Gov’t tightens management of e-cigarettes

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

The Prime Minister tasked 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 proposing solutions to better manage these commodities.

The border guard force was tasked 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 Viet Nam Television, the radio Voice of Viet Nam, the Viet Nam 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 Viet Nam in reducing the rate of regular cigarette use over the past ten years./.