Nicotine-free E-cigarettes Contain Nicotine-like Substances; South Korea's Food And Drug Administration Launches Investigation

"Nicotine-free" e-cigarettes contain nicotine-like substances; South Korea's Food and Drug Administration launches investigation

The Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has found that some e-cigarette oils labeled as "nicotine-free" contain nicotine-like substances and has launched an investigation. The agency warned consumers to avoid using such products whose safety has not been verified.

According to N.News on September 6, after nicotine-like substances were detected in nicotine-free e-cigarette oils, the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety decided to conduct an on-site investigation.

The agency said today (6th) that some liquid inhalation products, including nicotine-like substances, are being circulated online as "nicotine-free" products. Nicotine-like substances are substances with a chemical structure similar to nicotine, and methyl nicotine is a representative example.

The agency warned that

"Since safety has not been verified, it is recommended not to inhale these products."

Currently, among inhalation products similar to cigarettes, products that do not contain nicotine and are used to improve smoking habits are designated as over-the-counter drugs. So far, the only nicotine-free product in the country approved by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is "End Puff".

Previously, KBS reported in June about products containing nicotine-like substances that are neither nicotine-free over-the-counter drugs nor tobacco products under the Tobacco Business Act, and are sold over the Internet.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of South Korea said,

"From January to August this year, we checked the Internet for products that were falsely or exaggeratedly advertised as improving smoking habits, and blocked a total of 448 posts. We will continue to check advertisements or logos that may be mistaken for over-the-counter drugs."