Warning Over Toxicity: EU Removes Multiple Chinese E-Cigarettes from Shelves

Electronic cigarettes are virtual cigarettes invented in China, which are convenient electronic vaporizing devices. Smokers inhale vaporized liquid made from a blend of plant extracts, propylene glycol, glycerin, and food-grade flavorings. The vapor produced after heating does not contain tar or 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.

□ Morning Reporter Li Xiaoming

Smoking is harmful to health, and many people have switched to electronic cigarettes. However, are the so-called "environmentally friendly and non-toxic" electronic cigarettes really as healthy as claimed? Not necessarily. Recently, the EU issued warnings through its rapid alert system for non-food consumer products regarding multiple brands of electronic cigarettes produced in China, pointing out safety hazards and requiring them to be removed from shelves. Investigations revealed that many e-liquids also contain toxic components such as nicotine, and there are currently no relevant testing standards for these toxic substances in the country. Some electronic cigarette packaging also lacks appropriate hazard warnings and labels.

Over 90% of electronic cigarettes are produced in China.

Recently, the "FEELLIFE" brand e-liquid produced by Shenzhen Fanhua Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has been warned four times by the EU through the RAPEX system (Rapid Alert System for non-food consumer products), with the countries involved being France, Spain, and the Netherlands. The alerts indicated that the product's outer packaging did not display relevant hazard information and lacked child-proof locking mechanisms, requiring the company to remove its products from the aforementioned countries.

In fact, this is not the first time that domestic electronic cigarettes have faced issues in the EU. This year, the EU has issued multiple warnings regarding domestic electronic cigarettes.

Currently, over 90% of electronic 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 warnings from the EU regarding domestic electronic cigarettes highlights that they may not be as healthy as imagined.

The flavor of the smoke contains nicotine.

In the domestic market, similar hazards exist. Reports from major online shopping platforms like Taobao and JD show that there are over 20 popular electronic cigarette brands, many of which are sold as combinations of e-cigarette devices and e-liquids, with some sellers moving hundreds of products each month.

The key to electronic 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 electronic cigarettes can replace real cigarettes is due to the "smoke flavor," which is actually nicotine, albeit at a much lower concentration compared to traditional cigarettes. Some electronic cigarettes claim to be free of nicotine, tar, and other harmful substances, but are 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 electronic cigarettes are categorized into high, medium, low, and nicotine-free concentrations, but these concentrations mainly refer to the levels of tobacco chemical components, not nicotine levels. High concentration e-liquids contain approximately one-third of the nicotine per puff compared to traditional cigarettes. Many e-liquids contain nicotine but do not indicate this on the packaging, posing health risks. Additionally, electronic cigarettes are not recommended for special populations such as those with cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and pregnant women.

Lack of national testing standards.

Another reason the toxicity of electronic cigarettes is hard to detect is the lack of relevant testing standards. The standards referenced by China and foreign countries differ significantly.

Since e-liquids are directly inhaled into the body, 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 exceeding heavy metal limits is not high.

On the other hand, since e-liquids often contain nicotine, which is toxic, they should be managed as hazardous chemicals according to EU requirements. The two standards differ significantly, and the products reported by Shenzhen Fanhua Biotechnology Co., Ltd. were flagged by the EU for containing toxic substances, and their packaging lacked appropriate hazard warnings and labels, which does not comply with EU regulations, leading to the removal of all products from shelves.

In response, relevant individuals are calling for the establishment of a complete set of testing technical standards for the toxicity of electronic cigarettes, especially for the detection of their chemical components and the classification of hazardous characteristics, to clarify their hazard labeling and packaging requirements, thereby regulating their production and testing.