Asia: Market and regulatory data analysis of the vaping sector

Vaping associations unite in new global alliance to tackle industry challenges

Written by Freddie Dawson | 15th September 2023

A new industry association, the Global Vape Alliance, brings together major international vaping bodies to globally unify industry responses to issues facing the vaping sector ...

NGOs could win case against Malaysian health ministry after nicotine delisting

Written by ECigIntelligence | 6th September 2023

Three non-governmental organisations filing a lawsuit against the Malaysian health ministry on the delisting of nicotine could win their case, local observers believe, and will have several alternatives to consider if their action fails ...

Israel aims to eradicate youth e-cig use with ‘dramatic measures’

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 24th August 2023

The Israeli Ministry of Health has published plans for tougher measures that would apply to all smoking and tobacco products, in advance of a public consultation aimed at amending the Tobacco Law ...

BAT records ‘resilient’ H1 performance, remains confident about Vuse Alto PMTA

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 28th July 2023

British American Tobacco’s vapour brand Vuse was the key driver of the company’s positive performance in the first half of the year, and it remains confident in its Vuse Alto pre-market tobacco product application submission...

New UK study finds an effective combo for quitting smoking using e-cigarettes

Written by Freddie Dawson | 21st July 2023

Flavour advice in combination with regular supportive text messages has been shown to be the most effective method for helping people remotely to quit smoking using vaping, a new study has found ...

What’s in a name? Another round begins in the fight for the right to be called Elf

Written by ECigIntelligence | 6th July 2023

In the latest twist in a bitter legal trademark battle between rival e-cigarette firms, the makers of Elf Bar disposable vapes are fighting the court order that prompted them to change the product’s name ...

Bangladesh budget proposes spike in taxes to get harm down and revenue up

Written by ECigIntelligence | 12th June 2023

The Bangladeshi government’s latest annual budget proposal lists a substantial rise in the taxation of nicotine products, including a certain category of cigarettes, e-cigarette devices and even cigarette paper ...

A very rare tragedy – how vaping could have contributed to a teenager’s death

Written by ECigIntelligence | 30th May 2023

The possible role of e-cigarettes in cases of collapsed lungs has been under greater scrutiny following reports blaming the death of an Israeli teenager on vaping ...

Man on a mission to counter ‘nicotine illiteracy’ and aid smokers everywhere

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 19th May 2023

Taking nicotine out of a tobacco context and inspiring confidence in the role it can play in harm reduction is the goal of Sudhanshu Patwardhan, medical director at the UK Centre for Health Research and...

Big Tobacco accused of doing too little, too slowly in switch to reduced risk

Written by Freddie Dawson | 9th May 2023

Tobacco companies are not doing enough to transition to reduced risk products and are not phasing out conventional cigarettes quickly enough, according to the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW) ...

PMI ends interest in US vaping market, outsources manufacturing elsewhere

Written by Freddie Dawson | 28th April 2023

Philip Morris International will scale back and partially outsource its vaping business, instead focusing on other tobacco alternatives that can help it become a majority smoke-free revenue company by 2025 ...

Malaysian vape industry content with tax exemption now craving clear regulation

Written by ECigIntelligence | 17th April 2023

Malaysian vape industry players have welcomed nicotine exemptions for easier manufacturing of products but are more eager for a clear regulatory framework ...

Malaysia’s vape traders welcome coming taxation as legitimising their business

Written by ECigIntelligence | 13th April 2023

A new excise duty on vaping products has been hailed as a massive positive for the industry by members of the Malaysian vape sector, who see it as confirming the legality of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes ...

‘Bad legal advice’ led Smoore to pursue patent case it was never going to win

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 6th April 2023

A claim by Smoore Technology that 38 cannabis companies infringed the Chinese firm’s patents had very little chance of success with the US International Trade Commission, according to legal experts ...

Malaysia’s e-cig sellers looking forward to the prospect of legality and taxation

Written by ECigIntelligence | 21st March 2023

The Malaysian government looks set to impose a lower rate of excise duty than previously proposed on nicotine vaping products as it embarks on a plan to provide the e-cigarette industry with much-needed regulation ...

Big Tobacco still laying out the road towards a promised smokeless future

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 3rd March 2023

Big Tobacco’s 2022 full-year results show that their collective commitment to transition away from combustible products is not just the companies blowing smoke ...

