Vape Market Weekly News (Feb. 15th to 21th, 2025 )

China:

1. On Feb. 15, 2025, a 28-year-old woman from Macao arrived in Hong Kong with a space oil e-cigarette, and Customs seized and arrested her. Customs said it would step up enforcement against trafficking in "space oil drugs," which it said was a serious crime. Source
2. On Feb. 17, 2025, according to 2firsts, the total export value of Chinese nicotine bag products reached $589,942, with the most significant increase occurring in December, when it surged to $389,136, an increase of more than 500 percent in 2024. The United States is the main export destination for nicotine bag products in China, accounting for 96.99% of the export share. Source
3. On Feb. 18, 2025, Shenzhen Xuewu Technology was fined for violating the declaration of e-cigarette exports, with a total fine of 85,300 yuan. Xuewu Technology owns the electronic cigarette brand SNOWPLUS. Source
4. On Feb. 18, 2025, a male passenger arrived in Hong Kong with two e-cigarettes containing space oil and was arrested by Customs. Source

Panama:

1. On Feb. 15, 2025, the Panamanian government enacted a strict ban on the sale of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and oral nicotine products to minors, as well as related advertising and promotion. The new rules, which also restrict the use of these products in public and private places and require stores to take certain measures, will take effect on July 31, 2025. Source

Poland:

1. On Feb. 15, 2025, Polish customs seized nearly 40,000 bottles of e-liquid and 42,000 e-cigarettes, which would cause more than 2.6 million Polish zlotys ($660,000) in financial losses to the state if these unlabeled goods entered the illegal market. Source
2. On Feb. 19, 2025, the Health Committee of the Polish Chamber of Deputies approved a proposal to ban the sale of heated tobacco products with flavorings in response to EU directives with a nine-month transition period. Source

United Kingdom:

1. On Feb. 15, 2025, the issue of e-cigarettes in Scotland is a concern, with the NHS prescribing nicotine replacement for 13-year-olds. In the past two years, more than 1,000 minors have received such prescriptions, with a 59% increase in prescriptions for adolescents aged 16 to 18 in 2024 compared to 2023. Source
2. On Feb. 18, 2025, Lincolnshire police in the United Kingdom closed 68 shops selling illegal e-cigarettes and cigarettes, and more than 670,000 illegal cigarettes, 17,000 illegal e-cigarettes, and 370 kilograms of tobacco were seized in 2024, an increase of 150% in the number of illegal tobacco compared to 2023. Source
3. On Feb. 19, 2025, the UK government will launch a 10-year study on the impact of e-cigarettes, which is expected to cost £62 million to track 100,000 children aged 8 to 18 and investigate the long-term effects of e-cigarettes on their health and behavior. Source
4. On Feb. 21, 2025, a large-scale tobacco smuggling case was cracked in Lincolnshire, UK: 90,000 cigarettes and high-nicotine e-cigarettes were seized. Source

South Korea:

1. On Feb. 16, 2025, South Korea's 127,000 traditional tobacco companies may face unfair treatment due to the lag in the regulation of synthetic nicotine, and compliant merchants have called for synthetic nicotine to be included in the regulation. Source
2. On Feb. 18, 2025, South Korea's parliament failed to pass an amendment to the Tobacco Business Act to include synthetic nicotine in tobacco regulation, and the bill was shelved due to differences of opinion. Source

United States:

1. On Feb. 16, 2025, Cellmate's atomization solution, iHit, unveiled its groundbreaking hybrid product, Hybrid-Coil 2.0, at the Champs trade show, achieving the first dynamic synergy between ceramic coil and mesh coil technology, supported by a "hybrid coil synergy + three cans (nicotine/ice/flavor) control" architecture. Source
2. On Feb. 17, 2025, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's office has proposed two plans that could see the marijuana and nicotine industry face significant tax increases. ● On February 10, 2025, Whitmer released her "Mi Road Ahead" plan, proposing a new 32% wholesale tax on cannabis products. ● In her FY 2025-2026 State Budget Proposal, released on February 5, 2025, she proposed a 32% wholesale tax rate on non-tobacco nicotine goods, including e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and nicotine gummies. Source
3. On Feb. 17, 2025, the Trump administration's efforts to cut the federal labor force spilled over into the FDA, resulting in the layoff of newly hired probationary workers at centers for food, medical devices and tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Source
4. On Feb. 18, 2025, the HB432 bill initiated by the Republican House of Representatives of Utah amends the provisions related to tobacco and e-cigarette products: 1. Repeal the ban on flavored e-cigarettes; 2. The nicotine content is limited to up to 5%; 3. The minimum consumption age is 21 years old; 4. A new tax of 2.5% will be levied on all flavored e-cigarette products; 5. All retail tobacco franchise enterprises install radio frequency identification RFID on e-cigarette products. The bill passed the committee by a vote of 8 to 6. It will now be submitted to the House of Representatives for full debate. Source
5. On Feb. 18, 2025, according to preliminary statistics from the Economist, the market size of new tobacco products in the United States will be close to \$23.5 billion in 2024. It is expected that the growth of the U.S. e-cigarette market will be suppressed to a certain extent in the future, but the overall growth trend remains unchanged. In 2030, it may exceed 28.8 billion US dollars. Source
6. On Feb. 19, 2025, Altria reaffirmed its 2025 profit target, emphasizing that it will accelerate the deployment of new tobacco products to cope with the shrinking of traditional tobacco and competition in the e-cigarette market, while facing challenges such as tighter FDA regulations and restrictions on synthetic nicotine. Source
7. On Feb. 19, 2025, in the first case in Massachusetts for selling unpaid flavored tobacco products, the owner was sentenced to six months in prison for tax evasion of \$467,000 and violated the state's 2020 comprehensive ban on flavored tobacco products. Source
8. On Feb. 20, 2025, the California bill would ban the sale or distribution of new or refurbished disposable vapes in the state, beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The proposal would allow local governments or the state to fine people $500 to $2000 for their violation of the ban. Source
9. On Feb. 20, 2025, the U.S. state of New York filed a lawsuit against 13 large e-cigarette affiliates, including well-known brands such as Puff Bar, Elf Bar, Geek Bar, Breeze, and MYLE. The charges include the illegal distribution, marketing, and sale of flavored disposable e-cigarettes, in violation of state laws prohibiting the sale of e-cigarette flavors and designs that appeal to children. Source
10. On Feb. 21, 2025, Washington State in the United States has promoted a ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes, banning the sale of products marketed with words such as "cool" and "cool" and entertainment atomizing devices with interactive functions, and requiring retailers to post prohibition signs, and offenders will be penalized. Source

