Author: Staff Writer

  • Juul Settlement to Fund Research Against Vaping

    Juul Settlement to Fund Research Against Vaping

    Photo: steheap

    North Carolina will use the $40 million settlement with Juul Labs, announced in June by Attorney General Josh Stein, to help fund research to stop the use of electronic cigarettes among young people, reports The Fayetteville Observer.

     “For years, Juul targeted young people, including teens, with its highly addictive e-cigarette,” said Stein. “It lit the spark and fanned the flames of a vaping epidemic among our children—one that you can see in any high school in North Carolina. This win will go a long way in keeping Juul products out of kids’ hands, keeping its chemical vapor out of their lungs and keeping its nicotine from poisoning and addicting their brains.”

     Juul Labs will pay North Carolina $13 million in the first year, $8 million the second year, $7.5 million the third year, $7 million the fourth year and $2.25 million the fifth and sixth years. The payout is set to fund programs conducting research and prevention of electronic cigarettes, according to Travis Greer, regional tobacco control manager for the Cumberland County Health Department.

  • FDA Urged to Deny Applications for All Flavored E-Cigarettes

    FDA Urged to Deny Applications for All Flavored E-Cigarettes

    Photo: Boki

    Seven leading public health, medical and parent organizations are urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to expedite decisions on remaining marketing applications for e-cigarettes and promptly deny applications for all flavored e-cigarettes, including menthol-flavored products.

    The organizations say they are concerned about these products’ appeal to youth and adverse impact on public health.

    In a letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, the groups also urged the FDA to prioritize enforcement against unauthorized flavored e-cigarettes with the largest market shares and products with the highest prevalence of youth use.

    The groups sending the letter are the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes and Truth Initiative.

    Since Sept. 9, the FDA has denied marketing applications for more than 1,167,000 products, but it has yet to issue decisions on e-cigarette brands with the highest market shares, such as Juul, Vuse, NJOY and Blu, which make up over 78 percent of the market, according to Nielsen data.

    The health groups expressed particular concern that the FDA is still considering whether to authorize any menthol-flavored e-cigarettes and urged the FDA not to do so given the clear evidence that menthol is a flavor that appeals to and is widely used by kids.

    “Contrary to the FDA’s August 26 statement that menthol e-cigarette products raise ‘unique considerations’ for purposes of FDA review, we do not believe there is anything ‘unique’ about menthol flavoring that would justify issuance of a marketing order,” the groups wrote in their letter. “Indeed, there is no question that when FDA decided to prioritize enforcement against cartridge-based e-cigarettes in flavors other than menthol and tobacco, youth shifted to using menthol-flavored products.”

  • Poda Holdings Emerges After Recent Name Change

    Poda Holdings Emerges After Recent Name Change

    Photo: Poda Holdings

    Poda Holdings has completed the name change from Poda Lifestyle and Wellness to Poda Holdings, pursuant to a directors’ resolution announced earlier this month. The company’s shares will remain trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the ticker symbol PODA upon the opening of the markets on Sept. 27, 2021.

     The CUSIP number assigned to the company’s shares following the name change is 73044N10 4 (ISIN: CA73044N1042). No action is required by stockholders, and outstanding stock certificates are not affected by the name change and will not need to be exchanged.

    In related news, the company has engaged CFN Enterprises, owner and operator of CFN Media, to provide social media and client outreach strategy services for the company.

  • UKVIA Partners With Stop-Smoking App ‘Smoke Free’

    UKVIA Partners With Stop-Smoking App ‘Smoke Free’

    Photo: krsmanovic

    The U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has joined forces with the stop-smoking app Smoke Free to encourage more smokers to give up their habit by using a range of evidence-based alternatives to conventional cigarettes.

     As part of the collaboration, the UKVIA and Smoke Free have agreed to work on a number of joint campaigns and initiatives that both promote vaping as a successful method to quit smoking and increase access to the app among those smokers looking to kick their habit.

    The joint initiatives include a campaign in January, when smokers will be making New Year’s resolutions to quit. Collaborations are also planned during VApril, the UKVIA’s annual vaping awareness month and on a specific initiative supporting hospital patients with smoking-related conditions and the healthcare professionals that care for them.

    This is an exciting collaboration, which is focused on getting smokers to quit completely

    John Dunne, director-general, UKVIA

    “This is an exciting collaboration, which is focused on getting smokers to quit completely,” said John Dunne, director-general of the UKVIA, in a statement. “Some 2.4 million former smokers have successfully done this in the U.K. to date, but there are still 1.2 million dual vape/cigarette users and another 6.9 million smokers who have not quit to date.

