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Tag: heated tobacco products

  • Japan Shelves Tightening HTP Regulations

    Japan Shelves Tightening HTP Regulations

    Today (July 9), Japan’s Ministry of Health said it will postpone tightening secondhand smoke regulations for heated tobacco products, concluding that current scientific evidence is insufficient to determine the health risks of secondhand exposure. The ministry will continue reviewing emerging research and revisit the issue in about three years, while moving ahead with stricter oversight of designated smoking facilities by requiring qualifying bars and similar venues to register with municipal authorities.

    The decision follows a five-year review of the revised Health Promotion Act, which bans cigarette smoking in most indoor public spaces but permits HTP use in designated rooms. Although a recent review found some HTPs may emit higher levels of certain carcinogens than conventional cigarettes, the ministry said evidence on health effects for bystanders remains inconclusive. Public health experts on the advisory panel urged a more precautionary approach, while the ministry noted that HTPs now account for about 40% of all tobacco users in Japan, one of the world’s largest markets for heat-not-burn products.

  • Florida Moving Toward Taxing HTPs Differently

    Florida Moving Toward Taxing HTPs Differently

    A Florida House panel advanced legislation that would establish a separate tax structure for heated tobacco products (HTPs), distinguishing them from traditional cigarettes under state law. The bill (HB 377), introduced by Rep. Chase Tramont, reinforces an existing Department of Business and Professional Regulation interpretation that classifies HTPs as “other tobacco products” rather than cigarettes. The change would allow HTPs to be taxed at a lower rate than cigarettes, which are currently taxed at approximately $1.34 per pack. The measure cleared the House Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee with bipartisan support, though some lawmakers raised concerns about offering tax incentives for products that still pose health risks.

    The legislation defines HTPs as tobacco-containing products used in electronic devices that heat, rather than burn, tobacco to produce an inhalable aerosol. Supporters, including Florida TaxWatch, argue that differentiated taxation could encourage smokers to transition away from combustible cigarettes. The bill now heads to the Commerce Committee, while a companion Senate measure (SB 754) continues moving through committee review.

  • Vaping Ban Begins in Taiwan

    Vaping Ban Begins in Taiwan

    The National Police Agency confirmed to Taiwan News that police can now issue on-the-spot fines of up to TWD10,000 ($330) to those caught vaping after Taiwan’s legislature passed amendments to Taiwan’s Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act.

    E-cigarette users can either be fined on the spot, or photo and video evidence can be used by the government to send the fines to violators’ registered addresses, similar to fines currently issued for smoking in nonsmoking areas, jaywalking and other minor offenses.

    The fine for vaping is now the same as for smoking in areas designated as nonsmoking, between TWD2,000 and TWD10,000.

    The amendments also increase the legal age for purchasing cigarettes from 18 to 20 and prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes and heated-tobacco products. Importers, manufacturers and sellers can now be fined up to TWD50 million.