HPA Adheres to Position: 'Avoiding Smoking is Optimal', According to Former Representative
Taiwan Approves Conditional Sale of Heated Tobacco Products
The Health Promotion Administration (HPA) in Taiwan has given conditional approval for the sale of 14 heated tobacco products from two companies. This decision comes after a comprehensive health risk assessment under the 2023 amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act.
The conditional approval is not an immediate legalization. Products can only become legal once official notice is given and the necessary labeling and packaging changes are implemented. The approval comes with strict conditions, such as protecting young people and pregnant women, banning sales to those under 20, and requiring companies to fund and contract third parties for ongoing monitoring and research of these products' health impact.
The HPA will also closely monitor sales channels and enforce regulations strictly. Personal import of heated tobacco products by travelers remains banned in Taiwan, with Customs actively enforcing this prohibition. Discussions about potential changes to personal import rules are ongoing, but no timeline has been decided.
The HPA's stance against smoking remains firm, but it acknowledges that people will smoke. The organization is working to control heated tobacco products rather than allowing free or unconditional marketing and use.
In a separate development, the HPA is expanding its screening program for stomach cancer to 17 cities and counties this year. As of last month, publicly funded screening had benefited 3.8 million people, an increase of 700,000 from last year. The HPA hopes to screen 6.7 million people this year. The organization expanded screening eligibility for five types of cancers this year: breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, oral cancer, and lung cancer.
The issue of additives in tobacco products is separate from the reviews of heated tobacco products. The HPA is continuing discussions on the types of additives that should not be allowed in tobacco products to prevent manufacturers from attracting younger users.
Taiwan and the US are the only countries that mandate an official evaluation of the effects of heated tobacco products before allowing their sale. The HPA maintains that early treatment for stomach cancer is 90 percent effective, compared with only 10 percent for stage four cancer. Helicobacter pylori is detected in 70 to 80 percent of people diagnosed with stomach cancer.
The HPA aims to reduce cancer-related deaths by one-third by 2030. Early-stage screening is the only way to achieve this goal, according to the HPA. Former HPA director-general Wu Chao-chun made these comments in an interview with the Chinese-language Liberty Times.
In other news, the Taiwan Alliance on Banning Cigarettes staged a protest in front of the HPA during the handover ceremony between Wu and the new director-general, Shen Ching-fen. The alliance continues to advocate for "no smoking," but acknowledges that a zero-smoking society is difficult to achieve.
[1] Taiwan News, "Taiwan Approves Conditional Sale of Heated Tobacco Products," [accessed 2023-04-10]. [2] Central News Agency, "HPA Conditionally Approves 14 Heated Tobacco Products," [accessed 2023-04-10]. [3] Taiwan News, "Taiwan Bans Personal Import of Heated Tobacco Products," [accessed 2023-04-10]. [4] Central News Agency, "Customs Continues to Seize Illegal Heated Tobacco Products," [accessed 2023-04-10]. [5] Central News Agency, "HPA Maintains Cautious Stance on Heated Tobacco Products," [accessed 2023-04-10].
- The Health Promotion Administration (HPA) in Taiwan is focused on science, particularly in the field of tobacco hazards prevention.
- The conditional approval of heated tobacco products is part of the HPA's ongoing efforts in workplace-wellness.
- The HPA also pays attention to medical-conditions, such as chronic diseases and respiratory conditions, when making decisions about these products.
- The sale of these products could potentially impact eye-health, which is another area of concern for the HPA.
- The HPA's primary goal is to promote health-and-wellness across the board.
- The manufacturing industry is affected by the HPA's decisions regarding heated tobacco products.
- Mental-health is another crucial aspect that the HPA considers when dealing with such products.
- Skin-care is also important in the context of heated tobacco products, given potential side effects.
- The HPA is responsible for overseeing various therapies-and-treatments in Taiwan, including those related to cardiovascular-health.
- The HPA's decisions have far-reaching implications for the entire industry.
- Medicare and personal-finance might be influenced by changes in the tobacco industry, as healthcare costs could potentially rise or fall.
- The HPA's decision regarding heated tobacco products is also linked to energy usage, as the products are electric.
- Retailers, transportation companies, and other businesses could be affected by changes in the sale and distribution of these products.
- Lifestyle choices are closely connected to the use of heated tobacco products, and the HPA aims to promote healthier choices for the public.
- The fashion-and-beauty industry could also be impacted, as people might opt for products that align with their healthier lifestyle choices.
- The food-and-drink industry might see changes in consumer behavior, as people might make dietary adjustments to improve their health.
- Investing in companies that produce or distribute heated tobacco products could be influenced by the HPA's decisions.
- Wealth-management strategies could also be affected, as people might choose to allocate their resources differently based on health concerns.
- Home-and-garden products could be impacted if people choose to make changes to their living environments to improve their health.
- Businesses in the banking-and-insurance sector could see changes in consumer behavior and preferences.
- Data-and-cloud-computing could play a role in monitoring and researching the health impact of heated tobacco products.
- Technology companies could potentially develop innovative solutions to help manage and reduce the health risks associated with these products.
- Relationships could be affected if one partner smokes heated tobacco products and the other is opposed to it.
- Pets, travel, cars, books, education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and big-wins could all potentially be influenced by the HPA's decisions.
- Shopping habits might change as people prioritize health-related products.
- Social-media platforms could be used to raise awareness or advocate for various positions on heated tobacco products.
- Movies-and-tv shows, career-development programs, and casino-and-gambling could all potentially discuss or depict the use of heated tobacco products.
- Celebrities, music, politics, pop-culture, sci-fi-and-fantasy, general-news, crime-and-justice, accidents, and learning could all potentially address or be affected by the issue of heated tobacco products.
