How Can the E-liquid Crisis Be Resolved?

Introduction: It is understood that e-liquid is primarily used with electronic cigarettes, which are virtual cigarettes invented in China as a replica of traditional cigarettes. They are portable electronic vaporizing devices that turn a liquid made from plant-extracted essence mixed with propylene glycol, glycerin, and food-grade flavorings into vapor, which is then inhaled directly by the user. The vapor produced by heating the e-liquid contains no tar, produces no carbon monoxide, and lacks the harmful chemicals that cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, making it a healthier, more environmentally friendly, and safer alternative to traditional tobacco products.

According to news from the Chinese electronic cigarette industry: Currently, due to increasing public concern for health and environmental issues, the e-liquid industry is experiencing rapid growth. Over 90% of the world's electronic cigarettes and e-liquids are produced and exported from China, with the primary markets being the United States and the European Union. The Shenzhen region accounts for over 50% of global production capacity, with export values reaching tens of billions of RMB. The recent recall of products from Shenzhen Fanhuo Biotechnology Co., Ltd. by the EU will undoubtedly impact the reputation of electronic cigarette manufacturers in the Shenzhen area and affect product exports. Therefore, as the entire electronic cigarette industry rapidly develops, how to better regulate and inspect e-liquids and assist companies in responding to EU recalls to expand exports is a critical issue for inspection and quarantine departments to consider seriously.

Recently, the "FEEL LIFE" brand e-liquid produced by Shenzhen Fanhuo Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has been warned four times by the EU through the RAPEX system (Rapid Alert System for non-food consumer products). The countries involved include France, Spain, and the Netherlands. The warnings state that the product's packaging did not display relevant hazard information and lacked child-proof locking mechanisms, requiring the company to withdraw all products from sale in the aforementioned countries. E-liquid is an emerging product, and its related industry in China is developing rapidly, but the resulting regulatory gaps must also be given sufficient attention.

Current Status of E-liquids

It is understood that e-liquid is primarily used with electronic cigarettes, which are virtual cigarettes invented in China as a replica of traditional cigarettes. They are portable electronic vaporizing devices that turn a liquid made from plant-extracted essence mixed with propylene glycol, glycerin, and food-grade flavorings into vapor, which is then inhaled directly by the user. The vapor produced by heating the e-liquid contains no tar, produces no carbon monoxide, and lacks the harmful chemicals that cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, making it a healthier, more environmentally friendly, and safer alternative to traditional tobacco products.
Currently, due to increasing public concern for health and environmental issues, the e-liquid industry is experiencing rapid growth. Over 90% of the world's electronic cigarettes and e-liquids are produced and exported from China, with the primary markets being the United States and the European Union. The Shenzhen region accounts for over 50% of global production capacity, with export values reaching tens of billions of RMB. The recent recall of products from Shenzhen Fanhuo Biotechnology Co., Ltd. by the EU will undoubtedly impact the reputation of electronic cigarette manufacturers in the Shenzhen area and affect product exports. Therefore, as the entire electronic cigarette industry rapidly develops, how to better regulate and inspect e-liquids and assist companies in responding to EU recalls to expand exports is a critical issue for inspection and quarantine departments to consider seriously.

Lack of Inspection Standards

Currently, there are no testing standards for e-liquids in various countries. E-liquids are directly inhaled into the body, requiring high hygiene standards. In China, the inspection standards refer to light industry standards for tobacco flavorings, primarily 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 contamination is low. Most e-liquids contain added nicotine, which is toxic and should be managed according to hazardous chemical regulations as per EU requirements. The products reported by Shenzhen Fanhuo Biotechnology Co., Ltd. were flagged by the EU for containing toxic substances, and their packaging lacked corresponding hazard warnings and labels, leading to the withdrawal of all products from sale due to non-compliance with EU regulations.

Different Enforcement Standards

It is understood that the reported products from the company were exported alongside electronic cigarettes, and the greatest risk lies in the e-liquids, as their vapor enters the body through the mouth. Currently, China's regulations state that only e-liquids exported separately require inspection and quarantine, while electronic cigarette components containing e-liquids, including disposable electronic cigarettes, are classified as illegal. Currently, over 50% of e-liquids are filled in electronic cigarettes and related components for export, leading to an awkward situation of inconsistent enforcement standards for the same products. Due to the inability to conduct necessary testing on e-liquids, significant regulatory gaps have emerged. Additionally, it has been reported that some illegal enterprises, seeking greater profits, use inferior e-liquids to replace food-grade high-quality e-liquids. Since inferior e-liquids often use non-food-grade industrial materials and the sanitary conditions during production are difficult to guarantee, long-term use can lead to discomfort or even chronic poisoning, posing greater risks.

Chaotic Export Methods

According to personnel from Shenzhen Fanhuo Biotechnology Co., Ltd., the products reported by the EU are domestic sales products, and how they were exported abroad cannot be verified, reflecting the current chaotic export methods for e-liquids. Due to the lack of sound regulations and standards regarding e-liquids, the vast majority of exporting e-liquid companies still use gray channels for customs clearance, such as express mailing, changing product names, and declaring low-value advertising goods to export products, making it impossible for inspection and quarantine departments to effectively control product safety. This indirectly leads to the uneven quality of exported goods, which, over time, will inevitably impact the entire electronic cigarette export market and hinder the healthy and sustainable development of the industry.

Therefore, the "dangerous" e-liquids should attract the high attention of inspection and quarantine departments, and a complete set of technical standards for their inspection should be established as soon as possible, especially for the detection of their chemical components and classification of hazardous characteristics, clarifying their hazard labeling and packaging requirements to regulate their production and inspection. At the same time, active coordination with customs departments should be pursued to include them in the legal inspection catalog, closing loopholes for uninspected exports, and transforming e-liquids from "dangerous" to "safe."  《China National Gate Times》