WeChat Announcement: Vape Included in Prohibited Items for Sale

Regulations by 2FIRSTS.ai
Mar.13.2024
WeChat Announcement: Vape Included in Prohibited Items for Sale
WeChat announces crackdown on personal accounts selling prohibited items to protect user information and rights.

On the evening of March 12th, the WeChat Security Center released a governance announcement titled "Announcement on Governing the Behavior of Personal WeChat Accounts Posting Information on the Sale of Prohibited Items." In order to regulate the information posting behavior of personal WeChat accounts, safeguard the information security and legitimate rights and interests of WeChat users, and for any personal WeChat accounts that publish, display, or disseminate various prohibited items for sale information in any form, the WeChat team will strictly follow the requirements of relevant national laws and regulations, as well as the provisions of the "Tencent WeChat Software License and Service Agreement" and the "WeChat Personal Account Usage Rules." Depending on the seriousness of the violation, a tiered punishment will be implemented: for violations, the content will be deleted upon discovery; for violating accounts, the WeChat account may be warned, restricted, or prohibited to use certain or all functions, the account may be temporarily suspended, or permanently banned.

 

Announcement disclosure: Personal WeChat accounts are not allowed to publish, display, or disseminate various prohibited items for sale information, including but not limited to the following examples:

 

01 Violating the rules by promoting pharmaceuticals or medical devices 

02 Tobacco and e-cigarette advertising 

03 Illegal categories such as sexual health products 

04 Controlled substances like aphrodisiacs 

05 Black and gray market items such as cheat software and fake IDs 

06 Pornographic and sexually suggestive content 

07 Weapons with killing power such as imitation guns, bows and arrows, controlled knives, and air guns 

08 Illegal loan content 

 

The WeChat Security Center reminds users that posting illegal or prohibited items for sale through social media platforms such as Moments, Video Accounts, or live streaming is a violation of rules. Assisting friends in promoting and selling illegal or prohibited items through reposts in Moments or WeChat groups can result in both the seller and reposter facing administrative penalties if issues arise.

 

Users are also reminded to cherish their WeChat account usage rights and not violate existing laws and regulations during use. The WeChat Security Center will handle violations according to relevant laws, regulations, and user agreement rules, and cooperate with authorities to protect the legitimate rights and interests of WeChat users and other parties.

 

The WeChat team is urging users to cherish their usage rights of WeChat accounts, strictly abide by laws and regulations, follow user agreements, and avoid engaging in any illegal activities. The WeChat Security Center will handle violations in accordance with laws and regulations and user agreements, and cooperate with relevant authorities to protect the legitimate rights and interests of WeChat users and other parties.

 

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

From Nicotine Pouches to Soft Candy Forms: China Tobacco Hubei explores adjustable-release oral nicotine products
From Nicotine Pouches to Soft Candy Forms: China Tobacco Hubei explores adjustable-release oral nicotine products
China-based China Tobacco Hubei Industrial Co., Ltd. has filed a patent application covering an oral nicotine product and its preparation method. The patent proposes a soft candy-shaped oral nicotine product containing nicotine ingredients, gelling agents, sweeteners and alkaline pH regulators. Through formulation adjustments and homogeneous or dual-layer structures, the technology aims to achieve different nicotine release profiles. The filing reflects exploration of new oral nicotine product formats and controlled nicotine delivery approaches.
Aug.06
UK HMRC Plans 30,000 Retail Enforcement Actions as Illegal Tobacco and Vape Sellers Face Tougher Crackdown
UK HMRC Plans 30,000 Retail Enforcement Actions as Illegal Tobacco and Vape Sellers Face Tougher Crackdown
The UK government has announced that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will carry out more than 30,000 interventions targeting businesses and retail premises during the 2026-2027 financial year. The actions will focus on tax fraud, illegal goods sales and businesses involved in unlawful activities through retail channels. The government said illegal tobacco and illegal vape sales remain areas of concern. The move shows that UK enforcement against illegal nicotine products is expanding from import and supply channels toward retail-level oversight, alongside the upcoming introduction of the Vaping Products Duty.
Jul.24
BAT UK Director Tolga Kilic Says Illicit Nicotine Market Squeezes Legal Retailers Amid Rising Compliance Costs
BAT UK Director Tolga Kilic Says Illicit Nicotine Market Squeezes Legal Retailers Amid Rising Compliance Costs
UK retail publication Grocery Trader has published a viewpoint article from Tolga Kilic, Commercial Director for BAT UK & Ireland, discussing the impact of illicit nicotine products on legitimate retail channels. Kilic said illegal vapes and other illicit nicotine products create competitive pressure for compliant retailers and called for stronger market controls and supply-chain oversight. The comments come as the UK advances policies including the disposable vape ban and Vaping Products Duty, creating a more complex operating environment for legal vape retailers.
Jul.28
WIRED Investigation: Chinese-Made Vapes Turn to 6-Methyl-Nicotine and Other Analogs, Challenging U.S. Regulation
WIRED Investigation: Chinese-Made Vapes Turn to 6-Methyl-Nicotine and Other Analogs, Challenging U.S. Regulation
U.S. technology and investigative publication WIRED has examined how nicotine analogs are emerging as a new challenge for the country’s vape regulatory framework. The article argues that after the U.S. expanded federal oversight of nicotine products in 2022, some manufacturers began using nicotine-like compounds such as 6-methyl-nicotine that may fall outside existing definitions. Researchers cited by WIRED said some nicotine analogs could be more potent than traditional nicotine, although human health impacts remain unclear. U.S. policymakers are considering broader definitions of nicotine to bring these compounds under federal oversight.
Jul.27
ATF Cancels Webloc Contract, Raising Questions Over Commercial Location Data in Enforcement
ATF Cancels Webloc Contract, Raising Questions Over Commercial Location Data in Enforcement
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has stopped using Webloc, a commercial phone-tracking tool, after lawmakers, a prosecutor and a judge raised legal and privacy concerns over warrantless use of ad-tech location data, a development that may affect data-use boundaries in U.S. enforcement against illicit tobacco, nicotine products and cross-border distribution networks.
Jun.29
Altria Smokeable Profit Rises 2.4% as Marlboro Share Falls and U.S. Discounts Gain
Altria Smokeable Profit Rises 2.4% as Marlboro Share Falls and U.S. Discounts Gain
Altria’s second-quarter results show a U.S. nicotine market splitting across price, product and regulation. Smokeable profit rose 2.4% as Marlboro pricing offset lower volumes, while discount brand Basic gained share among value-conscious smokers. In oral nicotine, on! PLUS expanded distribution but faced intensifying competition from ZYN and Velo. NJOY remained off the market as patent and regulatory hurdles delayed its return. The broader lesson: U.S. growth increasingly depends on price-tier strategy, retail execution, authorisation and enforcement readiness across the industry.
Special Report
Jul.31