Smoking in China
In China, smoking and the sale of cigarettes is legally allowed, and they can be purchased online, but buying them from vending machines is not permitted. Importing cigarettes for trade is allowed with a license. However, there is a complete ban on all tobacco advertising, and health warnings on cigarette packaging are required. The minimum legal age for purchasing cigarettes is 18 years, and there are legal restrictions on smoking in public places as well. Cigarettes are subject to a total taxation rate of 52% with a specific excise component of 0.98%. As of 2024, China had an estimated 288.3 million current adult smokers, with an adult smoking prevalence of 24.4%. Among males, the smoking prevalence was 46.4%, and among females, it was only 1.9%. The number of daily smokers was approximately 256.9 million, with an adult daily smoking prevalence of 20.3%—38.6% among males and 1.3% among females. According to 2021 data, tobacco smoking caused about 2.7 million deaths in China—2.2 million among males and 490,700 among females. This presents that smoking accounted for 22.78% of all deaths in the country, including 31.81% of male deaths and 10.11% of female deaths.
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May 10, 2022 by scmp.com
Hong Kong’s e-cigarettes ban by Carrie Lam makes its mark
Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s term as chief executive has been marked by tumultuous events. But in terms of public health, a decade or two from now she may also be remembered for her role in the ban on the import and sale of e-cigarettes and other alternatives that has just become law. The ban, first proposed seven years ago, was watered down in 2018 to the permissive regulation that applies to tobacco products. Opposition to the backdown from medical and education authorities prompted Lam to switch to proposing the full ban in her policy address that year.
May 05, 2022 by scmp.com
Hong Kong police make first arrests under law banning sale of e-cigarettes, 2 suspects remain in custody
Hong Kong police made their first arrests under a law banning the sale of electronic cigarettes after two men were allegedly caught with the items on Wednesday.
The suspects, aged 28 and 31, remained in custody as of Thursday. They were being held on suspicion of selling and possessing a poison in Part 1 of the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations, as well as selling alternative smoking products.
The law, which came into effect on Saturday, bans the import, sale and manufacture of electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and herbal cigarettes, [...]
April 28, 2022 by thestar.com.my
Hong Kong ban on e-cigarettes to start April 30
HONG KONG (China Daily/Asia News Network): The Hong Kong government on Thursday (April 28) reminded the public that the ban on the importation and sale of alternative smoking products (ASPs), like electronic cigarettes, will take effect on April 30.
In a statement, the government said that, under the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021, people will not be allowed to use or carry an activated ASP in no-smoking areas. Offenders will be fined $1,500.
April 26, 2022 by thestandard.com.hk
Smokers rush to stock up before e-cig ban starting Saturday
Smokers in Hong Kong flocked to stock up on e-cigarettes before the ban on all alternative smoking products took effect on Saturday.
From April 30, no person may import, promote, manufacture, sell, or possess for commercial purposes alternative smoking products, including electronic smoking products, heated tobacco products, and herbal cigarettes.
One of the customers was seen buying 15 e-cigarettes in preparation for the coming ban, while merchants said the sales of these products surged three times in recent days.
April 25, 2022 by reuters.com
China issues draft rules to control e-cigarette production
China's tobacco regulator on Monday issued draft rules to strictly control e-cigarette production, as it tightened oversight of the industry.
The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration said it would "reasonably" control the scale of e-cigarette production capacity to prevent overcapacity.
Foreign investment in the retail of e-cigarette products would be banned, the regulator said, and it would review foreign investment in production, requiring e-cigarette firms that want to list in China or abroad to obtain pre-approval.
April 22, 2022 by taipeitimes.com
Smoker rights groups rally against vaping ban
Smoker rights groups yesterday protested outside the legislature in Taipei against a proposal to ban e-cigarettes.
Holding signs that read: “Consumers have rights, too,” “Give me the freedom to choose” and “Do not force me to smoke cigarettes,” protesters said the government should not impose a blanket prohibition against e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs).
The government must respect the rights of smokers, they said, adding that it should offer people choices, instead of instituting an outright ban.
April 19, 2022 by pandaily.com
China Refines Supervision of E-Cigarette Industry
The official website of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration issued a number of documents on April 15, stipulating guidelines for the production, wholesale, retail and traceability of electronic cigarettes.
According to the new rules, when applying for a production license, an e-cigarette manufacturer should possess the necessary capital, technology and equipment and meet the requirements of the national e-cigarette industry policy.
Enterprises that have obtained the license for tobacco wholesale can operate within the e-cigarette industry with the approval of relevant departments. [...]
April 06, 2022 by taipeitimes.com
All novel tobacco products should be banned: parents
About 97 percent of parents responding to a survey want all novel tobacco products banned, a civic organization said yesterday, adding that an estimated 73,000 teenagers in Taiwan use e-cigarettes or other such products.
The survey, conducted by the National Alliance of Parents Organizations, showed that the majority of parents were unsatisfied with a proposal to ban only some novel tobacco products, the alliance said at a news conference in Taipei, which was held to coincide with Children’s Day yesterday.
An amendment that is being officially reviewed would ban conventional oil-based e-cigarettes, but allow the sale of heated tobacco products, which heat processed tobacco leaves, it said.
March 30, 2022 by pandaily.com
E-Cigarettes See Price Increase in China Amid Tougher Regulation
Under strict new regulation, the prices of electronic cigarettes in China have increased. Recently, Beijing Business Today journalists found that many brands of electronic cigarettes and vaporizers with fruit flavors have seen prices increase by up to 20-30 yuan ($3.14-$4.72).
The electronic cigarette industry previously flourished in China, especially starting from the first half of 2018, then developing exponentially in 2019. It was initially promoted as beneficial to helping people quit smoking, less harmful to the body, and good for health. But the products have later changed towards appeals such as fashion, novelty and flavors.
March 18, 2022 by sixthtone.com
Smokers Rush to Stock Flavored E-cigarettes Before China Bans Them
While many Shanghai residents shopped for groceries and other essentials, fearing a snap COVID-19 community lockdown, Wu battled the rain on Thursday afternoon to stock something he considers more important: grape-flavored e-cigarette pods.
Wu, who only gave his last name for privacy reasons, told Sixth Tone that he didn’t want to take any chances before China’s new regulation on e-cigarettes goes into effect on May 1. Last week, the country’s Tobacco Monopoly Administration announced it would “prohibit the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, other than tobacco flavors, and e-cigarettes to which users can add their own atomized substances.”mar