Anyang Issues Henan's First Fine for Selling E-Cigarettes to Minors

According to an July 1 report by Anyang Daily, on June 25 the Neihuang County Tobacco Monopoly Bureau in Anyang, Henan, imposed a fine of 2,000 yuan on an e-cigarette experience store within its jurisdiction for selling e-cigarettes to minors, and also confiscated 107 yuan in illegal gains. This was the first administrative penalty ticket issued in Henan Province for selling e-cigarettes to minors.

Recently, the bureau received a public tip-off that a local e-cigarette experience store had sold e-cigarettes to minors. After receiving the report, tobacco monopoly enforcement officers, together with law enforcement personnel from the market supervision department, immediately rushed to the location to inspect the store and question the parties involved. By checking the relevant sales records, they promptly secured evidence and confirmed the illegal act of selling e-cigarettes to minors.

Following investigation, the authorities determined that the party's conduct violated Article 59 of the Law on the Protection of Minors, infringed upon the physical and mental health of minors, and was therefore punished in accordance with Article 123 of the same law.

To implement the provisions of the newly revised Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors concerning the protection of minors from tobacco-related harm, and to safeguard minors' health and lawful rights and interests in accordance with the law, the municipal tobacco monopoly bureau, under the unified deployment of the provincial tobacco monopoly bureau and the provincial market supervision bureau, has been fully mobilized since June 18. Through careful planning, lawful performance of duties, and stronger accountability, it launched the special “Protect Growth” campaign to shield minors from tobacco-related harm, and quickly investigated and handled this illegal sale of e-cigarettes to minors.

It is reported that the “Protect Growth” special campaign will continue to be implemented, with a focus on prevention, a combination of prevention and enforcement, and comprehensive governance, in order to effectively protect the healthy development of minors.