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S209 casi I agree with Hank because I think it is unfair that AI will replace our jobs.

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S209JASON - I agree with Hank because AI can be a very powerfull learning tool to improve ideas and learn more about a subject

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Cristie thinks AI is cheating. Do you agree?

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Hank things using AI is ok sometimes. Do you agree?

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A teacher and 2 students are talking about 'catcalling.' What do you think about this problem?

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Write your own opinion or agree with one of the opinions given.

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In October, Taiwan will change the rule about e-cigarettes and vapes (vaping pens). These products have been illegal for the last 2 years, but in October 14 different products will become LEGAL.

Do you think this is good new or bad news? Why?

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By Lin Chih-yi and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer

Fourteen heated tobacco products from two tobacco companies were conditionally approved after health risk assessment reviews mandated by 2023 amendments to the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act (菸害防制法), the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) said yesterday.

The conditional approval does not mean that any heated tobacco products people have are immediately legalized, Tobacco Prevention Division Director Lo Su-ying (羅素英) said.

Products would not be considered legal until distributors have received official notice of the decision and have implemented required changes to the labeling and packaging of the products, Lo said.

Photo: Lin Hui-chin, Taipei Times

The two companies were among seven that have applied for inspections, the HPA said.

Stricter controls would be implemented across the board for heated tobacco products, it said.

Specialists subjected the 14 products to toxicology, clinical pharmacology, addiction and public health reviews, and the Ministry of Health and Welfare also inspected them, Lo said.

Conditions under which the products were approved include that young people and pregnant women must be protected from them, and they may not be sold to people younger than 20, she said.

The HPA would monitor sales channels and enforce the regulations, she said.

The companies should contract a third party to monitor and research the products' impact after they are approved for sale, Lo said, adding that the research must be fully funded and be statistically relevant.

The companies must submit annual reports on heated tobacco product use, as well as rates of abuse, addiction and other risks linked to the use of the approved products, she said.

The HPA must be notified immediately if the companies identify factors that increase the likelihood of addiction, Lo said, adding that any changes to manufacturing processes would require a reassessment of the products.

Labeling must adhere to regulations and marketing should not use misleading terms or phrasings, Lo said.

Contraventions of the conditions or the act would not be tolerated, she said, adding that the HPA would take immediate action, potentially leading to the termination of the approval.

According to the 2023 amendments, electronic cigarettes are generally banned, while heated tobacco products face strict controls.

Heated tobacco products and other similar items can only be sold after they have passed a health risk assessment, the amendments say.

The Customs Administration said yesterday that travelers are still barred from bringing heated tobacco products into Taiwan, even as authorities move forward with conditional approval for commercial imports.

It added that potential changes to personal import rules remain under discussion between government agencies, with no timeline yet provided for a decision.

Customs officials said heated tobacco products seized before March 22, 2023, may be reclaimed within three months of approval, while unclaimed items could be destroyed.

Illegal imports seized after that date will be referred to the local competent authority, the agency added.

Since the law's amendment, the customs agency has confiscated more than 4 million packs of heated tobacco products, it added.

Additional reporting by CNA

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Conditional approval given for 14 heated tobacco items - Taipei Times

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Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan

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Some say students should NEVER be allowed to us AI. Others think that students can us AI in some ways without cheating. What do you think?

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Take a look at some of the topics.

Look at the two arguments.

Add your opinion to the conversation.

You can also just say who you agree with and why.

Please add NAME / CLASS / #Number!

If you think of any interesting

DEBATE QUESTIONS-- Write them here!