South Korean Parliament Delays Regulatory Bill on Synthetic Nicotine

Feb.12.2025
South Korean Parliament Delays Regulatory Bill on Synthetic Nicotine
South Korean Parliament's committee delays regulation on synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes due to opposition from some members, impacting sales.

According to a report by N.News on February 12th, the South Korean National Assembly's Planning and Finance Committee's Economic and Financial Subcommittee once again postponed the handling of the amendment to the Tobacco Business Act regulating synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes due to opposition from some lawmakers.


During the meeting that day, some lawmakers led by Jung Tae-ho from the Together Democratic Party and Park Dae-chul from the People Power Party mentioned that the regulation of synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes could affect the livelihoods of around 4,000 synthetic nicotine sellers, and therefore opposed the immediate passage of the bill. Some lawmakers argued that the interests of sellers should not be prioritized over public health, but this viewpoint was not accepted. The committee decided to further discuss the bill after consulting with the Ministry of Finance on whether it would lead to price increases and impact sellers' opinions. The tobacco industry believes that with the schedule for further discussion uncertain, the passage of the law is now unlikely in this session of parliament.


Recently, there has been news that a synthetic nicotine e-cigarette company has launched a service allowing customers to order through a mobile app and receive instant delivery, indicating that these products have penetrated the online delivery market. A tobacco industry insider pointed out that further delaying the regulation of synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes will only further threaten public health and expand tax loopholes.


We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

China’s Jiangsu Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and Drug Regulator Target Illegal Vape Sales Disguised as Medical Devices, Define Six Violations
China’s Jiangsu Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and Drug Regulator Target Illegal Vape Sales Disguised as Medical Devices, Define Six Violations
China’s Jiangsu Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and Jiangsu Provincial Medical Products Administration have issued a joint notice targeting illegal production and sales of vape products disguised as medical devices. The notice identifies six categories of violations, including obtaining medical licenses through false materials, misusing medical device credentials, expanding production beyond approved scopes, and using medical device-related online platforms to promote or sell vape products. The action is based on China’s tobacco and medical device regulations and aims to strengthen vape oversight and consumer protection.
Aug.04
Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim
Italian Court Ends Six-Year Cigarette Excise Dispute, Rejecting Damages Claim
Italy’s Lazio Regional Administrative Court has dismissed an appeal by Italian Tobacco Manufacturing and Manifattura Italiana Tabacco over the cigarette excise calculation mechanism, upholding the minimum tax burden rules and excluding compensation for smaller tobacco operators.
News
Jun.26 by 2Firsts Perspectives
AHA Journal Study: WS-23 Triples Premature Heartbeats, Raising Concerns Over Vape Cooling Agents
AHA Journal Study: WS-23 Triples Premature Heartbeats, Raising Concerns Over Vape Cooling Agents
A University of Louisville research team published a study in an American Heart Association journal suggesting that synthetic cooling agents used in e-cigarettes, including WS-3 and WS-23, may disrupt cardiac electrical activity and increase arrhythmia risk. In animal experiments, WS-23 tripled premature heartbeats.
Jun.16
BAT New Categories Revenue Rises 18% in H1 2026 as Broad Portfolio Offers More Ways to Win—and Lose
BAT New Categories Revenue Rises 18% in H1 2026 as Broad Portfolio Offers More Ways to Win—and Lose
British American Tobacco’s New Category revenue rose 18% at constant rates in the first half of 2026. Nicotine-pouch brand Velo expanded rapidly, while Vuse recovered as U.S. enforcement against illicit e-vapor products strengthened. Heated-tobacco platform glo remained under pressure, and cigarettes continued to provide most of the group’s profit and cash. Compared with PMI and JT, BAT has more routes to growth—but also greater regulatory, investment and execution risks across its broader portfolio.
BAT
Jul.30
Australia’s TGA Places Nicotine Pouches Under Therapeutic Goods Rules From July 24, Blocking Imports of Unapproved Products
Australia’s TGA Places Nicotine Pouches Under Therapeutic Goods Rules From July 24, Blocking Imports of Unapproved Products
Australia is strengthening controls on nicotine pouches under its existing therapeutic goods regulatory framework. According to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), nicotine pouch products must meet regulatory requirements, and unapproved products cannot be legally imported. The move follows Australia’s broader approach of maintaining strict oversight of nicotine products, including nicotine-containing vapes. As nicotine pouches expand globally, Australia’s regulatory approach highlights growing differences in how countries manage emerging smoke-free nicotine products.
Regulations
Jul.27
French Vape Distributor Kumulus Vape Yields About 3% as Earnings Growth Stalls
French Vape Distributor Kumulus Vape Yields About 3% as Earnings Growth Stalls
Listed French vape distributor Kumulus Vape will trade ex-dividend on June 26, 2026, and pay an annual dividend of €0.10 per share on June 30, with Simply Wall St saying the payout is covered by profit and free cash flow, while weak earnings growth remains a concern.
Industry InsightMarketNews
Jun.24