     “By coming together, we want to significantly ramp up support for smokers who are looking to quit.”

     “Vapes make quitting easy because they’re a great replacement for cigarettes,” said David Crane, founder of the app. “But habits still need to be changed, which is where the support we provide comes in. We are proud to work with the UKVIA because they share our mission to create a smoke-free world. Together, we stand a great chance of helping people stop smoking for good.”

  • Geekvape Fast Charging Technology Passes TÜV Test

    Geekvape Fast Charging Technology Passes TÜV Test

    Photo: blende11.photo

    Shenzhen Geekvape Technology Co.’s Safe Fast Charge technology has passed the rigorous Technischer Überwachungsverein (TÜV) test, the company announced in press note.

    Products equipped with the technology guarantee safe rapid charging via USB-C in 15 minutes and an ultra-long battery life, according to Geekvape. Equipped with two connected batteries in series, Geekvape’s Safe Fast Charge technology achieved 96.43 percent charging current and battery capacity after more than 300 rounds of TÜV charging and discharging test—outperforming the international standard of 80 percent. The battery component adopts multi-electrode charging and discharging technology, which well balances the temperature and charging efficiency of the batteries and achieves safe fast charge.

    “At Geekvape, we adhere only to the most stringent global safety standards. Our Safe Fast Charge technology has been strictly tested by leading independent parties, including the TÜV and FCC. As a result, we can confidently say we have achieved the world’s first fast-charging e-cigarette technology that is truly safe and durable,” said Siner Kong, the product manager of Geekvape.

    With a number of different battery brands on the market, the safety, quality and price of each e-cigarette product can vary dramatically. When manufacturers purchase low-cost batteries that have not been vigorously checked and certified, this may lead to safety hazards, particularly when using high-current fast charging technologies.

    To ensure the highest level of protection for its consumers, Geekvape only uses its own built-in batteries in its e-cigarette products. Each Geekvape battery cell undergoes tens of thousands of rounds of rigorous tests, including squeezing, short-circuiting, dropping, overshooting, exposure to high temperature, and vibration. The cell is then strictly checked from the manufacturer’s side, resulting in a truly safe and revolutionary fast charging experience.

    In addition to TÜV tests, Geekvape’s Safe Fast Charge technology has passed IEC61960 and ICE62133 global battery safety regulation standards.

  • PUDO to Service West Coast Supply and E-Liquid Depot

    PUDO to Service West Coast Supply and E-Liquid Depot

    Photo: ipopba

    PUDO, a North American carrier-neutral parcel pick-up and drop-off counter network, signed client service agreements with online vaping industry retailers West Coast Vape Supply and ELiquid Depot.

    According to PUDO, many major carrier services are unable to meet the age and identity verification (AIV) and other requirements of the new legislation, which governs the delivery of industry-specific branded consumer products, including alternative smoking accessories and consumables with active ingredients. With its carrier-agnostic parcel pick-up and drop-off counter locations throughout North America, PUDO says it offers a solution for AIV.

     “We are excited to explore new delivery opportunities with PUDO and continue to bring harm reduction technologies to our customers,” said Mike Ibrahim, CEO of West Coast Vape Supply, in a statement. “This new agreement will help solve shipping challenges, and we hope new customers who would like to find another nicotine-delivery method can benefit.”

     “We believe adult smokers and ex-smokers deserve access to a wide variety of smoke-free vaping products,” said American Vaping Association President Gregory Conley. “At the same time, we also understand the concerns that legislators and public officials have expressed about home delivery of these products occurring without crucial safeguards being in place to prevent youth access. We are excited to have PUDO as a solution for millions of American adult consumers.”

     “Our PUDOpoint Counters operators are benefiting from increased parcel volumes and foot traffic; vape industry customers are benefiting by being able to pick up the parcels during extended hours and on weekends at locations near to where they live, work or play; and online retailers are enjoying frictionless, seamless compliance,” said PUDO Founder and CEO Frank Coccia. “A triple homerun.”

  • FDA Issues More Marketing Denial Orders for E-Liquids

    FDA Issues More Marketing Denial Orders for E-Liquids

    Photo: Jhvephotos | Dreamstime.com

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued additional marketing denial orders (MDOs) for electronic nicotine-delivery system (ENDS) products.

    As of Sept. 23, the agency has issued 323 MDOs accounting for more than 1,167,000 flavored ENDS.

    The list of MDOs is available here.

    The FDA issued the first MDOs in August.

