The open-system vaping system manufacturer Vaporesso announced that it has been registered as an authorized e-cigarette brand by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The move makes the subsidiary of Smoore International, the world’s largest vaping manufacturer, the first open-system vaping device brand to obtain the ability to market and sell its e-cigarettes in the UAE.
“We are thrilled by the MoIAT’s decision to grant our flagship products the marketing and sales authorization, this has boosted our confidence in obtaining the approval for other seven premium products, including Luxe X and GEN PT SERIES, that are in the process of application,” said a spokeperson for Vaporesso’s Middle East team.
The UAE has enforced laws that aim to regulate all nicotine-containing components used in e-cigarettes, refill packages, e-liquids, and tobacco products sold in the country.
The regulations demand that the manufacturers and companies of vaping devices must meet Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA) standards, which set out strict quality and safety requirements for e-cigarettes and related products, before placing them on the market.
“The initial approval by the MoIAT, which allows the company to establish legal sales channels, both online and offline, for Vaporesso’s Xros Nano, Xros Mini, Xros 2, and ZERO S across the UAE, is the testimony to the company’s commitment to offering market-leading vaping products with unmatched quality and functionality, allowing the global vapers to enjoy the fun and flavors unique in Vaporesso’s products,” a press release states. “The market authorization also marks a significant step forward in its effort to further expand its presence in the Middle East.”
Disposables took center stage during the second annual vapor trade show in the Middle East.
VV Staff Report
It was a big show. Held June 16–18, 2022, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the World Vape Show (WVS) Dubai 2022 brought together more than 250 exhibitors representing some of the leading suppliers and manufacturers in the vaping industry, showcasing thousands of global brands in the fast-growing Middle East market. Combined, exhibitors and visitors represented approximately 66 countries, according to WVS staff.
Numerous exhibitors said that sales exceeded expectations. Dimitrius Agrafiotis, executive director of the Tennessee Smoke Free Association and the owner of several vape shops in Greece, was at the show representing Innokin, a China-based hardware manufacturer. He told Vapor Voice that the Innokin show stand seemed to stay full of prospective buyers and that new products, like the company’s disposable Lola, a water-based vaping product (see “Trouble the Water,” page 24), were selling very well. The company’s Klypse system also won an award for the best new pod system.
“We haven’t had much time to stand around,” he said. “The Aquios system vapes are doing well and our new Klypse system is really turning heads. [The show] is definitely a lot bigger than last year in both terms of exhibitors and visitors.”
Phil Bruno, international sales manager for California-based Streamline Group, the manufacturer of the Juice Head brand, agreed that the show was a major success. “We are so thrilled to have exhibited at the World Vape Show in Dubai. The experience was outstanding, and we were able to connect with many potential customers,” said Bruno in an email. “It was an absolute pleasure meeting everyone and representing Juice Head in Dubai. We look forward to future events in the Middle East and other countries as well.”
By far the most popular products being hawked by vendors at WVS Dubai were disposables. During a seminar session on the impact of disposable products, Omar Fdawi, owner of Xtra Disposable Vape, said that disposals are great for a customer who’s looking to quit smoking because the transition from smoking is comparatively easy. However, he also noted that the long-term effects of disposables and their environmental impact should be considered.
“As a gateway, in order to quit smoking, it’s a fantastic method,” he said. Disposables have a shallower learning curve than larger, more complex devices. In an ideal situation, however, consumers would then quickly move on to nondisposable devices, such as closed pod systems, with a lower environmental footprint, according to Fdawi.
Todd Jiang, sales director for international business at Zinwi Biotech, a China-based e-liquid manufacturer, said the WVS Dubai brought a variety of visitors, and many were searching only for disposable products. He expects regulators to put into place rules for disposable products soon.
“For instance, the U.K.; I guess the regulators already put this through and they want to establish some new rules or standard regulations for disposable products,” he explained. “It will happen in maybe one or two years, even quicker. But [in Dubai], I think it depends on how this market will grow and how the regulators will step into this industry. The environmental impact of disposables is a serious concern.”
Coco Li, founder of Elf Bar, one of the largest disposable product manufacturers, said that her company, too, is really concerned about the environmental issues surrounding disposables. “We’re going to have a recycle plan in the U.K. maybe from the beginning of July,” she said. “We are going to have this marketing campaign in the U.K. and also in Russia, Malaysia [and other countries] where we will have recycling bins. There is another way too. We can find results from technical ways. Our research team and the technical team are doing a lot of research into finding different ways to solve this problem.”
