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.
Read articles from China
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
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.