A total of 633 kilograms of e-cigarettes were recycled, and civil groups such as the National Education League called on the Legislative Yuan to complete the revision of the smoke prevention law during this session. (Photo by reporter Lin Xiaoyun)
Special recycling bins for e-cigarettes have been on the road for over a month, and 633 kilograms have been recycled across Taiwan. However, amendments to laws such as paying fines for possessing e-cigarettes are still to be completed. The National Education Action Alliance held a press conference today (19th) together with the medical community and civil society organizations to call on the Legislative Yuan to complete the third reading of the amendment to the Tobacco Harm Prevention Law during this session, including penalizing the possession of e-cigarettes, strengthening illegal supply and online platform management, and increasing the graphic and text area of cigarette packs to 85%.
Wang Hanyang, chairman of the National Education Alliance, pointed out that the National Health Service has set up special recycling bins for e-cigarettes since September 8, with a total of 432 recycling points. The recycling volume in a full month is about 12,660 e-cigarettes based on 50 grams each. The National Health Administration previously announced that the recycling measures are expected to be provided until the expiration of the one-month buffer period after the implementation of the new law. If the amendment to the law continues to be delayed, there will be no clear end point for the recycling measures.
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Wang Hanyang said that the number of recycling cannot directly infer the actual circulation scale of e-cigarettes, nor does it mean that the problem has been solved. According to the draft plan, those who possess e-cigarettes without being used by others before the implementation of the new law will not be fined if found within one month after the implementation, but the items are still confiscated; those who possess e-cigarettes after the grace period will be fined from 30,000 yuan to 100,000 yuan.
Wang Hanyang emphasized that e-cigarettes are not equivalent to drugs, but the device may become a vehicle for drugs. If they can still be easily obtained through the Internet and underground channels, parents’ reminders and school inspections cannot be relied upon. The illegal supply should be blocked from the source.
Kuo Fei-ran, secretary-general of the Taiwan Medical Association for Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control and attending physician at the Department of Family Medicine at National Taiwan University Hospital, said that e-cigarette aerosols usually contain nicotine and other toxic substances and are not harmless. The products are often disguised as USBs, pens and other supplies, with sweet and fruity flavors, making it difficult for parents to detect.
Zhang Wenchang, secretary-general of the Taiwan Common Good Promotion Association, pointed out that larger cigarette box warning graphics can help convey health risks and increase motivation to quit smoking, and called for the 85% version to be maintained. Lin Qingli, director of the Tung Foundation's Tobacco Harm Prevention Center, said that in addition to laws and enforcement, students must also understand flavored tobacco products, marketing and packaging techniques.
Groups such as the National Education Alliance call on the Legislative Yuan to deal with the reserved provisions as soon as possible, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Education should also provide schools and families with more adequate identification and anti-smoking education resources to avoid leaving parents and teachers alone with the responsibility for prevention.
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A total of 633 kilograms of e-cigarettes were recycled, and civil groups such as the National Education League called on the Legislative Yuan to complete the revision of the smoke prevention law during this session. (Photo by reporter Lin Xiaoyun)
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