Vape Laws and Regulations Weekly Report - August 5, 2024

Highlights

• BAT CEO Calls for Stricter Action Against Illegal Vapes from China
• Altria Submits Data on Illicit Nicotine Pouches to FDA, Comparing It to Early E-Cigarette Black Market
• FDA Takes a Stand on E-Cigarettes with Screens, Will Enforce Actions Against Unauthorized Products
• Wang Gongcheng Meets with Australian Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Commissioner Dailen
• Philippine Customs Bureau Faces Corruption Allegations: $10 Million Worth of Vapes Possibly Resold
• Philippine Bureau of Customs Launches Investigation into Vape Confiscation and Resale Incident
• Wolverhampton, England Seizes Over £8,000 Worth of Illegal Vapes Involving "HAYATI" Brand
• Jaipur, India Seizes 8,500 Smuggled Vapes Involving UWELL Products
• Brazilian Military Police Seize Over 1,200 Illegal Vapes Involving ELFBAR Brand
• Ukraine Uncovers Illegal E-Liquid Production Case Worth Nearly $8.9 Million
• Taiwan Busts Largest E-Cigarette Manufacturing Factory Worth $4.28 Million

BAT CEO Calls for Stricter Action Against Illegal Vapes from China

Source

BAT CEO Tadeu Marroco has urged for increased penalties against the importation of illegal e-cigarettes from China, highlighting the harm these products are causing to the legitimate US market. Due to delayed inspections, illegal products are flooding the market, making it challenging for BAT to meet its 2025 revenue targets.

Altria Submits Data on Illicit Nicotine Pouches to FDA, Comparing It to Early E-Cigarette Black Market

Source

Altria has reported a surge in the illegal nicotine pouch market to the FDA, noting that many of these products are from China and resemble the early stages of the illicit e-cigarette market. Altria is calling for decisive action from the FDA to curb this trend.

FDA Takes a Stand on E-Cigarettes with Screens, Will Enforce Actions Against Unauthorized Products

Source

FDA News Director Jim McKinney announced that the FDA has authorized 34 e-cigarette products and devices to date, none of which include screens. Unauthorized tobacco products, including those with screens, will face enforcement actions. This is the first time the FDA has publicly stated its stance on e-cigarettes with screens.

Wang Gongcheng Meets with Australian Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Commissioner Dailen

Source

Wang Gongcheng, Deputy Director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, met with Australian Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Commissioner Dailen in Beijing for a friendly discussion. Dailen currently leads the ABF Tobacco and E-Cigarette Task Force and has previously held several senior executive positions at ABF, overseeing national and regional border operations.

Philippine Customs Bureau Faces Corruption Allegations: $10 Million Worth of Vapes Possibly Resold

An anti-crime watchdog in the Philippines has called on President Marcos to address corruption within the Customs Bureau, fearing that $10 million worth of seized vape products may have been resold. They have suggested rechecking warehouse inventories.

Philippine Bureau of Customs Launches Investigation into Vape Confiscation and Resale Incident

Source

Philippine Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio has ordered an investigation into the alleged recycling and resale of confiscated vape products, assuring the public that seized goods worth PHP 11 billion in Binondo, Manila, are securely stored and will be processed according to the law.

Wolverhampton, England Seizes Over £8,000 Worth of Illegal Vapes Involving "HAYATI" Brand

Source

Wolverhampton City Council seized thousands of illegal cigarettes, vapes, and tobacco products, including "HAYATI" brand vapes, with an estimated retail value of £8,260. The council is investigating the suppliers and will take action against the involved business owners.

Jaipur, India Seizes 8,500 Smuggled Vapes Involving UWELL Products

Source

India's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Jaipur arrested a man for selling smuggled vapes and seized 8,500 units worth INR 12.5 million ($149,000). The products included UWELL brand vapes, marking the largest e-cigarette seizure in Jaipur's history.

Brazilian Military Police Seize Over 1,200 Illegal Vapes Involving ELFBAR Brand

Source

Brazilian military police confiscated 1,239 illegal vapes, including ELFBAR brand products, and arrested two suspects involved in the smuggling operation.

Ukraine Uncovers Illegal E-Liquid Production Case Worth Nearly $8.9 Million

Source

Ukraine's Economic Security Bureau and Cyber Police uncovered a large-scale illegal e-liquid production operation in Kyiv and surrounding areas. The illegal operation produced a wide range of e-liquid products primarily from nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerin, and flavors, with an estimated market value of $8.9 million.

Taiwan Busts Largest E-Cigarette Manufacturing Factory Worth $4.28 Million

Source

Taiwanese authorities have busted the largest e-cigarette manufacturing factory in Taichung, involved in smuggling operations. The operation, led by a couple and Thai migrant workers, had a market value of $4.28 million