US FDA updates import alert to include elego, heaven gifts, HQD, qisitech, and BAT

Nov.01.2024
US FDA updates import alert to include elego, heaven gifts, HQD, qisitech, and BAT
US FDA updates import alert: e-cigarette and nicotine pouch brands like elego, heaven gifts, HQD, qisitech, and BAT added to "red list"

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its "Import Alert 98-06" (also known as the "Red List") on October 31, adding several brands of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and nicotine pouches involving numerous Chinese and international companies.

 

The October 31st update to the *Detention Without Physical Examination of New Tobacco Products Without Required Marketing Authorization* (known as "Import Alert 98-06" or the "Red List") includes a new batch of e-cigarette companies, primarily from China, Sweden, Poland, and the United States.

 

These companies are accused of importing unapproved ENDS products. The FDA stated that "tobacco products listed on the Red List of this import alert may be detained without physical inspection.

 

The alert specifically targets e-cigarette brands under the names "CALI" and "Aroma King" and covers various product types, including unflavored, flavored, tobacco-flavored, and unspecified categories. 

 

In addition, BAT Sweden AB's "Lyft Cool Air" nicotine pouches and HABIT FACTORY's "Klint" smokeless tobacco products were added to the regulatory list.

 

The specific list is as follows:

 

 

China

 

 

1. Elego Operation Company Limited (Shenzhen) – CALI ENDS products, classified under non-flavored, flavored (other), flavored (tobacco), and non-applicable categories.

2. Heaven Gifts Incorporated Limited (Shenzhen) – Aroma King ENDS.

3. Shenzhen HQD Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen) – CALI ENDS products, multiple categories.

4. Shenzhen Leelvis Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen) – Aroma King ENDS.

5. Shenzhen Shocklin Tech Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen) – CALI ENDS products, multiple categories.

6. Shenzhen Yihuikang Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen) – CALI ENDS products, multiple categories.

7. Zhuhai Qisitech Co., Ltd. (Zhuhai) – RAZ DC25000 series and Aroma King ENDS products.

 

 

Outside China

 

Poland:

8. SYMETRICUS SP Z O

• Location: Katowice, Poland

• Product: Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) under the brand “Aroma King”


Sweden:

9. BAT SWEDEN AB

• Location: Malmö, Sweden

• Product: “Lyft Cool Air” nicotine pouch product


10. HABIT FACTORY IN SWEDEN AB (appears twice, with another registered address at Ostmastargrand 5, Arsta, Stockholms Lan SWEDEN)

• Location: Stockholm, Sweden

• Product: Smokeless tobacco and nicotine delivery products under the brand “Klint”

• Classification: Smokeless tobacco (98-C), nicotine delivery products (98-N), consumer tobacco products (98-A)


United States:

11. ACCESS VAPOR LLC (appears twice, with another registered address at 2426 Viscount Row)

• Location: Orlando, Florida, USA

• Product: All “CALI” branded Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) products

• Classification: Non-flavored (98-A), flavored (other) (98-C), flavored (tobacco) (98-D), non-applicable (98-E)


12. CICIDO TRADE LLC

• Location: 432 Tennyson Rd, Bartlett, IL 60103-4617, USA

• Product: All “CALI” branded Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) products

• Classification: Non-flavored (98-A), flavored (other) (98-C), flavored (tobacco) (98-D), non-applicable (98-E)


13. JOINT KA TRADE LLC

• Location: 2539 N Wayne Ave, Chicago, IL 60614, USA

• Product: Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) under the brand “Aroma King”


14. LILA TRADE LLC

• Location: 1909 S May St, Chicago, IL 60608-5381, USA

• Product: Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) under the brand “Aroma King”


15. PIONEER TRADE LLC

• Location: 3638 S Union Ave, Chicago, IL 60609-1647, USA

• Product: Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) under the brand “Aroma King”


16. RONGDA TRADE LLC

• Location: 2453 N Talman Ave, Chicago, IL 60647-1809, USA

• Product: Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) under the brand “Aroma King”


17. UCAN TRADE LLC

• Location: 2338 W Cortez St, Chicago, IL 60622-3519, USA

• Product: Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) under the brand “Aroma King”

 


 

Covered Product Categories

 

 

  • 98-A: All non-flavored consumer tobacco products.
  • 98-C: Other flavored tobacco products.
  • 98-D: Tobacco-flavored products.
  • 98-E: Non-applicable tobacco product categories.
  • 98-N: Smokeless tobacco and nicotine delivery products (e.g., nicotine pouches).