    Products subject to an MDO for a premarket application may not be introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce. If the product is already on the market, the product must be removed from the market or risk enforcement.

    Companies receiving these MDOs may have submitted premarket applications for other products (such as ENDS devices, tobacco-flavored ENDS or menthol-flavored ENDS), and those products, if still pending, remain under review at FDA.

  • RELX Announces Distribution Partnership in Saudi Arabia

    RELX Announces Distribution Partnership in Saudi Arabia

    Photo: viperagp

    RELX International has announced a partnership with SAF Trading Agencies for the exclusive distribution of RELX products throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    “This is an incredibly important partnership for RELX International, and we’re thrilled to be working with SAF Trading Agencies who will leverage their extensive KSA distribution network to make the brand widely available nationwide for our adult consumers,” said Fouad Barakat, general manager, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait & Algeria at RELX in a statement.

    “Our aim is to drive awareness and sales, as well as our corporate messaging to our target audience, adult smokers who would otherwise continue smoking, across the region.”

    Since its establishment in the late 1980s, SAF Trading Agencies has grown into an extensive group of companies covering a diversified range of activities and markets including pharmaceuticals, e-cigarettes and food production.

    According to RELX, the Middle East and North Africa region is one of the vapor business’ fastest growing markets, expanding at a rate just short of 10 percent until 2024.

  • Commission Urges New Ideas to Fight Smoking

    Commission Urges New Ideas to Fight Smoking

    New technologies that deliver nicotine without combustion present a substantial opportunity to end the death and disease associated with tobacco use, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), according to the International Commission to Reignite the Fight Against Smoking.

    In a new report, the commission offers facts, analysis and recommendations aimed at reinvigorating an effort that has stalled, “mired in an outdated paradigm that has been superseded by new technology, new ideas and new concerns for neglected communities.” The fact that there are still more than 1.1 billion tobacco users worldwide proves that the fight against smoking requires new ideas and ambition, its members note.

    Among other recommendations, the commission calls for risk-proportionate tobacco policies and better access to harm reduction in LMICs (where most smokers are located). It also encourages medical bodies to reestablish the leadership role of doctors in ending smoking and urges tobacco companies to have a clear plan to phase out high-risk combustible products.

    Tobacco harm reduction advocates welcomed the report. “This report thoroughly documents the global health toll of smoking, now and in a likely future,” said Donald Kenkel, Andrew Dickson White professor in the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and the Department of Economics at Cornell University.

    “But the report also shows that through continuing technological innovation, tobacco harm reduction is an immediate, achievable goal. Evidence-based economic policies and regulations that support tobacco harm reduction offer real hope to help people quit smoking and improve their health.”

    The report was prepared by James K. Glassman, former U.S. undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs; Rosemary Leonard, general practitioner; Kgosi Letlape, president of Africa Medical Association and president of Medical Councils of Africa; Vivan Sharan, Koan Advisory; and Tikki Pangestu, former director of research policy and cooperation at the World Health Organization.

  • ICCPP Launches New Ceramic Core

    ICCPP Launches New Ceramic Core

    Photo: ICCPP

    ICCPP, the parent company of Voopoo, has launched its first ceramic core technology brand, Gene Tree.

    According to ICCPP, the new core addresses shortcomings of existing ceramic core products, which tend to suffer from light taste, sticking powder and burning coils. Such issues, says the company, affect not only the user experience but also pose a threat to consumers’ health.

    Developing the new generation of ceramic core products involved more than 1,000 days of technical explorations and scientific experiments. In addition, it took tens of thousands of hours to choose the best solution from more than 2,000 sets of ceramic core material formulations.

    ICCPP’s research and development team comprises more than 300 people, including more than 40 holding either doctoral or master’s degrees. In addition solving the problem of ceramic coils’ powder sticking and dropping, ICCPP managed to turn its R&D results into a solution fit for mass production.

    In a blind test among more than 3,000+ vapers, participants indicated they favored the taste of Gene Tree over that of competing products.

    According to ICCP, ceramic cores on the market generally have poor “taste reduction.” To compensate, companies traditionally have increased the amount of nicotine—but this isn’t an option for disposable vapor product sold in countries that limit nicotine concentrations.

    According to ICCPP, 20 mg of nicotine salt in liquid vaporized with Gene Tree can achieve the same result as 30 mg of nicotine salt used in a competing product. Weighing about 0.07 g, Gene Tree’s volume is also 50 percent smaller than existing ceramic cores.

    ICCP says the Gene Tree ceramic core is made of environmentally friendly mineral materials.