ELFBAR Discloses Details of Rejection of BAT Acquisition
March 22, 2023
Russia Duma proposes align regulation of vape with cigarette
March 24, 2023
The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region stated on March 22 that the “Import and Export (Amendment) Bill 2023” will be published on Friday (March 24), allowing the transshipment of alternative smoking products (referred to as e-cigarettes, the same below) to overseas markets by sea air and road air combined transport through Hong Kong. The draft bill will be submitted to the Legislative Council for consideration next Wednesday (March 29).
As is well known, most of the global vaping production bases are located in Shenzhen, a city adjacent to Hong Kong. In the early years, Hong Kong undertook almost all of the export transportation services for Shenzhen vape products. Solved the logistics problem. However, in recent years, Hong Kong’s transportation laws have stopped the transportation of vape products. Resulting in an increase in transportation costs.
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region will establish a regulatory system under the responsibility of the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department for the management, supervision, and enforcement of law, thereby strengthening the supervision of intermodal transshipment of alternative smoking products, and reducing the risk of alternative smoking products flowing into the local area during transportation.
A spokesman for the Transport and Logistics Bureau said today (March 22): “Given the harmfulness of alternative smoking products, the government’s position of prohibiting them from entering the local market remains unchanged. However, we note that the ban on intermodal transshipment of alternative smoking products has caused significant losses to Hong Kong’s air cargo transshipment business since April 30, 2022. Therefore, we should exempt intermodal transshipment of alternative smoking products through a new regulatory framework on the premise of preventing alternative smoking products from entering the local market.”
The Hong Kong Logistics Development Council expressed its welcome and support. The bill aims to restore the transfer of alternative smoking products from the mainland to overseas markets through Hong Kong International Airport under the newly established regulatory system.
A spokesman for the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council said, “Members strongly support the government’s efforts to protect public health. However, given the importance of the transshipment of alternative smoking products for the logistics industry and even the air transport industry in Hong Kong, members believe that it is equally important to resume the transshipment of alternative smoking products as soon as possible.”
“The industry will fully cooperate with the government in implementing the new regulatory system that will be managed, supervised, and enforced by the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department to strengthen the regulation of intermodal transshipment of alternative smoking products,” the spokesman added.
The government has consulted the Economic Development Committee of the Legislative Council, the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council, and the trade and logistics industry, and has received widespread support for submitting a bill to the Legislative Council.
After the resumption of the transit law for vape products in Hong Kong. The logistics speed and cost of vape in Shenzhen will likely be significant benefits.
Next news: ELFBAR Discloses Details of Rejection of BAT Acquisition
