Taiwan’s new Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act came into force on 22 March, providing steep fines for inbound passengers bringing heated tobacco products into the country, raising the smoking age to 20 and banning flavours, reports Focus Taiwan.

Under the new law, heated tobacco products are banned in Taiwan unless their manufacture or importation has been approved after a health risk assessment. The updated law provides that the manufacture, importation, sale, supply, display, advertising and consumption of all tobacco-related products, including e-cigarettes, are prohibited. It also includes new rules regulating novel and emerging tobacco products, including heated tobacco products, which were not previously included in the Act.
Those wishing to import heated tobacco products must first submit the products to the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), according to the report. Inbound passengers are prohibited from bringing heated tobacco products into Taiwan as hand luggage to protect national health and prevent tobacco hazards. According to the law, only cigarettes, shredded tobacco and cigars may be brought into the country by incoming passengers.
Violators face fines of between TWD 30,000 (USD 981) and TWD 500,000 (USD 16,355) under the Tobacco and Alcohol Administration Act, or between TWD 50,000 (USD 1,635) and TWD 5 million (USD 163,500) under the new Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act.
The new law also raises the legal smoking age from 18 to 20 and increases the current area for pictorial health warnings and text on product packaging from 35 per cent to 50 per cent of the total area. Under the updated regulations, the areas where smoking is prohibited will be expanded to include all school grounds, kindergartens, daycare centres and family homes where young children are cared for. Tobacco products containing fruit, flowers, chocolate or mint flavours or other prohibited additives are also banned.