With the implementation of the Management Rules of E-cigarettes and the forthcoming effective date for the GB Standard on E-cigarettes (October 1, 2022), China has been regularly updating its e-cigarette regulations.
Following up on our recent articles on China’s GB Standard and manufacturer license requirements, below we summarize various e-cigarette regulations recently promulgated by the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA).
Although these new regulations are mostly targeted at e-cigarettes sold in China, there are also many requirements that need to be met for e-cigarettes intended for export only (e.g., notification in the technical review management system and export and transportation notifications on the national trading platform).
Technical Review
E-cigarettes intended for sale domestically in China (including imported e-cigarettes) must first pass a technical review. The prerequisites for applying for technical review are (1) compliance with the GB Standard; (2) use of trademarks approved for registration in China; (3) compliance with the relevant regulations on e-cigarette packaging labels and warnings.
The application for technical review is submitted through the “Technical Review Management System for E-Cigarette Products.” Required materials include product formula and raw material reports, key production process descriptions related to safety, testing reports, safety assessment reports, etc. The applicant also is required to submit physical samples by mail. Imported e-cigarette products must additionally have certifications for production or sales approvals in the country of origin.
Azim Chowdhury, Eric Gu & David J. Ettinger – The Continuum of Risk – 2022-08-23.