Ho Chi Minh City: dealing with many e-cigarette trading points

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E-cigarette products seized by the Ho Chi Minh City Market Surveillance Department

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Market Surveillance Department, many products called e-cigarettes have appeared in the Vietnamese market. These products are currently not allowed to be imported, traded and circulated in the domestic market. However, the trading and advertising of these products are more popular, especially in the internet environment and in cigarette trading stores.

Therefore, the illegal trading of e-cigarettes is strictly controlled by the Ho Chi Minh City Market Surveillance Department to prevent their negative effects on users' health and the risk of giving rise to social evils.

As a result of the first six months of 2023, the Market Surveillance Teams under the Ho Chi Minh City Market Surveillance Department handled 39 violations and seized 5,403 smuggled e-cigarette products and e-cigarette accessories of unknown origin, with infringing goods valued at more than VND974 million. The unit sanctioned 39 cases with a fine of over VND 634 million, forced to destroy 5,043 e-cigarette products and accessories.

On June 21, 2023, the Market Surveillance Team No. 9, Ho Chi Minh City Market Surveillance Department coordinated with local authorities to inspect V.S Store, Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City, owned by Mr. L.H.H, which has not been registered to establish a business household according to regulations. Through inspection, the inspection team discovered 135 e-liquids and electronic cigarette accessories without invoices and documents to prove the origin. The Market Surveillance Team No. 9 has seized all of the above exhibits.

From May 22, 2023 to June 9, 2023, the Market Surveillance Team No. 4 conducted an inspection of four e-cigarette trading points in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, imposed a fine of VND57.25 million; requested to destroy 246 electronic cigarette machines containing essential oils and accessories without invoices and documents, of unknown origin.

Earlier, the Market Surveillance Team No. 9 also inspected stores on Nguyen Thi Dinh Street, Binh Trung Tay Ward, Thu Duc City on May 18, 2023; Tran Nao Street, An Khanh Ward, Thu Duc City on May 24, 2023 and Street 24, Binh Trung Tay Ward, Thu Duc City on May 30, 2023. As a result, the team fined VND46.5 million; forced destruction of 857 products such as essential oil vacuums, accessories and essential oils without invoices and documents, of unknown origin.

According to the Market Surveillance Department of Ho Chi Minh City, the e-cigarette trading in Ho Chi Minh City has exploded in recent times in the online environment and stores. On May 22 and May 30, 2023, through the management of the area, the Market Surveillance Team No. 19 coordinated with the Cu Chi District Police to conduct an unexpected inspection of two e-cigarette trading stores at Road 458, Trung An Commune and Provincial Road 8, West Hamlet, Tan An Hoi Commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Through inspection, the inspection team discovered and seized nearly 350 e-cigarette machines, e-liquid used for electronic cigarette machines without invoices and documents, of unknown origin, and unsafe for use, harmful to human health. The Market Surveillance Team No. 19 has issued decisions on administrative sanctions for the two above stores and forcibly destroyed all material pieces of evidence.

In addition to conducting inspections and imposing sanctions, Ho Chi Minh City Market Surveillance Department has also accelerated dissemination activities to raise awareness and knowledge about the harmful effects of e-cigarettes for the community, especially young people, to prevent the use of these products.

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From the above fact, the leader of the Market Surveillance Department of Ho Chi Minh City requested the market surveillance teams to continue to implement necessary measures to improve the efficiency of inspection and handling of violations; strengthen the prevention and combat of smuggled and fake cigarettes; promptly inspect and strictly handle organizations and individuals trading in smuggled and fake cigarettes and e-cigarettes.