People entering Taiwan would be allowed to bring up to 200 heated tobacco product sticks into the country duty free starting on Feb. 1, but they would have to be bought in duty-free areas in Taiwan airports due to existing health approval rules.
The only heated tobacco products — electronic devices that heat processed tobacco sticks at a lower temperature than conventional cigarettes — currently approved for sale in Taiwan are not currently sold overseas, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.
Photo courtesy of Taoyuan International Airport Corp
Therefore, travelers who try to bring in unapproved heated tobacco sticks from abroad after Feb. 1 hoping to avoid paying duties on them would still contravene the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act (菸害防制法) and be subject to a fine ranging from NT$50,000 to NT$5 million (US$1,580 to US$158,009), the ministry said.
Lo Su-ying (羅素英), head of the Tobacco Control Division at the Health Promotion Administration (HPA), told reporters yesterday that only two companies operating in Taiwan currently have designated heated tobacco products and component combinations approved by the ministry.
Lo said travelers may not bring other heated tobacco products purchased overseas into Taiwan, but may buy approved products at duty-free shops in Taiwan airports or in outlying islands, and bring them in under the new duty-free rules.
Lo said the HPA sent information on approved heated tobacco product items that passed health risk assessments to the Customs Administration on Oct. 1 last year to serve as a reference for inspections upon entry.
The HPA said it would strengthen public communication and education efforts to help travelers understand the rules in advance and avoid breaking the law.
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