The police seize illegal e-cigarettes in the central province of Nghệ An. — VNA/VNS Photo Võ Tá Chuyên

HÀ NỘI — Different ministries have the same view toward strictly managing e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products because the country has had no import policy, no legal basis, and the product concept has not been clearly defined, reported the Người Lao Động (The Labourer) newspaper.

The Ministry of Justice is evaluating a draft decree amending and supplementing the Government’s Decree 26/2023 issued on May 31, 2023.

The decree is about export tariffs, preferential import tariffs, lists of goods, absolute tax rates, mixed taxes and import taxes outside the tariff quota.

The draft decree is presided over and compiled by the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

In the draft decree, the MoF proposed preferential import tax rates for electronic equipment used for e-cigarettes and similar personal e-vaporising devices, under the product code 8543.40.00.

The proposal was put forth after a careful review process.

Similarly, the import tax rate will be applied for e-cigarettes specified in group 24.04 to limit the use of products harmful to health.

The MoF said that tobacco products are highly sensitive and require specialised management. They affect human health, so it is necessary to limit their use.

Regarding product policies, currently, at least 28 countries and territories ban all forms of buying, selling, producing and importing e-cigarettes, according to the MoF.

In the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, Singapore and Thailand ban e-cigarettes at present.

Regarding tax policy, the MoF proposes to regulate tax rates for code 8543.40.00 similar to code 24.04 as prescribed in Decree 26/2023/NĐ-CP, which is 50 per cent.

Through summarising opinions, the MoF said that the majority of ministries and local people's committees agreed with the above plan.

It confirms that the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Health have the same opinion on strict management of this item.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment proposes to supplement the legal basis when setting up regulations on import tax rates for electronic equipment used for e-cigarettes and personal vaporising products under product code 8543.40.00 to regulate the use of products harmful to health.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Industry and Trade specifically requests to review and ensure that tax rates on the products be consistent with Việt Nam's commitments in the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The MoF believes that the above tax rate regulations are necessary and appropriate.

Whether goods are allowed to be exported, imported, or circulated on the market or not, it must follow specialised management laws, the MoF stated in the draft decree. — VNS