South Korean Government to Classify Synthetic Nicotine as Tobacco

According to N.News on February 17th, the South Korean parliament will soon pass a bill classifying synthetic nicotine as "tobacco" and strengthening regulation. The ruling party and opposition party have reached an agreement on restrictions for existing e-cigarette businesses, such as limits on opening stores near schools (retail point distance restrictions) and partial tax exemptions.

On the 17th, sources in the National Assembly revealed that Park Soo-young, the ruling party's secretary of the Planning and Finance Committee, and Jeong Tae-ho, the opposition party's secretary, held a closed-door meeting that morning and reached a consensus on the above plan. The Planning and Finance Committee will convene a meeting of the Economic and Financial Subcommittee on the 18th to pass an amendment to the Tobacco Business Act recognizing synthetic nicotine as tobacco.

On the 10th, the ruling party and opposition party deliberated on the amendment to the Tobacco Industry Law in the Economic and Financial Committee, but failed to pass it. Rumors suggest that some opposition party members opposed the amendment due to opposition from the e-cigarette industry and difficulties faced by small businesses.

In order to support small businesses in the e-cigarette industry, both the government and opposition have established partial exemptions. They have decided to implement partial extension clauses for e-cigarette retailers who are not yet prepared to face legal changes, especially providing leniency in terms of distance restrictions and taxes.

Regarding the regulations on setting distance limits around school and other facilities, there is a possibility of granting a 2-year exemption considering factors such as lease term. However, there are still differences between the two parties on the tax deferral issue, which will need further discussion in a subcommittee.

If the bill is able to pass through the subcommittee on the 18th, it is expected to be addressed at the full meeting later this month.

A member of the planning finance committee stated, "The use of e-cigarettes among young people is on the rise, and due to the lack of appropriate regulations, there are loopholes in the law. The new legislation will help reduce the smoking rate among young people and also increase tax revenue.