Table 1.
Tobacco Use and Policy Environment of Six Countries.
| Characteristic | Japana | ltalyb | Switzerlandc | lsraeld | Koreae | United Statesf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratification of FCTC | 2005 | 2008 | N/A | 2005 | 2005 | N/A |
| Year iQOS launched | 2014 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2019 |
| iQOS-classified tobacco | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Smoking prevalence | % | % | % | % | % | % |
| Adult | ||||||
| Males | 33.7% | 28.3% | 26.9% | 41.2% | 42.1% | 19.5% |
| Females | 10.6% | 19.7% | 19.7% | 19.3% | 1.0% | 15.0% |
| Children | ||||||
| Males | 1.6% | 2.0% | 2.1% | 2.7% | 2.5% | 1.3% |
| Females | 1.4% | 2.6% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 0.2% | 1.2% |
| Smokeless Tobacco | N/A | 0.6% | 2.7% | N/A | N/A | 2.2% |
| Policy | ||||||
| HWLs | ||||||
| Type of HWL | Text | Graphic | Graphic | Text | Text | Text |
| % of pack covered | 30% | 65% | 43% | 30% | n/a | 50% |
| Plain packaging | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| iQOS included in packaging policies | No | *Text covering 30% of package | No* | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advertising bans | ||||||
| Direct bans | N/A | National and international TV/radio; local magazines/newspapers; billboard/outdoor, point-of-sale and internet advertising | National and international TV/radio | National TV/radio | N/A | National TV/radio |
| Indirect bans | N/A | Appearance in TV/films | N/A | Appearance in TV/films | N/A | N/A |
| iQOS included in advertising ban | N/A | Yes | No | Yes | N/A | N/A |
| Smoke-free air | ||||||
| Places covered by smoke-free air policy | None | None | None | Health care, educational, and government facilities | Health care and educational facilities; public transport | Government facilities |
| iQOS included in smoke-free policies | N/A | *Prohibited on school premises | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Taxation | ||||||
| % Retail price excise tax* | 63.1% | 57.9% | 53.5% | 68.4% | 0.0% | 37.8% |
| Tax on iQOS | Seea | Seeb | Seec | 68.4% | Seee | TBD |
Source. https://tobaccoatlas.org/; https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/; https://globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette_policyscan; https://tobaccoatlas.org/; https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/; https://globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette_policyscan; https://untobaccocontrol.org/impldb/
Note. 1. No country has a comprehensive smoke-free air policy. 2. *Of 70% World Health Organization (WHO) Benchmark. 3. Recent and upcoming policy changes highlighted by the below references. FCTC = WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; HWL = health warning labels.
TBD = To be determined.
In Japan, a new tax category will be created for heat-not-burn tobacco products and the taxation system will be revised in consideration of the product characteristics. Heat-not-burn tobacco are controlled under the Tobacco Business Act and taxed under the Tobacco Tax Act and other relevant laws. Source. https://untobaccocontrol.org/impldb/wp-content/uploads/Japan_2018_report.pdf.
Some taxes apply. Source. https://untobaccocontrol.org/impldb/wp-content/uploads/Italy_2018_report.pdf.
Switzerland as not ratified the FCTC. Regulations that will regulate nicotine-containing e-cigarettes as tobacco products are under development. Source. https://globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette/switzerland.
In Israel, IQOS declared not tobacco product May, 2015; IQOS declared tobacco product May, 2017; IQOS taxed as tobacco product January, 2018. New policy on advertising and packaging to be implemented in 2019. Sources. https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-stubs-out-ads-for-cigarettes-with-historic-life-saving-law/; https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3753353,00.html.
Subject to a number of taxes and charges (national health promotion, tobacco consumption, local education, and individual consumption taxes) proportional to 1,799 won/mL (approx. US$1.53) nicotine liquid; in addition, there is a waste charge of 24 won/20 cartridges (approx. US$0.02) and a 10% value-added tax (VAT). Source. https://globaltobaccocontrol.org/e-cigarette/republic-korea.
The United States signed the FCTC in 2004 but has not ratified it.