The vaping brand Vaporesso has kicked off its rebranding campaign with the reveal of its new logo. During the Vapexpo event in Lille, France, the China-based vaping device manufacturer’s new logo features the letter “V” at the forefront, encircled behind by the letter “O.”
The “O” symbolizes a vapor ring that opens up. Beyond the visual, the “O” also represents the joy, love and hope that the brand brings. The “V” symbolizes the passion that characterizes the vaping community. It is an ode to the vapers that Vaporesso has built and grown alongside,” according to a press release.
“’V’ and ‘O’ are the defining symbols for Vaporesso. On our journey to push the envelope, we hold onto a craftsman’s heart and ambition. With our in-house tech and expertise, we will grow along with our users, and exceed expectations and limitations,” says Thalia Cheng, CMO of Vaporesso.
The new logo comes as part of a shift in brand identity, which will be unveiled in the coming month. During the event, the powerhouse vaping brand also introduced its latest technology and products to vapers and distributors. Products included the 2021 launched iTank with its patented Turbo Airflow System, the GTi coil platform, and the GEN 200, 8S and FIT.
In order to enhance support and care for vapers, Vaporesso recently launched its first flagship store in Marseille, France, in December of 2021. The flagship store, positioned as an all-around brand experience provides users with 4S services (sales, spare parts, services, and surveys). In the future, VAPORESSO plans on continuing to expand its 4S stores to Paris and other major French cities.
During the launch event, Vaporesso also introduced the New After-service System to ensure a prompt 48-hour response to partners and customers.
Jamaica has seen a rise in e-cigarette sales. In a recent interview with the owner of local vape shops, a story in the Jamaica Observer states that increasing number of Jamaicans are turning to vape retail outlets across the island to curtail their smoking habit.
Ravn Rae, the owner the Mez Vape & Smoke Shop, which has been in operation since 2013, says they have received countless testimonials from its local and international customers, who have used Rae’s vaping products to help them successfully quit tobacco smoking.
The shop has locations in Kingston and Montego Bay and Rae told the newspaper that she prides herself on only selling “authentic, certified, quality-assured and proven products to buyers” that are over 18 years of age.
“I have even been visited by parents on numerous occasions seeking safer vape products to help their adult children quit smoking,” she attests. “The good thing about vape products is that they have been proven to be much safer alternatives to combustible cigarettes and the level of nicotine in vape products can be determined by the buyer.”
Flavors other than tobacco are also popular with adult Jamaican consumers, according to Rae. She revealed that some flavor profiles are also more effective than others “as these are not the generic flavors that smokers typically associate with traditional tobacco cigarettes.”
Ying (Kate) Wang has resigned as a member and the chairperson of the compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee of RLX Technology’s board of directors to help the company comply with the relevant New York Stock Exchange’s (NYSE) listing requirements on board committees’ independence.
Wang is the co-founder, chairperson of the board of directors and CEO of RLX Technology.
Going forward, the compensation committee and nominating committee will be composed entirely of independent directors, namely Zhenjing Zhu and Youmin Xi, RLX Technology announced in a press note.
Concurrent with Wang’s resignation from the compensation committee and the nominating committee, Xi was appointed as the chairperson of the nominating committee and the chairperson of the compensation committee.
Wang last year resigned from the company’s audit committee also to comply with the relevant NYSE’s listing requirements on audit committee’s independence.
The FDA has issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) to several myblu brand products manufactured by Fontem US. Fontem Ventures, a subsidiary of Imperial Brands PLC, owns the global e-cigarette brand blu. Tobacco and vaping products subject to a negative action regarding a premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) submission, including those subject to an MDO, may not be offered for sale, distributed or marketed in the US.
“On April 8, FDA issued MDOs to Fontem US, LLC for several myblu electronic nicotine-delivery system (ENDS) products after determining their applications lacked sufficient evidence to show that permitting the marketing of these products would be appropriate for the protection of the public health,” the FDA stated in a release.
Credit: blu
The currently marketed products receiving MDOs include:
myblu Device Kit
myblu Intense Tobacco Chill 2.5%
myblu Intense Tobacco Chill 4.0%
myblu Intense Tobacco 2.4%
myblu Intense Tobacco 3.6%
myblu Gold Leaf 1.2%
myblu Gold Leaf 2.4%
Based on the information provided in the applications submitted by Fontem US, for these myblu products and the available evidence, the applications lacked sufficient evidence regarding design features, manufacturing, and stability, according to the agency. Additionally, the applications did not demonstrate that the potential benefit to smokers who switch completely or significantly reduce their cigarette use would outweigh the risk to youth.
Generally, the submission of a premarket application and intent to commercially market a new tobacco product that has never been marketed would be considered confidential commercial information (CCI) that the FDA would not disclose, according to the FDA. However, the agency determined that the named products are currently marketed based on communication with the applicant during the development of the publicly available Deemed New Tobacco Product Application List, and therefore the applicant has acknowledged the submission of these premarket applications.
