BAT Korea promotes e-cigarettes on its 30th

Industry

Published: 05 Nov. 2020, 18:02

BAT Korea promotes e-cigarettes on its 30th

Kim Eun-ji, BAT Korea’s country manager, speaks about BAT Korea’s celebration of its 30th anniversary at a press event held in central Seoul on Thursday. [BAT KOREA]

British American Tobacco (BAT) Korea released research results that showed smokers who used its tobacco heating products reduced their exposure to certain cigarette smoke toxicants, including nicotine.

BAT Korea claimed Thursday its tobacco heating product glo’s aerosol toxicant levels were 90 percent less than those of the conventional cigarette. There is enduring controversy over the benefits of using heated tobacco products rather than smoking conventional cigarettes.

A total of 13 toxicants were reduced, the company said, including nicotine, cotinine and aminopathalene.

The conclusions came from a scientific study of glo that began in May 2019 in Britain. More than 500 people in Britain took part in the studies. These results came from three months of trials. The results of the full study, which took place over a year, are scheduled to be released in 2021.

“The slogan of the BAT Group, ‘A better tomorrow,’ represents [the company’s ambition] to create a better future by reducing the harm our business imposes [on people’s health] through satisfying and less damaging products,” said Kim Eun-ji, BAT Korea’s country manager, during a press event held in central Seoul on Thursday.

It was Kim’s first meeting with the press since she was appointed to the job in July. She is the first female leader of a Korean tobacco company.

BAT Korea “will become a company that can positively affect not just the industry, but also consumers, society and employees while realizing this vision,” Kim added.

The London-based tobacco company called for different regulations on electronic cigarettes compared to conventional cigarettes.

BAT hopes “the [Korean] government applies differentiated and reasonable regulations on e-cigarette products based on science,” said Yoon Suk-bae, head of legal and external affairs for the BAT North Asia Area. Yoon referred to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of certain e-cigarettes being advertised as modified risk tobacco products.

BAT rival Philip Morris International won approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market its IQOS heat-not-burn tobacco system as a modified risk tobacco product in July.

In celebration of BAT Korea’s 30th anniversary this year, the company announced that the group’s goal is to have 50 million customers for its non-combustible products globally by 2030. Currently, 13 million people worldwide use its e-cigarettes.

“It’s true BAT’s performance hasn’t reached expectations over the past several years," Kim added. "But our market share has grown from 11.97 percent in late 2019 to 12.19 percent as of this month.” Kim said BAT Korea’s factory in Sacheon in South Gyeongsang will export $400 million worth of products this year, largely to Japan.

BY JIN MIN-JI [jin.minji@joongang.co.kr]