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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May 30, 2022 by tobaccoreporter.com
Macau Mulls More E-Cigarette Restrictions
Macau’s executive council wants to ban the production, sale, distribution, import, export and transport of vapor products in the special administrative region (SAR), reports Macau Business.
Under changes proposed to the tobacco control law, violators would risk fines of MOP4,000 ($500).
The current law defines an e-cigarette as any product, or component thereof, that can be used to inhale vapor, with or without nicotine, by means of a mouthpiece, including a cartridge, a reservoir, as well as the device without a cartridge or reservoir.
May 30, 2022 by scmp.com
Hong Kong must sharply raise tobacco tax, consider ‘smoking’ permit to ensure reduction targets are hit, government advisers say
Bolder steps are needed to reach Hong Kong’s “endgame” of a 5 per cent smoking rate and a midway goal of 7.8 per cent by 2025, including raising the levy on tobacco products, government advisers have said.
Dr Daniel Ho Sai-yin, an associate professor of the University of Hong Kong’s school of public health, suggested doubling the tax on cigarette packs to HK$76 (US$9.70) each, which would push the retail price to roughly HK$97.
Ho is also a member of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, which aims to educate the public and advise the government on the habit.
May 26, 2022 by scmp.com
Proportion of cigarette smokers in Hong Kong drops to new low of 9.5 per cent, but ‘significant’ increase in vaping
The proportion of Hong Kong residents who smoke cigarettes has fallen below double-digits for the first time, but vaping has jumped by nearly 150 per cent in the past two years, according to health officials.
Authorities on Thursday revealed the city’s latest smoking rate was at 9.5 per cent in 2021, dropping from 10.2 per cent in 2019. A target earlier set by the government aims to bring the rate down to 7.8 per cent by 2025.
“The [latest smoking rate] is a new low, and it is the first time we are seeing a single digit since records began,” Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said.
May 25, 2022 by hongkongfp.com
Hong Kong Customs seize HK$10 million worth of products since ban on e-cigarettes
Hong Kong Customs have seized HK$10 million worth of products since the ban on alternative smoking products, including e-cigarettes, took effect close to a month ago.
Divisional Commander of the Air Cargo Research Division Lie Yan-ning said on Tuesday that customs had dealt with 46 related cases since the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 was implemented on April 30. Around 360,000 products with an estimated market value of HK$10 million have been seized since the end of last month, and the customs arrested a man who was believed to be a driver.
May 18, 2022 by mdpi.com
Research on the Ecological Deconstruction of E-Cigarette Industrial Clusters in Shenzhen, China, and a Niche Analysis of Related Enterprises
As an emerging industry, e-cigarettes have been greatly prosperous globally in recent years. In China, Shenzhen is the center of e-cigarette production, and a complete business ecosystem has been built at this point. To explore the phenomenon of the agglomeration of e-cigarette enterprises in Shenzhen, the business ecosystem structure and evolution path of e-cigarette industrial clusters in Shenzhen [...] are illustrated in this study from an ecological perspective, and the development characteristics of the Shenzhen e-cigarette industry as well as the interspecies relationships among enterprises were studied based on the population life history theory.
May 11, 2022 by natlawreview.com
China Publishes Final GB Standard on E-Cigarettes: The Basis for Product Compliance
Since we reported in December 2021 on some significant developments in China’s regulation of e-cigarettes (including the draft national standard on e-cigarettes) as well as in March 2022 on the finalized Management Rules for E-Cigarettes, China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA), also referred to as China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), has not only released the national Standard GB 41700-2022 on Electronic Cigarettes but also published further regulations detailing the procedure and requirements for licensing, technical review, etc. In the coming weeks, we will publish a series of articles summarizing these new regulations. [...]
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.