Japan to Maintain Separate Regulations for Heated Tobacco Products
According to Jiji Press, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has proposed, as part of a review of measures against secondhand smoke, not to tighten regulations on heated tobacco products to the same level as those for conventional cigarettes for the time being. An expert panel convened by the ministry has largely agreed with this proposal, and the review process is expected to conclude as early as this summer.
Key Points
- Japan’s MHLW plans to hold off on tightening regulations for heated tobacco products to match those for conventional cigarettes.
- An MHLW expert panel has largely agreed with this proposal.
- Japan implemented indoor smoking bans in 2020.
- Heated tobacco products are currently subject to transitional arrangements.
- The MHLW acknowledges that secondhand emissions from these products contain harmful substances but notes insufficient evidence to fully assess health impacts.
July 10, 2026. According to Jiji Press, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) proposed on July 9 that regulations on heated tobacco products should not, for the time being, be tightened to the same level as those for conventional cigarettes. This proposal is part of a broader review of measures to address secondhand smoke.
An expert panel established by the MHLW has largely agreed with the plan. Japan aims to complete the review as early as this summer.
Japan Plans to Maintain Transitional Rules for Heated Tobacco Products
Since the implementation of Japan’s Health Promotion Act in April 2020, indoor smoking has generally been prohibited in facilities such as restaurants.
Under current rules, conventional cigarettes may only be smoked in designated smoking rooms, where eating and drinking are prohibited.
Heated tobacco products, however, are subject to transitional arrangements. Because their health impacts remain unclear, Japan permits users to consume heated tobacco products in designated smoking rooms for such products while simultaneously eating or drinking.
The MHLW’s proposal implies that Japan will likely maintain differentiated regulatory frameworks for heated tobacco products and conventional cigarettes in the short term.
MHLW Cites Insufficient Evidence on Health Effects of Secondhand Emissions
The MHLW stated that secondhand emissions from heated tobacco products contain harmful substances, including carcinogens.
However, the ministry also noted that due to a lack of accumulated data, it is currently unable to fully assess the health impacts of secondhand exposure to heated tobacco emissions.
This assessment serves as a key basis for Japan’s decision to defer tightening regulations on heated tobacco products to the same level as those for conventional cigarettes.
Review Focuses on Indoor Smoking Rules, Not Product Approval
The current review in Japan focuses on measures to address secondhand exposure rather than the market entry of heated tobacco products themselves.
At this stage, policy discussions center on whether to eliminate existing transitional arrangements for heated tobacco products and align their indoor usage rules with those for conventional cigarettes.
Judging by the stance of the expert panel, Japanese regulators appear inclined to maintain the status quo in the short term while continuing to monitor scientific evidence and health impact assessments.
Industry Impact: Heated Tobacco Market Benefits from Regulatory Stability
Japan is one of the markets with the highest penetration rates for heated tobacco products globally and serves as a key market for multinational tobacco companies expanding their heated tobacco businesses.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s (MHLW) decision to defer stricter regulations implies that heated tobacco products may continue to benefit from more lenient indoor usage rules compared to conventional cigarettes. This has practical implications for relevant companies, dining establishments, and consumers of heated tobacco products.
However, this policy stance does not mean that Japanese regulators consider secondhand emissions from heated tobacco products to be risk-free. The MHLW has explicitly stated that these emissions contain harmful substances, including carcinogens; the current policy decision is primarily based on the fact that evidence regarding health impacts remains insufficient.
Future Outlook for Heated Tobacco Regulation in Japan
From an industry perspective, the Japanese case demonstrates that the regulation of heated tobacco products is still in a phase of balancing scientific evidence, public health objectives, and industrial realities. Should further research on secondhand exposure and long-term health impacts emerge in the future, Japan may well re-evaluate the relevant indoor usage regulations.
