China to soon adopt standards to regulate e-cigarettes - WTO filing

China, the world's biggest tobacco producer and consumer countey has drawn up standards for regulating electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, it said in a filing published by the World Trade Organization on Wednesday.

However, the filing did not specify any date for adoption of the rules. This standard specifies the terms and definitions, technical requirements, test methods, packaging, identification, instructions, storage and transportation of electronic cigarette, the filing said.

E-cigarettes are handheld battery-operated devices that people use to inhale an aerosol, which mostly contains nicotine, flavourings, and other chemicals. According to the CDC, e-cigarettes have the potential to benefit adult smokers who are not pregnant if used as a complete substitute for regular cigarettes and other smoked tobacco products. They are not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products.

E-cigarettes are still fairly new, and scientists are still learning about their long-term health effects. The majority of toxic chemicals found in tobacco smoke are absent in e-cigarette aerosol.