Russia:

1. On Feb. 16, 2025, the Russian State Duma intends to consider a comprehensive ban on e-cigarettes in the spring session in order to strengthen the protection of minors. Source
2. On Feb. 17, 2025, Russia intends to reform the tobacco market, including the introduction of a licensing system for tobacco sellers similar to the sale of alcohol or the establishment of a tobacco sales licensing registration system, while increasing penalties and reducing losses to the state budget. Source
3. On Feb. 17, 2025, Russia plans to launch an e-cigarette education course and calls for raising awareness among young people. Previously, Putin had signed a bill in December 2024 restricting the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. Source

New Zealand:

1. On Feb. 17, 2025, researchers from the University of Queensland found that smoking rates in New Zealand are declining twice as fast as in Australia, suggesting that less restrictive regulation of e-cigarettes can improve public health outcomes. The study has been published in the journal Addiction. Source
2. On Feb. 18, 2025, New Zealand e-cigarette retailer Shosha has announced that it will expand its overseas markets, not only will it continue to expand its retail network in New Zealand, but also plans to open more stores in international markets and expand its global reach through a strong online platform. Source

Philippines:

1. On Feb. 17, 2025, the Philippine Internal Revenue Service raided four illegal cigarette manufacturing sites, arrested six Chinese suspects, and filed an 8.5 billion peso ($150 million) tax evasion lawsuit against them, making it the largest crackdown on illegal cigarettes in 2024. Source

Netherlands:

1. On Feb. 17, 2025, e-cigarette use among teenagers in the Netherlands has skyrocketed, with about 30% of second- and fourth-graders trying e-cigarettes. Over the past four years, the weekly frequency of teen e-cigarette use has surged by 400%, with some areas increasing by nearly 700%. Source

Thailand:

1. On Feb. 18, 2025, Thai Customs held a large-scale destruction campaign, destroying 600,000 pieces of infringing goods, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, etc., involving economic losses of about 1.36 million US dollars. Source

India:

1. On Feb. 18, 2025, Indian media revealed that the ban on e-cigarettes was ignored, the IGET and ELFBAR brands were openly sold in many places, and merchants even provided door-to-door delivery services. The penalties are inadequate, and offenders only need to pay a fine of \$2 per piece to escape heavy penalties. Source

Spain:

1. On Feb. 18, 2025, Spanish police seized 8,000 illegal e-cigarettes in Gran Canaria, with problems such as foreign language labeling, hygiene non-compliance, relabeling and excessive nicotine. Source

Singapore:

1. On Feb. 19, 2025, Singapore's Health Science and Technology Agency said that e-cigarette smuggling cases have been significantly reduced, and border enforcement will be strengthened in cooperation with the Immigration Department. Source

Chile:

1. On Feb. 20, 2025, Chile has implemented a new Tobacco Law since January 2024 to strengthen the regulation of tobacco products. The local health minister said there is a plan to increase the number of inspections by 10% to protect public health. Source

Colombia:

1. On Feb. 20, 2025, the Colombian Chamber of Deputies approved a bill to impose a 30% tax on the consumption of e-cigarettes and vaping products through its second deliberation, which has been submitted to the Senate for a third review. Source

Malaysia:

1. On Feb. 20, 2025, former Malaysian health officials suggested that e-cigarette sales should be limited to pharmacies or establishments with a smoking cessation service license, and refer to the British model to limit nicotine content and flavor, and promote the use of e-cigarettes in combination with smoking cessation counseling. Source

Indonesia:

1. On Feb. 20, 2025, Indonesia's Ministry of Health said that e-cigarettes are not an effective substitute for quitting smoking, and the use rate of e-cigarettes in Indonesia increased from 0.3% in 2011 to 3% in 2021, and the Ministry of Health called for strict implementation of tobacco control regulations to reduce the smoking rate among adolescents and reduce the burden of future medical care. Source