Author: Staff Writer

Study: E-cigarette Harm Perceptions Worsening

Photo: Asier
Harm perceptions of e-cigarettes have worsened substantially over the last decade among adult smokers in England, according to a study published by Jama Network Open.
In 2023, most adults who smoked believed e-cigarettes to be at least as harmful as cigarettes. The timing of the changes in harm perceptions coincided with the e-cigarette, or vaping product, use-associated lung injury outbreak in 2019 and the recent increase in youth vaping in England since 2021.
Researchers collected data from 28 393 adult smokers. In November 2014, 44.4 percent thought e-cigarettes were less harmful than cigarettes, 30.3 percent thought e-cigarettes were equally harmful, 10.8 percent thought they were more harmful, and 14.5 percent said they did not know.
However, by June 2023, the proportion who thought e-cigarettes were less harmful had decreased by 40 percent, and the proportion who thought e-cigarettes were more harmful had more than doubled.
Changes over time were nonlinear: late 2019 saw a sharp decline in the proportion who thought e-cigarettes were less harmful and increases in the proportions who thought they were equally or more harmful. These changes were short-lived, returning to pre-2019 levels by the end of 2020.
However, perceptions worsened again from 2021 up to the end of the study period: the proportion who thought e-cigarettes were more harmful increased to a new high, and the proportion who thought e-cigarettes were less harmful decreased to levels comparable to those in late 2019.
As a result, in June 2023, the perception that e-cigarettes were equally as harmful as cigarettes was the most commonly held view among adults who smoke, with roughly similar proportions perceiving e-cigarettes to be less and more harmful.
February 29, 2024
Poland Mulling Ban on Disposable E-Cigarettes

Photo: Yelena Belodedova
Polish Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna is mulling a ban on the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes, according to the Polish edition of Business Insider.
Leszczyna added that she would like to pursue the fastest possible legislative path to such as measure, given that as many as 64 percent young people in Poland had “contact” with the product.
The news comes after the United Kingdom announced a ban on single-use cigarettes in January.
Meanwhile, Poland is preparing to implement the EU directive banning the sale of flavored heated tobacco products. According to local media reports, the regulation may take effect from next year.
The EU directive prohibits the placing on the EU market of flavored heated tobacco products and removes the possibility for member states to grant exemptions for such products from certain labeling requirements set out in EU law.
February 29, 2024
More Penalties for Unauthorized Elf Bar Sales

Photo: mehaniq41
On Feb. 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the filing of complaints for civil money penalties (CMPs) against 20 brick-and-mortar retailers for the sale of unauthorized Elf Bar e-cigarettes. The FDA previously issued each retailer a warning letter relating to their sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes. However, follow-up inspections revealed that the retailers had failed to correct the violations, and the agency is now seeking the maximum penalty amount of $20,678 for a single violation from each retailer.
Including these complaints, the FDA has filed more than 100 CMP complaints against retailers for the illegal sale of Elf Bar e-cigarettes. Data indicate these products are appealing to youth. According to the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey, Elf Bar was the most commonly used brand among U.S. youth e-cigarette users; among middle and high school students who reported using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, more than half said they used Elf Bar products during that period.
“These retailers have not adequately addressed the violations noted in previous warnings from FDA regarding the sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes,” said Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “Their continued failure to comply with the law is inexcusable, and as is evidenced by today’s actions, we’re committed to holding them accountable for it.”
As of Feb. 15, the FDA has issued more than 440 warning letters to and filed 100 CMP actions against retailers, including brick-and-mortar and online retailers, for selling unauthorized tobacco products. In addition to actions involving retailers, the FDA has issued more than 660 warning letters to manufacturers, importers and distributors for illegally selling and/or distributing unauthorized new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. The agency has also filed CMP complaints against 50 e-cigarette firms for manufacturing unauthorized products and sought injunctions in coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice against seven manufacturers of unauthorized e-cigarette products.
February 27, 2024
U.K. Poised to Announce Strict Vaping Levies

