Author: Staff Writer

Consumer Group Supports Indonesian Vape Tax

Image: Deacon docs
The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) expressed support for a recently implemented tax on e-cigarettes, reports Tempo.
The new tax took effect Jan. 1 and aims, in part, to discourage e-cigarette use. Vaping prevalence in Indonesia increased from 0.3 percent in 2011 to 3 percent in 2021, according to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey. The prevalence of cigarette smoking among adolescents aged 13-15 years increased by 19.2 percent over the same period.
Previously, the Indonesian National Vape Association (Pavenas) asked the Finance Ministry to postpone the implementation of the tax on e-cigarettes. Secretary General of the Indonesian Personal Vaporizer Association (APVI), Garindra Kartasasmita, said that the combination of the tax and the excise tax hike would be a heavy blow to entrepreneurs, consumers and industry players.
“This needs to take into consideration that the e-cigarette industry is a relatively new industry, and most of the industry players are from communities and MSMEs [Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises],” Garindra said in a statement published ahead of the tax.
YLKI chairman Tulus Abadi rejected industry assertions that vaping can help smokers give up of conventional cigarettes. “On the contrary, people will get double health burden due to the use of electronic cigarettes,” he said.
January 26, 2024
Schumer Wants Crackdown on Zyn Nicotine Pouches

Image: Tobacco Reporter archive
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling for a crackdown on Zyn nicotine pouches, arguing that the product will be the next “trend in addiction for teens,” according to USA Today. He has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission to take action on the company’s marketing practices and the product’s health effects.
“Amid federal action against e-cigs and their grip on young people, a quiet and dangerous alternative has emerged, and it is called Zyn,” said Schumer. “I am delivering a new warning to parents because these nicotine pouches seem to lock their sights on teens and use social media to hook them.”
“The amount of nicotine is highly addictive, and much more needs to be done to understand and communicate the health risks for young people,” Schumer said.
Zyn’s parent company said that it both meets and exceeds industry regulations.
“The FDA remains concerned about any tobacco product that may appeal to youth,” said Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, in response. “The FDA uses a variety of surveillance tools to monitor the evolving tobacco product landscape and to identify emerging threats to public health.”
King noted that the FDA closely monitors “those in the supply chain for compliance with federal law.”
“As always, we are committed to holding those accountable who sell unauthorized tobacco products, including those labeled, advertised and/or designed to encourage youth use,” said King.
The Federal Trade Commission did not comment, noting that it “does not publicly speculate on external requests for investigations or comment on letters from member[s] of Congress,” according to USA Today.
January 25, 2024
Activists Criticize Exclusionary Tactics at COP10

Photo: Alexey Novikov
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) today issued a sharp critique of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) for its exclusion of consumer groups and harm reduction advocates from the 10th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP10).
“CAPHRA argues that this exclusionary practice is in stark contrast to the successful, pragmatic approaches of countries like New Zealand, the Philippines and Malaysia, which have embraced vaping as a harm reduction tool,” said Nancy Loucas, a public health policy expert and passionate advocate for tobacco harm reduction and executive coordinator of CAPHRA.
The press release condemns the COP10 meetings for silencing the voices of those who advocate for harm reduction strategies, such as vaping, which have been shown to significantly reduce smoking prevalence in countries where they are available and regulated.
CAPHRA points out that the prohibitionist approach of countries like Australia, which recently banned vaping products, is not in the best interest of public health.
“CAPHRA calls on FCTC officials to open their minds to harm reduction and to consider the evidence from countries like New Zealand, where smoking rates have decreased due to the availability of regulated vaping products,” said Loucas.
The organization stresses the importance of including consumer groups in the decisionmaking process, as they provide essential insights into the needs of smokers and how alternative products can be used effectively.
January 25, 2024
Ploom X Advanced Named ‘Product of the Year’

Image: JTI
Japan Tobacco International’ s Ploom X Advanced device has been named the best product available in the heated tobacco category at the U.K. Product of The Year Awards 2024.
Product of the Year is the U.K.’s largest consumer survey of product innovation. Every year over 10,000 shoppers vote to crown the winning products in each category, giving retailers a picture of what customers think about the products they stock.
Launched in September 2023, the Ploom X Advanced is the latest heated tobacco device from JTI, featuring an optimized heating system, with higher vapor volume during initial puffs offering an enhanced user experience, and faster charging, now taking less than 90 minutes to achieve a full
“Just a few months after the launch, we are thrilled that Ploom X Advanced has come out on top in the Product of the Year awards 2024,” said JTI UK Marketing Director Mark McGuinness. “In response to consumer feedback, we made some positive changes when we launched Ploom X Advanced, and the brand has gone from strength to strength with device sales doubling and EVO tobacco stick sales tripling year on year. With the Heated Tobacco category continuing to grow at a rapid rate, this award shows not only the success of our product, but the clear consumer interest in the category and Ploom.”
The U.K. heated tobacco category is currently worth £105 million ($133.67 million) in traditional retail and growing 20.5 percent year-on-year.
January 25, 2024
XJOY Partners with Smoore to release 1000 puffs in 2mL

