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
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.
December 02, 2021 by reuters.com
China issues draft rules requiring e-cigarette firms obtain licences
China's tobacco regulator issued on Thursday draft rules governing e-cigarettes, moving the product away from a regulatory grey area and under the oversight of the state.
The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration's draft rules follow China's cabinet last week amending its tobacco monopoly law to include e-cigarettes.
According to the draft rules, companies selling e-cigarettes in China must meet national standards in order to register with the tobacco authority and do business legally.
November 30, 2021 by jurist.org
China amends tobacco monopoly law to include e-cigarettes and vaping
The State Council of China amended its tobacco monopoly law Friday to include regulations for e-cigarettes and vaping. This result comes after months of deliberation by the Chinese government to regulate electronic tobacco consumption.
E-cigarette sales have been functioning in the grey area of the law since they became popular in China. Following the amendment, they will be regulated and supervised just like conventional tobacco products. The tobacco industry in China is fully controlled by the government. Companies and retailers have to obtain special permits before being allowed to sell tobacco products.
November 15, 2021 by koreaherald.com
Tobacco association to sue over e-cigarette taxes
The Korea Electronic Cigarette Association said it is planning to file a constitutional lawsuit over the tax rate on liquid e-cigarettes known as “dipping tobacco.”
The association argues the tax is 6.6 times higher than the rate applied to conventional cigarettes, despite it being less harmful. Unlike cigarettes, which are taxed per 20 sticks, dipping tobacco is taxed per gram. When converted into 20 pouches of dipping tobacco, which is roughly equivalent to 20 cigarettes, the tax is 19,000 won. The tax on 20 regular cigarettes is 2,885 won.
November 05, 2021 by taipeitimes.com
Taipei is first to use ordinance to ban e-cigarettes
The Taipei City Government on Wednesday became the nation’s first local government to pass a jurisdiction-wide ban on e-cigarettes via a self-government ordinance.
If the Executive Yuan ratifies the measure, the city would impose a broad-ranging prohibition on the sale, advertisement, display and commercial transportation of novel tobacco products, including vaping devices and heated tobacco units.
Additionally, vaping and using heated tobacco products is to be banned in a 50m zone around schools.