Tag: China

Smoore Opens Full-Scale PMTA Testing Lab in China

Credit: Timothy S. Donahue
Smoore has opened China’s first non-clinical full-scale testing laboratory for U.S. premarket tobacco product applications (PMTA).
Operated by Smoore’s Analysis, Testing and Safety Assessment Center, the laboratory provides all non-clinical evidence required to bring a new nicotine product to market, including material safety, hazardous components and potentially hazardous components (HPHC’s), and toxicology testing.
This is the first PMTA testing laboratory to open in China, and will allow Smoore to further improve the safety of its products, and help the brands they work with to successfully pass PMTA certification.
Prior to Smoore opening its new laboratory, vaping companies wanting to enter the U.S. would need to use third-party partners to complete their PMTA testing, which can be a costly and time-consuming process. With the new China facility, Smoore’s brand partners can more easily complete their PMTA certification and improve their accessibility to the US market.
“The FDA is very concerned about HPHCs and has set out a list of 33 substances which must be tested for,” said Dr Long, the director of Smoore’s new Safety Assessment Center, in a statement. “Our new laboratory can do all this and more, and has the capacity to test for 37 substances; we are the only facility in China whose testing capabilities covers the full range of HPHCs substances.”
According to Smoore, the laboratory tests against a world-leading new database of HPHCs, developed by Smoore and derived from international toxicity databases including those maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Advanced computational toxicology software is also used to predict for unknown and potentially hazardous ingredients not included in these databases, further increasing Smoore’s safety assessments.
Since establishing its first research institute in 2017, Smoore has continued to lead the industry in evidence-based research. Its Safety Assessment Center has raised safety standards to medical grade, and works to constantly review product safety.
A total of eight products have been approved for marketing by the FDA, many of which are manufactured by Smoore.
July 26, 2022
China Authorities Give Production License to RELX

Credit: RLX Technology
RELX Technology has joined a small but growing number of vaping product manufacturers that have received a manufacturing license from China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA).
On Nov. 26, 2021, China’s State Council amended the country’s tobacco monopoly law to include vapor products, giving the STMA authority to regulate the sector.
The STMA license, which is valid until July 31, 2023, allows RLX Technology to manufacture 15.05 million rechargeable vaping devices, 328.7 million cartridges and 6.1 million disposable e-cigarettes per year.
Since the first quarter of 2022, Chinese authorities have issued a series of implementing rules and guiding opinions to strengthen oversight of e-cigarette products and regulate the e-cigarette industry. These rules and opinions set forth that all e-cigarette manufacturing enterprises must obtain a license from the STMA.
“This license represents an important milestone in our strategic roadmap as we strive to comply with the new regulatory requirements in a timely manner,” said Ying (Kate) Wang, co-founder, chairperson of the board of directors and CEO of RLX Technology, in a statement.
“We believe that we are well-positioned to achieve compliance in our operations according to schedule. To adapt to the new market dynamics and ensure business development, we will, and will urge our business partners to, continue making efforts to comply with all applicable regulatory requirements, including, but not limited to, obtaining requisite licenses and regulatory approvals, developing products that meet the mandatory national standards, and processing all transactions via the National E-cigarette Transaction Platform when it is implemented.
“We will remain committed to providing high-quality products that deliver superior performance and safety in strict compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, while exploring new growth opportunities in the industry.”
July 25, 2022
Smoore to Begin Research in Nicotine Addiction

Photo: Smoore
Smoore, the world’s largest vapor product manufacturer, today announced it has launched the first real-time monitoring research project on nicotine addiction.
In partnership with the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Smoore’s new research project aims to explore how best to minimize the nicotine strength in vaping products and ultimately to bring it to below the levels that cause addiction.
The research will look at the secretion and metabolism of dopamine in animal brains, and will use this data to simulate the human brain when ingesting nicotine. As part of the project, the Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory will conduct controlled trials by exposing subjects to the aerosol environments created by the atomization of Smoore’s Feelm vaping device and the aerosol environment created by combustible tobacco.
In addition providing a better understanding of nicotine absorption through different organs, the research will aid Smoore in improving the design of vape devices, including through changes to heating elements and atomizers, to enhance the vaping experience through increased efficiency of delivery.
“The atomization process between an e-cigarette and a combustible cigarette is very different, hence the physical and chemical properties derived from atomization and tobacco combustion also varies distinctively,” said Xiong Yuming, deputy dean of Smoore Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institute, in a statement.
“Focusing on the underlying mechanism of atomization and tobacco combustion, our research aims to explore nicotine delivery and absorption, so as to reduce the health impacts of these products.”
Supported by Southwest University in Chongqing, the researchers expected to release a stage report in the second half of 2022.
July 6, 2022
Innokin’s Klypse Device Wins Several Vaping Awards

