Vietnam to Impose Fines for E-Cigarette Use
Regulation Applies to Both Locals and Foreign Tourists
Draft Law Proposes Penalties Up to 5 Million Dong
Part of Widening Crackdown on E-Cigarettes in Southeast Asia
As countries around the world tighten regulations on e-cigarettes, it is expected that those who use e-cigarettes in Vietnam will soon face fines of up to 5 million dong (approximately 265,000 won). This regulation will apply without exception to both Vietnamese citizens and foreign tourists. Since Vietnam is one of the most popular destinations for Korean travelers, extra caution is advised for tourists from Korea.
According to local media such as VNExpress on June 17 (local time), the Vietnamese Ministry of Health recently announced in a press release that it has drafted a regulation on administrative penalties, which includes administrative actions against the use of e-cigarettes, and is currently gathering public feedback. The decision on whether to implement the regulation will be made after public hearings and further review.
According to the draft, individuals who use e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, or other new tobacco products will be fined between 3 million dong (approximately 159,000 won) and 5 million dong (approximately 265,000 won), and the products in question will be confiscated and destroyed. In addition, if a person is aware that others are using tobacco products in a place they own or manage and fails to stop them or report it to the authorities, they will face a fine of 5 million to 10 million dong (approximately 530,000 won). This regulation is set to apply without exception to both Vietnamese citizens and foreign tourists.
Regulations on e-cigarettes are spreading throughout Southeast Asia. Singapore has already imposed a total ban on e-cigarettes, and Hong Kong has also banned their import and sale. If Vietnam enacts this draft into law, it will become the sixth ASEAN country to regulate e-cigarettes. The Ministry of Health explained that a review of current legislation revealed a lack of clear penalties for the use or concealment of new tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, which led to the addition of relevant regulations in this draft.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has warned that e-cigarettes and new tobacco products pose a serious threat to the health of young people. Health experts have expressed concern, stating, "Although the perception that e-cigarettes are safer than conventional cigarettes is widespread, some studies show that they can be more addictive and pose greater health risks," and "The popularity of e-cigarettes, especially among young people, could threaten the entire public health system."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
