On November 7, 2024, China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) announced fines totaling nearly $700,000 for three Chinese e-cigarette brands—Mirui, Boulder, and Mevol—for selling products that were inconsistent with the details provided during their pre-market review.
Since May 1, 2022, the STMA has enforced the Measures for the Administration of E-cigarettes, which explicitly stipulate in Article 19 that e-cigarette products that have not passed technical reviews are prohibited from being marketed or sold. Additionally, the information provided for products on the market must align with the approved details submitted during the review process.
However, the three licensed Chinese e-cigarette brands were found to have sold products that deviated from their approved formulas and contained unauthorized substances. As a result, the STMA imposed fines and penalties to emphasize the importance of complying with these regulations. This action also reflects the STMA’s commitment to maintaining market order and preventing the distribution of illegal products.
Here are the details of the three enforcement cases:
1. Zhejiang Mirui : Fined $140,000 for Unauthorized Ingredients
Zhejiang Mirui Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. was found to have added unauthorized substances to its e-cigarette products, causing them to deviate from the approved formulas and the details submitted during the technical review process.
As a result, the sale of non-compliant e-cigarettes was deemed illegal. The company was ordered to cease sales of the affected products, pay a fine of approximately $140,000, and forfeit any illegal profits.
2. Shenzhen Boulder: Fined $440,000 and Suspended for Non-Compliance
Boulder (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd. was penalized for adding unauthorized ingredients to its products, causing discrepancies between the products and their approved formulas. This deviation resulted in the sale of non-compliant e-cigarettes.
Additionally, Boulder lacked the necessary license to produce e-liquids but continued to manufacture and export them. As a result, the company was fined nearly $440,000, ordered to cease sales of non-compliant products, and suspended from operations for two months.
3. Shenzhen Mevol: Fined $112,000 for Non-Compliant Sales
Shenzhen Mevol Chuangxin Technology Co., Ltd. was found to have knowingly continued to sell e-cigarette products that did not match the approved formulas. Despite being aware that some products were inconsistent with the information provided during the technical review process, the company continued to market them.
This resulted in the sale of non-compliant e-cigarettes. The STMA imposed a fine of nearly $112,000, ordered the cessation of sales, and required the destruction of the non-compliant products.