XJOY has partnered with Smoore to release a single-use vape that offers more than 1,000 puffs in 2mL.
“I am very fortunate for the opportunity to showcase our latest fully automated production line, all housed in the secure dust free production rooms.” said Thalia Cheng, U.K. business director at SMOORE. “As you can see, we are working in full capacity to bring it to the U.K. to get the first taste of XJOY. We send this first batch of our newest innovation in collaboration with XJOY as our dedicated contribution to support U.K.’s smokers in their smoke-free journey.”
XJOY Bar 1000 is planned to be stocked by the first 1000 participating stores around the U.K. by February.
“Our retail partners are all very excited to take on our XJOY Bar 1000, because it provides them with a significant advantage over the other vapes. For one, it is the best and only legal single-use vape that can achieve 1,000 puffs, lasting longer, which is a big deal for our consumers especially now given the rising living costs.” explained an XJOY spokesperson.
“Consumers will appreciate that our products are competitively priced compared to other 600 puffs vapes available on the market.”
January 25, 2024
COP Must Respect Science, Consumers: Tax Group

Martin Cullip
The Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s (TPA) Consumer Center accused the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of ignoring science and the rights of consumers in its pursuit of restrictive tobacco control measures, as the global body prepares for its 10^th Conference of the Parties (COP10) this year.
Martin Cullip, an international fellow at TPA issued the statement criticizing the WHO FCTC’s focus on policies known as MPOWER, which rely solely on restrictions on the supply and demand of tobacco products while ignoring other proven measures to help smokers quit.
“While the WHO has had some success in the past, it is far from effective,” Cullip said. “Twenty years ago, when the FCTC treaty was first implemented, there were around 1 billion smokers worldwide and this number is not changing meaningfully.”
Cullip said that despite decades of WHO’s restrictive tobacco control policies, most countries are not reducing smoking fast enough and will miss the WHO’s target to reduce smoking rates by 30 percent.
He said the current approach focusing on control and restrictions, hasn’t delivered on its intended outcomes. “International treaties should have three main aims: grow global membership, encourage parties to implement measures consistent with the aims of the treaty, and measure outcomes as a result of its actions,” he said. “The WHO FCTC does the first two effectively, but not the third one at all.”
“It is the lack of regard for outcomes which has led to many, including former WHO health directors, to declare that its approach is ‘not fit for purpose,’” he added.
Cullip said the WHO’s focus had shifted from tackling the harms of tobacco smoke to fighting nicotine itself. “It seems that reducing death and disease is not an objective for them,” he said. “Their approach has changed to an attack on nicotine, which on its own, causes very little harm, instead of combustible tobacco, which kills.”
He blamed the WHO’s “anti-scientific position” for the rise in global smoking rates, which leave smokers confused and more likely to carry on smoking rather than considering safer products that don’t burn tobacco.
Cullip also criticized the WHO’s alleged disregard for harm reduction strategies, which seek to reduce harm for those who won’t abstain from tobacco use.
He said the WHO has consistently failed to respect article 1(d) of the FCTC which includes “harm reduction strategies” as one of the main pillars of tobacco control.
“Instead, the WHO promotes prohibition. Despite the abject failure of the war on drugs and any other prohibition in modern history, the WHO chooses to wage the war on nicotine. These recommendations distract countries from implementing measures that can improve the lives of their populations,” he said.
Cullip said the WHO’s process excludes public participation and disregards consumer rights, violating the spirit of the Ottawa Charter which emphasizes individual control over health choices.
“It is well past time the WHO FCTC process listened to the public it is supposed to serve,” he said. “The evidence in favor of harm reduction is increasing, and the WHO cannot ignore stakeholders who are central to the debate forever.”
Cullip called on the WHO FCTC to embrace all approaches in its policy discussions, honestly assess evidence and allow for greater public participation to achieve effective tobacco control strategies.
He also suggested that countries explore alternative methods beyond those dictated by the WHO to address their individual smoking challenges.
“Keeping doing more of the same and hoping for a different outcome is insanity. The number of smokers won’t go meaningfully down unless the WHO recognizes that a change is needed. Safer nicotine products are not the enemy, it is smoked tobacco,” he said.
January 22, 2024
UK Delegation to Push Vapes for Cessation at COP10

