Although electronic cigarettes are the subject of much controversy and regulation around the world, China for its part has taken an important step towards enabling regulated sale with the publication of a draft national standard (GB) .
A FIRST STANDARD WITH A PUBLICATION FOR THE END OF YEAR?
« Electronic cigarettes will soon become much more widely available in the world's largest tobacco market: In the People's Republic of China. With more than 300 million smokers, China has the largest population of smokers in the world, resulting in approximately 1 million deaths annually. »
While the global electronic cigarette market has grown rapidly over the past decade, reduced risk products have only recently started to gain traction, even though the modern e-cigarette was invented in China. (by Hon Lik) and that the vast majority of these products are made in Shenzhen.
But times are changing! And as the United States opposes the e-cigarette industry and demands drastic pre-market regulations, China has taken an important step towards enabling regulated sale of e-cigarettes by issuing a draft national standard. (GB). This standard was notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on May 1, 2019.
As the name suggests, the standard applies to electronic cigarettes by referring to " a system consisting of a vaporization device and an e-liquid producing an inhalable aerosol". Other new tobacco products that do not meet this definition are not covered by this standard.
The new standard will include seven chapters :
- The scope
- Reference standards
- Terms and definitions
- Technical conditions
- Test methods
- Packaging, labeling and instruction manual
- Storage and transport
The standard also contains sixteen annexes, including those on methods for the determination of various substances in liquid, samples of cigarette and liquid labels, etc. In particular, appendix B provides a positive list of 119 additives whose use is authorized in e-liquids. The use of additives not listed will be subject to a prior safety assessment, taking into account food safety, inhalation safety, stability, dependence, etc. of a substance. It is expected that separate regulations will provide more details on the safety assessment of non-listed substances. It is also explicitly prohibited for certain additives to be used in e-liquids, such as substances used for coloring purposes, carcinogens, mutagens, toxic for reproduction and toxic for respiration, 2,3- butanedione, etc ...
Among the other notable technical requirements of the draft standard, it is possible to cite :
For the e-cigarette device :
§ Mechanical and physical performance, such as tightness, maximum surface temperature, etc.
§ electrical performance, such as input / output power, batteries, etc.
§ chemical performance; For example, the materials used for the components in contact with the mouth or e-liquid must comply with Chinese food packaging standards, such as GB 4806.7 on plastic articles, GB 9685 on food additives. food packaging, etc.
For the e-liquid :
§ Purity and concentration limits for nicotine;
§ Requirements for base fluids, including glycerin, propylene glycol and water;
§ limits for impurities and contaminants; and
§ Requirements for materials in contact with electronic liquid; they must comply with the corresponding food packaging standards.
For broadcasts :
§ Stability of aerosol and nicotine emissions; and
§ Limits for carbonyl compounds and heavy metals.
The new Chinese standard on electronic cigarettes will be published by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) et China Standards Administration (SAC), but the agency responsible for developing and maintaining the standard is the National Tobacco Monopoly Administration.
It is not known when this standard will be finalized and published; Chinese authorities could publish the standard later this year. Nonetheless, the new standard will have a significant impact on the regulatory landscape for the manufacture, sale and import of electronic cigarette products in China. The industry must be aware of its evolution and ensure that vaping products manufactured or imported in China fully comply with the detailed requirements of the new standard.
