A total of NT$880 million (US$27.99 million) in fines for illegal e-cigarettes and unapproved heated tobacco products have been imposed nationwide in the past three years, the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) said today.
By the end of last month, health authorities had conducted more than 970,000 on-site and online inspections for new tobacco products named illegal by the amended Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act (菸害防制法), which took effect on March 22, 2023, the agency said.
Authorities have issued 10,084 penalties, including 3,266 cases involving e-cigarettes and 6,818 involving heated tobacco products, the agency said.
Photo: Taipei Times
Of the NT$880 million in total fines, 204 cases were linked to online platforms, while 2,033 cases involved the illegal use of e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products, it said.
The agency reminded the public that e-cigarettes are not a safe alternative to conventional cigarettes and remain illegal in Taiwan.
Heated tobacco products and related devices must pass a health risk assessment review before they can be manufactured or imported, it said.
E-cigarettes often use candy or fruit flavors to attract young people, the HPA said, adding that they may contain nicotine, additives, flavorings and various chemicals, some of which have been proven to be carcinogenic.
They could pose health risks to adolescents whose brains and bodies are still developing, it added.
Studies have shown that exposure to nicotine during adolescence is associated with persistent cognitive and behavioral impairments later in life, such as reduced working memory and attention, the agency said.
Nicotine is highly addictive and can have profound and irreversible damage on the brain and different types of cells, it added.
While HPA surveys show a downward trend in e-cigarette use among college, high-school and junior-high students, HPA Director-General Shen Ching-fen (沈靜芬) urged continued vigilance.
The agency has asked the Ministry of Education to help promote tobacco hazard prevention to ensure that students do not fall into the trap of using or sharing illegal tobacco products with peers, she said.
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