The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, May 19, 2022 | 21:10
Health & Science
Gov't to mandate graphic warnings on heated tobacco product packages
Posted : 2018-05-14 15:51
Updated : 2018-05-14 18:25
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down

Manufacturers of heated tobacco products will be required to replace warnings on their packages in December following government guidelines. The left photo shows the current warning showing only a needle, which many have criticized as an 'unclear and ineffective' written warning, while the one on the right shows a cancer-ridden organ. / Yonhap
Manufacturers of heated tobacco products will be required to replace warnings on their packages in December following government guidelines. The left photo shows the current warning showing only a needle, which many have criticized as an "unclear and ineffective" written warning, while the one on the right shows a cancer-ridden organ. / Yonhap

By Lee Kyung-min

Manufacturers of heat-not-burn (HNB) cigarettes, or heated tobacco products, will be required to put graphic warnings about health risks associated with smoking including cancer, similar to warnings all other cigarette manufacturers currently use. Such products will have to use graphic images of cancer-ridden organs, a much strengthened standard than the current image of a needle, which many have criticized as "unclear and ineffective."

The Ministry of Health and Welfare unveiled a set of smoking deterrence measures, Monday, to replace the current graphic warnings with more "disturbing" ones and providing facts, intended to increase their effectiveness in preventing nicotine consumption including HNB products. New warnings must completely replace the current ones by Dec. 23, six months after the official announcement of the plan between May 14 and June 4.

The measure followed a one-year in-depth deliberation commissioned by a 13-member special committee comprised of government officials and private experts. A survey of 1,500 smokers and non-smokers was conducted to reflect public opinion.

The government plan seeks to dispel the conventional notion that such products are less harmful and therefore should remain exempt from stringent health policy. HNB-produced smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, of which more than 70 are carcinogenic substances, known to cause, initiate or exacerbate cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), all forms of tobacco use are harmful, including HNBs. "Tobacco is inherently toxic and contains carcinogens even in its natural form, and therefore they should be subject to policy and regulatory measures applied to all other tobacco products, in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control." Korea is bound by the treaty to fight the tobacco epidemic.

The strengthened measure came amid growing market presence of HNB products only about a year after their launch in Korea. The dominant market player with over 80 percent market capitalization is Philip Morris International Korea's IQOS, followed by domestically produced lil by KT&G and British American Tobacco Korea's glo. Data from the Ministry of Strategy and Finance showed about 230 million non-HNB cigarette packs were sold in January, while about 20 million HNB packs were sold, accounting for 8 percent of the market, almost a three-fold increase compared to 3 percent seven months earlier.

Meanwhile, for manufacturers of non-HNB cigarettes, the ministry will order current pictures to be replaced with more disturbing ones depicting lung, laryngeal and oral cancer, heart disease, strokes, sexual function disorder, the effects of secondhand smoke, the effects on unborn babies of pregnant smokers and premature death. Pictures depicting premature skin aging were ordered replaced with that of tooth discoloration following their questionable efficacy as a deterrent.

The ministry added that companies will have to make written warnings more concise and provide specific risk figures. The warnings for lung cancer will be revised to "The risk of lung cancer increases up to 26 times. Will you smoke?" from the current "Smoking is a cause of lung cancer. Will you go ahead and smoke?"



Emaillkm@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic [PHOTOS]
  • Kim says Chinese permanent residents should be stripped of right to vote in Korea
  • Anti-LGBTQ sentiment widespread in Korea: survey
  • South Korea to join US-led Indo-Pacific economic initiative
  • CJ, Ottogi uneasy about Harim's tactics to sell new cooked rice
  • Protecting Korea's semiconductor leadership
  • [INTERVIEW] Yoon's efforts to bolster Korea-US alliance will inevitably disturb China
  • North Korea asks China, Russia for help amid COVID crisis: reports
  • Luna debacle casts ripple effect over Korean stocks
  • Korea to resume issuing short-term travel visas, e-visas next month
  • Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface Le Sserafim member Kim Ga-ram's bullying allegations resurface
  • PSY's first boy group TNX makes much-anticipated debut with EP 'Way Up' PSY's first boy group TNX makes much-anticipated debut with EP 'Way Up'
  • Girls' Generation to make comeback in August after five years Girls' Generation to make comeback in August after five years
  • Musical 'Beethoven' to hit stage next year Musical 'Beethoven' to hit stage next year
  • 'Doctor Strange 2' tops 5 million admissions 'Doctor Strange 2' tops 5 million admissions
DARKROOM
  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic [PHOTOS]

    People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic [PHOTOS]

  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

  • End of mask mandates

    End of mask mandates

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group