Page 131 - TAIWAN TOBACCO CONTROL ANNUAL REPORT 2019

3. Monitoring management: (a) The Food and Drug Administration continues to monitor the domestic Chinese entrance website transmitted via internet network or illegal advertisements listed on online shopping websites such that in case of any violation is found, it shall be transferred to the health bureau of local government for further penalty and handling. In 2018, for suspected illegal advertisements related to electronic cigarettes monitored, based on the monitoring of more than 1,728 websites via internet network, there were a total of 108 cases of suspected illegal advertisements, in which 17 cases were penalized according to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act with a total amount of fine of NT$ 2,000 dollars, and 2 cases were transferred to judiciary agencies for investigation. (b) Surveys on smoking behavior of teenagers and local citizens are utilized to gain a better understanding of e-cigarette use by smokers. As of 2018, the e-cigarette smoking rate of adult aged 18 and above is 0.6% (roughly 110,000 users). (Fig. 3-25) The youth survey indicates that smoking rates of junior high and senior high and vocational school students rose from 2.0%/2.1% (around 16,000/18,000 students) in 2014 to 3.0%/4.1% (around 24,000/34,000 students) in 2015 and 3.7%/4.8% (around 28,000/39,000 students) in 2016. It is fortunate that schools at all levels have incorporated e-cigarettes into their school regulations and have started to provide education on e-cigarette hazards in relevant courses. This has led to a drop in smoking rates to 1.9% and 3.4% in 2018. It is estimated that roughly 38,000 teenagers currently use e-cigarettes (roughly 12,000 junior high and 26,000 senior high and vocational school students) (Fig. 3-26 ,Fig. 3-27). Fig. 3-25 8 6 %4 2 0 Prevalence of e-cigarette use in adults over 18 years old Male Female Overall 1.5 0.9 0.4 2015 1.0 0.9 0.5 0.5 0.1 0.1 2016 2017 0.9 0.6 0.2 2018 Year Note: 1. Source: "Adult Smoking Behavior Surveillance System" of the Health Promotion Administration. 2. Prevalence of e-cigarette use: Smoked an e-cigarette within the past 30 days (one month). 129 () Research, Monitoring, and International Exchange