Restrictions imposed in the US, but countries differ in their approach

Two years ago, the e-cigarette market was viewed in the United States as an industry with the potential to wean millions of smokers off deadly traditional cigarettes and help improve public health.

However, in recent weeks, a series of restrictions has been imposed on e-cigarette companies in the US, the world's largest market for such cigarettes, due to concerns over underage use among teenagers and a spate of lung illnesses across the country that have affected hundreds of people.

Chinese e-commerce companies Alibaba and JD have stopped selling e-cigarettes in the US, in line with similar decisions by major grocery store chain Kroger and also Walmart, the world's largest retailer.

US investigators said nearly 80 percent of people that have illnesses caused by vaping were using products containing THC, the chemical found in marijuana that induces a "high". The US Food and Drug Administration also warned people not to vape THC or to buy such products sold on the street.

However, countries differ in their views toward e-cigarettes. For example, while they are banned in San Francisco, in the United Kingdom, they are actively encouraged as a smoking alternative by the National Health Service, according to Thomas Piachaud, director of consulting at global market research company Kantar.

A report by Public Health England said alternative nicotine-delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes, could play a major role in improving public health.

It said using e-cigarettes as part of attempts to quit smoking continues to help people attending such services in England. However, the proportion of such attempts using e-cigarettes remains very small at 4.1 percent.

The report said smoking and vaping trends should continue to be monitored and the industry's development needs guidance.

In China, legislation is being planned to supervise sales of e-cigarettes as part of tobacco control efforts as use of the products rises among young people.

Cheng Xueliang, secretary-general of the Shenzhen Electronic Cigarettes Industry Association, said standards for the industry should be established in all respects, including raw materials, production technology and quality control. It is also important to strengthen distribution management and to ensure that e-cigarettes do not reach minors.

Piachaud said it is difficult to predict where the market will go. If smoking e-cigarettes is found to have negative impacts on health beyond traditional cigarettes, and they lose their claimed status as the lesser of two evils, markets could move quickly to heavily regulate their purchase, if not ban them outright.

If the health impact is considered to be similar to that of traditional cigarettes, less serious or nonexistent, then the market has real potential to not only continue to grow, but to accelerate as the major players bet on capturing a share without the fear of heavy regulation, he added.

(China Daily Global 10/17/2019 pa