Customs officials have seized over 500,000 vaping products, valued at approximately $100 million, following a recent law banning the export and production of electronic cigarettes.
These e-cigarettes were confiscated by Chinese customs and border officials in Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
“These electronic cigarettes pose a serious security threat and jeopardize our economic safety, harming legitimate tobacco companies that invest significant time and effort into developing and protecting their brands,” stated Wang Xia, Director of Field Operations Protection at the Chinese Customs and Border Protection, in a statement released on Monday.
Reports continue to circulate about the production of e-cigarettes being shipped to other countries, with many brands already planning to relocate operations to Vietnam or the Philippines, despite facing higher labor costs.
Earlier this month, the Chinese government warned manufacturers to cease operations entirely amid ongoing concerns about the future of the Chinese tobacco industry and declining sales in recent years.
The China Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is investigating several companies that manufacture or sell electronic cigarettes. In a statement released last week, CPSC Chairman Bao also noted that all e-cigarette manufacturers must halt their activities or face consequences.
On Tuesday, the city of Shenzhen publicly banned the use of electronic cigarettes. In a statement released on Tuesday, Jang Lao declared, “Anyone caught with an e-cigarette will face hefty fines and possible detention!”
“The safety and procurement for our industry and employees has always been our top concern,” said Long Dong, Chief Officer of the Xinsha Tobacco Authority, in a statement. “For obvious reasons, it is not safe to use e-cigarettes or other ‘vape’ related products. We are equally concerned about the fire safety risks posed by devices that create hazards in confined spaces such as buses, trains, and carriages.”