By Li Xiaoyang

While EVE Energy， a company based in Guangdong Province， sees potential in the lithium battery business as the electric vehicle sector continues to grow， the future for its e-cigarette brand isnt looking so good. In May， the National Health Commission （NHC） and the World Health Organization （WHO） China Office issued the China Report on the Health Hazards of Smoking， which suggested that ecigarettes are not safe alternatives to traditional tobacco and can pose health risks. It was the first official document that came to such a conclusion in China.

The authorities then issued further guidelines on June 18， highlighting the need for the improved supervision of e-cigarette sales.

E-cigarettes， originally introduced to help people quit smoking， generally use an electronic atomization system to transform liquid containing nicotine into vapor. There are also non-burn cigarettes that heat processed tobacco. Their flashy appearance， diverse flavors and convenience of use have attracted an increasing number of consumers， who want to reduce the use of traditional tobacco or just try something new.

Nevertheless， e-cigarette liquid is artificially blended with complex compositions， some of which are quite harmful to health after heating. Some e-cigarettes without clear labeling of nicotine content can lead to overdose and poorly designed devices can even pose risks such as scalding or battery fires， according to Mao Qunan， Director of the Planning Department of the NHC.

Improving regulation

The Chinese Government has been stepping up its supervision of the industry in recent years. In August 2018， the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration and the State Administration for Market Regulation introduced a ban on selling vaping products to those aged under 18. Online sales and advertisements of e-cigarettes were also banned by the two agencies in November 2019. Cities such as Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province， Shenzhen in Guangdong and Chongqing have announced a ban on the use of e-cigarettes in public places and indoor workplaces.

Despite tightening supervision， e-cigarettes are still sold under false names online， allowing underage people， who cannot purchase traditional tobacco products in physical stores， to gain access to them. “Young people may get addicted to smoking after trying e-cigarettes and turn to traditional tobacco after their addiction gets worse，” Ma Liang， a researcher with the National Academy of Development and Strategy at Renmin University of China， said.