Expected penalties for storing and using new generation cigarettes

The Ministry of Health has just proposed a fine of 1 to 2 million VND for the act of storing and using electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

The Ministry of Health has just proposed a fine of 1 to 2 million VND for the act of storing and using electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

If the offense is repeated, the fine can be doubled, from 2 to 4 million VND. This draft is within the framework of amending and supplementing Decree No. 117/2020/ND-CP of the Government on administrative sanctions for violations in the health sector.

On November 30, 2024, the National Assembly passed a resolution banning the production, trading, import, storage, transportation and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products from 2025.

Along with imposing fines, the Ministry of Health also proposed additional measures, including confiscation of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

In addition, the authorities may also request the destruction of the violating product and send a penalty notice to the agency or organization where the violator works or studies for handling according to internal regulations.

According to research results from the Ministry of Health, the rate of use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, especially among young people, has increased alarmingly in recent years. This not only affects the health of users but also poses a potential danger to the future of the younger generation.

E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are designed with attractive designs, diverse flavors, and are easily accessible at a relatively low price. This has made the product popular among students and young people.

Some e-cigarette products even look like toys or fashion accessories, making them easily accessible to young people without being aware of the health risks they pose.

Experts warn that using e-cigarettes not only easily leads to nicotine addiction but also carries the risk of synthetic drug addiction.

In fact, there have been many cases of children and adolescents being hospitalized due to e-cigarette poisoning, including serious cases when synthetic drugs, especially marijuana, were mixed into e-cigarette products.

Notably, the rate of students using e-cigarettes has increased rapidly. According to the survey, the rate of e-cigarette use among students aged 13-17 increased from 7.3% (in 2020) to 8.1% in 2023. In 2023, there were more than 1,200 hospitalizations due to e-cigarette use, of which 71 were children under 18 years old.

Ms. Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund (Ministry of Health) said that e-cigarettes are becoming a serious health hazard for the young generation. This not only causes nicotine addiction but also is a gateway to other dangerous drugs.

Previously, on November 30, 2024, the National Assembly passed a resolution banning the production, trading, import, storage, transportation and use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products from 2025. This resolution aims to protect public health, especially young people, from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes.

The Ministry of Health also plans to implement strict measures to deal with violations. In addition to penalties, authorities will increase inspection, examination and communication activities to raise public awareness of the dangers of e-cigarettes. This also contributes to protecting a healthy young generation and reducing the risk of serious diseases related to tobacco and drugs.

Health experts say that for the ban on e-cigarettes to be effective, close coordination between authorities, families and the community is needed.

The Ministry of Health is focusing on improving the capacity of functional forces, while promoting health education for adolescents, especially in schools, to help them clearly perceive the harmful effects of e-cigarettes.

Banning e-cigarettes is not only the responsibility of the authorities but also a matter for the whole society. Parents, teachers, and the community need to work together to raise awareness about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes, to protect the health of young people and the future of the country.

The Ministry of Health also recommends that parents and the community be vigilant against the rapid growth of the e-cigarette market and similar products. Preventing and minimizing the harmful effects of e-cigarettes will play an important role in protecting the health and future of the younger generation.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/du-kien-cac-muc-xu-phat-hanh-vi-tang-tru-su-dung-thuoc-la-the-he-moi-d241337.html