Vape juice imports escape harsh charges imposed on tobaccos - The Korea Herald
A South Korean court ruled that health charges on vape juice importers were excessive, though it affirmed vape juices are legally considered cigarettes.Summary
The Seoul Administrative Court partially sided with vape juice importers who challenged National Health Promotion Charges imposed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. While the court confirmed that vape juices are legally classified as cigarettes under the Tobacco Business Act – defined as products suitable for smoking using tobacco – it found the levied charges to be excessive and a violation of the principle of equality. The ministry had charged importers between 278 million and 1 billion won, despite the charges exceeding sales revenue by 3.5 times and not being passed on to consumers. The court also criticized the flat-rate charge per milliliter, regardless of nicotine content, as disproportionate. However, the court rejected the importers’ argument that juices made from tobacco stems and roots shouldn’t be categorized as cigarettes, citing legal precedent.
(Source：The Korea Herald)