Innokin Klypse
Innokin is finding success with its new Klypse pod vaping device. The refillable pod system has won three awards across three major international events.
China-based Innokin’s Klypse device started with winning “Best Pod” at Vapexpo Spain. The Innokin Klypse stood out for its “exceptional vaping performance and build quality,” according to a release. At the World Vape Show Dubai, the Klypse won “Best Pod” with “performance, reliability and [an] affordable price point” being highlighted as reasons for the honor. Most recently, the Innokin Klypse was awarded “Best Pod Vape” by Vaping Post.
It is rare for one device to several awards in the vape show circuit. Thousands of new products are released each year, and only a select few are recognized by industry experts with coveted international awards. The pod system category continues to be the most competitive in vaping hardware, as manufacturers are keen to provide new vapers with the best entry-level devices possible.
“It is a privilege to be recognised by fellow industry veterans, especially as we focus on transitioning smokers with simple, affordable devices,” said George Xia, co-founder of Innokin. “We have been greatly encouraged by the consumer reaction to our new releases and look forward to gathering more feedback in the remainder of the exhibition season.”
Look for a third-review of Innokin’s Klypse in Issue 4 2022 of Vapor Voice (August, 2022).
June 28, 2022
Zinwi Receives E-Liquid Production License

Zinwi Bio-Tech has secured a production license for electronic cigarettes (e-liquid category) in China, becoming one of the first manufacturers to do so under the country’s new regulatory framework.
In March, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration passed the Electronic Cigarette Administration Measures, which took effect May 1. Under the new rules, a production license issued by the STMA is a precondition for the incorporation of a company involved in the manufacture of vapor hardware, e-liquids or e-cigarette nicotine.
Companies applying for the license must supply documents showing financial and manufacturing fitness, among other evidence.
Zinwi Bio-Tech was established in 2016 and is headquartered in Shenzhen’s Guangming District. A high-tech enterprise integrating the R&D, production and sales of e-liquid, the company ships more than 2,000 tons of e-liquid and approximately 1.3 billion pods per year. Products are exported to Europe, America and Canada, the Middle East, Russia and other destinations.
In a press note, the company said its commitment to quality is demonstrated by numerous accreditations, including the ISO9001 quality system, national CNAS laboratory and GMP certifications.

June 23, 2022
FLOW to End Sales of Flavored Products in China

The Beijing-based e-cigarette brand FLOW announced that in compliance with the national policy on e-cigarettes, the company has decided to discontinue the production of its fruit and all non-tobacco flavored cartridges in the Chinese market beginning July 1, 2022, or after the stock of raw materials is consumed this month.
Beginning March of this year, the Measures for the Administration of Electronic Cigarettes and the mandatory national standards for Electronic Cigarettes have been issued in succession. It puts forward clear standards and requirements for operations to be compliant in their production, wholesale and retail of e-cigarettes, while also strengthening the protection of minors.
According to the Measures for the Administration of Electronic Cigarettes and other regulations and the instructions in the regulatory transition period, after October 1, all of the sales of e-cigarettes in China will be included in a unified trading management platform, according to Pan Daily. Store owners will only be able to buy through the unified platform while consumers will only be allowed to purchase electronic cigarettes from dealers who have the appropriate retail license.
According to the Blue Book of the E-Cigarette Industry in 2021 issued the by Electronic Cigarette Industry Committee, China Electronics, there are nearly 190,000 e-cigarette retail stores in China, including 138,000 authorized stores, 47,000 specialty stores, and 5,000-7,000 collection stores. Under the compliance requirements, the retail market will inevitably face some restructuring and several e-cigarette stores could close or transform their business operations.
Currently, fruit-flavored e-cigarettes account for more than 70% of sales in many retail outlets. The Electronic Cigarette Management Measures prohibits the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and the type that can be swapped for customized and atomized substances.
June 13, 2022
China: E-Cig Manufacturing Licensing Rules Explained

