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

Product | BAT Launches VELO WRKS Nicotine Pouches in Sweden, Introducing Dual-Compartment Cans With Two Flavours
Product | BAT Launches VELO WRKS Nicotine Pouches in Sweden, Introducing Dual-Compartment Cans With Two Flavours
British American Tobacco (BAT)'s VELO brand launched the VELO WRKS nicotine pouch range in Sweden on November 2, 2026. The initial release features three Dual Can variants, each containing two separate flavours in a dual-compartment container. Each can holds 20 slim pouches with 8mg of nicotine per pouch and retails for SEK 52.99. According to VELO, the first release, Drop 1, is limited to 75,000 cans and will remain available until February 2027 or while stocks last. VELO positions WRKS as a platform for testing new product concepts and has introduced an online consumer feedback survey. EU trademark records show BAT applied to register VELO WRKS in March 2026 under Class 34, covering nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and other tobacco-related goods.
product
Nov.03
Special Report|From CrossBar 20K to 6-Methyl Nicotine KUMI: Two Routes Into U.S. State Vape Directories?
Special Report|From CrossBar 20K to 6-Methyl Nicotine KUMI: Two Routes Into U.S. State Vape Directories?
Several U.S. states have incorporated the September 9, 2020 PMTA filing deadline into eligibility rules for certain vaping products. CrossBar 20K drew attention after appearing on Pennsylvania's 163-entry directory. A broader 2Firsts investigation found that related registration businesses also listed KUMI and CROSSBAR SIX products, with 171 KUMI-related entries across Louisiana, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Corporate records link Scott Silverman to Blue Nine LLC and VR Products I LLC. PMTA compliance expert Mr. K said historical applications and nicotine-analogue products may offer two different approaches to state-directory access.
Regulations
Oct.26
Ukraine Raises Excise Stamp Fees for Tobacco, Heated Tobacco and Vape Liquids by 30.5% as Parliament Backs E-Excise Delay to 2027
Ukraine Raises Excise Stamp Fees for Tobacco, Heated Tobacco and Vape Liquids by 30.5% as Parliament Backs E-Excise Delay to 2027
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers adopted Resolution No. 1259 on October 15, 2026, increasing excise stamp production fees for tobacco products and e-cigarette liquids by approximately 30.5%, from UAH 0.1643 to UAH 0.2144 per stamp. Fees for alcoholic beverages rose by about 30.2%. Separately, Ukraine's parliament passed Bill No. 15532 on October 13, proposing to postpone the full implementation of electronic excise stamps and traceability for alcohol, tobacco and e-cigarette liquids from November 1, 2026, to July 1, 2027. Parliament cited additional testing, configuration and integration requirements. The bill was sent to the president for signature on October 19.
Regulations
Oct.21
Kumulus Vape2026 H1 Revenue Falls 8.3% but Profit Rises 24% as B2B Weakens and Consumer Channels Grow
Kumulus Vape2026 H1 Revenue Falls 8.3% but Profit Rises 24% as B2B Weakens and Consumer Channels Grow
French vaping company Kumulus Vape reported first-half 2026 revenue of €25.5 million, down 8.3% year over year, as its core B2B distribution business fell 11% to €21.6 million. B2C and store-network revenue rose 5.6% and 17.8%, respectively. Commercial margin increased to 26.3% from 21.7%, while net profit rose 24.1% to €0.8 million. The company attributed the profitability improvement to catalog optimization, logistics restructuring and the ramp-up of Labster, its in-house production unit for proprietary brands.
Market
Sep.17 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Sweden Finds ZYN Ingredient Labels Noncompliant Over Generic Flavoring Disclosure, Swedish Match Faces SEK 2 Million Monthly Penalty
Sweden Finds ZYN Ingredient Labels Noncompliant Over Generic Flavoring Disclosure, Swedish Match Faces SEK 2 Million Monthly Penalty
Sweden's Public Health Agency has found ingredient labels on ZYN nicotine pouches sold by Philip Morris International subsidiary Swedish Match to be noncompliant, according to Dagens industri. The products' packaging listed 10 to 13 ingredients, compared with 11 to 42 in regulatory submissions, with multiple flavoring ingredients grouped under the generic term "aromer." The agency ordered corrective action, warning of a conditional penalty of SEK 2 million per month for noncompliance. The order applies only to products manufactured after the decision becomes legally effective and does not require recalls. Swedish Match disputes the agency's interpretation and plans to appeal.
PMI
Oct.22
Japan's Heated Tobacco Use Rises From 0.1% to 14.9% Over a Decade as Growth Extends Beyond Cigarette Switching
Japan's Heated Tobacco Use Rises From 0.1% to 14.9% Over a Decade as Growth Extends Beyond Cigarette Switching
A decade-long study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific found that heated tobacco product use in Japan increased from 0.1% in 2015 to 14.9% in 2025, although growth slowed after 2018. Switching from conventional cigarettes remained an important source of HTP uptake, while the contribution from previously non-current users increased. Approximately 56% of HTP users also smoked conventional cigarettes in 2025. Separate industry data show that Japan's heated tobacco sales reached 73.4 billion units in fiscal 2025, approaching conventional cigarette sales of 78.2 billion units.
SCIENCE
Nov.10