Nicotine Found in 13 Products Marketed as 'Nicotine-Free' E-Cigarettes

Many liquid-type inhalation products advertised as nicotine-free have been found to contain nicotine or nicotine analogs.

The government collected and analyzed 105 high-selling liquid inhalation products that emphasized being "nicotine-free" online.

The results showed that 13 products contained nicotine, while 12 products contained 6-methylnicotine, a type of nicotine analog.

Nicotine analogs are new synthetic chemical substances with structural formulas similar to those of natural or synthetic nicotine.

6-methylnicotine is an unverified chemical substance that has not undergone sufficient toxicity assessments domestically or internationally. Research has reported that it exhibits effects similar to nicotine and possesses cellular toxicity.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance plans to request an investigation into the products containing nicotine and respond by verifying potential violations of the Tobacco Business Act.

Products containing nicotine are classified as "tobacco," requiring manufacturers and sellers to comply with the Tobacco Business Act and other relevant laws.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has recommended that businesses handling products containing nicotine analogs cease sales and has requested that online platforms block the sale of these items.

According to the Korea Customs Service, the volume of nicotine analog imports reached approximately 15 tons between October of last year and May of this year.

In particular, imports are on a sharp upward trend, with 13 tons imported this year alone.

Starting June 15, the government has mandated that when importing related products, importers must submit a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) detailing chemical hazards and declare whether the products contain nicotine analogs.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety plans to complete the toxicity assessment of 6-methylnicotine within this year and prepare for the potential emergence of other nicotine analogs.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.