Photo: Taco Tuinstra
The law firm Kelller & Heckman has published an article summarizing the requirements for obtaining an e-cigarette manufacturing license in China.
The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) has now published a rule outlining the process for Chinese e-cigarette manufacturers to obtain the required manufacturer license. This rule applies not only to manufacturers producing e-cigarettes for the domestic Chinese market, but also to the manufacturing of e-cigarettes solely for export.
According to Keller & Heckman, manufacturers will have to prepare many materials for their license application. Among other information, they will have to provide proof of suitable funds, production and sales information, including the balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement and production and sales statistics.
E-liquid manufacturers will have to supply a license for operating dangerous chemicals and identify the sources of nicotine used in the past three years. Applicants for export must submit materials explaining the export business and the scale of export, including the customs declaration forms for the past three years
Remarkably, the rules require companies manufacturing exclusively for export to obtain trademark registration in China. Although Keller and Heckman considers it unlikely that the STMA intended to impose the Chinese trademark registration requirement on exporters, the law firm advises clients to seek clarification from the authorities.
June 7, 2022
Hong Kong Smoking Rate Drops to Single Digits

Photo: sezerozger
Hong Kong’s smoking rate dropped to 9.5 percent in 2021, for the first time hitting single-digits, reports The Standard, citing a survey by the city’s Census and Statistics Department. In 2019, 10.2 percent of Hong Kong’s population smoked.
The survey results showed that there were some 581,500 daily conventional cigarette smokers in 2021, accounting for 9.5 percent of all persons aged 15 and over in Hong Kong.
The survey also found daily conventional cigarette smokers consumed on average about 13 sticks of conventional cigarettes a day, the same as that in 2019.
Despite the drop in overall tobacco use, the number of people using e-cigarettes surged from 7,200 in 2019 to 17,500 last year.
The number of people using alternative smoking products is likely to decrease in the wake of Hong Kong’s ban on the import, manufacturing, sale and distribution of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco items, which took effect April 30.
Health secretary Sophia Chan Siu-chee said that Hong Kong aims to lower the smoking rate to 7.8 percent by 2025. To achieve this, the government is considering expanding statutory nonsmoking areas, reducing the overall attractiveness of tobacco products and preventing young people from developing smoking habits.
May 27, 2022
China Drafts Guidelines to Control E-Cigarette Production
Credit: Vege Fox
Draft rules to strictly control e-cigarette production were released by China‘s tobacco regulator on Monday, as the country continues to tighten its oversight of the industry.
The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration said it would “reasonably” control the scale of e-cigarette production capacity to prevent overcapacity, according to a Reuters report.
Foreign investment in the retail sector of the e-cigarette market would be banned, the regulator said, and it would review foreign investment in production, requiring e-cigarette firms that want to list in China or abroad to obtain pre-approval. It has long been expected that China would not allow outside competition into it local vaping market.
China has in recent months been tightening its scrutiny of e-cigarettes, and last year amended its tobacco monopoly law to include vaping products. Since then, it has ruled that e-cigarette and vaping companies may only sell their products through authorized channels, and barred vendors from selling e-cigarette flavors other than tobacco.
Earlier this month, China unveiled technical standards for e-cigarettes and vaping products.
China’s cigarette industry operates under a state-run monopoly directly controlled by the tobacco regulator, which dictates pricing and distribution for brands and generates tax income for the government.
April 25, 2022
Vaporesso Rebrands Itself During France’s Vapexpo Event
The vaping brand Vaporesso has kicked off its rebranding campaign with the reveal of its new logo. During the Vapexpo event in Lille, France, the China-based vaping device manufacturer’s new logo features the letter “V” at the forefront, encircled behind by the letter “O.”
The “O” symbolizes a vapor ring that opens up. Beyond the visual, the “O” also represents the joy, love and hope that the brand brings. The “V” symbolizes the passion that characterizes the vaping community. It is an ode to the vapers that Vaporesso has built and grown alongside,” according to a press release.
“’V’ and ‘O’ are the defining symbols for Vaporesso. On our journey to push the envelope, we hold onto a craftsman’s heart and ambition. With our in-house tech and expertise, we will grow along with our users, and exceed expectations and limitations,” says Thalia Cheng, CMO of Vaporesso.
The new logo comes as part of a shift in brand identity, which will be unveiled in the coming month. During the event, the powerhouse vaping brand also introduced its latest technology and products to vapers and distributors. Products included the 2021 launched iTank with its patented Turbo Airflow System, the GTi coil platform, and the GEN 200, 8S and FIT.
In order to enhance support and care for vapers, Vaporesso recently launched its first flagship store in Marseille, France, in December of 2021. The flagship store, positioned as an all-around brand experience provides users with 4S services (sales, spare parts, services, and surveys). In the future, VAPORESSO plans on continuing to expand its 4S stores to Paris and other major French cities.
During the launch event, Vaporesso also introduced the New After-service System to ensure a prompt 48-hour response to partners and customers.
April 12, 2022