The Ministry of Health and Welfare yesterday unveiled a preview of proposed regulations to ban 27 types of chemicals from being used in tobacco products, including cigarettes, vapes and heat-not-burn devices.
A previous version of the ban targeting only mint, floral, fruit and chocolate-flavored tobacco products was withdrawn amid criticism from groups that oppose smoking, who said that the proposed regulations were too narrow.
Lo Su-ying (羅素英), who heads the Health Promotion Agency’s Tobacco Control Division, said that the new proposal would enable the ministry to remove more than half of flavored tobacco products from the market.
Photo: Lin Chih-yi, Taipei Times
Amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act (菸害防制法) promulgated last year authorize the government to prohibit specific types of chemical compounds in tobacco products, Lo said.
The list includes vanillin, maltol and heliotropin among other chemical compounds commonly used as additives in flavored tobacco products, she said.
Flavors such as caramel, butter, almond, rose, coconut, raspberry, vanilla and cheese could not be produced without these substances, she said.
The manufacture and import of tobacco products containing the banned substances would result in a fine of NT$1 million to NT$5 million (US$30,826 to US$154,131), while their sale would be punishable by a fine of NT10,000 to NT$50,000, Lo said.
The amended regulations would enter a 60-day period of public consideration before taking effect, she said, adding that the government has no plans to impose fines or penalties immediately for tobacco users.
Lin Ching-li (林清麗), head of the John Tung Foundation’s tobacco control division, said that the foundation is not satisfied with the proposed changes, as they fail to reflect the intent of lawmakers to ban flavored tobacco products.
The ministry’s claims about removing a majority of flavored tobacco products from shelves were unquantified, Lin said, adding that the foundation estimates at least 1,200 varieties of such products are circulating in Taiwan.
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