Yvette van der Eijk1, Grace Tan Ping Ping1, Suan Ee Ong1,2, Grace Tan Li Xin3, David Li4, Dijin Zhang5, Loo Min Shuen6, Chia Kee Seng1. 1. Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. 2. Research for Impact, Singapore, Singapore. 3. Department of Political Science, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. 4. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. 5. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. 6. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The global e-cigarette market has proliferated and is increasingly dominated by transnational tobacco companies. While Southeast Asian countries have received relatively little attention in e-cigarette research, the region represents an area of potentially untapped growth for the industry. We review the e-cigarette situation in Southeast Asia in terms of the e-cigarette markets, advertising and promotion of e-cigarettes, reported health impacts of e-cigarette use, and policy responses in the region. METHODS: We examined e-cigarette market data from the Euromonitor Global Market Information Database (GMID) Passport database, searched in the academic literature, grey literature and news archives for any reports or studies of e-cigarette related diseases or injuries, e-cigarette marketing, and e-cigarette policy responses in Southeast Asian countries, and browsed the websites of online e-cigarette retailers catering to the region's active e-cigarette markets. RESULTS: In 2019, e-cigarettes were sold in six Southeast Asian markets with a total market value of $595 million, projected to grow to $766 million by 2023. E-commerce is a significant and growing sales channel in the region, with most of the popular or featured brands in online shops originating from China. Southeast Asian youth are targeted with a wide variety of flavours, trendy designs and point of sale promotions, and several e-cigarette related injuries and diseases have been reported in the region. Policy responses vary considerably between countries, ranging from strict bans to no or partial regulations. CONCLUSION: Although Southeast Asia's e-cigarette market is relatively nascent, this is likely to change if transnationals invest more heavily in the region. Populous countries with weak e-cigarette regulations, notably Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines, are desirable targets for the transnationals. Regulatory action is needed to prevent e-cigarette use from becoming entrenched into these societies, especially among young people.
BACKGROUND: The global e-cigarette market has proliferated and is increasingly dominated by transnational tobacco companies. While Southeast Asian countries have received relatively little attention in e-cigarette research, the region represents an area of potentially untapped growth for the industry. We review the e-cigarette situation in Southeast Asia in terms of the e-cigarette markets, advertising and promotion of e-cigarettes, reported health impacts of e-cigarette use, and policy responses in the region. METHODS: We examined e-cigarette market data from the Euromonitor Global Market Information Database (GMID) Passport database, searched in the academic literature, grey literature and news archives for any reports or studies of e-cigarette related diseases or injuries, e-cigarette marketing, and e-cigarette policy responses in Southeast Asian countries, and browsed the websites of online e-cigarette retailers catering to the region's active e-cigarette markets. RESULTS: In 2019, e-cigarettes were sold in six Southeast Asian markets with a total market value of $595 million, projected to grow to $766 million by 2023. E-commerce is a significant and growing sales channel in the region, with most of the popular or featured brands in online shops originating from China. Southeast Asian youth are targeted with a wide variety of flavours, trendy designs and point of sale promotions, and several e-cigarette related injuries and diseases have been reported in the region. Policy responses vary considerably between countries, ranging from strict bans to no or partial regulations. CONCLUSION: Although Southeast Asia's e-cigarette market is relatively nascent, this is likely to change if transnationals invest more heavily in the region. Populous countries with weak e-cigarette regulations, notably Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines, are desirable targets for the transnationals. Regulatory action is needed to prevent e-cigarette use from becoming entrenched into these societies, especially among young people.
Authors: Farizah Mohd Hairi; Kok Tiong Goh; Pete Driezen; Amer Siddiq Amer Nordin; Anne Yee; Nur Amani Ahmad Tajuddin; Siti Idayu Hasan; Mahmoud Danaee; Ina Sharyn Kamaludin; Susan C Kaai; Mi Yan; Matthew Grey; Anne C K Quah; Mary E Thompson; Geoffrey T Fong Journal: Tob Induc Dis Date: 2022-03-31 Impact factor: 2.600
Authors: Amer Siddiq Amer Nordin; Ahmad Syamil Mohamad; Anne C K Quah; Farizah Mohd Hairi; Anne Yee; Nur Amani Ahmad Tajuddin; Siti Idayu Hasan; Mahmoud Danaee; Susan C Kaai; Matthew Grey; Pete Driezen; Geoffrey T Fong; Mary E Thompson Journal: Tob Induc Dis Date: 2022-03-31 Impact factor: 2.600
Authors: Pete Driezen; Amer Siddiq Amer Nordin; Farizah Mohd Hairi; Anne Yee; Nur Amani Ahmad Tajuddin; Siti Idayu Hasan; Mahmoud Danaee; Ina Sharyn Kamaludin; Susan C Kaai; Mi Yan; Matthew Grey; Anne C K Quah; Mary E Thompson; Geoffrey T Fong Journal: Tob Induc Dis Date: 2022-03-31 Impact factor: 2.600