Nanling County market regulator in Anhui launches e-cigarette market crackdown

According to China Quality News, in order to further strengthen supervision of the e-cigarette market, clean up e-cigarette retail outlets and vending machines around schools, shut down unlicensed venues selling tobacco products, and effectively protect minors from the harms of e-cigarettes, the Nanling County Market Supervision Administration in Anhui Province recently organized a special enforcement campaign targeting the e-cigarette market.

I. Strengthen oversight and carry out a comprehensive inspection.

First, in conjunction with routine supervision, the authority conducted on-site inspections of business operators around schools, amusement parks, youth centers, and other areas where minors gather, as well as around commercial complexes, bars, KTV venues, and other places frequented by young people. The focus was on checking for illegal activities such as operating without licenses, selling e-cigarette products to minors, and publishing false advertising for e-cigarettes. Second, relying on the provincial online supervision system and other tools, it stepped up monitoring and supervision of online business operators within its jurisdiction.

II. Increase public outreach and carry out legal education activities.

First, in connection with broader civic promotion efforts, the authority publicized relevant laws and regulations to merchants around schools and posted warning signs in prominent places at their business premises stating, “Do not sell tobacco or alcohol to minors.” Second, in connection with school food safety inspections and related activities, it educated minors about the dangers of using e-cigarettes. Third, through various legal awareness campaigns, it strengthened public science education and encouraged the public to actively report and help stop the sale of e-cigarette products to minors.

III. Intensify law enforcement and conduct special inspections.

The authority carried out special law enforcement inspections of the e-cigarette market, prohibiting all brick-and-mortar stores from selling e-cigarettes to minors, and cracking down on illegal acts such as unlicensed operations that continue despite warnings and the sale of non-compliant “three-no” e-cigarette products. It also lawfully monitored, discouraged, and stopped the online promotion and sale of e-cigarettes, cutting off disguised sales channels and effectively protecting the physical and mental health of minors.

So far, the Nanling County bureau has dispatched 61 law enforcement officers, inspected 40 offline business entities, checked 210 websites and online stores, and distributed and posted more than 1,000 warning notices reading “Do not sell tobacco or alcohol to minors.” Next, the Nanling County bureau will continue strengthening supervision of the e-cigarette market, enhance interdepartmental coordination, increase inspections of convenience stores, supermarkets, stationery and sporting goods stores, and other business venues, strengthen supervision of both online and offline sales platforms, investigate and punish illegal activities such as false and unlawful advertising in accordance with the law, and crack down hard on illegal e-cigarette sales in order to build a strong regulatory safeguard for the healthy growth of minors.