Global Electronic Cigarette Policies Are Coming One After Another, Will Chinese Manufacturers Face The Second Hurdle Of Going Global?

In the past week, news about e-cigarettes has been quite explosive overseas. The United States and Russia have successively issued major new regulations, focusing on channels, ingredients, and protection of teenagers. The ones most affected, however, are still the Chinese factories that produce for export.
Let's summarize this wave of regulatory "coordinated action" and you'll see that this is not just a "local incident".
【USA: Don't allow it, don't let it in, directly block】

 Starting from September 1st in Texas, the sale of Chinese e-cigarettes is banned. It clearly states: China is an "adversary country", your e-cigarettes "look like toys" and are suspected of being "poisonous".
Conclusion: Texas does not welcome it, don't sell in stores, and selling is against the rules.
Retailers exclaimed: Profits will drop by 25%-33%, not selling is not compensation, this is not regulation, this is a clearance!
 FDA: I'm going to regulate this "electronic cigarette component" (7-OH) as a drug! This time, the FDA is targeting a compound called 7-OH that is added to many e-liquids, saying it is like an opium derivative and can also be found in gummy candies and beverages.
FDA suggests classifying it as a Class 1 drug, directly at the same level as heroin.
Outcome? Who will dare to use this formula in the future? Formula development and overseas compliance are all wrapped up in one.
Tennessee: I won't let you, but you must follow the "3-year compliance plan"
Starting from July: Add a 10% tax to e-cigarettes; starting from August: Manufacturers must register each product individually; by 2027: Products without registration cannot be sold!
The problem is: FDA's "list of legal products" has not even been made yet, and the state is asking you to "legally purchase", but the standards for legality have not been given to you.
The small business owner was confused: "Where is our basis for compliance? Who can sell and who cannot sell?"
【Russia: Taxing has wiped out legal enterprises, the black market is supporting the market】The style of Russia is different. It's not that the regulations are too few, but the taxes are too harsh.
At the beginning of 2024, the consumption tax on nicotine-containing e-liquid doubled. As a result -
Legal e-liquid merchants dropped from 117 to only 5, a reduction of 23 times in one year.
You didn't misread, the legal market has almost been "killed by taxes", where did the remaining market go?
Experts say that in small cities, illegal e-cigarettes account for over 95%.
And looking at the consumption channels for teenagers, 30% of children directly buy cigarettes through Telegram.
Regulation has completely失控, the risk of minors coming into contact with more dangerous products is increasing.
But do you think Russia will relax? No.
They are still discussing: Should we completely ban e-cigarettes directly?
[Summary: The world is forcing e-cigarettes to "start over again"] The United States is tightening regulations to "save local compliant enterprises and push illegal and Chinese-made products out of the market",
Russia's strict taxation is "forcing compliance and allowing the 'black market' to thrive",
Both approaches yield the same result: industry reshuffling, rising costs, and small factories struggling to survive.
So what about Chinese manufacturers? Don't expect the policies to loosen, and don't keep hoping for the one-time bonus of "rapid production ramp-up".
Now, when entering the international market to build a brand or do ODM, what preparations should be made?
Compliance of formulas (don't touch ingredients like 7-OH), neutral packaging (toys style is a big no-no), product registration (make early arrangements for FDA PMTA or state-level registration), compliance of channels (find regular distributors), alternative markets (don't just focus on the United States, other suitable countries must also be explored)