Vietnam Government Implements Supervision on E-Cigarettes and Heated Tobacco

According to a report from Tuoi Tre on June 2nd, the Vietnamese government has issued a directive to relevant departments regarding the supervision of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà has instructed the Ministry of Health to strengthen international cooperation, research and assess potential risks, propose policies and laws, and increase public awareness to enhance understanding of the risks associated with e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

According to statistics from treatment facilities across the country, 1224 people were hospitalized in 2023 due to e-cigarette use. In addition, a survey on e-cigarette use in 11 provinces and cities shows that the proportion of students aged 13-17 using e-cigarettes increased from 2.6% in 2019 to 8.1% in 2023. Among the 13-15 age group, the proportion increased from 3.5% in 2022 to 8% in 2023. Among females aged 11-18, the proportion of e-cigarette users reached 4.3% in 2023.

The Ministry of Health is currently studying and preparing to submit a resolution to Congress to ban the production, sale, import, and advertising of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and any other new tobacco products that may emerge in the future. In the long term, the Ministry of Health will propose to the government and Congress an amendment to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act in order to have this provision included in the law to ensure stable implementation of the measure.

Furthermore, in order to protect the health and safety of the public, the Ministry of Health is calling for support and commitment from relevant departments to strictly establish and enforce policies and regulations, especially those prohibiting the production, marketing, import, and advertising of new tobacco products, in order to achieve synchrony in legislation, enforcement, promotion, education, and other aspects.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan stated that the focus will be on increasing public awareness of the dangers of heated tobacco and e-cigarettes, while also encouraging parents, schools, and communities to collectively protect the next generation.

The Ministry of Health is calling for support and commitment from relevant departments to strictly formulate and enforce policies and regulations, especially banning the production, sale, import, and advertising of new tobacco products. They emphasize the need to strengthen legal enforcement, enhance inspections and supervision, and crack down on illegal sales and marketing of new tobacco products, especially to young people.