E-cigarette companies unite to tackle proposed ban in Hong Kong

Five major electronic cigarette companies in the city have formed a new association to block the government's plan to ban the sale of their products in the city, the Post has learned.

Nav Lalji, one founder of the Asian Vape Association formed last week, said the group contained major players in the e-cigarette industry - including sellers, distributors and manufacturers - who make up about 70 per cent of the local market.

"It is irresponsible for the government to prohibit personal vaporisers with no scientific basis," he said. "If they are worried about harmful substances, they should regulate them instead of banning them."

Health officials believed the manufacturers were targeting young people and marketing the e-cigarettes as trendy products. But Lalji, who is the founder and manufacturer of the e-cigarette brand Mist, rejected such claims.

He said the members of the association sold their products to adults at hotels, restaurants and bars as an alternative to tobacco.

None of their products contain nicotine and all were up to the international safety standards set by the US Food and Drug Administration, he said.

E-cigarettes can be sold legally in Hong Kong with no age limit if the product does not contain nicotine. Any product with more than 0.1 per cent nicotine must be registered as a pharmacy product with the Department of Health.