Illegal flavored vapes from China flood Dutch market, teens hospitalized
Dutch authorities say illegal flavored vapes from China are increasingly popular among Dutch youth, yet the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has never formally raised the issue with Chinese officials, even during Minister Veldkamp’s visit to China in 2025, according to research by Argos and The Investigative Desk.
These vapes, often containing excessive nicotine levels, have contributed to hospitalizations among teenagers. Last year, 14 youths were reportedly treated in Dutch hospitals after using these products.
Chinese producers allegedly largely ignore the ban on flavored vapes when exporting to the Netherlands. In China, flavored vapes have been banned since 2022—two years before the Dutch ban—but manufacturers reportedly continue to target European markets. China produces roughly 80 percent of the world’s vapes, giving the country near-monopoly control over global supply.
A Chinese trader confirmed to Argos and The Investigative Desk that she knowingly supplies vapes for the “gray market,” referring to illegal trade. She also offered a delivery guarantee, promising to resend shipments free of charge if intercepted by customs, as part of her “after-sales policy.”
Research indicates that ordering large quantities of illegal vapes online directly from China is extremely simple. Shipments often arrive disguised under false labels or hidden in items such as flashlights or IKEA furniture.
Experts say Chinese law prohibits exporting vapes that violate the destination country’s regulations. If no local regulations exist, producers are expected to follow Chinese standards, under which flavored vapes are also illegal.
The investigation also revealed that some Chinese vape companies actively interfere with Dutch law. The Chinese manufacturer Voopoo allegedly contributed to a lawsuit challenging the Netherlands’ flavored vape ban, according to Argos's and The Investigative Desk's sources from a Dutch vape wholesaler and the Esigbond, the local vape industry lobby.