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U.K. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce a “vaping products levy” during the presentation of the government budget on March 6, reports The Guardian.
The tax would be similar to 15 schemes in European countries, including Germany, where a €1.60 ($1.73) tax is charged on every 10 mL of vape liquid, and Italy where the rate is €1.30. The EU is also planning a vaping levy across the 27-nation bloc.
The U.K. tax would charge higher rates for products with more nicotine. There would also be a one-off increase in tobacco duty to ensure that vaping remains a cheaper alternative, with the two measures expected to raise more than £500 million ($633.73 million) a year by 2028–2029, according to The Times.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak plans to ban smoking for the next generation by steadily increasing the legal smoking age in England so that tobacco would end up never being sold to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009.
Vaping industry representatives described the tax plan as an attack on people trying to quit smoking.
“Vaping is proven to be the most effective way for smokers to quit and in doing so helps drastically reduce the cost of care the NHS [National Health Service] provides to smokers,” said John Dunne, director general of the U.K. Vaping Industry Association, in a statement.
“It makes absolutely no sense to make it more difficult for adults to stop smoking by penalizing those who choose a safer and healthier option in vaping. Smoking kills 250 people every day in the U.K. and according to Action on Smoking and Health costs the U.K. £17 billion a year,” Dunne added.
“A Centre for Economics and Business Research report in 2022 found that smokers switching to vaping saved the NHS £322 million, a figure that was estimated to more than double if 50 percent of U.K. smokers made the switch to vapes.
“Surely, we should be doing everything we can to help smokers escape a habit that kills so many. Increasing taxes on vaping will make vapes less accessible for the most disadvantaged in society who have the highest smoking rates and are most in need of an effective tool to quit.
“The government continue to hide their heads in the sand while taking actions that will fuel a black market which is already in danger of being out of control. Restricting access to vapes will not only mean more smokers; it will also mean more illegal and unregulated vapes. We need the government to license vape retailers and properly enforce the law against youth access before it is too late.”

It makes absolutely no sense to make it more difficult for adults to stop smoking by penalizing those who choose a safer and healthier option in vaping.
John Dunne, director general, UKVIA
“A Centre for Economics and Business Research report in 2022 found that smokers switching to vaping saved the NHS £322 million, a figure that was estimated to more than double if 50 percent of U.K. smokers made the switch to vapes.”
“Surely, we should be doing everything we can to help smokers escape a habit that kills so many. Increasing taxes on vaping will make vapes less accessible for the most disadvantaged in society who have the highest smoking rates and are most in need of an effective tool to quit.
“The government continue to hide their heads in the sand, while taking actions that will fuel a black market which is already in danger of being out of control. Restricting access to vapes will not only mean more smokers; it will also mean more illegal and unregulated vapes. We need the government to license vape retailers and properly enforce the law against youth access before it is too late.”
February 27, 2024
U.K. Vape Industry Proposes New Licensing Scheme

Photo: VPZ
The vaping industry was poised to present a proposal for a retailer and distributor licensing scheme to U.K. lawmakers today.
In addition to a self-sustaining fee structure, the proposed scheme includes governance and oversight mechanisms along with criteria that businesses would need to meet before qualifying for a license. It also outlines a fine and penalty system for those who breach the terms of the license and the conditions under which a license can and should be revoked.
To qualify for a license, retailers will need to show they have put measures in place to prevent the sale of vapes to minors; do not sell nicotine-free vapes to minors; only stock and sell compliant products; operate legally across all areas of the business; promote products within the advertising regulations; and meet their environmental obligations.
Vape retailers and distributors may be blocked from obtaining a license under a number of circumstances, including if they’ve previously been caught selling vapes without the appropriate certifications or if they are attempting to reapply within two years of having their license revoked.
Under the plans, retail licensees would also have to undergo test purchasing exercises at least every six months to ensure they are following youth access prevention procedures as well as having their stock inspected to ensure the products they sell are registered on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency-notified products list.
They would also be checked on a regular basis to ensure they are complying with advertising and environmental regulations. Licensed distributors would be subject to regular inspections to ensure they are meeting compliance requirements across the board.
“It doesn’t matter what legislation the government introduces, whether the newly announced ban on disposables or any future restrictions, a robust and balanced licensing system is critical to ensuring the law can actually be enforced and for ushering in a new era of responsibility, accountability and best practice,” said Dan Marchant, co-founder of the U.K. Vaping Industry Association and managing director of Vape Club, which led the development of the proposed scheme, in a statement.
The presentation of the plan comes just days after a new investigation revealed a near twentyfold increase in the number of illicit vapes seized by councils across the U.K. since 2020.
February 21, 2024
Giovanni Li Volti Reconfirmed Director of CoEHAR

Photo: CoEHAR
The Center of Excellence for the acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) has reappointed Giovanni Li Volti as its director for the next four years.
“Following the path already undertaken by Riccardo Polosa, founder of CoEHAR, our center is today considered the most influential and productive in the world in the field of research applied to the harm reduction,” Li Volti said in a statement acknowledging the reappointment.
“A recognition that has led our university to be celebrated and rewarded several times for the productivity of its members, for innovation in the scientific field and for the large and important internationalization actions that have brought to Catania, in just five years, more of 150 researchers and stakeholders from all over the globe, interested in our activity.
“The trust expressed by all of you honors me and motivates me even more to dedicate my energies, and what I have learned so far, to guarantee the success of scientific research in the sector of reducing smoking harm, and to follow the immense work carried out from the entire CoEHAR team and its founder and mentor.
“The international successes of CoEHAR are the victories of a team and of the great excellence of Catania research. I look to the future with optimism and hope to work in close collaboration with everyone to achieve new shared and far-sighted goals.”
Tobacco Reporter profiled CoEHAR in its January 2024 print edition and online (see, “Reviewing their Peers”).
February 19, 2024
Singapore to Strengthen Vaping Enforcement