In addition to worrying about the environmental impact of disposable products, many show attendees said they were concerned about the growing youth use of disposable products. Atif Amin, marketing manager for the My Vapery chain of vape shops, said his company has been training and educating its staff on the strict rules designed to prevent underage vaping.
“If you suspect that the individual that’s coming to purchase is underage, ensure that you check the required identification,” he said. “Beyond that, as a retailer, it’s pretty much as much [as] we can do. If someone else is purchasing the product on behalf of a minor … that’s out of our hands. We do our due diligence and do our best and train our staff to ensure that they’re following all the regulations. And if they’re seen not to be following the regulations, we obviously have to monitor that and deal with that situation accordingly.”
In the end, most manufacturers at WVS Dubai said it all comes down to the design of the product itself. John Dunne, director general of the U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) who moderated the disposables seminar, said that using technology like biometrics could help curb youth use, and technology could also help find a solution to the environmental impact of disposables.
Dunne stressed the importance of involving all manufacturers in the discussion on how to dispose of products. The UKVIA, he said, had been talking to Elf Bar and other manufacturers about the possibility of dismantling products at the end of their lifecycle and shipping them back to China for reuse in new vaping products.
“We need to be looking at all of these different options and how we can, as an industry, work together to do it,” said Dunne. “Because it can’t be done by a single retailer. It can’t be done by a single brand on their own. Because even if you have a national recycling program, who’s going to pay for that? Is it the government? Probably not. If it’s the manufacturers? Well, how do you proportion that? Some manufacturers are very big. Some manufacturers are very small. These are all of the challenges that we’ve faced in the U.K. when we’ve looked at the problem. And I’m sure the UAE is no different. But I think what’s important is [that] we have to start talking about it. Because if we don’t, the regulators certainly will.”
The next WVS event will be held in the U.K. at the ExCeL exhibition center in London from Dec. 1–2, 2022.
This article first appeared in Vapor Voice 3, 2022.
Fire chiefs in the United Arab Emirates have warned drivers that leaving e-cigarettes and vaping devices in a vehicle could lead to a fire as temperatures rise during the summer. It was over 103 degrees Fahrenheit in Dubai on June 15.
Electronic nicotine-delivery systems (ENDS) devices and other battery-powered gadgets can be extremely susceptible to heat, causing them to melt and catch fire, the chiefs stated.
In the first three months of this year, Dubai’s emergency services responded to 94 reports of blazes involving cars, buses and trucks for several factors including electronic devices overheating. Everyday household items such as lighters, batteries, power banks, e-scooters, electric cigarettes, perfume bottles and gas cans can start fires if left in cars during extreme heat.
Lithium-ion batteries can catch fire as they are extremely sensitive to high temperatures and are found in many common devices such as e-cigarettes, mobile phones, e-scooters and power banks.
“Authorities warn against keeping all objects that have the ability to ignite such as the items mentioned,” Thomas Edelman, managing director of Road Safety UAE, told The National.
“This is the reason why airlines are very cautious about these items. Imagine how much warmer batteries can get when left inside cars during the hotter weather. They can react and potentially explode which poses great danger,” said Edelman. “When temperatures rise, gases can form more easily and a spark can basically ignite those gases and lead to a fire.”
Vaping e-cigarettes is prohibited inside offices and closed spaces across the UAE, the health ministry has confirmed. The use of e-cigarettes are now subject to the federal law on tobacco control in the country.
This came as the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) highlighted the dangers of consuming tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, according to Khaleej Times.
According to the UAE government website, the federal law also forbids and penalizes:
The sale of tobacco products to those under 18
Smoking in private cars when a child under the age of 12 is present
Smoking in houses of worship, educational institutions (such as universities and schools), health and sports facilities
Automatic vending equipment and devices for tobacco distribution inside the country
Tobacco advertisement
The MoHAP said it has collaborated with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) to block websites that advertise and promote electronic nicotine-delivery systems (ENDS).
The UAE had originally planned to ban vaping products because UAE-based doctors had said that e-cigarettes would create a whole new generation of smokers. However, the country changed course after advocacy groups pushed for the harm reduction products.
Meanwhile, citing the National Health Survey, the ministry said the prevalence of adult tobacco smoking has declined from 11.1 per cent in 2010 to 9.1 per cent in 2018.
