Total ban on alternative smoking products
Alternative smoking products (ASPs), also known as novel tobacco/nicotine products, refer to the smoking products that are newly developed by the tobacco industry and do not fall into any of the categories of conventional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, cigar and pipe tobacco. The definition might vary across countries, but in Hong Kong, alternative smoking products (ASPs) include e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs) and herbal cigarettes.
ASPs have not been on the market long enough for the harms to be thoroughly examined. Nonetheless, emerging research has shown the presence of harmful and carcinogenic substances in ASPs (some are in higher level than in conventional cigarettes) and the harms of use, such as increased respiratory and cardiovascular risks. Given also the inconclusive role in aiding smoking cessation and the potential to recruit non-smokers, especially adolescents, to nicotine use, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends regulations or prohibition of ASPs as appropriate, taking into account a high level of protection of human health.
Places that have prohibited or legislated to prohibit ASPs:
| Places | |
| E-cigarettes | Argentina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Colombia, Egypt, Gambia, India, Iran, Kuwait, Lao, Lebanon, Macau, Mauritius, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Qatar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syria, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uruguay |
| HTPs | Australia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Finland, India, Iran, Lao, Macau, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda |
Source: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Hong Kong has prohibited the import, promotion, manufacture, sale, or possession for commercial purposes of ASPs since 30 April 2022. Starting from 30 April 2026, the prohibition will further extend to the possession of ASP substances (such as e-cigarette capsules, heated tobacco sticks and herbal cigarettes) in public places. Under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance, promotion, manufacture, sale or possession for commercial purposes of ASPs, as well as provision of ASPs to persons aged below 18 is liable for a HK$50,000 fine and 6-month imprisonment; the use of ASPs in statutory no smoking areas is liable for a HK$3,000 fixed penalty. Possession of a small quantity of ASP substances (such as less than 5 units of capsules/5mL of substance or less than 100 units of heat sticks or less than 100 rolls of herbal cigarettes) in public places for non-commercial use is liable for a HK$3,000 fixed penalty. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, import of ASPs is liable for a HK$500,000 fine and 2-year imprisonment upon summary conviction, or a HK$2,000,000 fine and 7-year imprisonment upon conviction on indictment.
Please visit the website of Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of Department of Health for more details of the legislation.
Please visit the corresponding webpages for more information on the harm of e-cigarettes and HTPs.