TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW, 衛福部) pushed forward amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act (菸害防制法) on Tuesday (March 11), drawing immediate criticism from civic groups who claim the revisions contain dangerous loopholes in the fight against e-cigarettes.
Multiple advocacy organizations blasted the proposed regulations for failing to ban personal possession of e-cigarettes, effectively undermining enforcement capabilities. The Action Alliance on Basic Education (國教行動聯盟), National Alliance of Parents' Associations (全國家長團體聯盟), and John Tung Foundation (董氏基金會) united at a press conference to sound the alarm about the growing threat of e-cigarettes laced with narcotics.
"The Health Promotion Administration's draft lacks explicit prohibition on e-cigarette possession," explained Wang Han-yang (王瀚陽), chairperson of the Action Alliance on Basic Education. "Enforcement agencies cannot seize and destroy these products without this authority." Wang also criticized the absence of mandatory monitoring requirements for online platforms where e-cigarette advertisements flourish.
The coalition proposed dramatic strengthening of the regulations, including complete criminalization of e-cigarette possession, mandatory ad monitoring by digital platforms, substantial fines up to NT$5 million for violators, and severe penalties—ranging from seven years to life imprisonment—for selling narcotic-laced e-cigarettes.
Legislators from across Taiwan's political spectrum attended the event, including Liao Wei-hsiang (廖偉翔), Lin Yueh-chin (林月琴), and Chen Gau-tzu (陳昭姿), highlighting bipartisan concern over youth protection.
"The government must strengthen its response to emerging tobacco hazards," Lin declared. "This amendment marks just the beginning of necessary action." She committed to vigilant oversight of administration efforts to eliminate e-cigarettes at their source and enhance online regulation to protect teenagers from these increasingly prevalent devices.