“FDA is issuing MDOs for additional myblu products that do not appear on the publicly available list,” the agency stated. “FDA has publicly named only products that the FDA or the manufacturer have confirmed to be currently marketed to avoid potential CCI issues.”
A new study in Value in Health shows that local vape bans are leading to higher rates of combustible cigarette smoking, according to Filter.
The study used state-level cigarette sales data, showing that Massachusetts had 7.5 percent higher than expected per capita cigarette sales following a full ban on nicotine vapor products. Rhode Island and Washington, which both enacted nontobacco-flavored nicotine vape bans, showed an average estimate of 4.6 percent higher than expected per capita cigarette sales.
Researchers suggested that an additional 3.4 million cigarette packs were sold through convenience stores in those states during the three-month study period.
The Canadian government has proposed the country’s first federal vape tax, which would take effect Oct. 1 if passed, according to Vaping360.
The tax applies only to nicotine-containing products, including pod-style and cartridge-style refills, disposable vapes and bottled e-liquids as well as nicotine base for DIY liquids. It does not apply to hardware that is sold without e-liquids. The tax also includes an option for Canadian provinces to add on their own, equally large, taxes.
Vaping products would see a tax of CAD1 ($0.97) per 2 mL for the first 10 mL of e-liquid in any sealed container and $1 per 10 mL for additional liquid in the same container. Sealed pods would be taxed separately at a minimum of $1 per pod.
Retailers would have until Jan. 1, 2023, to sell any untaxed stock they still have on Oct. 1 when the law would go into effect.
The tax is awaiting a vote by Parliament’s House of Commons, which is expected to take place either at the end of April or beginning of May.
The World Vape Show (WVS) has teamed up with the U.K. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) making WVS the “most compliant” vape show, according to a press release.
The World Vape Show will be next taking place in Dubai on June 16-18 and then in London on Dec. 1. The partnership will take effect immediately.
“I’m absolutely delighted to announce our collaboration with the MHRA and have them endorse the World Vape Show’s UK events,” Jake Nixon, event director of the WVS. “With the UK leading the way in terms of government bodies supporting the vape industry, we are very happy to support this mission and continue to educate our audiences all over the world.”
Working closely together, WVS and the MHRA will put the tools in place to ensure exhibitors are compliant with UK regulations, according to the release. This will give retailers and buyers the confidence to make purchases, knowing they are buying quality products that are legal for supply across the UK.
“This and further collaborations are an important step towards the availability of fully compliant e-cigarette products in the UK market,” said Laura Squire, MHRA Chief Healthcare Quality and Access Officer. “We are working to progressively engage with similar shows in the future, so we can make sure that companies that exhibit their products at these events are compliant with the UK regulations.”
The China-based vaping technology manufacturer Smoore International announced its financial results for 2021. The company reported 2021 annual revenues of RMB13.75 billion ($2.16 billion), representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 37.4 percent.
The company credited it’s FEELM atomization company and its innovative vaping solutions for its growing success. “The driving force of the atomization industry is technological innovations, which brings fundamental breakthroughs in product safety and flavor reproduction”, said Smoore Board Chairman, Chen Zhiping.
Smoore’s Chairman and CEO Chen Zhiping
In a press release sent to Vapor Voice, Smoore also pledged to achieve carbon neutrality in its direct and indirect production and operational activities by 2050. Smoore is the first atomization technology company to announce a roadmap to carbon neutrality.
“In 2021, the global regulations on the electronic atomization industry have become more stringent, and many countries set higher safety standards for electronic atomization products while Smoore has still maintained its position as the world’s largest manufacturer of vaping devices,” the release states.
According to Frost and Sullivan report, the Smoore’s market share in the global vaping devices manufacturing market has increased to approximately 22.8 percent in 2021 from approximately 18.9 percent in 2020.
With its technological advantages in atomization, Smoore has continued to empower its global corporate clients, according to the release. Revenue from corporate client oriented sales exceeded RMB10 billion and reached RMB12.59 billion for the first time in the company’s history. The increase represents growth of 37.4 percent year-on-year, with overseas revenue accounting for over 70 percent of its corporate client oriented sales.
“It is largely attributed to the company’s flagship closed system vaping tech brand FEELM, which has been widely recognized by leading vaping brands around the world,” the release states. “To date, vaping devices loaded with FEELM atomizer have been exported to 50 countries in Europe, America, East Asia, Africa, and Oceania, with its accumulated sales volume surpassing 3 billion pieces.”
Year in review
In 2021, SMOORE continued to strengthen its R&D investment. The total research and development expenses was approximately RMB670 million, representing an increase of approximately 59.7 percent over the previous year, according to Smoore.
The company has also developed a comprehensive safety assessment system to help its clients comply with standards in different markets. For example, Smoore created and put into action China’s first corporate one-stop risk assessment laboratory for the European Union’s Tobacco Products Directive compliance rules. The lab is capable of helping clients meet EU vaping market entry requirements, including having the ability to generate test reports within 5 working days.
