Nicotine-like products expose blind spot in e-cigarette rules

A new regulatory blind spot is emerging around nicotine-free and nicotine-imitation products, following a law revision that brought liquid e-cigarettes under government oversight for the first time. Nicotine-imitation substances have not been fully verified for safety, and actual nicotine has turned up even in products marketed as “nicotine-free,” prompting calls for a comprehensive system to regulate such products. In April, a revision to the Tobacco Business Act took effect extending the legal definition of tobacco from traditional leaf-based products to cover natural and synthetic nicotine. Under the revised law, use of e-cigarettes is banned in facilities such as schools, hospitals and government offices, as well as in designated outdoor no-smoking zones. Online sales of e-cigarettes are banned, and health warnings including nicotine content and ingredient disclosures must appear on packaging. Sales to minors are prohibited, along with any promotional activities targeting them. But the Tobacco Business Act defines tobacco only as products made from tobacco leaf or nicotine, leaving n

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