Growing numbers of illicit and unregulated vape pens from China are entering the US. This raises worries about the effects these devices may have on public health and safety nationwide. These fake goods are getting past supervision procedures, quality control measures, and regulatory barriers to reach American customers.
Authorities are finding it difficult to control the issue as a result of the introduction of these illegal items into the vaping business. In this article, we will learn about how accessible these items are in the US and what vape businesses can do about it.
Over the past ten years, vaping has been more popular, particularly among youth. An NCBI article mentions a survey conducted to determine how prevalent vaping is among college students. The survey of a 33-item questionnaire was completed by 3,754 students at a Midwestern university.
It was found that 23% of the respondents were currently using e-cigarettes, and over half (55.2%) had used them in the past. Moreover, around 18.6% of the students between 19 and 22 years used one in the past 30 days of the survey.
This has led to a high demand for vapes in the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), monthly e-cigarette sales increased by 46.6% from January 2020 to December 2022. From just 15.5 million units sold in January 2020, it increased to 22.7 million monthly unit sales in December 2022. Moreover, even the number of brands grew from 184 to 269, a 46.2% rise.
This need for more affordable and easily available vaping devices has resulted in an increase in illicit imports. China, a significant producer of electronics worldwide, is becoming a major supplier of these vapes. Many enter the country illegally through a variety of means, including as distributors on the black market or internet sales.
The US is now being flooded by these illegal Chinese vapes that are a part of its $28 billion e-cigarette export industry. For instance, the FDA instructed US customs officers to start intercepting shipments of Elf Bar and EBDesign vapes last year. As stated by Reuters, Heaven Gifts is one of the largest e-cigarette manufacturers in China and owns both of these brands.
However, Elf Bar found an easy way to get past the bans: a name change. FDA-targeted Chinese manufacturers are not included in the more recent vaping devices, which are powered by the moniker EBCreate. The redesign highlights the FDA's failure to stop the illegal e-cigarette supply flowing into the US, mostly from centers like Los Angeles and Houston.
The fact that the composition of illicit Chinese vapes is unknown is among their most concerning features. It is impossible to ensure that these items adhere to safety regulations in the absence of regulatory control. It's frequently unknown what goes into the liquids, how well the batteries work, and how the gadgets are built altogether. This presents serious health risks for individuals who use them.
Illegal vapes may include dangerous substances like heavy metals, hazardous solvents, and prohibited flavoring compounds. Legal vape goods, on the other hand, are obliged to declare ingredients and go through safety testing. It has been shown that some illicit vapes can have dangerously high nicotine content, which can cause poisoning, particularly in younger users.
Others could utilize unapproved chemicals that have been connected to lung harm, as demonstrated by the EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury). The EVALI epidemic of lung injuries outbreak occurred in 2019.
The countrywide EVALI outbreak was looked into beginning in August 2019 by the FDA, state and local health authorities, and the CDC. After reaching a high in September 2019, the number of EVALI patients reported to the CDC began a slow but steady fall. Around 2,807 nationwide hospitalized EVALI cases were reported to the CDC as of February 18, 2020.
These unproven substances may provide major dangers for consumers, maybe with unidentified long-term health effects.
Selling these illicit vapes is also considered illegal, as they can be harmful to consumers. Therefore, businesses should find manufacturers or sellers who can offer legal vapes wholesale from reputable sources. If you can find the right vapes and vaping equipment distributor, it will be easier for you to get the legit products you want.
As stated by MWI (Mike's Worldwide Inc.), a distributor with a large collection of vapes and accessories can offer you wide options. This will not only get you the best products but also eliminate the need to deal with multiple providers. Moreover, quality assurance comes as a part of the deal. The distributor can act as your one-stop solution for all your needs.
Concerns about the construction quality and design of these unregulated vapes are significant, in addition to the unknown compounds included in the e-liquids. Subpar materials are used in the production of many counterfeit gadgets, which can result in failures, including battery explosions.
In one such incident, a Conway man sued the vape shop and manufacturer for the explosion. The e-cigarette exploded in his pants and caused burns to an extent that required skin grafts. He, therefore, filed a lawsuit against the relevant parties to receive compensation for medical expenses and other damages.
It was likely a defective piece, which can happen with legitimate vapes, too. However, with illegal vapes, the chances of explosions may increase. Moreover, since they would be illegal, your chances of getting fair compensation through legal procedures would also decrease.
When improperly made, the lithium-ion batteries used in vape devices can overheat, leak, or even catch fire. Vape explosions have been linked to many cases of severe injuries, including burns and facial damage.
Moreover, these gadgets could not have significant safety features as they are not subjected to the stringent testing for goods made lawfully. This increases the likelihood that they might endanger consumers, whether through malfunctioning technology or incorrectly blended e-liquids. There is great potential for injury, particularly since many customers might not know the dangers they accept while utilizing these items.
Since they are classified as tobacco products, e-cigarettes are subject to state-level regulation by the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration. When it comes to tightening e-cigarette regulations, the Chinese government places a high priority on juvenile prevention. China passes a number of tobacco control laws pertaining to both cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
States in the Union have different laws governing the use of electronic cigarettes, or "vaping." Some states and municipalities have rules against vaping that are more lenient than others or have none at all. On the other hand, others forbid vaping in any area where smoking is forbidden.
Vaping is usually considered less harmful than cigarettes because vapes don't have tobacco. Instead, they contain nicotine, which can still be harmful in high doses. Therefore, it is important to get vapes from legitimate sources so that nicotine content is regulated.
Serious concerns regarding public health and safety have been raised by the entry of unregulated Chinese vapes into the United States. Due to their lack of regulation and the numerous unknowns surrounding their composition and manufacturing, these illegal goods put consumers—especially children—at serious risk.
The amount of illicit vapes coming into the country from outside is becoming a bigger problem for regulators and law enforcement. Increasing enforcement efforts and educating people about the risks associated with unregulated items will be essential in resolving this issue as it develops.
