Taiwan Proposes Stricter E-cigarette Regulations to Combat 'Zombie Smoke Bomb' Use

Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare is moving to amend the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act in response to a surge in "zombie smoke bomb" (Etomidate) use, often facilitated by e-cigarettes.

Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-liang outlined three key directions for the proposed revisions. First, the law will be amended to include penalties for the possession of e-cigarettes and related components, moving beyond the current requirement to catch individuals in the act of using them. This aims to reduce the circulation of illegal e-cigarettes.

Second, the ministry plans to increase penalties for the supply chain. Currently, violations related to the manufacturing, import, and sale of e-cigarettes are treated as administrative offenses. Referencing practices in countries like Singapore and Thailand, Taiwan will consider imposing criminal liability for these actions to enhance deterrence.

Third, the proposed amendments will strengthen the responsibility of online platforms. Given that many e-cigarettes are sold through social media, online platforms, and self-built websites, platform operators will be required to actively manage content, promptly remove illegal sales information, and cooperate with government investigations. Hsueh emphasized that addressing the source of e-cigarettes is crucial, alongside drug management, to mitigate the harm caused by "zombie smoke bombs."

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E-cigarettes are the primary delivery vehicle for Etomidate. Therefore, in addition to drug management, we must also manage e-cigarettes at the source.