Smoking in China
In China, smoking and the sale of cigarettes is legal, and they can be purchased online, but buying 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%. 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 20, 2023 by nypost.com
Colorful Chinese-made e-cigarette Elf Bar using influencers to appeal to kids, Schumer says
Sen. Chuck Schumer is calling on the US Food and Drug Administration to investigate a hot, new Chinese-made e-cigarette that he believes is skirting American advertising laws by appealing directly to kids and teenager via social media.
The New York Democrat said the e-cig — called “Elf Bar” — is wrapped in colorful packaging to attract youthful customers. And it hooks them with kid-friendly flavors like rainbow candy, peach mango, cotton candy and vanilla ice cream, according to a Sunday statement.
February 13, 2023 by scmp.com
All cigarettes, illicit or legal, are a threat
Black market cigarettes may cast a shadow over plans to reduce smoking rates in the city through a proposed increase in tobacco taxes. A recent survey found about 80 per cent of users would rather buy cheaper illicit products than quit. While discouraging, the findings should not prevent the government from considering a tax disincentive and more law enforcement to hit its goal of cutting tobacco use from 9.5 per cent of the population to 7.8 per cent by 2025.
More than 2,000 smokers and non-smokers were approached for the survey by the Long-term Tobacco Policy Concern Group.
January 25, 2023 by filtermag.org
Taiwan Is About to Ban the Use of Nicotine Vapes
Taiwan looks set to become the next country in Asia to ban nicotine vaping products.
On January 12, amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act effectively cleared the legislative floor. Now, the legislation only awaits a presidential nod—a formality given that President Tsai Ing-wen is from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party that proposed it.
The news, which arrives not long after the Philippines enacted relatively pro-vape regulations, has elicited strong reactions from consumers, policy experts and medical experts, who had some hopes that the tide might be turning in favor of tobacco harm reduction (THR).
January 13, 2023 by focustaiwan.tw
Bill to ban e-cigarettes clears legislative floor
Taipei, Jan. 12 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan on Thursday passed a slew of amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act that completely ban e-cigarettes and raise the legal smoking age from 18 to 20.
The revisions introduced by the Cabinet in January last year stipulate that the manufacture, import, sale, supply, display, advertising and use of all tobacco-like products, including e-cigarettes, shall be prohibited.
Violators face fines ranging from NT$10 million (US$328,403) to NT$50 million, according to the new law.
November 24, 2022 by globaltimes.cn
China's State Tobacco Monopoly Administration and State Post Bureau to further regulate e-cigarettes delivery
The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration issued a notice on Wednesday in which it announced that the capacity of e-cigarette products, aerosol and nicotine used in e-cigarettes carried by each person at each time will be limited.
One person can carry no more than six smoking devices in different places at a time, said the notice. The number of e-cigarette cartridge shall not exceed 90, the number of products including disposable e-cigarettes sold in combination of e-cigarette cartridge and cigarette devices shall not exceed 90, and the amount of e-atomization materials such as liquid cigarette and nicotine used in e-cigarette shall not exceed 180 milliliters.
November 23, 2022 by sundayguardianlive.com
India faces heat on vaping laws
The Ministry of Health is facing heat following its ban on vaping, even as many countries are reversing such bans and arguing forcefully for the product. Hong Kong, not far from India, is soon going to reverse its ban on the re-export of e-cigarettes and other heated tobacco products by land and sea transport by the end of this year as part of efforts to ignite growth.
“Senior officials are mulling over the relaxation of the trans-shipment ban on re-exporting the alternative smoking products from Hong Kong, given the significant values of the re-export,” a senior government official was quoted. [...]
November 07, 2022 by tobaccoreporter.com
Hong Kong Mulls Generational Cigarette Ban
Hong Kong residents who were born in 2009 or after should be banned from buying cigarettes by 2027, the Council on Smoking and Health proposed on Nov. 3, reports the South China Morning Post
The city’s smoking population dropped to 9.5 percent last year—hitting single digits for the first time since tracking began—but Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has pledged to lower the rate to 7.8 percent in three years.
Other measures proposed include doubling the current tobacco tax by 2023-2024, which means a pack of cigarettes currently priced at HKD60 ($7.64) would rise to around HKD100. [...]
October 28, 2022 by scmp.com
Hong Kong may reverse ban on some types of re-export of e-cigarettes and other heated tobacco products
Hong Kong may reverse its ban on the re-export of e-cigarettes and other heated tobacco products by land and sea transport by the end of this year as part of efforts to ignite growth, the Post has learned.
But an economist on Monday warned the move would undermine the credibility of city authorities if they backtracked on their promise to curb tobacco use and also weaken the promotion of public health.
“Senior officials are mulling over the relaxation of the transshipment ban on re-exporting the alternative smoking products from Hong Kong, given the significant values of the re-export,” a government insider said.
October 25, 2022 by reuters.com
China to impose consumption tax on e-cigarettes from November
China's Ministry of Finance will impose a consumption tax on e-cigarettes from Nov. 1, according to a notice published on Tuesday.
A tax rate of 36% will be placed on the production or import of e-cigarettes, while an 11% tax will be placed on the wholesale distribution of e-cigarettes.
The taxation policy will further entrench China's once-scattered e-cigarette industry into the state-backed tobacco monopoly, a major generator of tax revenue.
October 18, 2022 by scmp.com
Hong Kong may reverse ban on some types of re-export of e-cigarettes and other heated tobacco products
Hong Kong may reverse its ban on the re-export of e-cigarettes and other heated tobacco products by land and sea transport by the end of this year as part of efforts to ignite growth, the Post has learned.
But an economist on Monday warned the move would undermine the credibility of city authorities if they backtracked on their promise to curb tobacco use and also weaken the promotion of public health.
“Senior officials are mulling over the relaxation of the transshipment ban on re-exporting the alternative smoking products from Hong Kong, given the significant values of the re-export,” a government insider said.