Israel slashes taxes on vaping products but they’re still the world’s highest

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 17th February 2023

Although Israel has just adopted a significant reduction from the previous tax rate on vaping products, the country still has the highest duty rates on them in the world ...

Indonesia makes long-awaited progress in its tobacco regulation revision plan

Written by ECigIntelligence | 1st February 2023

After years of political debate, Indonesia is finally making progress towards regulating e-cigarettes as well as heated tobacco products, which are regulated the same in the country ...

Tighter regulations and flavour ban impact Chinese vape companies

Written by ECigIntelligence | 13th January 2023

The number of companies involved in the Chinese vaping market may be far lower than previously thought, with some having left the market and others never having been active at all ...

Where do we go now? ECigIntelligence’s guide to regulation expected in 2023

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 3rd January 2023

Disposables and youth vaping are likely to be the major themes for vaping in the year ahead, affecting debates on matters such as taxes, flavour bans and environmental measures ...

Nothing certain except flavour bans and taxes – that was the e-cig year that was

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 30th December 2022

Bans on flavours and taxes on vaping products dominated the e-cigarette news agenda in 2022. Both could be seen as responses to still rising concern about youth vaping ...

BAT reports growth in vaping segment internationally, credits disposables

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 19th December 2022

British American Tobacco (BAT) said its “new category” business continues to drive substantial volume, revenue, and market share growth – significantly contributing to the company’s overall performance ...

Child-appealing packaging and marketing attracts FDA warning letters

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 5th December 2022

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued warning letters to one US and four Chinese vaping companies for marketing and packaging their products in a way that may be particularly appealing to children...

Tighter controls at home may encourage Chinese e-cig firms to focus on exports

Written by Freddie Dawson | 17th November 2022

Domestic tax provisions and tightened regulations have led to Chinese e-cigarette brands looking to new international markets as higher prices and flavour limits mean fewer vapers at home, according to experts ...

RLX's net revenues are hit by transition to China's new national standards

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 16th November 2022

RLX Technology saw a drop of around 46% in its net revenue for the third quarter of the year but has expressed confidence that its sales will gradually recover and its diversified portfolio will continue...

E-cig tax should be easy to implement, but will new rules affect Chinese market?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th November 2022

China’s new e-cigarette tax should not prove too heavy an administrative burden, according to experts. But it remains unclear what impact new regulations brought in earlier this year will have on the domestic market ...

Less than a week's warning as China introduces taxes on e-cigarettes

Written by Marija Obradovic | 26th October 2022

In a move which will have taken China's e-cigarette industry by surprise, several Chinese state authorities have jointly announced plans to levy a consumption tax on e-cigarettes from next week ...

Armenia proposes tax package including excise duty on e-liquids in line with EAEU

Written by Dmytro Korchahin | 21st October 2022

Taxes on e-liquids could be introduced by a legislative package seeking to change the current Tax Code that was presented by the Armenian deputy minister of finance on 19th October ...

Chinese licensing ‘will benefit importers, exporters and the wider e-cig industry’

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 12th October 2022

Firms importing vaping products from China should check that their suppliers have the appropriate licence to meet the requirements of new legislation ...

Vaping companies have little chance to impress in Tobacco Transformation

Written by Barnaby Page | 29th September 2022

Tobacco companies still have some work to do to meet commitments in offering reduced risk alternatives – and when they do, it's often focused elsewhere than the vaping category ...

Revenue down, but tighter Chinese rules 'will help RLX become more efficient'

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 27th September 2022

RLX Technology has reported a drop in its net revenue for the second quarter of 2022 while it transitions to comply with new regulatory requirements in China ...

Early election could scupper Malaysian plan for a birthdate e-cigarette ban

Written by ECigIntelligence | 25th August 2022

Malaysia’s latest attempt to put an end to nicotine use among the younger generation is likely to be delayed, or even derailed, with an early election expected to stall the new bill ...

Accusations fly, challenge planned after Philippines vaping bill lapses into law

Written by ECigIntelligence | 28th July 2022

Calls for the president to veto the Philippines Vape Regulation Bill – and a change of government – failed to derail the bill as a lack of presidential action by the due date meant it...

