Vape Market Weekly News (Jan. 25th to Feb. 8th, 2025 )

China

• FEELM Launches World's First Flavor-Adjustable Vape Solution FEELM FUSION

  On January 29, FEELM introduced the world's first flavor-adjustable vape solution, FEELM FUSION, at the TPE exhibition. This innovative solution covers the most popular flavor trends in the market, including ice, nicotine, bubble, and sour flavors. Additionally, it introduced two original flavor innovations: spicy and milkshake flavors. Read more

• DOJO, a Brand Under VAPORESSO, Launches All-Category Compatible Platform iMate

  On January 30, DOJO unveiled the world's first all-category compatible platform, iMate series, and the first vape equipped with a gravity sensor and dual-pixel screen, PIXEL 25000, at the TPE Vape Expo. The iMate series offers cross-type compatibility through its independent battery screen module, seamlessly integrating with various types of pods, including refillable pods, disposable pods, and 0% nicotine pre-filled pods, with more options to be supported in the future. Read more

• 80 Illegally Carried Vapes Seized by Shekou Customs

  On February 3, the WeChat public account "Customs Release" reported that Shekou Customs officers discovered 80 disposable vapes in a passenger's luggage during an inspection at the Shekou Cruise Center. The items have been legally returned. Read more

United States

• ITC Rules NJOY Infringes JUUL Patents: Some Vape Products to be Banned from April

  On January 29, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that NJOY and its parent company Altria infringed on multiple patents related to JUUL Labs' vape products. The import and sale of NJOY ACE will be banned, effective March 31, 2025. Read more

• TPE Held in Las Vegas on January 29-30

• Altria's 2024 Financial Report: NJOY Shipments Surge

  Altria released its 2024 and fourth-quarter financial reports, with its subsidiary NJOY performing well. In the fourth quarter, NJOY's vape pod shipments reached 12.8 million units, a 15.3% increase year-over-year. Device shipments were 1.1 million units, up 22.2% year-over-year. For the full year of 2024, pod shipments totaled 46.6 million units, and device shipments were 5 million units. Read more

• Juul Labs Supports Trump's Tariff Policy, Says It Helps Protect U.S. Market

  U.S. vape company Juul Labs, Inc. praised President Trump's efforts to protect U.S. citizens by strengthening trade laws and border security enforcement. Read more

• Illegal Vapes Dominate Half the Market? Altria Calls on Trump Administration to Strengthen Market Regulation

  Altria Group Inc. CEO Billy Gifford is intensifying efforts to express concerns about unregulated imported vape products, hoping to draw the attention of the FDA under the Trump administration. Read more

• New York's Tobacco Control Challenge: High Taxes Lead to Rise in Illegal Cigarette Trade, Over 54% of Cigarettes Smuggled

  New York has reduced its smoking rate from 23% in 2000 to 14.2% in 2020 through increased cigarette taxes and smoke-free public spaces. However, high taxes have led to a surge in cigarette prices, resulting in rampant illegal cigarette trade, with smuggled cigarettes accounting for 54% of the market, causing over $1 billion in annual tax losses and posing public safety risks. Read more

• Nebraska Lawmaker Proposes 20% Excise Tax on Vapes and Nicotine Products

  The Nebraska legislature has proposed Bill LB 125, which plans to impose a 20% excise tax on alternative nicotine products and vapes, bringing them into the same tax system as tobacco products. Read more

• Chinese-Made Vapes to be Subject to 35% Tariff in the U.S.

  The first batch of punitive tariffs imposed by Trump on Chinese products took effect on February 4. The new tariffs impose a 10% tariff on all products from China, including the majority of vapes used by U.S. consumers. For vape users, the new 10% tariff will be added to the existing 25% tariff implemented during Trump's first term and extended by the Biden administration (Biden also added additional tariffs on China). Read more

• Five New Vapes Released in the U.S. Market, Adjustability and Personalization Become Mainstream

  During the Spring Festival, the U.S. vape market welcomed several innovative products from brands like VOZOL, GEEKBAR, and SMOK. These new products not only feature technological advancements but also innovations in user experience and design, highlighting the trend of personalization and intelligence. The U.S. market continues to focus on "adjustable functionality" as a key product feature, with some mature product lines introducing new models, emphasizing personalization. Read more

