No one shall force physical stores to remove electronic cigarettes
The National Tobacco Monopoly Bureau makes clear regulatory standards.
On November 1, the State Administration of Market Regualtion and the State Tobacco Monopoly Bureau jointly issued the notice on further protecting minors from electronic cigarettes (hereinafter referred to as the notice), calling for the closure of online sales channels of electronic cigarettes and the withdrawal of electronic cigarette advertisements on the Internet.
The notice did not require offline control. However, once the notice was issued, tobacco bureaus in some regions abused their power, enforced the notice in excess of authority, interfered in the normal operation of offline stores of e-cigarettes, including forcing off shelves, confiscating products, threatening and intimidating to confiscate tobacco business licenses and other different means, seriously disrupted the normal development of e-cigarettes industry, causing great mental and economy harm to the shopkeepers.
The National Tobacco Monopoly Bureau has held a meeting, which clearly requires that the bottom line of “no sale of electronic cigarettes to minors” be strictly observed, and that physical stores around the campus remove electronic cigarettes related products in accordance with local laws and regulations. However, if it does not involve the surrounding areas of the campus, it is not allowed to force physical stores to remove electronic cigarettes or impose penalties in any form. In addition, it is not allowed to put forward regulatory requirements to cigarette retailers or e-cigarette stores with written documents of notice. – Financial News Net
Who should be responsible for the illegal law enforcement of the above-mentioned local tobacco bureaus in the name of justice? How should they be punished? We strongly ask the relevant regulation department to give an explanation to the citizens!