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

As Regulators Focus on Nicotine Pouch Child Safety, Safeguard Pursues an External Packaging Route
As Regulators Focus on Nicotine Pouch Child Safety, Safeguard Pursues an External Packaging Route
As regulators pay closer attention to child safety in nicotine pouches, manufacturers face a practical challenge: how to strengthen child-resistant packaging without unnecessarily reworking products, production lines and regulatory submissions already in place. In a written interview with 2Firsts, Chemular detailed Safeguard’s external packaging approach, its customer-specific testing requirements and possible PMTA pathways. The model remains early-stage, but it offers a new way to think about an increasingly important regulatory and manufacturing issue.
Industry Insight
Sep.19
Latest UK ONS Data: Vaping Rate Edges Down to 9.9% in 2025, a Year After Overtaking Cigarette Smoking
Latest UK ONS Data: Vaping Rate Edges Down to 9.9% in 2025, a Year After Overtaking Cigarette Smoking
Vaping prevalence in Great Britain edged down to 9.9% in 2025 from 10.0% in 2024, with the number of adult users holding at approximately 5.4 million for a second consecutive year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). E-cigarette use had risen from 6.4% in 2020 to 10.0% in 2024, when it exceeded cigarette smoking prevalence for the first time. Cigarette smoking continued to decline to 8.7% in 2025, widening the gap to 1.2 percentage points. Daily vaping declined slightly, while usage among adults aged 25–34 increased despite falling rates in other age groups.
DATA
Oct.14
Product | R.J. Reynolds Launches Four Flavored Vuse Pro Pods for Vuse Alto Devices in U.S.
Product | R.J. Reynolds Launches Four Flavored Vuse Pro Pods for Vuse Alto Devices in U.S.
R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company has introduced Vuse Pro prefilled pods in Peach, Berry, Watermelon and Fresh Mint in selected U.S. states. Vuse’s U.S. website says the pods are intended for use with existing Vuse Alto devices. Each contains 2.0 mL of e-liquid at 5.0% nicotine by weight, uses nicotine salts and is offered in two- and four-pod packs. Reynolds said the rollout includes mandatory ID scanning for every purchase, purchase limits, stronger retailer-accountability requirements and strict age-restricted marketing standards. The four pods have not received marketing authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Sep.10
Product | KT&G to Launch lil Tonino Lamborghini in South Korea, Bringing 3-Second Heat-Up to New HTP Platform
Product | KT&G to Launch lil Tonino Lamborghini in South Korea, Bringing 3-Second Heat-Up to New HTP Platform
KT&G will launch the lil Tonino Lamborghini heated tobacco device in Seoul on September 15, 2026. The product introduces a new heating technology called Flashwave Heating, which uses microwaves to heat tobacco sticks internally and delivers a manufacturer-rated heat-up time of about three seconds. The device features an all-metal aluminum body, a color display and a dedicated GUI, and launches alongside a new line of NAU tobacco sticks that are incompatible with existing lil consumables. Korean media describe the product as KT&G's first new heated tobacco platform since lil AIBLE was introduced in 2022.
Aug.31
FDA Authorizes JUUL2, Cites Adult Switching Amid Efforts to Speed PMTA Reviews
FDA Authorizes JUUL2, Cites Adult Switching Amid Efforts to Speed PMTA Reviews
The FDA authorized the JUUL2 device and tobacco- and menthol-flavored pods on Aug. 28, bringing the number of authorized e-cigarette products to 48. The agency highlighted complete switching among adult smokers, with six-week switching rates reaching 28.4%–49.3% for the menthol pod. The decision comes as FDA works to speed PMTA reviews, reduce application backlogs and expand authorized e-cigarette and nicotine-pouch products while maintaining enforcement priorities for unauthorized products.
Regulations
Aug.29
California Lawmakers Pass Disposable Nicotine Vape Ban, With Sales Prohibition Set for 2028
California Lawmakers Pass Disposable Nicotine Vape Ban, With Sales Prohibition Set for 2028
According to CBS Los Angeles on August 27, 2026, California lawmakers have passed Assembly Bill 762, which would phase out disposable, battery-embedded nicotine vapes in the state. If signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, manufacturing and importation of the covered products would be prohibited beginning January 1, 2027, followed by a sales ban on January 1, 2028. Driven primarily by concerns over electronic waste, lithium-battery fires and environmental pollution, the legislation would further shift California’s legal vape market toward rechargeable, refillable or replaceable-pod devices.
Aug.28