Photo: IRStone
The U.K. government believes that vapes comprise an important tool for helping adults quit tobacco smoking, a position its delegation will put forward during COP10, according to Dame Andrea Leadsom, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for health and social care.
Leadsom was speaking on Jan. 18 at Westminster during a backbench debate organised by MP Andrew Lewer and aimed at uncovering what stance the government would take at COP10, the 10th Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which is due to be held in Panama on Feb. 5-10.
Lewer, and others who spoke during the debate, were concerned that COP10 might resolve to establish equivalence in the regulation of combustible cigarettes and reduced-risk products, thus undermining the U.K.’s successful strategy of using vapes to help smokers quit their habit. Their concerns had been inflamed because previously they had been unable to wring from the government information about who would go to Panama as part of the U.K.’s delegation and what positions they would take.
Leadsom said the U.K. delegation would be led by the U.K.’s deputy chief medical officer, Jeanelle de Gruchy, but gave only a rough overview of the U.K.’s position. Referring to the discussions that would take place about progress on tobacco control worldwide, she said the U.K. was an outlier on the topic of vapes, and would be putting forward its position that vapes were a very important tool for helping adults to quit. The U.K. government would welcome other parties going further on tobacco control, but it would be monitoring the negotiations to ensure that “nothing becomes mandatory.”
On novel and emerging tobacco products, said Leadsom, different parties took different approaches. Currently, the U.K. was still looking at issues around heated tobacco, so the U.K. delegation would be in listening mode in this respect.
She said the U.K. had no plans to implement further restrictions on advertising and sponsorship, and she said that it would be pressing for no increase to be made in assessed FCTC contributions.
This last point was likely to have been in response to concerns expressed by some during the debate that while the U.K. was a major contributor to the FCTC, it seemed diffident in its approach to tobacco COPs. It was suggested that U.K. taxpayers might end up paying for policies that ran counter to their interests.
This was perhaps something of a concern because the debate never got to grips with the issues of how COP proposals could be blocked by individual parties, and, if they were not blocked, whether they were binding on all parties. The latter issue would not be so worrisome currently because the U.K. government has shown itself to be relaxed in its approach to complying with international agreements and laws, but it might become more of an issue if the current government is replaced in this election year.–George Gay
January 22, 2024
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bans Vapes Provisionally

Photo: SakhanPhotography
The government of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has banned the storage, sale and use of e-cigarettes for 60 days, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.
All deputy commissioners have been directed to impose a complete ban on the sale of e-cigarettes and vapes to those under age 21 and its sale and storage within a 50-meter radius of all educational institutions in the province.
Those caught violating these orders will face legal consequences under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The interim ban follows a series of meetings with the Provincial Alliance for Sustainable Tobacco Control, Blue Veins and KPTCC focused on the dangers of e-cigarettes and vapes and that examined global legislative and policy practices regarding the products’ sale and storage.
“The decision has been taken in wake of alarming increase in use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vaping devices particularly among children and youth in the province,” said an official notification by the Home and Tribal Affairs Department of Khyber Pakhtukhwa, according to the Pakistan Observer.
“This interim ban is a commendable step by the KP government, reflecting its proactive approach to public health,” said Qamar Naseem, civil society activist. “However, we must solidify this progress through comprehensive provincial legislation to ensure a permanent solution to this growing health concern.”
“This ban is a significant victory for the health and well-being of our children and youth,” said Sana Ahmad, coordinator of the Child Rights Movement KP. “It prevents easy access to addictive substances and protects our future generations from the allure of harmful vaping products.”
“We, the healthcare providers, appreciate the governor and chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for this decisive ban,” said Qazi Shahbaz, president of the Provincial Doctors Association. “It’s a step forward in the right direction, and we now urge the government to enact comprehensive legislation for a complete ban. This is not just a win for public health but a strong message that the health and safety of our citizens, especially our youth, are of paramount importance.”
January 19, 2024
RLX Releases Corporate Sustainability Report
RLX Technology presented its “Corporate Social Responsibility Report.” The report outlines the firm’s annual progress in fulfilling various corporate social responsibilities, including rural revitalization, product-related responsibility, corporate governance, environmental responsibility and employee responsibility.
According to the report, as of 2023, RLX has invested a total of CNY44.3 million ($6.2 million) in areas such as biodiversity conservation and rural revitalization. By the end of April 2023, RLX had effectively generated approximately 120,000 employment opportunities along the supply chain and accumulated research and development investments totaling CNY800 million.
Navigating the delicate balance between compliance and innovation is the most crucial challenge for RLX, according to a company press release. In pursuit of a first-class user experience, the company says it not only strictly adheres to regulatory requirements by developing products in line with national standards to ensure quality and safety but is also comprehensively upgrading its research and development system. This involves establishing eight major laboratory matrices and rigorous factory quality control to enhance product innovation. The report reveals that as of April 2023, RLX has applied for nearly 900 patents globally.
From child-proof locks to anti-dry burn functions, each of the eight laboratories plays a specific role in developing products that meet both regulatory requirements and user-experience expectations. The Innovation Lab, for example, focuses on material purification and flavor perception, significantly reducing the risk of alterations to product taste and flavor. The Quality and Safety Lab conducts tests such as drop and negative pressure tests to ensure product stability in extreme environments. This lab has received accreditation from China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment.
Since outlining its “1+4” scientific research path in 2020, RLX has initiated nearly 50 research projects to fill the gaps in the field of vape science. The report highlights several breakthrough achievements from the past year. In November 2022, the first domestic clinical study on electronic cigarettes initiated by RLX was published in the medical SCI journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research. By the end of April 2023, RLX had conducted 17 collaborative research projects, publishing 11 research papers in authoritative journals.
“From 2022 to 2023, whether in the Chinese e-cigarette industry or at RLX Technology, it has been an extremely important period. We wholeheartedly respond to policies and actively address various changes, not only fulfilling strict compliance and providing reassuring products as ‘required actions’ but also contributing our modest efforts in ‘voluntary actions’ such as wildlife protection and rural revitalization to enhance social well-being,” said Kate Wang, founder and CEO of RLX.
January 19, 2024
Quit for Good President: WHO Report ‘Unscientific’

