Tmall and Meituan Add Vaping Business Scope, with Strikingly Similar Responses

At present, domestic online sales channels for vaping products include not only traditional e-commerce platforms such as Tmall, Taobao, and JD.com, but also mobile internet e-commerce platforms such as Pinduoduo, as well as distribution and social commerce platforms such as Youzan and Weidian.
 
Although these online platforms have remained open to vaping products, in reality vaping had not yet been explicitly included in their registered business scope. In other words, from a business registration and regulatory perspective, this had already crossed a red line and could have resulted in warnings or fines at any time. It was not until May this year that some platforms became aware of the issue and promptly added vaping to their business scope. Even more striking, their public responses were remarkably similar, which has left many puzzled and seems to hint at a broader signal from the vaping industry.
 
On May 30, according to Qixinbao data, Zhejiang Tmall Network Technology Co., Ltd. changed its business scope, adding the sale of “electronic cigarettes” (including online sales), and also updated its industrial and commercial liaison officer.
 
In response, on June 3, Alibaba officially stated that all of its business operations comply with relevant national laws and regulations, and that this was a normal commercial activity.

Coincidentally, following Tmall, Meituan was recently also reported to have added vaping to its business scope. One can easily imagine that in the future, whenever someone wants a vape, delivery could arrive promptly anytime and anywhere.
 
On July 26, according to Tianyancha data, Beijing Sankuai Technology Co., Ltd., Meituan’s operating entity, changed its business scope to add businesses including tobacco retail (including electronic cigarettes).
 
In response, on July 28, Meituan stated publicly that it updates the wording of its corporate business scope in a timely manner based on national laws, regulations, and newly issued policy requirements, and that this is a normal corporate registration procedure.

Meituan’s business scope change may mean that users will be able to order vaping products on Meituan Waimai. At present, searching for vaping products in the Meituan Waimai mini-program already returns some results from stores such as JD Convenience Store.

In fact, there is nothing unusual about Tmall and Meituan adding vaping to their business scope. It is a normal move made in active response to the rollout of national standards and related regulatory measures. This also indicates that the entire vaping industry is about to enter a phase of standardized development and an unprecedented reshuffle.