Required Signage Standards for Shenzhen Vape Shops
On May 30, Shenzhen’s tobacco control office launched a special enforcement campaign targeting vape shops. Media reports said a vape store in Nanshan District was formally investigated on site for failing to display the required signage and may face a fin
On May 30, the Shenzhen Smoking Control Office launched a special action targeting e-cigarettes. Some media reported that "(Shenzhen) Nanshan District's e-cigarette physical store was filed on-site for failing to post relevant signs as required by law and may face a fine of 2,000 yuan, which is the first case in the country."<\/span><\/div>
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Some media directly included "fine 2,000" in the headline, titling it "Fine 2,000! Shenzhen issues the country's 'first knife' to e-cigarette physical stores!"<\/span><\/div>
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What exactly is the situation? The information released states that although the store posted a notice stating "Minors are prohibited from using," the content of the notice does not comply with the smoking control regulations.<\/span><\/div>
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Xiong Jingfan, a technical officer of the Shenzhen Smoke-Free City Project, said, "Standard signs must clearly state that selling tobacco to minors is prohibited, specifically mentioning e-cigarettes, and we have also added signs that include e-cigarettes. Additionally, as required, there must be a complaint hotline and a warning that smoking is harmful to health; this is a standard sign."<\/span><\/div>
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The e-cigarette public account saw the published photos and did not see a fine of 2,000 yuan. <\/span><\/div>
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What was seen was an "Inquiry Notice," which did not mention the fine of 2,000 yuan. "May face a fine of 2,000 yuan" does not mean that a fine has been imposed.<\/span><\/div>
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On October 1 last year, the revised "Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Smoking Control Regulations" included e-cigarettes in the smoking control scope. To raise awareness and improve enforcement efficiency, the Shenzhen Smoking Control Office issued the "Guidelines for the Production and Setting of Smoking Control Signs and Lines in Shenzhen," adding e-cigarette signs to the existing smoking control signs.<\/span><\/div>
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At that time, a grace period was set, prohibiting smoking places and related business units from posting new signs within one year, completing the replacement of relevant signage.<\/span><\/div>
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According to the Shenzhen Smoking Control Office document [2019] No. 16, the first item states: "All units shall guide and supervise venue operators, managers, and tobacco product sellers to complete the setting and updating of smoking control signs by December 31, 2020, in accordance with the responsibilities stipulated in the Smoking Control Regulations."<\/span><\/div>
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The special action targeting e-cigarettes by the Shenzhen Smoking Control Office took place on May 30, 2020. Although the notice posted in the store did not comply with the smoking control regulations, it was still within the grace period.<\/span><\/div>
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If one is unaware of this situation, seeing the title with "fine 2,000" would lead one to understand that a fine of "2,000" yuan has already been imposed.<\/span><\/div>
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However, although the final deadline has not yet arrived, to avoid similar troubles in the future, it is still recommended that e-cigarette physical store owners in Shenzhen promptly post standard smoking control signs.<\/span><\/div>
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Various smoking control sign templates can be downloaded from the Shenzhen Health Commission website (http://wjw.sz.gov.cn/), with the download path being: Information Disclosure—Information Disclosure Directory—Others—Notices—"Guidelines for the Production and Setting of Smoking Control Signs and Lines in Shenzhen (Trial)."<\/span><\/div>
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