United Kingdom

• UK Police Seize £14,000 Worth of Illegal Tobacco and Vapes in Joint Operation

  Rossendale police, in a joint operation with local trading standards, seized approximately £14,000 worth of illegal tobacco, cigarettes, and vape products. The operation involved raids on several local shops, with large quantities of illegal products found in two of them. The illegal products have been confiscated, and trading standards will take further enforcement action against the shops. The police will continue to collaborate with trading standards and other relevant departments to strengthen the crackdown on illegal tobacco and vape products. Read more

• UK Sees Surge in Seizures of Illegal Nicotine Pouches, Government to Invest £30 Million in Enforcement

  Large quantities of illegal high-concentration nicotine pouches have been seized across the UK, with some products containing up to 150mg of nicotine. The government plans to invest £30 million in enforcement to prevent the promotion of nicotine products to children. Read more

• ELFBAR Offers Free Signage to London Stores, Plans UK-Wide Rollout

  ELFBAR is promoting free new signage in the UK and plans to roll it out nationwide in 2025. However, new tobacco legislation may render the new signage plan illegal. Read more

• Scottish Government Launches Tobacco Registration System, to Cover 15,000 Retailers Next Month

  Scotland plans to adopt the ePass system to manage tobacco and vape retailer registration, initially covering 10,000 tobacco and vape retailers, with plans to increase to 15,000 next month. Read more

• Dual Flavors, Modularity, Intelligence... Highlights of New Vape Products in the UK Market

  During the Spring Festival, the UK vape market welcomed several innovative products from brands like IVG and LOST MARY. These new products continue to adopt the "2+10" design, with dual-flavor vapes remaining popular. Read more

• UK Wholesalers Stop Selling Disposable Vapes Early, Retailers Rush to Stock Up

  The UK's disposable vape ban will take effect on June 1, with major wholesalers like Nisa, Booker, Spar, and Parfetts setting early cut-off dates to ensure retailers comply before the ban. Read more

Russia

• Russian President Putin Signs New Law: Selling Vapes to Minors Could Result in Fines Up to $20,000

  Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new law increasing penalties for selling tobacco, vapes, and hookahs to minors. Under the new regulations, individuals selling tobacco, nicotine-containing products, and devices to minors will face fines of 20,000 to 30,000 rubles ($2,000 to $3,000), officials will be fined 50,000 to 70,000 rubles ($5,000 to $7,000), and legal entities will face fines of 1.5 to 2 million rubles ($15,000 to $20,000). Read more

• Russian Police Seize $360,000 Worth of Illegal Vapes, Merchant Faces Up to 6 Years in Prison

  Russian police in Volgograd seized a batch of illegal vapes and pods worth 36 million rubles (approximately $360,000). According to the investigation, a merchant purchased untaxed products from other regions and transported them to Volgograd via courier, storing them in a warehouse before selling them through physical stores and wholesale channels. Over 46,000 related products were seized. The merchant has been charged with large-scale illegal sales of marked goods and faces up to six years in prison if convicted. Read more

• Russian Police Seize 3,814 Illegal Vapes Worth Over $46,000

  Russian police raided vape sales points, seizing 3,814 unmarked vape products worth over 4.5 million rubles (approximately $46,000). Read more

Philippines

• Philippines Customs Destroys Nearly 160,000 Smuggled Vapes Worth Approximately $580,000

  The Philippines Bureau of Customs (BOC) destroyed over 34 million pesos (approximately $580,000) worth of smuggled vape products. A total of 159,830 vape products were destroyed in Cavite. These smuggled goods violated the Philippines' "Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act" and the "Customs Modernization and Tariff Act." Read more

• Philippines House of Representatives Passes Two Tobacco Bills: Increases Vape Product Tax Rates, Establishes Tracking System

  On Monday evening (February 3), the House of Representatives passed Bill No. 11360 with 190 votes in favor and 4 against. According to the bill, starting January 1, 2026, the excise tax rate will increase by 2% every even year, and from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2035, it will increase by 4% every odd year. Heated tobacco products will be taxed at 41 pesos ($0.7) per pack, while cigarettes and vape products will be taxed at 66.15 pesos ($1) per pack. The Department of Finance (DOF) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will set thresholds to prevent early stockpiling. The bill also grants the President the authority to increase tax rates by up to 5% if the national fiscal deficit exceeds the target by 2%. The tax rates and their impact on government revenue, health costs, and smoking rates will be reviewed after ten years of implementation. Additionally, the House passed Bill No. 11286 with 177 votes in favor and 4 against, which requires the establishment of a tobacco product tracking system to strengthen excise tax enforcement. The measure mandates that all tobacco products be affixed with a unique digital security mark and requires tobacco manufacturing equipment to be registered within 30 days of acquisition or disposal. Read more

