ITC terminates investigation on Kimsun in e-cigarette dispute

Sep.25.2024
ITC terminates investigation on Kimsun in e-cigarette dispute
ITC terminates investigation on disposable e-cigarette devices, issuing settlement order to Kimsun in 337 case.

On September 23, according to the latest announcement by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), in the 337 investigation case regarding certain disposable e-cigarette devices, the commission decided not to review the initial determination of the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). This means that based on a mutually agreed settlement agreement, the investigation into Kimsun Technology (HuiZhou) Co., Ltd. has been terminated.


The investigation case number is 337-TA-1410, which began on July 22, 2024, brought by the plaintiffs RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc., R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, RAI Services Company, collectively known as the plaintiffs. They accused 35 companies, including Kimsun, of violating Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The plaintiffs claim that these companies have imported, sold, and/or sold after importation disposable e-cigarette devices and their components in the United States, infringing on their patents.


On August 16, 2024, Kimsun applied to terminate the investigation against it based on a consent order. On August 22, the Office of Unfair Import Investigations (OUII) supported the motion, with no opposition from other parties. On August 28, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) issued a preliminary ruling to terminate the investigation against Kimsun, stating that the consent order complied with ITC rules 210.21(c)(3) and (4), and that the termination of the investigation would not be against the public interest.


ITC decided not to review the ruling in the vote on September 23 and issued a consent order to Kimsun. This marks the end of the legal dispute for Kimsun in the 337 investigation case.


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

Couche-Tard Posts Double-Digit U.S. Same-Store Growth in Other Nicotine Products, Led by Pouches
Couche-Tard Posts Double-Digit U.S. Same-Store Growth in Other Nicotine Products, Led by Pouches
Alimentation Couche-Tard said U.S. same-store sales in its “other nicotine products” category grew at a double-digit rate in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, led by nicotine pouches, while overall U.S. same-store merchandise revenues increased 1.7%. The company also said its Canadian nicotine business continued to face regulatory pressure and illicit-market headwinds. The U.S. performance coincides with Couche-Tard's participation in efforts to reopen Canadian convenience-store access to authorized nicotine pouches, though the company has not established a direct causal link between the two.
Sep.14
On-Site Report | After FDA Announces Review of PMTA Framework, CTP Director Details Reform Priorities
On-Site Report | After FDA Announces Review of PMTA Framework, CTP Director Details Reform Priorities
FDA CTP Director Bret Koplow used his FDLI keynote in Washington to outline how the agency is rethinking the PMTA framework. He discussed category-specific review, nicotine pouch and sPMTA pilots, AI-assisted review, a 70% reduction in pending applications, and a major staffing constraint: CTP currently has only nine scientific review teams. He also reaffirmed tobacco harm reduction while stressing youth protection, flavored products, risk communication, and the challenge of unauthorized e-cigarettes.
Regulations
Oct.06
Product | BAT Revises Japan's VELO Convenience Store Lineup, Adding ¥380 Mango Pouches as Selected SKUs Exit
Product | BAT Revises Japan's VELO Convenience Store Lineup, Adding ¥380 Mango Pouches as Selected SKUs Exit
British American Tobacco's Japanese subsidiary, BAT Japan, launched VELO Mango Ice Medium on November 2, 2026, with distribution expanding to selected 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, NewDays and Seicomart stores from November 3. The new oral tobacco product contains 15 pouches per can and retails for ¥380, featuring a mango and cooling flavor profile at Medium intensity. At the same time, BAT Japan raised prices on multiple existing VELO products from ¥360 to ¥380 per can and withdrew selected SKUs from convenience store distribution without discontinuing them entirely. The changes affect product assortment, pricing and retail channel allocation.
product
Nov.04
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
IKE Tech Launches IKE 2.0 Compliance Platform for Nicotine Products
IKE Tech Launches IKE 2.0 Compliance Platform for Nicotine Products
IKE Tech launched IKE 2.0 on September 28, initially targeting nicotine products with a platform that combines user identity verification, product authentication, configurable policy controls and data analytics. Products can be authenticated through direct device integration or NFC smart tags. IKE Tech was formed with participation from Ispire's Aspire North America, Berify and Chemular, with Ispire currently holding a 40% interest. Its age-verification component PMTA was accepted by the FDA in 2025 and remains under review. The company did not disclose customer names, commercial deployment volumes, pricing or revenue tied to IKE 2.0.
News
Sep.29 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Product | KUMI SCENIC 50K Offers Nicotine and 6-Methyl Nicotine Versions as 6-MN Products Appear in Multiple U.S. State Directories, With Louisiana Listing FDA Exemption
Product | KUMI SCENIC 50K Offers Nicotine and 6-Methyl Nicotine Versions as 6-MN Products Appear in Multiple U.S. State Directories, With Louisiana Listing FDA Exemption
An October 2026 review of U.S. state vapor product directories found KUMI 6 SCENIC 50K listed in Louisiana and Nebraska. Louisiana classifies 20 related product entries as “FDA EXEMPTION.” The SCENIC platform is marketed in both conventional nicotine-salt and NoNic6 formulations, each advertised with 22mL e-liquid capacity and up to 50,000 puffs. U.S. wholesaler Midwest Goods listed both versions in August 2025 with a suggested retail price of $19.99 each. The NoNic6 version is associated with 6-methylnicotine and is also marketed by some distributors as “nicotine-free.”
product
Oct.27