at Philip Morris International (PMI), told Logos Press that nicotine pouches should be brought under clear regulatory frameworks covering nicotine limits, flavor rules, age verification, sales controls and marketing standards, arguing that the absence of clear rules or blanket bans may push consumer demand into illegal or semi-legal channels.
Jul.06
China’s Jinhua Tobacco Launches CNY 2.7 Million Procurement for E-Cigarette Violation Lead Monitoring Services
China’s Jinhua Tobacco Launches CNY 2.7 Million Procurement for E-Cigarette Violation Lead Monitoring Services
Jinhua Tobacco, a municipal tobacco company in China’s Zhejiang province, has launched a public tender for e-cigarette-related violation lead monitoring and consulting services. The project is valued at CNY 2.7 million and covers data resource integration and analytical consulting services for 36 months from contract signing. The procurement reflects the use of external data and analysis services to support local tobacco companies’ market oversight activities related to e-cigarettes.
Aug.07
Data|China’s May Vape Exports Fall 10.3%; January–May Shipments Slip 0.9%
Data|China’s May Vape Exports Fall 10.3%; January–May Shipments Slip 0.9%
China’s vape-related exports fell 10.25% year on year in May 2026, marking a second consecutive monthly decline, although exports recovered modestly from April. January-May exports totaled US$4.018 billion, down 0.86% from a year earlier and broadly in line with 2025 levels.
Special Report
Jun.29
Nearly Half of Seoul Vape Vending Machines Bypassed by Fake IDs, Raising Youth Access Concerns
Nearly Half of Seoul Vape Vending Machines Bypassed by Fake IDs, Raising Youth Access Concerns
Seoul city authorities inspected 339 tobacco vending machines at e-cigarette retailers and found that 168, or 49.5%, allowed purchases using fake IDs, showing that unmanned retail terminals and adult-verification systems remain a major enforcement gap after e-cigarettes were brought under tobacco regulation.
Market
Jul.03 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Product | APUS Launches Chloe 50K, Bringing Purse-Inspired Design to the U.S. High-Puff Disposable Market
Product | APUS Launches Chloe 50K, Bringing Purse-Inspired Design to the U.S. High-Puff Disposable Market
APUS has introduced the Chloe 50K disposable vape, which has appeared across U.S.-facing online retail channels including Element Vape and Vapesourcing. The device combines a purse-inspired body and chain attachment with a 20ml e-liquid capacity, 1,250mAh rechargeable battery, dual mesh coil, and battery and e-liquid indicators. It is rated for up to 50,000 puffs. The product does not appear on the FDA’s current list of authorized e-cigarettes, and U.S. retail availability does not indicate FDA marketing authorization.
Jul.15