More and more people are making the switch from smoking sticks to healthier alternatives like vapes and e-cigarettes, as these help to reduce the detrimental effects of smoking and the harm caused by active nicotine consumption.
However, not many would know that counterfeit e-cigarettes are a growing menace that has been affecting e-cigarette manufacturers and compromising the health of consumers.
E-cigarettes and vaporizers have grown popular in recent times, and this has led counterfeiters to turn their attention towards this space in the hopes of making a quick buck. They do this by manufacturing and selling counterfeit devices, parts, batteries, and e-liquid to gullible consumers, distributors, and retailers.
But why are counterfeit vapes dangerous to use? Since fake e-cigarettes blatantly disregard safety measures in the manufacturing process, these counterfeited products often contain unregulated, unsafe ingredients that aren’t intended for inhalation.
Fake vapes are also likely to use cheap or uncertified batteries that increase the risk of rapid overheating, leading to fires, explosions, or serious burns.
But how can users identify a fake product? New-age problems require new-age solutions, and this guide breaks it down for you.
==========
Over 35 million people use e-cigarettes globally, and China is the world's leading manufacturer of e-cigarettes. However, sadly, they are also one of the largest producers of fake e-cigarettes that inundate the markets in Europe and the United States.
The counterfeited e-cigarettes closely resemble authentic products in every sense of the term. Although the look and feel are identical to real e-cigarettes, counterfeit manufacturers use low-quality materials and inaccurate labelling, and pay no heed to safety regulations.
Here are 3 major reasons why fake vapes are dangerous:
Manufacturers of original e-cigarettes are subject to certain FDA requirements, including submitting a PMTA (pre-market tobacco application) and an MRTP (modified risk tobacco product) application before selling the product. Counterfeiters, on the other hand, couldn’t care less about such regulations.
One of the most obvious reasons why counterfeit vapes are dangerous to use is that counterfeit e-liquids may include pesticides, solvents, and harmful additives. Some have been discovered to contain diacetyl, which is linked to a serious respiratory disease known as “popcorn lung.”
Counterfeiters use fake parts in authentic devices, including heating elements and batteries. Heating elements can leach heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, nickel, and chromium, into the vapor. Inferior batteries are made with low-quality lithium-ion cells, steel, and plastics, posing serious health hazards to consumers. This is why counterfeit vapes are so dangerous to use.
Additionally, in an authentic e-cigarette, the device draws power from a battery for up to 10 seconds to prevent thermal runaway. However, combining low-quality components in a device significantly increases power consumption, making it prone to combustion.
One of the most serious risks is acute lung injury, including a condition known as EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury). The CDC has linked many EVALI cases to vitamin E acetate, commonly found in counterfeit THC vapes. This substance can interfere with normal lung function when inhaled. A 2019 outbreak caused thousands of hospitalizations and dozens of deaths.
Additionally, with unregulated fakes, nicotine or THC levels may be far higher than shown on the package. Some products have been found to contain unexpected or dangerous substances, which is one of the most pressing reasons why counterfeit vapes are dangerous to use.
With a real risk of THC overconsumption and exposure to completely unknown drugs, research shows these chemicals can damage lung tissue, trigger inflammation and oxidative stress, and cause severe breathing issues, or even death.
A report suggests the number of fake cigarettes sold across the European Union almost doubled in 2020. The figure soared from 5.5 billion to 10.3 billion in a year. According to law enforcement agencies and makers of e-cigarettes and vaping, counterfeiting and illicit trade of the product are on a steady rise across the developed world.
One reason for the rise in counterfeits is that regulatory changes and disparities across countries can suddenly make a brand unavailable to many consumers. Loyal users of the brand then turn to alternative markets.
As demand for the product grows, so does the illegal trade and proliferation of hazardous fakes. Furthermore, there is no end in sight. According to Euromonitor International, global sales of genuine products totaled $7 billion at the end of 2014, making the market lucrative for counterfeiters.
That’s why executives at vape companies are worried about the dangers posed by the growing black market for counterfeit components that is now spreading across the United States and Western Europe.
“We’ve seen an influx of cheap, generically branded liquids from China,” observes Michael Clapper, the international President at the Electronic Cigarette International Group. But if fake vapes are so dangerous, why are measures not being taken to counteract counterfeiters?
Many regulations have been put in place, but so far, none of them have been sufficient to address the problem.
The European Union has rolled out quite a few directives since 2016, such as:
Though EU officials believed new rules would help regulate the sale and use of dangerous counterfeit vapes, little progress has been made in that direction.
Nonetheless, their mission to improve the safety of e-cigarettes and prevent the number of fake vaping products circulating in EU countries remains steadfast.
Another reason why the dangerous circulation of fake vapes is still rampant could be the resistance from many e-cigarette manufacturers, who believe that rigorous safety checks would also raise product prices, giving black-market actors undue leverage to flourish.
It would seem that combating counterfeit vapes with technology might be the only viable path. Manufacturers might consider AI anti-counterfeit solutions for e-cigarettes.
With the steady rise in the trade of fake vapes and the dangers associated with them, it’s clear why counterfeit circulation needs to be checked. Manufacturers need to take bolder steps to stop illegal traders from operating.
Since stringent regulations haven’t prevented the counterfeiting of their products, vape companies need to consider other solutions. What better way to combat counterfeiting than using artificial intelligence?
With Cypheme, brands in the e-cigarette industry can leverage the best anti-counterfeiting solutions for vapes and cigarettes. If you’re wondering how we can solve the problem, look no further than our Noise Print label.
Here’s why it’s an effective countermove against counterfeit vapes:
With tamper-proof and impossible-to-duplicate Cypheme Noise Print labels on genuine vapes and e-cigarettes, consumers can check the authenticity of products, no matter where or from whom they’re purchased. Genuine label = genuine product.
Not only does this enable consumers to detect fake e-cigarettes online, but it also increases the likelihood of apprehending criminals by using their geographic location. Because why stop at curbing the circulation of dangerous, counterfeit vapes when you can solve the problem at the grassroots by putting their manufacturers behind bars?
We are driven by the mission of putting a dent in the Global Counterfeiting Industry. So far, we’ve saved over 75,000 lives, eliminated 10 million fake products, and recovered 150 million euros in revenue for our clients worldwide.
Ready to shield your business from counterfeiters and recover lost revenue? Contact us to learn more.
