Six brands of cigarettes, from both Taiwan and abroad, have been found to contain nicotine and tar levels in excess of new government standards set to be implemented in the year 2001, according to a report from the National Laboratories of Foods and Drugs under the Department of Health (
The tobacco companies will have to improve their standards, or they could face a punishment of fines between NT$100,000 and NT$300,000 when the controls come into effect.
The health department has tested 17 local cigarettes and 35 imported cigarette brands, using a total of 283 samples.
In an effort to protect the health of local citizens, the Tobacco Hazards Act (
Those levels will be further reduced to 1.2mg and 12mg respectively, in 2007.
The latest report shows that Long Life (
President cigarettes also recorded the highest level of nicotine, followed by New Paradise (新樂園).
Peace Filters were found to have the highest tar level among imported cigarettes, at 16.9mg.
In general, nicotine and tar levels in cigarettes that are produced locally are higher than imported products.
The health department, like its counterparts in most other countries, has already issued warnings that smoking can seriously endanger people's health.
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