Heated tobacco device displays allowed: Health minister

Taipei, Oct. 24 (CNA) Health Minister Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said Friday that displaying legal heated tobacco devices is permitted in licensed retail outlets, as it can help consumers distinguish them from illegal devices.

Shih's clarification comes after Shen Ching-fen (沈靜芬), head of the Health Promotion Administration (HPA), told reporters on Sept. 17 that the display of all heated tobacco and their devices was prohibited.

On Thursday, the HPA said that image displays were allowed in licensed retail outlets, so long as they only notified consumers of the brands and prices of the products.

Shih told the press on Friday that all four of the permitted heated tobacco devices, including carrying and heating devices, have been reviewed before being released into the market to ensure their safety as well as to prevent flashy designs that may entice teenagers to use such products.

He said that the Ministry of Health and Welfare will advise businesses to refrain from highlighting such products.

Shih said the ministry will discuss whether to amend the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act to require warning messages on the packaging of heating devices and specify the size of these messages.

Amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act took effect in March 2023, adding a requirement that new tobacco products, such as heated tobacco, must undergo health risk reviews before they can be manufactured, imported, or sold in Taiwan.

In July 2025, the first batch of heated tobacco products for legal sale, including 14 products and four component devices from two companies, was given approval to begin sales on Oct. 11 and Oct. 19.