A woman walks past e-cigarette ads in Seoul, May 13. Korea is moving to restrict the use of synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes as the government and lawmakers aim to include them in the list of “tobacco products” through legislation. Newsis
Korea is moving to restrict the use of synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes as the government and lawmakers aim to include them in the list of “tobacco products” through legislation.
According to ruling People Power Party Rep. Park Sung-hoon's office, Wednesday, a report he received from the health ministry found that synthetic nicotine can cause many harmful health effects in users.
Based on the results, the government is seeking to expand the legal definition of tobacco to regulate vapes using that nicotine type — a highly addictive substance some studies suggest is as addictive as heroin or cocaine.
Korea's current tobacco business law defines tobacco products narrowly as only those made from the leaves of tobacco plants. Some companies saw this as an opportunity to sell products using synthetic nicotine created in a lab rather than from tobacco leaves.
Just two days before the revelation of the report, BAT Rothmans Far East B.V., formerly BAT Korea, launched its synthetic nicotine vape product, NOMAD SYNC 5000, which would not be treated the same as “tobacco-leaf products” that are subject to multiple taxes and special charges unless the current law changes.
For example, a pack of cigarettes priced at 4,500 won ($3.22) incurs various taxes and other fees totaling 3,323 won, which constitutes about 74 percent of the price. On the other hand, products such as NOMAD SYNC 5000 will not be heavily taxed, but probably not for long.
In recent months, more than a dozen bills have been proposed at the National Assembly to fill the loopholes in the law. With the government's position clearly stated on the issue, legislation talks are expected to gain traction in the coming weeks and months.
The latest bill, proposed by Rep. Kim Yoon and 10 other lawmakers of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Tuesday, aims to redefine what constitutes tobacco products, seeking to include vapes that use synthetic nicotine.
Another group of 11 lawmakers, led by DPK Rep. Jeon Jin-sook, are attempting to require sellers to put warnings on vape packaging just as cigarette sellers do, in addition to the expansion of the legal tobacco definition.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has vowed to support such legislation efforts to regulate the use of new types of nicotine products more effectively and raise awareness of their harmful impact on human bodies.
Though synthetic nicotine has been around for some time, it has only recently started being used in products such as e-cigarettes as the production costs have gone down.
According to the American Lung Association, synthetic nicotine is still nicotine and “nicotine is especially harmful to adolescents, as it impacts brain development.”