According to a report from the American Press Agency on August 14, the e-cigarette brand ELFBAR, in collaboration with enforcement agencies in South Africa, seized approximately 3,600 counterfeit and substandard e-cigarettes with potential health risks. The counterfeit products seized include various outdated models such as CR5000, BC5000, and EB1500.
According to reports, the raid took place simultaneously in Johannesburg and Cape Town in July, with the operation conducted with the support of search warrants. The police have stated that they will bring more criminal charges against offenders, usually resulting in fines, but in severe cases, imprisonment may be imposed.
In these two cities, ELFBAR has sent warning letters to over 15 stores, with 13 of them already signing commitments to cease selling infringing products. These stores have also surrendered a total of 1100 counterfeit ELFBAR e-cigarettes, which are planned to be gradually destroyed in established procedures. ELFBAR and the police service bureau have pledged to continue cracking down on counterfeit e-cigarettes, which pose significant health risks to adult users and have negative impacts on businesses.
The Middle East and Africa Regional Manager of ELFBAR, Lauren Huang, stated:
Counterfeit products are endangering our efforts and the entire industry to reduce harm through innovation. These counterfeit e-cigarettes contain unknown and untested substances, posing serious health risks to adult smokers and those attempting to quit smoking.
ELFBAR has revealed its efforts to combat the spread of illegal e-cigarettes, which include but are not limited to actively collaborating with global regulatory agencies, advocating for strong enforcement actions, taking trademark infringement cases to court, shutting down companies in the counterfeit manufacturing chain, scanning and identifying fake goods in retail channels, engaging in retail organizations, and conducting public awareness campaigns. It is reported that since mid-2021, ELFBAR has worked with global regulatory agencies to shut down over 220 companies involved in counterfeit products, including manufacturers. With the escalation of global activities, this number is still growing.
Furthermore, ELFBAR calls on global consumers to be aware of the dangers of counterfeit products. By purchasing from official channels and verifying product authenticity through simple steps, the risk can be significantly reduced. Adult users can identify counterfeit products by scanning the verification code and paying attention to various details on the product packaging, including brand name, product name, batch number, manufacturer information, and labels.
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