Nanchang Inspects 52 Brick-and-Mortar Vape Stores

Since the citywide joint special inspection of the e-cigarette market was launched on May 11 by the Municipal Market Supervision Bureau, the Municipal Education Bureau, and the Municipal Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, a total of 154 law enforcement personnel have been dispatched, and 52 brick-and-mortar vape stores of various types have been inspected. One store was persuaded to remove e-cigarette products from sale, and one store was ordered to suspend business for rectification.

In addition, the Municipal Education Bureau, together with the Municipal Market Supervision Bureau, carried out supervision and inspections of e-cigarette sales in areas around schools with high concentrations of minors, including Hongdu Middle School, No. 14 Middle School, Baihuazhou Primary School, Nanchang No. 3 Middle School Qingshanhu Campus, and No. 16 Middle School. The inspections comprehensively checked whether brick-and-mortar vape stores had implemented explicit commitment requirements and adopted effective age verification measures to prevent minors from purchasing e-cigarettes.

According to the special inspection action plan for the e-cigarette market, May 12 to 17 was designated as the publicity and preliminary investigation stage. On the afternoon of May 17, law enforcement officers from the three departments conducted a special inspection of the e-cigarette market in areas with high concentrations of minors, such as around primary and secondary schools and children’s palaces.

The first stop that day was the MOTI e-cigarette store (Baihuazhou branch), which is located near areas heavily frequented by minors, including the Nanchang Children’s Palace and Nanchang No. 3 Middle School (Mingde Road Campus). During the inspection, law enforcement officers found that the store was unable to provide a business license. In response, they ordered the store on the spot to suspend operations immediately.

At present, the MOTI e-cigarette store (Baihuazhou branch) has ceased operations, but the person in charge cannot be contacted. The Donghu District Market Supervision Bureau has intervened and launched an investigation.

The second stop was the AUV electronic atomization experience store (Qinghu Happy Street branch), located near Nanchang No. 3 Middle School (Qingshanhu Campus). Law enforcement officers found that the store did not display any prominent warning signage stating “No sale of e-cigarettes to minors.” They ordered the store on the spot to make corrections by placing or posting warning signs in a prominent location to protect the physical and mental health of minors.

Reporters learned that during the subsequent implementation phase, the three departments will carry out undercover investigations based on the results of the earlier survey, collect evidence on problems discovered, and impose strict penalties. Typical cases will also be exposed in a timely manner to ensure that punishing several cases serves as a deterrent to many others.

It is understood that during the two-month special inspection of the e-cigarette market, the Municipal Market Supervision Bureau will work jointly with the tobacco monopoly authorities to summon non-compliant e-cigarette companies and internet platforms for talks, publicize relevant laws, regulations, and the requirements of the joint notice issued by the two departments; supervise and investigate false advertising related to e-cigarettes, as well as the sale of e-cigarettes by e-cigarette companies and brick-and-mortar stores to minors; investigate and deal with physical stores that fail to post warning signs stating “No sale of e-cigarettes to minors,” do not meet explicit commitment requirements, or have not established effective age verification measures; comprehensively remove e-cigarette vending machines from areas around primary and secondary schools, children’s palaces, and other places with high concentrations of minors; and investigate acts that induce minors to purchase and use e-cigarettes through promotional methods such as sponsorships and naming rights.

Source: Nanchang News Network