Strengthening management of electronic cigarette business

Electronic cigarettes contain nicotine, which is an addictive substance that causes cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive diseases. However, this product is still widely sold on the market and has become a concern for many parents with minor children. Faced with this reality, the market management force in the province has been stepping up inspection and handling of violations in the business of electronic cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes, also known as vapes, vaporizers or shishas, are devices that simulate the function of traditional cigarettes by creating nicotine-containing vapors with many different flavors to attract users. To "trick" teachers and parents and attract students, electronic cigarettes are designed to be eye-catching in many different forms, similar to devices and school supplies such as pens, lipsticks, USBs, etc. and are sold for only a few tens of thousands of VND to a few hundred thousand VND (depending on the type). These products are not yet allowed to be imported, traded and circulated in the domestic market, but buying, selling and advertising are taking place quite commonly, especially on the internet and on sidewalks around schools in the province, most concentrated in Phu Ly city.

Faced with the above reality, the Provincial Market Management Department has directed the Market Management teams in charge of managing the areas of districts, cities and towns to coordinate with local police forces to step up propaganda and disseminate the harmful effects of smuggled cigarettes and e-cigarettes on the health, living and studying life of students. Along with that, organize 100% of business establishments to sign a commitment not to trade in prohibited items, including e-cigarettes. Market management teams have also actively implemented many professional solutions, collected information, developed plans, proactively coordinated with functional agencies and local authorities to strengthen inspection, control, and promptly prevent the illegal trading and transportation of electronic cigarettes... From December 2022 to present, the market management force in the province has detected and handled 3 violations related to the trading of electronic cigarettes, administratively fined 30 million VND for trading in smuggled goods and trading in goods of unknown origin. At the same time, over 1,300 units of electronic cigarettes were confiscated with a value of nearly 86 million VND.

Strengthening management of electronic cigarette business — Market Management Team No. 3, Provincial Market Management Department coordinated with the Economic Police Department, Provincial Police to inspect and confiscate smuggled goods, which are electronic cigarettes, on Truong Chinh Street, Phu Ly City. Photo: Han Han

A typical example recently, Market Management Team No. 3 (Provincial Market Management Department) coordinated with the Economic Police Department, Provincial Police to inspect 23 cardboard boxes of 2 individuals gathering to sell goods on the sidewalk on Truong Chinh Street (Phu Ly City). Through the inspection process, over 1,000 boxes of electronic cigarettes were discovered to be smuggled goods, the value of the administrative violation evidence according to the listed price on each product was 39.3 million VND. Market Management Team No. 3 imposed administrative fines on 2 individuals with a total amount of 13 million VND. Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Provincial Market Management Department, said: To strengthen the management of electronic cigarettes as well as illegal cigarette trading, every year, the Provincial Market Management Department develops plans, directs the subordinate Market Management teams to send staff to closely follow the establishments, directly manage the area, strengthen propaganda, disseminate to establishments and business households the provisions of the law on commercial activities as well as the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes. However, the inspection and handling of violations in this field currently still face many difficulties and obstacles. The reason is that this item is not on the list of prohibited items but has not been identified as a product in the conditional investment and business sector. The Law on Prevention of Tobacco Harms defines tobacco in an open way, that is, including traditional cigarettes made from tobacco plants. In addition, the concept of tobacco in the law also includes other alternative materials and processed in other forms. However, it is currently unclear whether the phrase “other alternative materials” includes new generation cigarettes, including electronic cigarettes.

Thus, according to the explanation of the Director of the Provincial Market Management Department Nguyen Anh Tuan, currently, because there are not many sanctions specifically applied to electronic cigarette products, in order to make high profits, many organizations and individuals have disregarded violations to smuggle these products and sell them widely, focusing on students. Therefore, if only relying on the current tobacco management policy, it is not enough of a deterrent. Currently, businesses are only subject to administrative sanctions for trading in smuggled goods or trading in goods of unknown origin because there is not enough legal basis to apply sanctions to handle prohibited goods such as smuggled cigarettes.

Clearly identifying these difficulties, in the coming time, the Provincial Market Management Department will continue to direct the Market Management teams to strengthen the management of the area, implement professional measures, promptly detect, inspect and strictly handle organizations and individuals who trade in smuggled cigarettes and electronic cigarettes according to the provisions of law. Closely coordinate with functional forces, especially the Provincial Police force to review, exchange information, coordinate to inspect and handle violations of new generation cigarettes, further improve the effectiveness of inspection and handling. In parallel with inspection and handling of violations, the Department has also directed the Market Management teams to step up propaganda activities, raise awareness and knowledge about the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes, and at the same time prevent drugs disguised as electronic cigarettes from entering schools, causing harm to the health of the community.

Nguyen Oanh

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