TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Fines for e-cigarette usage exceeded NT$20 million (US$619,000) in the first half of this year, according to the health department. 

The Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, amended in March 2023, banned the manufacture, sale, and use of all types of e-cigarette products in Taiwan. Individuals can be fined up to NT$10,000 (US$309) for using e-cigarettes. 

The rate of e-cigarette usage among junior high school students has increased to 3.9% and for high school students, it has risen to 8.8%, per a Ministry of Health and Welfare survey, as reported by CNA. It is estimated that nearly 80,000 teenagers in Taiwan are exposed to e-cigarettes, calling it a “serious health crisis.”

Russell Ying (羅素英), head of the ministry’s tobacco harm prevention team, said that so far this year, more than 160,000 e-cigarette products have been inspected in 22 counties and cities across Taiwan. About 370 punishments were issued for their import, sale, or usage, with fines totaling more than NT$20 million.

Despite the 2023 amendment, illegal tobacco products remain rampant. Ying said the e-cigarette industry has used clever marketing techniques in recent years, such as adding flavors and designing cool and convenient product shapes, allowing the product to reach a younger market. 

Ying urged young people to stay away from e-cigarettes, which are linked to cancer, lung diseases, and other adverse health effects. He cited a South Korean survey, which found that the asthma rate among students who smoked e-cigarettes was more than twice that of those who did not.