Synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes now subject to no-smoking zone rules

Nationwide crackdown on no-smoking zones and tobacco vending machines runs Wednesday through July 15

The government is launching an intensive inspection campaign now that a two-month grace period has ended for liquid e-cigarettes made with synthetic nicotine, which were recently reclassified as tobacco products under the Tobacco Business Act.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Tuesday it will run a three-week intensive inspection period from Wednesday through July 15 in partnership with public health centers nationwide, aiming to ensure the new regulations take hold quickly on the ground.

Under the revised Tobacco Business Act, which took effect April 24, the legal definition of tobacco expanded from "tobacco leaf" to "products containing natural or synthetic nicotine." As a result, liquid e-cigarettes using synthetic nicotine are now subject to the same restrictions under the National Health Promotion Act that apply to conventional tobacco — including bans in no-smoking zones, advertising restrictions, graphic health warnings and vending machine regulations.

The ministry ran a two-month grace period from April 24, taking into account that the system was newly introduced and that the revised Tobacco Business Act applies to liquid e-cigarettes shipped from manufacturing facilities or cleared through import declarations after the law took effect.

With the grace period ending Tuesday, the ministry will carry out three weeks of intensive inspections focused on enforcing no-smoking zone rules and verifying compliance with vending machine operating standards.

Under the National Health Promotion Act, no tobacco product — including synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes — may be used in designated no-smoking zones. Tobacco vending machines may only be installed in places off-limits to those under 19, inside retail stores or in designated smoking rooms, and must be equipped with age-verification devices.

"Classifying synthetic nicotine products as tobacco is an important step toward protecting public health and progressively aligning Korea's tobacco regulations with international standards," said Kim Han-suk, director general of health policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare. "We urge all relevant parties to familiarize themselves with the new obligations and comply promptly so that the regulations can take root quickly in the field."

thlee@heraldcorp.com