Photo: 2p2play
Singapore plans to intensify its crackdown on vaping, reports The Straits Times.
In a joint statement in December 2023, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and the Ministry of Health said enforcement and education efforts would be stepped up to prevent vaping from gaining a foothold in Singapore.
The city state banned vaping in 2018. Buying, owning or using a vaporizer in Singapore can result in fines of up to SGS2,000 ($1,484.69). First-time offenders who import, distribute, sell or offer for sale vaporizers and their components can be fined up to SGD10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both.
Authorities encourage citizens with information on the illegal possession, use, purchase, import, distribution, sale or offer for sale of vaporizers to the Tobacco Regulation Branch.
Despite the risks, vaping has been steadily gaining ground in Singapore, with consumers buying vapes online and from overseas suppliers. In 2022, 4,916 people were violating Singapore’s vaping ban, compared with 1,266 in 2020 and 4,697 in 2021. In December 2023 alone, authorities reported 1,656 vaping -related cases.
February 18, 2024
Pyxus Recognized as Environmental Leader

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Pyxus International has been recognized as a leader in climate change transparency and performance by the environmental nonprofit CDP. CDP ranked Pyxus among the top tier of responding companies in the climate change category, earning the business “Leadership” status, the highest level of achievement.
“Achieving CDP’s Leadership status is a testament to our global teams’ hard work, ingenuity and commitment to growing a better world,” said Pyxus President and CEO Pieter Sikkel in a statement. “We are pleased that our unified approach to sustainable action and core belief in transparency has earned us this coveted recognition, and as we move forward in our net-zero journey, it will serve as a reminder that our efforts, large and small, make an impact.”
Pyxus’ A- score for its actions to mitigate climate change ranked higher than the industry, North America and global averages of B, C and C, respectively, and reflects the company’s 11 percent year-over-year reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as reported in its FY2023 Sustainability Report and its CDP disclosure. Additionally, the company earned a B score in both the water security and forestry categories, which indicates it has addressed the environmental impacts of the business and has implemented good environmental management practices specific to water and forestry.
Pyxus’ scores reflect data compiled from its family of companies and brands, and were determined by CDP-accredited scoring partners on a scale ranging from A to D- and then measured against more than 21,000 entities as part of the 2023 process.
Pyxus began reporting its greenhouse gas emissions to CDP in 2009, its water data in 2014 and its forestry data in 2020.
February 16, 2024
CoEHAR’s Replica 2.0 Team to Meet in Catania

Photo: CoEHAR
The Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) will hold the Annual International Meeting for its Replica 2.0 project in Catania, Italy, March 25–29.
The Replica project is one of CoEHAR’s most successful projects, according to the organization. In the last couple of years, the research team replicated and validated the results from well-known international studies in the field of tobacco harm reduction.
The project benefits from its collaboration with an international network of independent laboratories all around the world, which includes the Universitas Padjadjaran in Indonesia, the Institute of Research and Development Nosmoke in Greece, the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac in Serbia, the Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, the Temple University-SHRO in the United States and Kazan Federal University, Russia.
During the event, the Replica team will discuss lessons learned, harmonize standard operation procedures for the project and continue the laboratory training emphasizing critical steps for harmonization.
On March 29, CoEHAR will host the ceremony for its Talent Research Award.
Tobacco Reporter profiled CoEHAR in its January 2024 print edition and online (see, “Reviewing their Peers”).
February 14, 2024
Italy Fines BAT for ‘Misleading’ Heated-Tobacco Ads

Photo: BAT
BAT’s Italian division has been fined €6 million ($6.4 million) for “misleading advertising of a heated-tobacco product,” according to Barron’s. Amazon was fined €1 million for the same reason.
According to the AGCM watchdog, BAT and Amazon advertised the Glo Hyper X2 and Glo Hyper Air devices without making “information about the tobacco/nicotine consumption connected to the use of these devices and the prohibition of their sale to minors” clear.
The products were marketed “as simple electronic devices and mere design objects,” the watchdog said.
“This is seriously misleading conduct, which induces the customer to buy a product that poses health risks and is banned for minors,” the authority said.
An investigation into the marketing of the heated-tobacco products began in April 2023.
BAT plans to appeal the fine, according to Bloomberg.
“We are clear that our products are for adults only, and we adhere to the highest standards of conduct to prevent underage use of any nicotine product,” a BAT Italia spokesperson said. “We cooperated with Italian authorities and implemented all suggested changes to our marketing immediately. While we acknowledge the decision, we plan to appeal.”
February 14, 2024