According to V.AUM on December 27, the public hearing on the revision of the Tobacco Business Law held by the National Assembly of South Korea was held on the same day (27) in Ruyi Island, Seoul.
Korea’s National Assembly Discusses Revision of Tobacco Business Act
According to Kim Do-hwan, executive vice president of the Korea e-Cigarette Association (김도환), synthetic nicotine can be sold through online shopping platforms, vending machines, the Internet, and other channels without the need for a cigarette retailer license. He charged that such indiscriminate promotion also affected minors who should not have access to cigarettes. The president also highlighted the damage that the disorderly circulation of synthetic nicotine has caused to government-authorized cigarette retailers. Noting that more than 4,000 legally certified retailers in China are facing an existential threat, he supports the synthetic nicotine control law to normalize the market as soon as possible.
Synthetic nicotine cancer study questioned
Currently, 10 draft amendments have been submitted to Congress, proposing to expand the definition of cigarettes from the current “tobacco leaf products” to products such as synthetic nicotine. At the public hearing, experts from all walks of life offered their opinions on the revised bill.
The Ministry of Finance, which regulates cigarettes, had previously been cautious about controls on synthetic nicotine. However, since a study by the Ministry of Health and Welfare showed that synthetic nicotine contains a variety of carcinogenic and reproductive toxic harmful substances, the department’s position has changed to support the necessary regulatory measures.
In addition, the Korea E-Cigarette and Tobacco Safety Association opposed the revised draft, claiming that synthetic nicotine does not contain carcinogenic ingredients and warning that such enforcement could lead to the growth of consumption of traditional tobacco and vaping tar-containing e-cigarettes. It is recommended that priority be given to enforcement and investigation of existing products. The association also questioned the credibility of the institutions being explored by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and therefore the research should be restarted. Study samples may have been deliberately used with counterfeit synthetic nicotine, primarily cigarettes and tar, and incorrectly labeled, or with distorted research methods.
The Health and Welfare Ministry said there were no major problems with the study process or results. An official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare replied: “This is an organization. He has extensive experience in analyzing the composition of cigarettes and has carried out numerous government or public agency commissions. Procedurally, it was a professional academic study under the State Contract Law, so he signed a negotiated contract. The contract was signed and implemented under the law.”
