加熱菸草產品之法性質與政策溝通

The Legal Natures of the Heated Tobacco Products and the Policy Communications

"所謂的加熱菸草產品（Heated Tobacco Products, HTP），又稱電熱式菸草系統（Electric Heading Tobacco System, EHTS）將菸草加熱到比燃燒菸較低之溫度，令菸草能以氣態氣霧（Aerosol）釋放含尼古丁和其他化學物質，同時不產生煙霧（Smoke）的一種產品。從成分上來說，是屬於目前法令規定的其他菸草產品，而從使用上來說，乃是介在傳統紙菸與電子煙之間的一種產品。關於加熱菸草產品是否屬於較傳統紙菸危害較低，目前科學界並沒有特別值得信服的報告；同樣的，是否其對於健康的危害要較傳統紙菸為低，同樣也沒有特別具有說服力的結論產生。因此，政府是否能依據預防性原則而在確定風險評估之後，才許可其上市，即為重要之憲法議題。而其與電子煙又有何不同？風險是否可等量齊觀，亦待後續研究發現。目前世界其他國家之作法，有不與上市許可者，亦有許可其上市但不准電子煙上市者，亦有同時許可加熱菸草產品與電子煙上市者，可供我國立法時之參考。"

The Heated Tobacco Products (hereinafter referred to as “HTP”), also known as Electric Heading Tobacco System (hereinafter referred to as “EHTS”), are the kinds of products or electric devices which may cause the tobacco to release the nicotine and the other chemicals in the aerosol, without any smoke, to a temperature lower than the traditional tobacco combustion point. In terms of the ingredients included, the HTP and/or EHTS are “the other products” currently defined by the laws/regulations. And in terms of the use, the HTP and/or EHTS are the products between the traditional cigarettes and the vapes. So far there were no convincing reports placed by the scientific world indicated the HTP and/or EHTS were less harmful than the traditional tobacco products. On the other side, there were no reports regarding the conclusions that the HTP and/or EHTS were less dangerous to human health either. Therefore, it will be an important issue for the Constitution Laws if the governments may permit the HTP and/or EHTS to be on the markets upon the risk evaluations based on the precautionary principles. By the way, it will be necessary for the continuous studies to verify the differences as well as the risks between the HTP/EHTS and the vapes. Currently there are some countries in the world do not approve of the HTP/EHTS to be sold or distributed in their domestic markets. Some countries permit sales of the HTP/EHTS, and do not permit sales of the vapes. And some countries consent to sell or distribute the HTP/EHTS and the vapes. We may study the policies of the above countries for our legislation reference.