The latest edition of the Tobacco Atlas suggests that the UAE has among the lowest cigarette consumption rates. A graphic shared as part of the report shows that an adult smoker consumes 438 cigarettes a year in the country.
A leading vapor retailer in the United Arab Emirate’s (UAE) says the industry must do more to support official government efforts aimed at blocking trade in counterfeit and unregulated e-cigarettes and preventing sales to minors. The sale of e-cigarettes, vaping devices and e-liquids has been legal in the UAE since April 2019 under mandatory regulations laid down by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA).
But one of the UAE’s most prominent vape retailers, My Vapery, says dealers should work together to support official efforts aimed at preventing potential health threats, and keep e-cigarettes out of the hands of under-21-year olds. The company wants to work with the organizers of the first World Vape Show taking place in Dubai in September to help the industry self-regulate, and spotlight vaping as a less harmful alternative to tobacco smoking, leading to improved public health.
Atif Amin, marketing manager, My Vapery
“As retailers, we must all place a bigger emphasis on supporting ESMA and the Police in their efforts to stop the random circulation of counterfeit and unregulated vaping products which can pose health threats,” said the company’s marketing manager, Atif Amin. “It’s vital that we work together closely to prevent e-cigarettes from being sold to underage consumers. The arrival of a new industry platform in Dubai gives us a perfect chance to educate the industry on the standards needed to provide greater consumer protection.”
Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 19-21 September, the World Vape Show connects manufacturers, retailers, public health professionals and vape enthusiasts from around the world. The combined exhibition and conference will showcase new vaping technology and the range of regulated products now meeting the demand for safer alternatives to traditional cigarettes.
“It’s encouraging to see a leading retailer taking the initiative to set standards for the industry in this way, and create a key area for discussion at the event,” said Jake Nixon, event manager, World Vape Show, Quartz Business Media. “The show is an important platform allowing the industry to analyze itself and the major issues it faces, and to educate manufacturers, retailers and vapers on the importance of safety and the need for strong regulations, and more research, to protect consumers.”
Electronic cigarettes cannot be sold in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) unless they bear the digital tax stamp (DTS) beginning January 1, according to the Federal Tax Authority (FTA).
Credit: Jan Vasek
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) products cannot be sold, transported, stored or possessed without the tax stamp. The DTS system helps the FTA “improve its ability to collect excise tax charged” on such products on being imported or manufactured locally. It also enables “stakeholders to analyse the supply chain to better control illicit tobacco products,” according to a story in the Khaleej Times.
In addition, the DTS system allows for the implementation of compliance standards. The FTA explained that the DTS system “facilitates inspection and control at customs outlets and local markets”.
The digital stamps will be placed on the packages of vapor, shisha and other tobacco products and registered in the FTA database. The DTS contains data that can be read with a special device to make sure all taxes due have been paid.
“When orders are made for these stamps, they are sent to factories to be placed individually. This will ensure each package is tracked to the port of entry of each country, with the supplier submitting the permit form and the fees for the digital stamps … This will ensure all digital stamps are registered and tracked through a central database,” the FTA said.
Vape Stop is set to launch its e-commerce store and distribution arm in UAE this year. All products sold on the Vape Stop store are approved by Emirates Authority For Standardization & Metrology (ESMA), the UAE government body that governs and approves a variety of products including electronic nicotine products for import and sale in the country.
Anant Jangwal / Credit: Vape Stop
ESMA has put in place a comprehensive procedure for approvals for electronic nicotine products since April 2019, which fosters quality and tested products are brought in the UAE market. With Dubai as its hub, the company plans to cater to the audience in Middle East, Europe and Africa.
Vape Stop will showcase international vape brands from US, Canada, UK and Malaysia in UAE, along with offering a premium buying experience including superior packaging, customer service, post-delivery care etc.
The selection process for these top-quality devices and flavours is rigorous wherein multiple focus groups are conducted to analyse which e-liquids and devices best fit the profile of UAE’s adult smokers. Vape Stop has also curated special combos for novice adult vapers such as ‘Savvy Collector’ and ‘Progressive Adopter’, that come with a pre-set combination of a vape device and e liquids.
“As per studies, over 64 million people will switch to vaping devices instead of smoking traditional cigarettes over the next few years, and we believe that Dubai is set to provide a global platform for an industry expected to be worth $53.4 billion by 2024,” said Vape Stop founder Anant Jangwal, We will also be showcasing some of the latest innovations during ‘The World Vape Expo’ in Dubai which is slated to go online for this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. We hope to replace combustible cigarettes with electronic nicotine delivery systems for a smoke free future by 2030, by catering to adult smokers who would otherwise continue smoking traditional cigarettes.”
