Jiading issues a 2,000 yuan e-cigarette fine over trial vaping device, cartridges, and mouthpieces o

Recently, the Jiading District Health and Family Planning Commission imposed a fine of 2,000 yuan on an electronic cigarette sales point that provided trial vaping services. This is also the first electronic cigarette fine issued in the entire Jiading District.

During the inspection, law enforcement officers found that the electronic cigarette sales point had set up electronic cigarette devices, cartridges, and disposable mouthpieces for customers to try, which violated the relevant provisions of the "Shanghai Public Places Smoking Control Regulations" that state, "Units in smoking prohibition areas are obligated not to provide any smoking-related devices."

Yang Hao, head of the Public Health Supervision Section of the Jiading District Health and Family Planning Commission, explained that the "Electronic Cigarette Management Measures" issued by the National Tobacco Monopoly Bureau clearly states in Article 3: Electronic cigarettes include cartridges, devices, and products sold in combination with cartridges and devices. According to the revised "Shanghai Public Places Smoking Control Regulations," electronic cigarettes are included in the regulatory scope, and smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is explicitly prohibited in indoor public places, indoor workplaces, and public transportation.

"All units in smoking prohibition areas should carry out smoking prohibition publicity and education work, advise smokers to quit, and set up unified no smoking signs and supervision phone numbers in prominent positions, without providing any smoking-related devices," Yang Hao added.

Through on-site publicity and education, the person in charge of the penalized venue recognized the error, removed the electronic cigarette trial devices on the spot, and promised to strictly comply with the "Shanghai Public Places Smoking Control Regulations" and fulfill their smoking control obligations.

In the next phase, the Jiading District Health and Family Planning Commission will continue to strengthen law enforcement efforts in public places regarding smoking control, increase the frequency of daily supervision for problematic venues, and further enhance publicity and education to guide citizens not to smoke (including electronic cigarettes) in indoor public places, advocating for a civilized and healthy lifestyle to protect citizens' health.

Regulatory Updates

Article 18 of the "Shanghai Public Places Smoking Control Regulations" states that if units in smoking prohibition areas fail to fulfill their smoking prohibition obligations, relevant departments may order them to rectify within a time limit and impose fines ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 yuan; for serious cases, fines may range from 10,000 to 30,000 yuan.

Article 19 states that individuals who smoke in smoking prohibition areas and do not heed advice will be ordered to rectify by relevant departments and fined between 50 and 200 yuan.