E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to be subject to stricter management

Under Dispatch No.47/CD-TTg, signed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on May 13, ministries, agencies, and localities have been tasked to tighten the management of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, the Government News has reported.

The move came as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are increasingly consumed, especially by youngsters, causing negative health effects.

The Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Finance to direct the customs authority to strictly inspect and control the transportation of smuggled e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products through border gates and customs control areas.

The Ministry of Health was urged to disseminate the harmful effects of e-cigarette and heated tobacco products to communities, while identifying solutions to better manage these commodities.

The border guard force was directed to increase border patrol to detect the illegal trading, storing, and transportation of smuggled e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

The Ministry of Public Security was requested to direct its forces at all levels to focus on bringing to light those involving in illegally trading and mixing banned substances into e-cigarette solutions.

The Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Vietnam Television, the radio Voice of Vietnam, the Vietnam News Agency, and the provincial-level People's Committees were requested to direct press and media agencies to increase communications about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

According to a survey in 2022, the rate of e-cigarette use among students aged 13-15 years is 3.5 per cent. In 2019, this rate was 2.6 per cent. The rate increased significantly, placing at risk the achievements made by Vietnam in reducing the rate of regular cigarette use over the past ten years.