Countries Worldwide Continue to Advance E-Cigarette Bans

The National Tobacco Control Legislation Training Course Successfully Held in Zhuhai

Recently, to implement the requirements of the "Healthy China Action (2019-2030)" tobacco control action and promote comprehensive smoke-free legislation in provinces and cities, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association jointly held a national tobacco control legislation training course in Zhuhai, Guangdong. Nearly 200 representatives from 28 provinces and 42 cities with intentions or plans for tobacco control legislation attended the training, mainly from technical institutions such as disease control and health education, administrative departments like health commissions and health offices, legislative departments like the People's Congress and judicial bureaus, enforcement departments like health supervision and law enforcement bureaus, and relevant institutions like preventive medicine associations.

Taiwan Fully Bans E-Cigarettes; Media Reports Challenges in Implementation

After 16 years of discussion and waiting, the amendment to Taiwan's "Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act" was finally announced on February 15 this year and came into effect on March 22. This implementation of the "Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act" mainly targets the previously controversial focus—e-cigarettes. The amendment stipulates a complete ban on the manufacture, import, sale, supply, display, advertising, and use of e-cigarettes on the island. Users of e-cigarettes will face fines ranging from NT$2,000 to NT$10,000, while suppliers of e-cigarettes and their components will face fines from NT$10,000 to NT$250,000. Sellers and exhibitors of e-cigarettes will face fines from NT$200,000 to NT$1,000,000, and manufacturers, importers, and promoters of e-cigarettes will face fines from NT$10,000,000 to NT$50,000,000. The new law also expands the smoke-free areas in indoor and outdoor public places, with comprehensive smoking bans in colleges, kindergartens, childcare centers, and family care facilities. In bars and nightclubs, smokers can only smoke in designated smoking rooms. The legal smoking age has also been raised to 20 years old.

Georgia, USA, Passes Bill to Restrict E-Cigarette Use in Public

Georgia lawmakers on Tuesday finally passed a bill that restricts the use of e-cigarettes in public places. The state House of Representatives passed Senate Bill No. 47 by a vote of 152 to 14, which will regulate e-cigarettes in the same manner as the state's regulation of smoking. Georgia's 2005 Smoke-Free Air Act prohibits smoking indoors in many public places, although it excludes some locations, including tobacco shops, bars that only admit customers over 18, and private meeting rooms. Violators of the law are subject to misdemeanor charges and fines ranging from $100 to $500.

Australia Expected to Implement Stricter Import Bans on E-Cigarettes to Address Explosive Growth

According to foreign reports today, Australia's drug regulatory agency is expected to recommend a complete ban on the import of e-cigarette products, as new research indicates that young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to continue smoking traditional cigarettes than those who do not. This week, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will propose to the government how to amend e-cigarette laws to address the rising rates of e-cigarette use, especially among young people. Leading health organizations, including the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Cancer Council, have jointly called for a complete ban on the import of all nicotine e-cigarette products without a prescription.

Alaska, USA, Plans to Raise Minimum Age for Tobacco Product Use to 21

Recently, Alaska State Senate President Gary Stevens submitted a bill aimed at raising the minimum age for purchasing and using tobacco products from 19 to 21 and imposing taxes on e-cigarette products.

“We need to take more measures to reduce the smoking rate in Alaska, especially to decrease the number of young smokers,” said Gary Stevens.