Brand Troubles: EU Removes Multiple Chinese E-Cigarette Brands from the Market
Introduction: Recently, the "FEELLIFE" brand e-liquid produced by Shenzhen Fanhua Biotechnology Company has been repeatedly warned by the EU through the RAPEX system (Rapid Alert System for non-food consumer products), with four alerts issued in total. The countries involved include France, Spain, and the Netherlands. The alerts indicate that the product's outer packaging does not display relevant hazard information and lacks a child-proof locking mechanism, requiring the company to withdraw all products from the aforementioned countries.
In fact, this is not the first time that domestic e-cigarettes have faced issues in the EU. This year, the EU has issued multiple warning notices regarding domestic e-cigarettes.
According to Chinese e-cigarette news: E-cigarettes are a virtual smoking product invented in China, which is a portable electronic vaporizer. Smokers inhale vaporized liquid made from a mixture of plant extracts, propylene glycol, glycerin, and food-grade flavorings. The vapor produced after heating does not contain tar, does not produce carbon monoxide, and lacks chemical substances that cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, making it a healthier, more environmentally friendly, and safer tobacco substitute compared to traditional tobacco.
Smoking is harmful to health, and many people have switched to e-cigarettes. However, is the so-called "environmentally friendly and non-toxic" e-cigarette really as healthy as claimed? Not necessarily. Recently, the EU has issued warning notices through the Rapid Alert System for non-food consumer products regarding multiple brands of e-cigarettes produced in China, pointing out safety hazards and requiring all products to be withdrawn from sale. Investigations have revealed that many e-liquid products also contain toxic components such as nicotine, and currently, there are no relevant testing standards for these toxic substances in China. Some e-cigarette packaging also lacks corresponding hazard warnings and labels.
Over 90% of e-cigarettes are produced in China
Recently, the "FEELLIFE" brand e-liquid produced by Shenzhen Fanhua Biotechnology Company has been repeatedly warned by the EU through the RAPEX system, with four alerts issued in total. The countries involved include France, Spain, and the Netherlands. The alerts indicate that the product's outer packaging does not display relevant hazard information and lacks a child-proof locking mechanism, requiring the company to withdraw all products from the aforementioned countries.
In fact, this is not the first time that domestic e-cigarettes have faced issues in the EU. This year, the EU has issued multiple warning notices regarding domestic e-cigarettes.
Currently, over 90% of e-cigarettes and e-liquids are produced and exported from China, with the main markets being the United States and the EU. The recent series of warning notices from the EU regarding domestic e-cigarettes highlights that they may not be as healthy as previously thought.
The flavor contains nicotine
In the domestic market, similar hazards also exist. I found that on major online shopping platforms like Taobao and JD, there are over 20 popular e-cigarette brands, many of which are sold as combinations of e-cigarette devices and e-liquids, with some successful sellers moving hundreds of products each month.
The key to e-cigarettes is the e-liquid, which not only has the flavor of traditional cigarettes but also various other flavors derived from plant extracts. However, industry insiders reveal that the reason e-cigarettes can replace real cigarettes is that they still possess the "smoke flavor," which is actually nicotine, albeit at a much lower concentration compared to traditional cigarettes. Some e-cigarettes claim to be free of nicotine, tar, and other harmful substances, but they are often not accepted by real smokers due to insufficient "smoke flavor."
However, there are no standards in the industry regarding how much nicotine is safe for human consumption. Currently, all e-cigarettes are categorized into high, medium, low, and nicotine-free concentrations, but these concentrations mainly refer to the levels of tobacco chemical components, not specifically nicotine levels. High concentrations contain about one-third the nicotine per puff compared to traditional cigarettes. Many e-liquid products contain nicotine but do not indicate this on the packaging, posing health risks. Additionally, e-cigarettes are not suitable for individuals with cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, or pregnant women.
Lack of national testing standards
Another reason the toxicity of e-cigarettes is difficult to detect is the lack of relevant testing standards. The standards referenced by China and foreign countries differ significantly.
Since e-liquid is directly inhaled into the body during use, hygiene requirements are high. China's testing standards reference light industry standards for tobacco flavoring, mainly testing for heavy metal content in e-liquids. However, due to the raw materials and production processes of e-liquids, the risk of heavy metal exceeding standards is not high. On the other hand, since e-liquids often contain added nicotine, which is toxic, they should be managed according to hazardous chemical regulations. The two standards differ significantly, and the products produced by Shenzhen Fanhua Biotechnology Company were reported due to the detection of toxic and harmful substances by the EU, and their packaging lacked corresponding hazard warnings and labels, which did not comply with EU regulations, leading to the withdrawal of all products.
In response, relevant individuals are calling for the establishment of a complete set of testing technical standards for the toxicity of e-cigarettes, especially for the detection of their chemical components and the classification and identification of hazardous properties, to clarify their hazard warning labels and packaging requirements, thus standardizing their production and testing.
