The National Health Administration held a press conference to announce that the new "Tobacco Hazard Prevention Act" is on the way.

(Photo by reporter Lin Huiqin)

[Reporters Lin Huiqin, Zheng Qifang, Local Center/Online Report] The new Tobacco Hazard Control Law was formally launched yesterday, completely prohibiting e-cigarettes and other tobacco-like products, and designated tobacco products including heating tobacco must be subject to health risk assessment and review Only after approval can it be manufactured, imported, sold, and used.

The central government and the county and city health bureaus mobilized to conduct physical and online inspections. Violators can be fined up to 50 million yuan.

On the first day, an illegal display of e-cigarettes in New Taipei was seized

The reporter of this newspaper conducted online interviews and counted counties and cities that launched inspections on the first day. Most of the counties and cities found no violations. Only one company in New Taipei was seized for violating regulations and displaying e-cigarettes. It will be fined more than 200,000 yuan and less than 1 million yuan.

The newly banned smoking places include colleges and universities. Two people were seized in New Taipei City and three people were seized in Taoyuan for smoking illegally. They will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Other counties and cities such as Hualien only carry out publicity and follow-up plans for comprehensive inspections; Taichung, Miaoli, and Zhuxian counties will conduct inspections starting today.

Minister of Health and Welfare Xue Ruiyuan said that the inspection manpower will be increased, not only in physical stores, but also in the frequency of online monitoring.

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The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the definition of designated tobacco products last evening. Except for cigarettes, shredded tobacco, cigars, snuff, and chewing tobacco, all tobacco products that are made from tobacco or other natural plants containing nicotine without changing the physical properties of the raw materials, Heated tobacco is one.

In addition, the Health Risk Assessment and Review Measures will be announced at the same time. Applicants should prepare health risk research materials and compare them with other tobacco products, the composition of raw materials, additives and emissions, inspection and processing methods, research on addictive substances, and those under the age of 20. The government will invite relevant experts and scholars to evaluate the thirteen items, such as the use of cigarettes and initial smokers. If there is insufficient information to prove that the health risk is not higher than that of cigarettes sold in the country, and the sudden and obvious impact on health evidence, etc., it will not be approved.

Other key points of the new system include expanding indoor and outdoor smoking bans in public places, raising the smoking age to 20 years old, and increasing the graphic area of ​​cigarette pack warnings to 50%.

Regarding the prohibition of specific additives, the National Health Administration is now announcing the ban on the use of floral, fruity, chocolate, and mint flavored additives in tobacco products, which are commonly known as "flavored cigarettes". The notice period is until March 27, and follow-up announcement.

The revision of the law also increased the penalties. For electronic cigarettes and uncensored heated cigarettes, the manufacture and import can be fined from 10 million to 50 million yuan; One million yuan; 200,000 to 1 million yuan for sellers and exhibitors, 10,000 to 250,000 yuan for suppliers, and 2,000 to 10,000 yuan for users.

Wu Zhaojun, director of the National Health Commission, emphasized that if violations are found, fines can be issued continuously until the signboard is removed.

The maximum fine for bringing heated cigarettes into the country is 5 million

The Treasury Department of the Ministry of Finance reminded that the Ministry of Health and Welfare has announced that heated tobacco is a designated tobacco product, and the industry should apply to the Ministry of Health and Welfare for health risk assessment review before manufacturing or importing, and can only be manufactured or imported after approval.

The tobacco products carried by inbound passengers are limited to cigarettes, shredded tobacco and cigars. Heated tobacco is not allowed to be brought into the country. Violators will be fined up to 5 million yuan.

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