• Philippines Bureau of Internal Revenue: Will Continue to Strengthen Crackdown on Illegal Vapes in 2025

  BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. announced that the BIR will continue to strengthen its crackdown on illegal vapes and cigarettes in 2025. Read more

South Korea

• JTI Expands Sales of HTP Device "Ploom X Advanced" to South Korean E-commerce Platforms

  JTI Korea announced on February 3 that its heated tobacco device "Ploom X Advanced" will be available on Coupang and Naver's third-party e-commerce platforms. A JTI Korea representative stated that the expansion of sales channels aims to "allow more consumers to experience the modern pleasure of Ploom X Advanced through various platforms." They plan to launch new devices and accessories in February. Read more

• South Korea to Mandate Public Disclosure of Harmful Tobacco Ingredients Starting November, Vapes and HTPs Included

  On February 6, the South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced the draft enforcement decree and implementation rules for the "Tobacco Harm Management Act," which requires harmful ingredient testing within one month of tobacco products being launched. Tobacco manufacturers and importers/sellers need to test the harmful ingredient content of their products every two years and submit the results to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for public disclosure nationwide. Vape oils and heated tobacco devices are also included in the inspection scope. According to the newly formulated enforcement decree and detailed rules, tobacco manufacturers and importers/sellers need to conduct harmful ingredient tests on existing products within three months from the date of implementation of the law and apply for re - testing before June every two years thereafter.Read more

• South Korea Legislates to Regulate Synthetic Nicotine E-cigarettes, Losing Approximately $24.56 Billion in Tax Revenue Over Four Years

  The National Assembly Research Service recently released a report recommending that synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes be included in the tobacco tax scope. Due to loopholes in current laws, synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes are not classified as tobacco products, resulting in no tobacco tax being levied and no regulation under tobacco laws. Over the past four years, South Korea has lost approximately 33.895 trillion won (about $24.56 billion) in tax revenue. Read more

Malaysia

Malaysian Health Minister: If Necessary, the Ministry Will Reconsider a Complete Ban on E-cigarettes

The Malaysian Health Minister stated that if the situation requires, the possibility of a complete ban on e-cigarettes will be reconsidered. Currently, the focus is on regulating e-cigarette use, and a ban will be implemented if necessary. Read more

Malaysian Government Delays Ban, Urges Parents to Educate Children About E-cigarettes

On Tuesday, Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh stated in Parliament that preventing children from accessing e-cigarettes is a family responsibility. He called for cooperation from everyone, including parents and the public, to help the Ministry of Health raise awareness about the risks and harms of e-cigarettes to children. However, the government remains divided on the issue of an e-cigarette ban. Read more

Malaysian Vape Chamber of Commerce: Strengthen Enforcement of New Tobacco Control Law, Oppose Complete Ban

The Malaysian Vape Chamber of Commerce has called on the Ministry of Health to strengthen the enforcement of the new tobacco control bill and oppose a complete ban, emphasizing that a ban would be ineffective and could lead to a black market. The bill is being implemented in phases, and all parties need time to adapt. Read more

Germany

German Customs Seizes 210,000 Illegal E-cigarettes, Tax Losses Reach €1.4 Million

German customs in Frankfurt seized a large number of illegal cigarettes and e-cigarettes in Hesse and Saarland. According to customs, 47 Euro pallets filled with unauthorized e-cigarettes were confiscated in a warehouse in Saarlouis. The shipment included 210,000 e-cigarettes intended for consumers in Germany and other EU member states. The estimated tax loss from this case is approximately €1.4 million. Additionally, investigators seized over 1.6 million illegal cigarettes, water tobacco, and cash in Hesse in early January. The cigarette products are believed to be untaxed and possibly counterfeit, and the individuals involved have been arrested. German law stipulates that each e-cigarette cartridge must not exceed 2 ml. Customs stated, "The seized e-cigarettes far exceed the allowed fill volume and are not taxed according to the law." Read more

