China to tighten regulation on e-cigarettes

China's State Tobacco Monopoly Administration has issued a regulation that aims to strengthen supervision on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).

The country will implement license management for e-cigarette production, wholesale and retail entities starting from May 1, according to the regulation.

In recent years, due to regulatory gaps, the e-cigarette industry has seen disorderly development, with some products reporting problems such as unclear nicotine content, unknown additives and tobacco tar leakage, the document said.

According to the regulation, sales channel management on e-cigarettes will be carried out, while an e-cigarette trading management platform will be established to standardize sales.

Efforts will be made to regulate e-cigarettes in terms of product safety and quality, as well as transportation, import and export, said the regulation.

E-cigarette sales outlets must not be set up near schools, and flavored e-cigarettes will be banned, it said.

China’s e-cigarette market is the largest in the world, worth about 8.38 billion yuan. The country not only has massive e-cigarette use but also has factories that produce and supply vaping devices and liquids as well. Chinese e-cigarette giant RELX technology’s stock dropped by 15% after the amendment was posted.

The State Council of China has amended its tobacco monopoly law in the end of 2021 to include regulations for e-cigarettes and vaping. This result comes after months of deliberation by the Chinese government to regulate electronic tobacco consumption.

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