National Cancer Center hosts forum on e-cigarette and smoking cessation policies

The National Cancer Center's Gyeonggi Northern Smoking Cessation Support Center hosted the 3rd Community Smoking Cessation Policy Forum at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly. The event, co-organized with the Gyeonggi Southern Smoking Cessation Support Center and the Gyeonggi-do Smoking Cessation Support Group, focused on the theme ‘New Challenges for Community Smoking Cessation Policy in the Era of E-cigarettes.’

Key presentations addressed the evolving tobacco landscape. Experts shared findings on e-cigarette exposure in local convenience stores and highlighted the rising danger of nicotine-free products among youth. Discussions emphasized the need for stronger monitoring by civil society, inter-ministerial cooperation involving the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and expanded preventive education for students.

Participants also discussed the limitations of current tobacco laws, particularly regarding the definition of tobacco and the exclusion of nicotine-like substances. Proposed regulatory enhancements included increasing tobacco taxes, banning advertising and display in convenience stores, implementing total smoking bans in public spaces, and introducing standardized packaging.