Retailers and consumers are being warned that factories producing counterfeit disposable e-cigarettes flooding the UK market do not have manufacturing licenses and have not taken product safety into consideration.
Since June 2021, ELFBAR has launched an anti-counterfeit operation and has successfully taken down over 120 fake production and sales operations including factories, warehouses, logistics, and foreign trade companies. This effort has resulted in the seizure of over 2 million fake ELFBAR products, as well as millions of fake packaging boxes, anti-counterfeit codes, and half-finished cigarette pipes.
According to Victor Xiao, CEO of ELFBAR, "Consumers would be shocked if they knew the conditions these products were manufactured under, and it's understandable. The criminals behind these counterfeit products don't care about product safety or consumer health; they infiltrate every corner to maximize their profits.
To be frank, conditions in these factories are absolutely filthy. Workers are operating production lines in unsanitary conditions, with no consideration for hygiene.
Mr. Xiao stated that when counterfeiters run rampant in the industry, damaging the reputations of long-standing manufacturers and putting consumer health at great risk, ELFBAR will not stand idly by.
He added, "Retailers face enormous risks when dealing with these products and must avoid using them at all costs. Because these products have not undergone any safety checks or official testing, it is impossible to know what health risks they may cause.
ELFBAR is cracking down hard on the illegal e-cigarette market, and is establishing an intelligence file on counterfeit products as fraudsters become smarter and more efficient. While ELFBAR is working to prevent fraudsters from the source, they realize that it is impossible to stop all counterfeit goods from passing through. They are now warning retailers that they are the last line of defense in protecting consumers.
Mr. Xiao added, "Although it may be difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake ELFBAR products based solely on appearance, no retailer has any reason to sell counterfeit products. Retailers can scan the code on the packaging to verify the authenticity of the product, and we urge them to do so for every product they sell. Combating counterfeit goods is ELFBAR's top priority, and we maintain a zero-tolerance attitude towards counterfeit electronic cigarettes in the entire industry. The UK market is very important to us, and we will continue to do our best to ensure that UK consumers have confidence in their electronic cigarettes.
As part of its efforts to combat counterfeit electronic cigarettes, ELFBAR has launched a campaign to educate retailers and consumers about the dangers posed by counterfeit manufacturers. During the campaign, ELFBAR has released a video showcasing its authentic production process, while also demonstrating how to scan anti-counterfeit QR codes in order to ensure product quality and avoid purchasing fake goods.
John Dunne, Director General of the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), has praised ELFBAR for taking action against counterfeiters. He emphasizes that these counterfeit products pose a significant risk to the harm reduction reputation of the global e-cigarette industry. With this in mind, UKVIA has called for a retail licensing scheme in the UK that aims to prevent the sale of illegal products. Retailers found to be in violation of this scheme could face a minimum fine of £10,000. Dunne also urges authorities to take action against counterfeiters and those involved in the supply chain of counterfeit e-cigarettes to prevent them from engaging in such activities again.
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