Xinhua Warns Against Illegal E-cigarettes Disguised as Milk Tea Cups and Toy Bears

Xinhua News Agency reported from Xining on May 31 (Reporter Xie Tongqiang) May 31 is World No Tobacco Day. In recent years, the e-cigarette market has experienced explosive growth. However, some non-compliant e-cigarettes have appeared in the market disguised as "milk tea cups" and "toy bears." These illegally disguised e-cigarettes have a strong appeal to young people. Experts warn that e-cigarettes affect the health of both users and those around them, and consumers must be vigilant when purchasing such illegal e-cigarettes.

This is an illegally disguised e-cigarette seized by law enforcement personnel. (Photo provided by Xining Tobacco Monopoly Bureau)

To further regulate the e-cigarette market and protect the physical and mental health of minors, a special enforcement inspection of the e-cigarette market has recently been carried out by the Xining Market Supervision Administration, Xining Public Security Bureau, and Xining Tobacco Monopoly Bureau throughout the city.

The action focused on checking whether the operating entities were selling e-cigarettes without a license, exceeding their scope of operation, selling e-cigarettes to minors, and selling concealed and mutated e-cigarettes disguised as "milk tea cups" and "toy bears." At the same time, operators were educated about the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Minors," the "E-cigarette Management Measures," and the mandatory national standards for e-cigarettes, as well as the harms of e-cigarettes, and were required to comply with the law and self-discipline, strictly prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes and cigarettes to minors.

This is an illegally disguised e-cigarette seized by law enforcement personnel that looks like a "milk tea cup." (Photo provided by Xining Tobacco Monopoly Bureau)

It is understood that in recent years, some e-cigarette businesses have misled consumers with flashy packaging and various flavors, claiming to "help quit smoking." There is evidence that e-cigarettes do not provide clear assistance in quitting smoking, and the complex ingredients in e-liquid are detrimental to the physical and mental development of minors.

This is an illegally disguised e-cigarette seized by law enforcement personnel. (Photo provided by Xining Tobacco Monopoly Bureau)

On May 1, 2022, the "E-cigarette Management Measures" formulated by the National Tobacco Monopoly Bureau came into effect, which prohibits the sale of all flavored e-cigarettes except for tobacco flavor. E-cigarette products must comply with the relevant regulations on packaging labeling and warnings, and strict regulations have been established for the production and sale of e-cigarettes, prohibiting the sale of e-cigarette products to minors.

During this action, law enforcement personnel supervised and inspected 57 operating points around eight schools, including Xining No. 1 Middle School and Xining Hutai Primary School, as well as some commercial streets. Joint law enforcement personnel stated that currently, the regulation of the e-cigarette market has entered a legal track, and illegal e-cigarettes such as "milk tea cups" and "toy bears" must not be sold in the market. Consumers must pay attention to distinguishing them when purchasing, and they can report illegal business activities through the 12315 and 12313 platforms to jointly maintain order in the e-cigarette market.