China’s new regulations for e-cigarettes include a ban on flavors aside from tobacco and open-system devices.
China’s long-awaited measures to regulate e-cigarettes are now official.
According to the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA), a national e-cigarette trading management platform will be launched on June 15. Manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and other related companies will be required to carry out all e-cigarette product transactions on this platform. STMA says establishing a unified e-cigarette trading platform is a key part in regulating the e-cigarette market and promoting an orderly operation of this sector.
Companies will have to register their vape products with STMA before they can sell or market them in China. If they want to manufacture vape products, companies would need to obtain a production license from STMA and would need to also obtain approval from STMA if they were to expand production capacity. License management for e-cigarette production, wholesale, and retail entities will start from May 1. Under the new rules, non-tobacco flavors and open systems which allow users to add their own atomized substances are also banned.
The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) also approved the mandatory national standards for e-cigarettes that will be effective from October 1. The standards provide criteria for matters such as taste, use, and the protection of minors. They also stipulate that all e-cigarette products must be manufactured in accordance with the national standards.
This gives the industry five months to clear their existing inventory, which might not take that long. Consumers are already flocking to stores to stock-up on e-cigarette products, such as flavored pods.