Thirty-nine percent of smokers cut down on smoking during the Covid-19 ‘StayHome’ period and 83 percent of the people put on face masks and gloves when going out, a poll has revealed.
The survey was carried out by the Health Promotion Department (HPD) at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs Sharjah, in cooperation with the University of Sharjah. It aimed at investigating the impact of lockdown on dietary behaviour, lifestyle and health practices.
Enhanced awareness
The findings reflected people’s enhanced awareness during the pandemic, thanks to the precautionary and preventive measures adopted by the UAE government. The preliminary results showed that 98 percent of those surveyed believed that home isolation was a good way to protect their families and stop the spread of infectious disease outbreaks.
The poll found that 79 percent of respondents were keen to sterilise the purchased food items and 84 percent of those who have children at home encouraged them to carry out physical activity.
Lifestyle, dietary changes
Among the 2,060 participants who were surveyed, 66.7 percent were obese or overweight, 56.6 percent engaged in physical activity before home isolation and out of them, 30 percent reduced their activity after the lockdown. The percentage of people sleeping over seven hours increased from 63 to 70 percent since the lockdown, the survey disclosed.
As far as eating habits were concerned, 29.4 percent reported weight increase while 32 percent of the people increased their food intake during the Covid-19 ‘StayHome’ period. Besides, 62 percent increased their citrus intake and 50.2 percent their water consumption. Around 38.4 per cent started taking herbal teas, and 94 percent contended that extra intake of vitamins and minerals could strengthen the body against Covid-19, the study revealed.
It also demonstrated that 67.2 percent felt more stressed during the home isolation amid the lockdown, 42 percent of the respondents felt more irritated and angry than before, even as the majority believed that after lockdown, their lifestyle will improve.
Supporting national efforts
Iman Rashid Saif, HPD Director, said: “This study aims primarily to support the national efforts to fight Covid-19 pandemic by gauging the community awareness and developing solutions and recommendations to enhance people’s health awareness and the behaviours they have to adopt during the crisis.”
“It also aims to investigate to what extent the people are committed to healthy lifestyle, such as physical activity and diet, so that further steps could be taken in the future to improve their quality of life.”
Dr. Hadia Radwan, assistant professor, University of Sharjah, College of Health Sciences, pointed out: “The comprehensiveness of the data collected, as well as the timing of the study, clearly reflect the lifestyle practices of people during the pandemic which will have key implications on the health of community members.”
She added that adjusting lifestyles and dietary habits would help boost immunity system to combat viruses. “The findings of this study will be compared with the global data of nutrition and health to be used as a base for indepth future studies,” she said.
The UAE’s Federal Tax Authority (FTA) has announced the postponement of the implementation of the ban on supplying, transferring, storing, and possessing electronic cigarettes without digital tax stamps until to January 1, 2021.
The ban was previously scheduled to come into effect from June 1, 2020, in line with phase two of the ‘Marking Tobacco and Tobacco Products Scheme’, the FTA said in a statement on Tuesday, according to the official news agency WAM. The ban also includes water pipe tobacco.
“This extension on the timeline provides them with seven additional months to prepare for the mandatory implementation of the ban,” said FTA director-general Khaled Ali Al Bustani, according to a story in gulfbusiness.com.
“It also comes in response to the concerns expressed by stakeholders in the tobacco sector, and their requests for such an extension that would allow them to sort out any issues resulting from the current difficult circumstances and the necessary precautionary measures that were enforced to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The decision provides them enough time to sell off any remaining tobacco products that do not carry the digital tax stamps.”
As part of the Covid-19 pandemic, restaurants and cafes across the country were temporarily closed and hence there is an existing stockpile of water pipe tobacco and electrically heated cigarettes in the UAE.
“The FTA has consulted all relevant business sectors, as well as the operator of the Scheme’s electronic system, and reassured all stakeholders that it fully understands the difficulties brought on by the current crisis, asserting its commitment to minimising the impact of the ban on businesses, and encouraging them to comply with tax procedures and legislation,” added Al Bustani.
The UAE banned the import of electric cigarettes and water pipe tobacco without ‘digital tax stamps’ from March 1.
