Export-version flavored e-cigarettes are being revived through black-market rebranding

Despite a crackdown from March 6 to April 25, there are still "phoenixes" taking risks. The main reason for the chaotic operations is that the demand for fruity flavored e-cigarettes from consumers still exists, and many customers need time to accept national standard e-cigarettes.

Regulating disposable e-cigarettes is difficult to achieve in one go. Experts suggest that the flavors of e-cigarette products can continue to be adjusted based on actual market demand, "without affecting consumer health while allowing e-cigarette brands some room for survival."

Currently, most of the illegal e-cigarette manufacturers and sellers in the market are former operators from before the ban, who control the production sources and sales channels, forming a large underground sales network with multiple levels of agents.

"There is a source above, and a market below"

"There is operational space"

"Falsifying export quantities to customs, secretly retaining a portion"

"Customs requires showing production licenses and other documents, filling in product names, quantities, etc., and customs will not count the actual quantity"

According to Vapor派, there are currently three main circulation types for fruity disposable/rechargeable e-cigarettes:

First, a small amount of inventory produced before the ban;

Second, newly produced replicas that use fake labels to impersonate pre-ban inventory;

Third, newly produced items that should have been exported but have secretly flowed into the domestic market.

Currently, there are three methods for replicating inventory:

First, copying packaging and products;

Second, not printing production dates or marking production dates as pre-ban time points;

Third, forging anti-counterfeiting QR codes;

User Queries

Recently, a friend asked, "Can e-cigarettes be brought back to the country through customs?"

The regulations regarding e-cigarettes carried by inbound travelers are detailed in the "Announcement on Taxation of E-Cigarettes" (General Administration of Customs Announcement No. 102 of 2022), and below Vapor派 will interpret it for everyone.

Inbound Travelers

01

Ordinary travelers

Can bring 2 smoking devices duty-free; e-cigarette pods (liquid vapor products) or products sold in combination with smoking devices (including disposable e-cigarettes, etc.) up to 6 units, but the total liquid capacity must not exceed 12ml.

02

Travelers traveling to and from Hong Kong and Macau

Can bring 1 smoking device duty-free; e-cigarette pods (liquid vapor products) or products sold in combination with smoking devices (including disposable e-cigarettes, etc.) up to 3 units, but the total liquid capacity must not exceed 6ml.

03

Travelers making multiple trips in a short period (more than once within 15 days)

Can bring 1 smoking device duty-free; e-cigarette pods (liquid vapor products) or products sold in combination with smoking devices (including disposable e-cigarettes, etc.) up to 1 unit, but the total liquid capacity must not exceed 2ml.

If the quantities or capacities exceed the above regulations, but are confirmed by customs to be for personal use, customs will only tax the excess portion, and for indivisible items, full taxation will apply. The quantity and capacity of e-cigarettes brought in by travelers are limited to the duty-free limits. Additionally, the total value of e-cigarettes brought in by travelers is not counted towards the duty-free allowance for luggage items.

Reminder

E-cigarettes without marked liquid capacities are prohibited from being brought into the country.

Travelers under 16 years of age are prohibited from bringing e-cigarettes into the country.

E-cigarettes sent through mail or express personal items will be subject to the current regulations of the General Administration of Customs regarding inbound and outbound personal mail items.

Other tobacco products will still be subject to current regulations and will not count towards the duty-free allowance for luggage items.