Vape Brands and Their Authentication Measures

The vaping industry has grown exponentially in the last decade. According to Statista, the e-cigarette market is projected to generate revenue of $26 billion in 2024 and anticipates a 3.93% global compound annual growth rate between 2024-2029. While the legitimate market is growing, the vape industry, like other sectors, is plagued by counterfeit and other illicit products, which can be harmful to consumers.

In 2019, thousands of people in the United States became ill with EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury), a debilitating disease resulting from the use of vitamin E acetate to dilute black market cannabis vape cartridges. While there's no real incentive to add random chemicals to e-liquids – because the ingredients needed to produce vape juices are so inexpensive – vigilance is still needed when purchasing vapes and e-cigarettes.

Governments have been using different measures to crack down on illegal vape sales. For example, the UK has set up an ‘illicit vapes enforcement squad’ – backed by £3 million in government funding – to enforce rules on vaping and tackle illegal sales of vapes to under 18s.