NEWS
NEW CHINESE VAPE RULES WILL SEE ALL FLAVOURS BANNED
The changes will come into effect on May 1 and see a raft of new regulations covering every aspect of the vaping industry .
Words : Patrick Griffin
China is to regulate vaping products under existing tobacco laws from May 1 in a move which will see flavoured e-liquids banned . Only tobacco flavours will be legal but the law only applies to the home market so Chinese companies can still produce flavoured products for export .
Vaping will be regulated by the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration ( STMA ), under new measures which will cover everything from production and marketing to sales .
Manufacturers must obtain an operating licence and will be subject to regular inspections to ensure that they are complying with the law . E-cigarette vending machines will be banned , there will be limits on the amount of product that can be sent through the post and vape shops must not be located near schools .
A new ‘ unified national e-cigarette transaction management platform ’ will also be set up which all manufacturers , producers , wholesalers and retailers must use . Companies which fail to comply with the new measures face a range of penalties including being ordered to cease all production and business operations .
Wang Shenyi , chairman of Chinese vape manufacturer Shenzhen Shikai Technology welcomed the regulations . He said : “ We can look at the national standards in a way that won ’ t restrict the industry ’ s development , but in a way that better supervises and regulates the market to make it healthier and better in the long run .”
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