Huoqi Invited to 2021 China Vape Industry Standards Forum

What is the path for the standardized development of the e-cigarette industry?

On August 24, the "Responsibility First, Shared Prosperity" 2021 China (Shenzhen) E-Cigarette Industry Standard Development Forum, hosted by Southern Metropolis Daily and organized by Shenzhen Dajianshi Media, was held in Shenzhen. This forum focused on the standardized development of the e-cigarette industry and the protection of minors, inviting experts and scholars from leading e-cigarette companies and research institutions, as well as businesses from the upstream and downstream of the industry chain to discuss and strategize for the healthy and standardized development of the e-cigarette industry. Huoqi e-cigarettes, as a representative of leading brands in the industry, were invited to participate in this development forum.

It is understood that this development forum is the first e-cigarette industry standard development forum initiated by authoritative media, with participation from enterprises, industry associations, research institutions, and others, which has positive significance for promoting the healthy and standardized development of the e-cigarette industry.
 
As the largest tobacco market in the world, China has over 300 million smokers, ranking first globally. Since 2003, the domestic e-cigarette industry has developed rapidly. Shenzhen, leveraging its advantages in the electronics and foreign trade industry chain, has become a global hub for e-cigarettes, accounting for 90% of production capacity. In Shenzhen, a group of leading e-cigarette companies has gathered, with "Huoqi" being one of them.

Huoqi e-cigarettes are a brand of electronic vaporizers under the China Borton Group, the first company in the flavor and fragrance industry in China to be listed in Hong Kong. They have a complete industrial chain that integrates research and development, production, branding, and sales. In 2020, Huoqi made a significant acquisition of two e-cigarette brands, SAVINELLI and NOS, from Italy, along with their flagship brand ammo, targeting different user segments such as high-end and light luxury.
 
At the roundtable forum titled "Guarding Growth, Industry Prosperity: Responsibilities and Commitments of E-Cigarette Enterprises," Huoqi's Deputy General Manager Zhao Hailun participated in the discussion as a brand representative.
 
Zhao Hailun stated: "As a brand, Huoqi strives to implement the management issue of 'not selling e-cigarettes to minors' throughout the entire process. In 2019, Huoqi launched the 'Angel Guardian Plan,' requiring all partners, from brand owners to distributors, and store owners and staff, not to sell e-cigarettes to minors. In addition to prominently displaying relevant announcements in stores, we also ensure compliance through pre-job training, age verification processes, and store supervision inspections to prevent sales to minors."

At this forum, Southern Metropolis initiated the establishment of the "E-Cigarette Industry Integrity Self-Discipline Alliance," with Huoqi being one of the first eight leading e-cigarette companies to become a member and sign the alliance charter.
 
How can the e-cigarette industry embark on a path of standardization, normalization, and internationalization? Ensuring product quality and safety, and protecting minors from the harms of e-cigarettes are important issues that must be seriously considered in the industry's forward development process. This is the purpose of this forum.

According to a report by Guojin Securities: In the long term, the trend of reduced harm from e-cigarettes remains unchanged, and the e-cigarette market is expected to continue to expand. In the future, "differentiation" will be a key factor determining the survival of e-cigarette brands. In August 2021, Huoqi launched its new product for 2021—the ammo Oscar series, which rejects homogenization. Huoqi invested significant effort and thought into this product, pioneering features such as "smart interactive color screens, game interaction modes, and puff count analysis," achieving several "firsts" in the e-cigarette industry in terms of design and functionality.

On another note, this product also provides reference and inspiration for the "prohibition of use by minors" issue, such as setting up "child lock" features on electronic vaporizers to reduce the likelihood of minors accessing and using e-cigarettes.

E-cigarettes, as a new phenomenon and new business model, have become a supplement to traditional tobacco products. Facing unresolved industry standards and regulatory policies, it is indeed a situation of both opportunities and crises. While e-cigarette companies seek development, they must first face the issues of industry development and earnestly fulfill their social responsibilities. Especially protecting minors from the harms of e-cigarettes must become a consensus in the industry and an untouchable "high-voltage line." Only by consistently upholding the bottom line and actively fulfilling social responsibilities can the entire industry achieve standardized, normalized, and international development.