Smoore has also put into operation seven fundamental research centers in China and the U.S. As of Dec. 31, 2021, Smoore had a total of 1254 R&D experts, with 101 having a doctoral degree or above, according to the release.
“The number of the company’s accumulative patent applications is 3408, involving temperature control, heating element, leakage-proof performance and e-liquid storage; and the number of new patent applications in 2021 was 1,187 globally,” the release states. “In 2021, Smoore also introduced the latest generation of production line, realizing the fully automated production of assembly, e-liquid injection, and packaging. Now, the single-line production efficiency has reached 7,200 standard vaporizers per hour, maintaining the industry’s leading position in manufacturing. The fully automated production line has been used by FEELM’s clients on a large scale.”
According to the Frost and Sullivan Report, the global market size of vaping devices is expected to grow at a compound growth rate of approximately 25.3 percent from 2022 to 2026, and global consumers are expecting products with improved safety, more authentic flavor reproduction and powerful functions, to satisfy their diversified needs.
“This is why FEELM introduced the world’s first ceramic coil disposable pod solution in 2021. FEELM will launch more disposable vaping products in overseas markets in 2022 to further strengthen its product portfolio,” the release states. “Moreover, in January 2022, FEELM has showcased the world’s thinnest ceramic coil vape pod solution, FEELM Air in London.”
The FEELM Air features seven major breakthroughs in vaping experience, including harm reduction, flavor reproduction and leakage-proof performance. “FEELM Air is going to be firstly launched in overseas markets,” said Frank Han, president of FEELM and vice president of Smoore. “Currently, FEELM is working with global clients on the regional deployment and promotion of FEELM Air.”
During Smoore’s 2021 Annual Performance Conference, Qiu Lingyun, vice president of Smoore said that the U.S and China have successively implemented a flavor ban on e-cigarettes, and Smoore has already prepared technical solutions for tobacco flavors in accordance with the U.S regulations over the last year, prior to the exposure draft of Chinese national standards of e-cigarettes that comes into force on May 1.
“Moreover, disposable vapes have shown strong growth momentum in recent years,” said Qiu Lingyun. “Smoore has developed integrated solutions to the heating element, e-liquid and temperature zone of disposable vapes, in a bid to diversify its product portfolio. Thus, SMOORE has been ready to launch successful disposable products in international markets soon.”
Thailand’s government has rejected an initiative to legalize and regulate nicotine vaping products, opting, instead, to reconfirm the country’s ban on sales and imports of e-cigarettes, according to Vaping360.
Thailand’s ban has been in place since 2014.
The National Tobacco Products Control Committee upheld the ban in a meeting last week, and Public Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Kiattiphum Wongrajit supports the decision. The decision will go to the cabinet for formal approval, and the cabinet is not expected to overrule the decision.
Thailand’s tobacco committee has stated that the country should uphold the ban to prevent cigarette addiction by children and adolescents.
Minister of Digital Economy and Society Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn has urged the government to end its ban on vapes, which he believes offer a low-risk alternative for smokers. As recently as January, he had planned to set up a working group to study the issue and consider public opinion.
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is urging Australian politicians to debate vaping in the runup the country’s federal election on May 21.
According to the advocacy group, Australian politicians who recognize the public health potential of vaping will be rewarded with votes, “yet most remain too scared to promote the world’s most effective smoking cessation tool.”
Nancy Loucas
“Australia’s political leaders need to pull their heads out of the sand,” said Nancy Loucas, executive coordinator of CAPHRA. “Annually, over 20,000 Australian smokers die prematurely from smoking-related illnesses, and 2.3 million still smoke. Alarmingly, however, nobody wants to seriously fix successive governments’ failure to reduce tobacco harm.”
Australia is the only Western democracy that requires a nicotine prescription to vape. Further, its Department of Health’s Draft National Smoking Strategy 2022–2030 proposes additional measures to prevent smokers from switching to safer nicotine products.
Loucas suspects that tobacco tax revenues are one of the reasons that vaping has been buried in the election debate. Ongoing increases to tobacco excise have made it the fourth-largest individual tax collected by Australia’s federal government at an estimated $15 billion per financial year, according to CAPHRA.
The group notes that nearly 70 countries have adopted regulatory frameworks on safer nicotine products. All of them have reported a dramatic decline in smoking prevalence since.
“Australia is light-years behind the U.S., U.K. and New Zealand, with some key Asian countries now looking to lift their failed vaping bans. If campaigning Australian politicians really want to save lives this election, well here is their best opportunity by simply a stroke of the pen,” said Loucas.
The vaping brand Vaporesso has kicked off its rebranding campaign with the reveal of its new logo. During the Vapexpo event in Lille, France, the China-based vaping device manufacturer’s new logo features the letter “V” at the forefront, encircled behind by the letter “O.”
