Two Agencies Order Full Crackdown on Disguised Online E-Cigarette Sales

On June 18, according to the National Tobacco Administration website, the National Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and the State Administration for Market Regulation have developed the "Special Action Plan for Protecting Minors from Tobacco Harm: 'Guarding Growth'". The plan mentions the continuous strengthening of e-cigarette market regulation.

The plan states that local tobacco monopoly administrative departments should accelerate the organization of posting warning signs or special promotional labels prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors in prominent locations at retail tobacco outlets. They should urge operators to actively refuse requests from minors to purchase tobacco. For cases where it is difficult to determine whether someone is a minor, strict implementation of ID verification should be enforced, exploring new technological means to improve verification effectiveness.

Regarding e-cigarettes, the plan mentions the continuous strengthening of e-cigarette market regulation. A gradual establishment and improvement of the e-cigarette regulatory work system should be undertaken to enhance regulatory effectiveness, standardize e-cigarette production and operation activities, and prevent the resurgence of chaotic phenomena in the e-cigarette market.

There will be continuous strengthening of internet channel control. A comprehensive cleanup of disguised online sales of e-cigarettes and false illegal advertisements will be conducted. Local tobacco monopoly administrative departments should interview e-cigarette companies and internet companies, enforcing their primary responsibilities to prevent e-cigarettes from harming minors in the internet domain.

Guidance for e-cigarette physical stores to operate legally and normatively will be provided. Local tobacco monopoly administrative departments should comprehensively investigate e-cigarette sales outlets and register them. They should clean up and rectify illegal sales outlets and vending machines around schools, and legally investigate and punish illegal sales of e-cigarettes to minors, effectively protecting the legitimate rights and interests of minors.