PMI supports Iqos Veev, commits to smoke-free products in Q2 results

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 22nd July 2022

Philip Morris International (PMI) will continue to support the sales and promotion of its Iqos Veev vapour product as part of its commitment to expanding its smoke-free product portfolio ...

ASA sends reality check to Relx, others posting unclear ads on social media

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 1st July 2022

No posts from e-cigarette companies concerning vaping – whether advertorial or informational – should appear on Instagram, and companies are responsible for policing relevant social media content posted by affiliated influencers, even if they did...

China Tobacco ready to start licensing vape retailers under new regulations

Written by Marija Obradovic | 14th June 2022

China’s Tobacco Monopoly Administration is ready to begin licensing e-cigarette retailers, with existing vape stores taking priority ...

Hong Kong's effective e-cig prohibition 'puts smoking reduction target at risk'

Written by ECigIntelligence | 13th June 2022

New regulations that came into force at the end of April will make it hard for Hong Kong to achieve its 2025 smoking reduction targets, one concerned harm reduction association claims ...

Health, environment damage: e-cigs and vaping products 'are not the solution'

Written by Freddie Dawson | 3rd June 2022

Next-generation tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco alternatives are not the solution to damage caused by the tobacco industry to both public health and the environment, according to speakers at a World Health...

Fiscal policy clouds vaping business, boosts black market in Middle East

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 30th May 2022

High taxes are holding back the market for legal vaping products in Middle Eastern markets and the black market is benefitting as a result, according to a major distribution business in the region ...

RLX seeks balance between compliance and growth following Q1 revenue drop

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 25th May 2022

RLX Technology saw a drop of 28.5% in net revenue for the first quarter of 2022 and warns of future business impact from regulatory restrictions ...

China bans synthetic nicotine, while new e-cig standard could affect global market

Written by ECigIntelligence | 3rd May 2022

Synthetic nicotine, and nicotine-free e-liquids, will be banned in China from 1st October, when the country’s standard for e-cigarettes takes effect, potentially have a major impact on worldwide supplies ...

Aquios hopes to make a big splash with innovative water-based e-liquid range

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 28th April 2022

A new range of e-liquids containing 30% water – said to be the highest ever – could be the biggest innovation since the introduction of nicotine salts, the company behind it claims ...

Smoore puts faith in new testing lab to meet Chinese and export standards

Written by ECigIntelligence | 26th April 2022

Chinese e-cigarette company Smoore has opened what it is calling the vaping industry’s first laboratory to test for extractable and leachable (E&L) substances ...

Departments of health and education join call for veto of Philippine vaping bill

Written by ECigIntelligence | 1st April 2022

The Department of Health (DOH) and medical groups in the Philippines have found an ally in the Department of Education (DepEd) after the latter backed the DOH’s appeal to president Rodrigo Duterte to veto the...

China’s upcoming ban on e-cigarette flavours could hurt domestic producers

Written by ECigIntelligence | 29th March 2022

Beijing has recently announced a set of regulations that will tighten control on the vaping industry, and experts say China’s new and tightened scrutiny on e-cigarettes will likely hurt domestic producers ...

China to ban e-cig flavours – and RELX is perfectly relaxed about the new rules

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 15th March 2022

All e-liquid flavours other than tobacco will be banned in China from 1st May, according to the country’s Tobacco Monopoly Administration, which has confirmed administrative measures for e-cigarettes proposed in December ...

Malaysia planning birthdate ban on e-cig sales – with vaping industry support

Written by ECigIntelligence | 22nd February 2022

Malaysia’s new law to ban tobacco and nicotine sales to those born after 2005 will include vaping products, according to industry sources – some of whom back the plan ...

Philippine physicians lobby president Duterte to veto consolidated vaping bill

Written by ECigIntelligence | 3rd February 2022

The Philippine College of Physicians is lobbying against a bill to regulate vaping and novel tobacco products. They object to a lower age limit and the removal of flavour restrictions ...

Israel applies its first tax on e-cigarettes with duty rates approved retroactively

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 3rd February 2022

Israel’s parliamentary finance committee has finally and retroactively approved the duty rates on vaping products in its first ever e-cigarette tax, that was initially passed in November ...

Taiwanese majority backs e-cigarette ban that would leave HnB untouched

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 1st February 2022

The majority of people in Taiwan support proposals that will likely strengthen bans on vaping but continue to allow heated tobacco products in the country ...

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