The tobacco regulator in China has asked e-commerce businesses and platforms to remove all e-cigarette products from online stores, according to Reuters.

The call to action comes after a similar approach was taken in the US in a bid to stop minors from purchasing e-cigarettes through the internet and amid scrutiny regarding the effect vaping is having on public health.
The country’s regulator “urges e-cigarette producers and retailers, or individual sellers to temporarily close online sales websites or channels to further strengthen the protection of the physical and mental health of minors”, Reuters reports.
With over 300 million smokers, China is the world’s largest market for smokers. The huge potential market for e-cigarettes has seen a large amount of Chinese start-ups launch products that rival Juul and other major global brands. RELX Technology and SnowPlus are among the domestic market leaders and have both publicly stated that they will comply with the regulator’s notice and stop all online sales, according to Reuters.