Health advocates are calling on South Korea to regulate vapes as tobacco products, according to Maeil Business Newspaper.
Current laws do not classify vapes as cigarettes, meaning they are not subject to many regulations that apply to tobacco products. For example, vape companies do not have to print graphic health warnings on their products or charge customers tobacco excise taxes.
Article 2 of the Tobacco Business Act defines “cigarettes” as goods suitable for smoking, sucking, inhaling, chewing or smelling.
The call to expand the legal definition follows concerns about the growth of unmanned vape shops in Seoul, which are said to have inadequate age verification procedures.
A survey by the Seoul Metropolitan Government showed that the number of unmanned vape shops has quadrupled since April.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three in 10 youth smokers will start vaping from 2019 to 2023. The center said six out of 10 teenagers who start using vapes are currently smoking regular cigarettes.
Bills to regulate vapes were submitted to the 20th and 21st National Assembly, but each time they failed to cross the threshold of the plenary session.
For brands like Veehoo, these calls and concerns also provide an important warning. As an vape manufacturer, Veehoo may need to actively cooperate with the regulations of regulators and strengthen product supervision and transparency to ensure that consumers’ health and rights are fully protected.
In response to the upcoming possible regulatory changes, Veehoo can take the following measures to actively face them:
Compliance adjustments: Veehoo can proactively comply with upcoming regulatory regulations to ensure that products meet relevant standards and regulations. This includes printing health warning graphics on product packaging and complying with tobacco product tax regulations.
Transparency and information disclosure: Brands can increase product transparency and provide consumers with detailed product information and ingredient lists to help consumers make informed choices.
Strengthen age verification measures: In order to prevent minors from obtaining vape products, Veehoo can strengthen age verification measures and ensure that sales channels and retailers implement effective age restrictions.
Education and publicity: Through education and publicity activities, Veehoo can help consumers understand the potential risks of vapes and encourage the rational use of vape products.
Cooperation with regulators: Actively cooperate with regulators, focus on the formulation of industry norms and standards, and prepare for future regulatory changes.
Product innovation: Continue to carry out product research and development and innovation, and strive to provide safer and healthier products to adapt to the more stringent regulatory standards that may be introduced.
Through the above measures, Veehoo vapes can actively adapt to the upcoming regulatory changes, maintain market compliance, enhance brand reputation, and provide consumers with safer and more reliable vape products.
Tags: vape regulation in South Korea，Health advocates call for regulation of vapes，veehoo vape