China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stopped soliciting public opinion on their draft amendment to the tobacco monopoly law which would extend the current guidelines governing cigarettes to e-cigarettes and other next generation products. But, the amendment faces strong opposition from both the industry and public health advocates who say STMA should not be given the power to regulate vapes.
The Beijing Tobacco Control Association (BTCA) objected to the amendment saying that it could mean China Tobacco, which already monopolizes the country’s tobacco sales, will also supervise the functioning of the e-cigarette market. According to BTCA, STMA historically failed to protect people from the effects of traditional cigarettes and was “essentially performing the corporate functions of a tobacco corporation.”
BTCA went on to say, “Only when the tobacco monopoly system is separated into (separate) business and a regulator parts, will the tobacco bureau then seriously undertake its tobacco control responsibilities … only then can we discuss the question of them overseeing e-cigarettes too,” while suggesting that the authority to regulate vapes should go to China’s National Medical Products Administration and the State Administrator for Market Regulation instead.
Many vape industry insiders share a similar view – fearing monopolization by China Tobacco that will lead to their products being incorporated into the monopoly system and suppressed in favor of tobacco cigarettes, or even China Tobacco’s own cigarette alternatives that are being developed. Others fear raised barriers for companies to enter the market and confusion over who exactly regulates their products.
However, some are not entirely apposed to allowing STMA to regulate e-cigarettes, suggesting that the authority establish a new agency to ensure fairness and transparency, rather than having an independent, third-party supervising body.
No timeline has been released as to when China’s State Council will decide whether to approve the amendment.