Bosnia and Herzegovina: What are the most common reasons for withdrawing e-cigarettes from the market?

Do you use electronic cigarettes? We see them becoming more prevalent around us. They are available in various designs and flavors, and there are even nicotine-free options.

Whether you're a smoker or not, and regardless of your stance on these products, the fact is they are widespread and not without health risks. Therefore, it's crucial that their production and distribution are regulated and monitored.

I've previously written about the regulation of electronic cigarettes in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the Republic of Srpska, similar legislation is still pending.

These products are particularly interesting because, unlike traditional tobacco products, they are also subject to chemical regulations. This is especially important for manufacturers or importers of such products.

Regarding the control of these products in the Bosnian market, I don't have access to data on whether they are monitored or what the results are. So today, I'm providing an overview of the most common reasons for the withdrawal of e-cigarettes from the European Union market.

The most frequently deemed unsafe are disposable electronic cigarettes, but issues are also found with nicotine liquids in refillable containers.

Here are the reasons why electronic cigarettes do not meet the regulatory requirements in the European Union:

• nicotine liquid contains too high a concentration of nicotine,
• the product contains an excessive amount of nicotine liquid,
• the product lacks an instruction leaflet,
• the product is not marked with a tactile warning of danger,
• the product lacks a child-resistant closure,
• the label does not include hazard markings in accordance with chemical regulations,
• the label does not list all the ingredients of the nicotine liquid,
• the product contains substances that are not permitted (e.g., hexahydrocannabinol (HHC)),
• the product contains nicotine but is labeled as nicotine-free.

The most common country of origin for non-compliant products is China. Measures taken include withdrawing products from the market, recalling them from consumers, and banning sales.

Most non-compliances relate to discrepancies with tobacco and tobacco product regulations. Examples include:

• the volume of the nicotine liquid cartridge in disposable e-cigarettes exceeds the maximum allowed volume (2 mL),
• the nicotine liquid contains a concentration of nicotine higher than the maximum allowed (20 mg/mL).

However, there are also cases where products do not comply with chemical classification and labeling regulations:

• the product is classified in hazard classes that require a tactile warning, but none is provided,
• the product is classified as hazardous, but the label lacks appropriate hazard pictograms or warnings.

If you are a manufacturer or importer of e-cigarettes, check if your products have any of these deficiencies. Products deemed non-compliant in the European Union are also not in line with current regulations in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

You can learn about the withdrawal of unsafe products from the market through the Safety Gate system.

What are your thoughts on electronic cigarettes? Share your experiences with me at nina.pajovic@bens-consulting.eu.