Nov 1: Regulators ban e-cigarette sales online

Market regulators decided to ban online sales and advertising of e-cigarettes amid growing health concerns that vaping and a fledgling online market may victimize minors, according to a statement released by the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration and the State Administration for Market Regulation on Nov 1.

The ban takes effect immediately.

There are over 300 million smokers in China, and 28.1 percent of people aged 15 years and older smoke. The country aims at slashing the percentage to 20 percent by 2030.