Draft National Vaping Standards Explained (Part 2): Industry Outlook

4. E-cigarette Emissions
 
The national standard draft proposes four requirements for e-cigarette emissions.

1. Stability of aerosol emissions

The stability of aerosol emissions refers to the average deviation of the weight of aerosol produced per 20 puffs of e-cigarette, which should not exceed 25%.

2. Stability of nicotine emissions

The stability of nicotine emissions means that the nicotine content in the vapor of e-cigarettes per 20 puffs should not exceed an average deviation of 25%. Long-term tracking tests have found that many products on the market currently do not meet this requirement.

3. Limit on carbonyl compounds

There are also limits on carbonyl compounds in the vapor, specifically formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein, which were highlighted in the March 15 report.

4. Limit on heavy metals

There are limits on heavy metals as well. Comparing the national standards with the FDA in the U.S. and the TPD in the EU, it is evident that the national standards impose strict limits on most chemical components, while the TPD only imposes limits on a few chemical components, and the FDA only requires data.
 
5. E-cigarette Packaging Labels and Instructions

Labeling and instructions are mandatory, specifying which parameters must be disclosed for e-cigarette devices and e-liquids, including sales packaging and instructions for both.
 
6. Storage and Transportation
 
1. Storage

E-cigarette devices that do not contain e-liquid should be stored in a dry, ventilated, clean room temperature warehouse, and should not be stored with toxic, harmful, or corrosive items.

Pre-filled e-cigarettes should have their e-liquids stored in a dry, ventilated, clean, odor-free, light-protected room temperature warehouse, and should not be stored with toxic, harmful, or corrosive items.

2. Transportation

E-cigarette products should not be transported with items that have odors, are toxic, or are damp.

During transportation, they should be protected from rain, moisture, sun exposure, crushing, and severe vibrations, and should be handled gently during loading and unloading.

7. Future Outlook for the E-cigarette Industry
 
From the current draft of the e-cigarette national standards, there are three key points:

1. The use of 119 additives is permitted; any additional additives must be proven safe by the company;

2. The nicotine used in e-cigarette liquids cannot exceed 2%;

3. The limit substances in e-cigarette liquids and vapor must not exceed standards, which sets a new threshold. The question is whether companies can surpass this threshold faster than others.

After the implementation of the e-cigarette national standards, there are three possible policies:

A: Similar to traditional tobacco control, private enterprises are not allowed to enter;

B: A more open approach, where simple reporting is sufficient for operation;

C: A licensing system, where only licensed companies can operate.

Currently, option B seems the most likely.

From a technical perspective, the outlook for the e-cigarette national standards includes:

1. Significant improvement in product quality, as harmful substances in devices and e-liquids are controlled, greatly enhancing product safety. Thus, future reports cannot use formaldehyde as an argument, as the fluctuations in devices and vapor are controlled, improving consistency for each e-cigarette and batch.

2. Increased product costs, as every component and ingredient in e-liquids must meet national standards, leading to higher testing and labor costs, which will likely increase the defect rate.

3. Extended time to market, as developing products requires extensive testing. If companies want to add flavors beyond the 119 permitted ingredients, they must undergo third-party safety assessments, which may delay approval.

4. Continuous improvement in R&D levels. With such high requirements, companies without unique capabilities will struggle to stay at the forefront of the industry, pushing everyone to innovate continuously. This includes advancements in atomization technology, power sources, control technologies, automation in production, and the use of new materials.

5. Increased demand for testing equipment, as testing technologies continue to develop. Many domestic and imported companies are preparing to enter this field, and shared laboratory platforms are being established to align with this trend.