Four Commercialization Signals from the Middle East’s Alternative Vape Market

The commercialization of e-cigarettes may be a positive signal for the future globally.

The next day, the Middle East Vape Show Egypt 2023 (MEVS) has begun, but from the information reported by the Egyptian government on-site, we can clearly understand Egypt's attitude towards e-cigarettes and the region's urgent desire to promote "e-cigarette commercialization."

I learned from a brand participating in the Egyptian exhibition, Vabeen, that they mentioned there weren't many people on the first day of the exhibition. However, compared to the first day, there were more people on the second day.

(On-site in Egypt)

(ELF BAR on-site)

(SMOK on-site)

(YUOTO on-site)

There are as many as 150 e-cigarette brands participating in this event.

This data comes from the official announcement of MEVS today, which states that the MEVS exhibition has opened a good start for the Egyptian e-cigarette market, with 150 quality brands from Europe, China, the Gulf, and the Americas participating.

(On-site, many companies)

What is noteworthy is that today's exhibition in Egypt revealed a lot of "information."

Because this event, apart from e-cigarette brand owners, also included representatives from several government agencies, including the General Administration of Customs and the General Administration, including the Egyptian regulatory standards and quality department for e-cigarettes and the import and export control bureau. Did they feel the local emphasis on the e-cigarette industry and personally come to guide the industry?

(Egyptian government personnel attended the e-cigarette conference)

Several pieces of information:

01

Currently, only about 10 companies have registered for e-liquid in Egypt.

It is noteworthy that currently, only 13 companies can register e-cigarette e-liquids in Egypt.

Mohamed Abdel Hamid, head of the e-liquid registration department at the Egyptian official standards and quality bureau, stated on-site that the e-liquid registration procedures comply with applicable international procedures and standards. He added that since the establishment of the e-liquid and e-cigarette registration unit in 2021, 13 companies have registered 47 products.

He also mentioned the key points of registering e-liquids, requiring 25 documents, and particularly emphasized ensuring consistency in product and appearance.

This also means that the future path of e-cigarettes in Egypt will definitely be a registration system, encouraging registration to enter the local legal market.

02

The standards for e-cigarette device licenses are being released.

In 2021, Egypt already established relatively clear standards for e-cigarettes, but the device standards have been ongoing.

On-site, Mohamed Abdel Hamid clearly stated that "the standards for e-cigarette devices are currently being released, and their licenses will be issued by the General Administration of Standardization and Quality."

03

The draft regulations for e-cigarette sales are being formulated.

More concerning is that the draft regulations for e-cigarette sales are being formulated in Egypt.

On-site, the head of the Egyptian e-cigarette registration department stated, "Egypt is also formulating a draft regulation for the sales and storage of e-cigarette products (whether e-liquid or e-cigarettes)." This will indicate that new regulations for e-cigarette retail outlets will emerge in Egypt.

It was also clearly stated that illegal activities would be cracked down on. They stated, "Authorities will determine the requirements for these stores to ensure the protection of producers and consumers and combat the illegal market for these products."

A key point of a commercialized market is to ensure legality and sustainability while curbing illegal activities.

04

E-cigarettes in Egypt are growing rapidly.

According to Ibrahim Imbaby, head of the smoke department of the Egyptian Food Industry Chamber of Commerce, "In 2010, the global average sales of the e-cigarette market reached $15 billion, rising to $40 billion in 2015." He added that the market for e-cigarettes and various related products is significantly growing, and is considered a promising market both globally and in Egypt.

He also specifically mentioned that currently, 15% of e-cigarette users in Egypt are not former smokers. This indicates that there are new e-cigarette users emerging in Egypt.

From Egypt's perspective, some Middle Eastern countries are accelerating the commercialization of e-cigarettes and believe this presents a good market outlook. At the same time, it is rare to see an exhibition with local government agencies present, expressing their desire for e-cigarettes.