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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March 16, 2022 by pandaily.com
China Tightens Controls on E-cigarettes
China’s vaping and e-cigarettes industry witnessed two critical developments on Friday. First, new detailed regulations entitled “Administrative Measures for Electronic Cigarettes” were released and will be implemented on May 1. Second, the most recent draft of “Chinese E-Cigarette National Standards” was published and is now open for feedback.
Aiming at the links between e-cigarette production and quality management, the measures issued by China’s Tobacco Monopoly Administration clearly declare that the establishment of any e-cigarette, atomizer and nicotine production enterprises should be examined by the relevant administrative department under the State Council.
March 11, 2022 by taipeitimes.com
Taipei event debates e-cigarette policy proposals
A demonstrative policy debate event on whether e-cigarettes should be regulated was held on Tuesday in Taipei, showing how different public policy viewpoints can be rationally discussed. CDPA chairman and founder Chia Pei-te (賈培德) said that the Executive Yuan in January approved a draft amendment to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act (菸害防制法) proposed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, for legislative review. The amendment would classify emerging tobacco products as “tobacco-like products” and “designated tobacco products,” he said, adding that e-cigarettes would be classified as “tobacco-like products” and be fully banned, [...]
January 25, 2022 by forbes.com
China’s Vaping Queen Sees Fortune Plunge 65% After Chinese Government Probe
Chinese e-cigarette billionaire Chu Lam Yiu is under investigation from Chinese authorities, causing shares of her company, Hong Kong-listed Huabao International, to fall by over 65% on Monday.
Chu, who serves as chair and CEO, is currently under investigation for “suspected disciplinary violations” of an unclear nature, the fragrances and tobacco flavoring supplier announced on Monday. [...] Chu, 52, owns approximately 70% of Huabao International’s shares. Often dubbed “China’s vaping queen” for overseeing Huabao International’s entry into the e-cigarette market, Forbes estimates her net worth at $2.6 billion as of Monday’s close.
January 21, 2022 by taiwannews.com.tw
Over 40% of Taiwanese vapors unaware e-cigarettes may contain nicotine
A new study reveals low awareness among some Taiwanese electronic cigarette users they are vaping nicotine.
The online study, which received 1,608 valid samples from people aged 15 to 49, found that 5.5% are active vapers. The survey found 44.6% of them do not realize many vaping cartridges contain nicotine, according to the Health Promotion Administration (HPA).
According to an inspection conducted by the Food and Drug Administration, up to 90% of vaping products on the market were found to contain nicotine. For the nicotine-free ones, many still have methanol, ethanol, or other toxic substances, HPA said.
January 13, 2022 by taiwannews.com.tw
Taiwan Cabinet initiates amendment bill to ban e-cigarettes and raise smoking age to 20
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Cabinet on Thursday (Jan. 13) initiated an amendment bill to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act for legislation, aiming to ban e-cigarettes and flavored cigarettes, increase health hazard warning content on cigarette packages, and raise the smoking age to 20.
The proposals contained in the amendment bill includes one intended to ban manufacture, import, sale, supply, exhibition, advertisement, and use of e-cigarettes.
January 05, 2022 by thebeijinger.com
China Mulls a Ban on Flavored Vape Juice With New Draft Bill
If you're one of many Beijingers who lives life in a cloud of vape juice, then you may have heard tell of shifting tides in the electronic cigarette industry. Some of you may have even been urged by your suppliers to stock up on your favorite flavor [...]
In fact, there is good reason to believe that flavored vapes may soon be banned. Earlier this month, the government released a draft bill to the public for comment that, in its current form, would “forbid the selling of flavored e-cigarettes such as marijuana flavor and other flavors that can easily induce minors.” [...]
January 05, 2022 by vapingpost.com
E-Cigarette Use in Taiwan Has Tripled Since 2018
E-cigarette use grew from 0.6 percent in 2018 to 1.7% last year, said the study which gathered responses 25,000 people aged 18 or older. The age groups with the highest rates of use were men aged 26 to 30 AT 6.3% and women aged 21 to 25 (4.6%), revealed the HPA.
“To put this growth into perspective, use of traditional cigarettes grew only marginally over this period, from 13 percent in 2018 to 13.1 percent in 2020,” said HPA Tobacco Control Division official Lu Meng-ying. “The situation needs urgent attention, especially as new e-cigarette users are almost all young people.”
December 21, 2021 by cgtn.com
China's Tobacco Monopoly Law: Industry reacts to inclusion of e-cigarettes in amendment
E-cigarette makers have been pitching in their two cents, after China last month expanded its Tobacco Monopoly Law to include vaping devices. The draft revision subjects e-cigarettes to the same regulations as traditional cigarettes. Xu Hua gets reactions from Shenzhen, where most of China's e-cigarette factories are located.
Heated discussions have been underway among e-cigarette makers, as their products now fall under China's Tobacco Monopoly Law. Authorities have released a draft of "Administrative Measures for E-Cigarettes." Reactions from home and abroad have been mixed.
December 07, 2021 by filtermag.org
Why China Could Revolutionize Global Tobacco Harm Reduction
China has just amended its tobacco monopoly law to include e-cigarettes, as Filter reported. This means that vaping products and their manufacturers will be regulated strictly by the Chinese government under the same process as cigarettes. It is unclear exactly what the new regulations will mean in practice—we know that companies will be required to obtain production licenses. But it could be that China is about to revolutionize global tobacco harm reduction.
China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), the world’s largest tobacco company, sells more than 40 percent of the world’s cigarettes and is wholly owned by the Chinese government. [...]
December 03, 2021 by filtermag.org
China’s Decision to Regulate Vaping Products Has Global Implications
China revealed on November 26 that it would officially regulate vaping products under its tobacco monopoly law.
The decision has massive implications for tobacco harm reduction worldwide: China is both the largest tobacco market and the largest e-cigarette producer on Earth. The country previously imposed restrictions on vapes, and some observers feared a crackdown on the industry. Now, vaping has a legal status in China that should secure its future.