Jiusan Society member proposes bringing e-cigarettes under the tobacco monopoly regulatory system

　　After the smoking ban, e-cigarette sales may be stimulated to rise. Members of the Jiusan Society suggest that e-cigarettes should be brought under the tobacco monopoly regulatory system.

　　Legal Evening News (Reporter Zhou Chao) — After the “strictest smoking control order in history” took effect on June 1, smoking was comprehensively banned in public places. However, this regulation has also driven growth in e-cigarette sales, while there remains a regulatory vacuum regarding the harms of e-cigarettes. The reporter learned this morning from the Jiusan Society that its members have proposed first clarifying the legal status of e-cigarettes and then incorporating them into the tobacco monopoly regulatory system.

　　A proposal report submitted by Huo Chao, member of the Chaoyang District Committee of the Jiusan Society, member Yan Yan, and committee member Zhu Liang stated that starting May 10, China once again raised tobacco consumption tax, from 5% six years ago to 11%. In addition, the “strictest smoking control order in history” came into effect on June 1. These tobacco control measures have had a major impact on cigarette sales, especially among price-sensitive groups including teenagers, but they have also left room for booming e-cigarette sales.

　　At present, e-cigarettes are often marketed with promotional claims such as “no secondhand smoke,” “eliminates carcinogens such as tar,” and “smoking cessation product.” The report said that on May 31 alone, searching “e-cigarette” on Taobao returned 158,800 results, compared with 157,200 on May 22, an increase of 1% in less than ten days. As of June 2, that figure had already risen to more than 160,000.

　　The report added that the cheapest e-cigarettes cost only a little over ten yuan, and refill bottles of e-liquid cost less than 10 yuan—less than the price of a hamburger. Combined with the lack of meaningful purchase restrictions and the even deliberate development of fruit-flavored e-cigarettes, this makes them even more tempting to impressionable teenagers.

　　The World Health Organization has conducted dedicated research on e-cigarettes and reached a clear conclusion: e-cigarettes are harmful to public health, and they are not a smoking cessation method. Regulation must therefore be strengthened to prevent harm to teenagers and non-smokers.

　　Although China is a major producer and consumer of e-cigarettes, regulation remains largely absent. At present, domestic e-cigarette production is basically in a “three-no” state: no product standards, no quality supervision, and no safety evaluation. Customs authorities have also faced awkward difficulties in defining the legal identity of e-cigarettes, so their quality and safety cannot be guaranteed.

　　“In fact, e-cigarettes may be a temptation for teenagers,” committee member Zhu Liang said. If teenagers become accustomed to using e-cigarettes, they may go on to buy traditional cigarettes when they become adults.

　　The report stated that e-cigarette sales should not be allowed to develop unchecked and that regulation should be comprehensively strengthened. It recommends first defining the legal status of e-cigarettes. Professional personnel should be organized by departments such as the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the China Food and Drug Administration, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine to conduct scientific evaluations, clarify their classification, formulate relevant industry standards, and implement effective supervision.

　　At the same time, e-cigarettes should be incorporated into the tobacco monopoly management system to ensure that, like traditional tobacco products, they are not sold to minors under the age of 18. It is also recommended that e-cigarette advertising be brought under tobacco advertising regulations, or that separate e-cigarette advertising policies be formulated with reference to those rules. In addition, the Beijing Smoking Control Regulations should be revised at an appropriate time to include provisions on controlling e-cigarettes. Education authorities should also add targeted e-cigarette awareness content to anti-smoking education for primary and secondary school students.