China plans to impose controls on e-cigarette devices, tobacco liquid and additives, and packaging, the Associated Press reported Sept. 24, citing the China News Service.
Unidentified sources at the State Tobacco Monopoly reportedly told the state news agency that China could roll out regulations as early as October. The country is the world's largest tobacco market, with about 350 million smokers, according to the AP.
The State Tobacco Monopoly did not immediately respond to comment requests, the AP report said.
The move comes after India on Sept. 18 announced a ban on the production, import, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of e-cigarettes in the country.
In the U.S., New York and Michigan banned the sale of flavored electronic cigarettes because of the growing concern over the product's health risks. San Francisco banned the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes in June.
Recently, Walmart Inc. also said it will stop selling the product at all its stores after its existing inventory runs out.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed to establish new requirements for premarket tobacco product applications, in a bid to address the call for increased e-cigarette regulation. The development comes after acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless and Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar met with President Donald Trump to discuss issues related to vaping.