World Vapers' Alliance Calls on Germany to Change Policy and Promote E-cigarettes as Alternatives

The World Vapers' Alliance (WVA) has called on the German government to change its tobacco policy to address the high smoking rate. The WVA pointed out that Germany's smoking rate is nearly 30%, much higher than Sweden's 5%. The alliance recommends recognizing the potential of low-harm alternatives like e-cigarettes, learning from the UK's "swap to stop" program, and implementing scientific conclusions. Read more

Ireland

Undercover Investigation: Illegal Issues in Ireland's E-cigarette Market, Several Well-known Brands Involved

A recent undercover investigation revealed that the illegal sale of disposable e-cigarettes is widespread in shops across Dublin, involving several key aspects: 1. Illegal sales are common; 2. Products have various violations; 3. Some brands sell high-puff products; 4. Severe lack of health warnings; 5. Retailers sell expired products; 6. Retailers respond chaotically; 7. Law enforcement and regulation are questioned. Read more

Australia

Australian Northern Territory Police Seize Large Quantity of Illegal E-cigarettes, Worth Approximately $80,000

Northern Territory police in Palmerston seized a large quantity of illegal items, including cannabis and 2,335 nicotine e-cigarettes, worth approximately AUD 140,000. A 21-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman have been issued court appearance notices. Read more

Pakistan

First Pakistan Vape Expo 2025 to be Held in Lahore from February 7 to 9

Bulgaria

Bulgarian Political Party Proposes Complete Ban on E-cigarettes, Could Take Effect as Early as Next Week

The Bulgarian political party GERB is pushing for a legislative change to completely ban e-cigarettes, including import, trade, and distribution through physical and online channels, whether disposable or reusable, and regardless of nicotine content. Read more

Poland

Polish Government Plans to Double Tax on E-cigarettes, Which May Force Smokers Back to Traditional Cigarettes

A new tax law in Poland has sparked controversy in the e-cigarette market, potentially leading to a rise in the gray market. The industry fears that the tax increase will raise prices and encourage illegal products. Read more

France

French National Assembly Passes Ban on Disposable E-cigarettes: Violators Face Fines of Up to €200,000

The French National Assembly unanimously passed a bill on the 4th (Tuesday) to completely ban disposable e-cigarettes, prohibiting the sale, distribution, and free provision of these products. Violators will face fines of up to €100,000, with severe cases incurring fines of up to €200,000. The bill now needs to be submitted to the Senate for review. Read more

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Seizes 15,000 Illegal E-cigarettes and E-liquids, Involving Multiple Brands

According to the press service of the State Revenue Committee (SRC) of the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan, the Aktobe Regional Customs Department (DGD) and the Border Service of the National Security Committee (KNB RK) conducted a joint operation, intercepting two cargo vehicles. Upon inspection, 13,420 e-cigarettes, 2,080 e-liquid cartridges, and 15,050 smokeless tobacco products (SNUS) were seized. The seized products are suspected to bear brand logos such as "OXBAR" and "LYFT." Read more

Ukraine

Ukrainian Customs Officials Charged in E-cigarette Smuggling Case, Total Losses Reach $1 Million

The Chernivtsi Regional Prosecutor's Office has submitted an indictment to the court, charging customs and border officials with assisting in the smuggling of e-cigarettes, resulting in a loss of approximately $1 million in tax revenue. The investigation revealed that the officials deliberately ignored transportation vehicles, allowing 170,000 e-cigarettes to enter the country illegally. Read more

Spain

Spain Implements New E-cigarette Tax Policy, Up to €0.20 per Milliliter of E-liquid

Starting April 1, 2025, Spain will impose a new tax on e-cigarette liquids. The new tax standard: for e-liquids with less than 15 mg of nicotine per milliliter, the tax is €0.15 per milliliter; for higher nicotine content, the tax is €0.20 per milliliter. Additionally, the sale of e-liquids must be reported monthly by manufacturers, storage companies, distributors, and importers, including companies that purchase e-liquids within the EU and sell them in Spain. The tax authority will also tax increasingly popular nicotine pouches, with a tax of €0.10 per gram of nicotine pouch. Read more