Firm linked to vape manufacturer in China exits Singapore amid roll-out of tough measures

SINGAPORE – The tough anti-vape measures introduced in Singapore from Sept 1 have seen a global firm with links to the e-vaporiser trade shutter its office in the central business district.

Holding company Hellow SG, which offered administrative services and was exposed by The Straits Times as a subsidiary of China-based vape producer Relx International, was “struck off” on Sept 30, 2025, according to Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (Acra) records.

The firm, which was registered here in 2019, is not the first linked to the vape trade to exit Singapore.

American e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Lab, which had its regional headquarters here, left after it went into liquidation in July 2024.

Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore, told ST that the business environment for vape companies operating here may have become unfavourable.

Prof Teo said: “I believe (it has become less conducive) since the announcement by PM Wong during the National Day Rally of Singapore adopting a whole-of-government approach against vaping... This would extend to reducing the commercial footprint of vapes in Singapore.

“This also aligns with the overall principles of rejecting vapes in Singapore, that we do not endorse their presence in the country completely.”

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in his

National Day Rally

speech on Aug 17, 2025 that vaping will be treated as a drug issue, with stiffer penalties imposed.

Singapore

implemented stricter measures

 from Sept 1, 2025, with higher fines for abusers and harsher penalties for suppliers.

The anaesthetic agent etomidate, which is being abused through vapes known as Kpods, 

has also been classified as a Class C drug.

Lawyer N. Kanagavijayan said vape companies may be concerned about the implications of monies they receive from their trade, including sales to jurisdictions in the region where vaping is allowed and regulated.

Mr Kanagavijayan said: “It (the movement of funds to Singapore) can still be caught under money laundering, whether if it’s through Singapore, or through conducting illegal activities and receiving money... it can be caught under the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes Act.”

From Sept 1, certain vaping offences under the Poisons Act and the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act came under three powerful laws usually reserved for major crimes, including large-scale money laundering and terrorism.

They are the Online Criminal Harms Act, the Organised Crime Act, and the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act, which is used to deprive convicted criminals of the benefits of their activities.

Hellow SG had operated discreetly in Singapore. It was involved in the transshipment of vape products manufactured by Relx International.

It operated from a nondescript office, without a signboard, at Valley Point in River Valley Road.

ST had revealed in February 2024 that the firm’s shareholder included Hellow HK, a company registered in Hong Kong.

Accounting records from the Caymen Islands showed that the director of Hellow HK was Chinese national Du Bing. He was the chief executive of Relx International, which manufactures vapes in Shenzhen, China, for the global market.

The firm, said to be one of the largest producers of vapes in China, sold more than 2.2 billion yuan (S$402 million) worth of vaping products in 2020 alone.

Former employees of Relx International told ST the Hellow SG office was used to run Relx International’s Asia-Pacific import-export operations.

While Relx International did not import e-vaporisers into Singapore, it was said to be

responsible for marketing

and promoting its e-vaporiser products.

It conducted online meetings with regional associates,

discussing the use of influencers

on social media via third parties to promote its vapes.

ST had revealed its operations after

whistleblowers provided recorded conversations

of Hellow SG’s management plans. The premises it occupied in River Valley has been leased to an education centre for children from September 2024.

According to Acra, Hellow SG applied for voluntary striking off on June 27, 2025.

An Acra spokesperson said: “In line with the Companies Act, the Registrar of Companies published a notice stating its intent to strike off the company; and invited persons to show cause within the statutory period of 60 days on why this should not be done.

“No objection to the striking off was received during the show-cause process and the company was struck off from the register on Sept 30, 2025.”

ST contacted Relx International and two of its Singaporean senior managers, who were formerly employed by tobacco companies, for comments. They did not reply at press time.

Since the roll-out of tough anti-vape measures, 1,339 people have been caught for vape-related offences between Sept 1 and Oct 12, and

67 people have been placed

in rehabilitation programmes.

During that period, the authorities seized more than 26,000 e-vaporisers and their related components.