Lorenzo Mata Jr. (Photo: Quit for Good)
A public health advocacy group based in the Philippines has criticized the latest report of the World Health Organization on the use of electronic cigarettes, saying the global body undermines the significant progress made in public health over the past two decades as smokers transitioned to smoke-free products.
Lorenzo Mata Jr., president of Quit for Good, said the WHO’s continued demonization of e-cigarettes disregards the wealth of scientific evidence demonstrating that smoke-free alternatives such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and snus have helped millions of smokers in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan and Sweden successfully quit smoking.
“The best available clinical and population studies consistently show that vaping has led to adult smoking cessation. While it is necessary to monitor youth vaping, a complete ban on e-cigarettes will only exacerbate the smoking epidemic and its associated serious health conditions,” Mata Jr. said in a statement.
As a Filipino physician, Mata said the WHO’s failure to differentiate between the risks of e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco is unscientific.
Last month, the WHO issued a statement calling for urgent action to safeguard children and prevent the adoption of e-cigarettes based on what Quit for Good insists is a misrepresented account of the scientific evidence to fit its predetermined conclusion to ban e-cigarettes or regulate them as strictly as far more dangerous cigarettes.
Additionally, the WHO provided data indicating that the global market for electronic cigarettes grew from $7.81 billion in 2015 to $22.35 million in 2022. Between 2018 and 2022, the disposable e-cigarette market expanded by 116 percent, encompassing over 550,000 different products.
Mata said the WHO’s diagnosis of the situation is flawed, as it fails to acknowledge the significant decline in harmful substance exposure resulting from smokers switching to e-cigarettes and other smoke-free alternatives, or the fact that smoke-free products work for many smokers better than traditional smoking cessation therapies.
“E-cigarettes do not threaten public health but provide smokers with an exit from smoking, which is the real problem. Labeling these innovative products an emerging threat to public health is worrisome because the WHO essentially tells smokers that continuing smoking is better than switching to e-cigarettes. This is patently wrong,” he said.
Quit for Good highlights that countries that banned e-cigarettes did not eradicate vaping but instead inadvertently created an unregulated underground market that poses risks to public health due to the absence of regulatory standards.
Mata said these bans only benefit unscrupulous criminal gangs that are happy to sell these products to anyone, including children, without any controls as to what’s in them or how they’re made.
According to independent public health experts, e-cigarettes and other smoke-free products offer an opportunity to combat smoking-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease and lung disease by transitioning to nicotine products with significantly reduced risk and no combustion.
Commenting on a similar WHO report published earlier, Peter Hajek, Director of the Tobacco Dependence Research Unit at Queen Mary University of London, said: “Given the tremendous benefits this transition would bring to public health, it is paradoxical that the WHO has adopted such a strident anti-vaping stance that risks impeding this progress. This new report perpetuates this tradition, calling for a ban on less risky alternatives while freely allowing the sale of tobacco. The report misrepresents evidence and should come with a prominent health warning.”
John Britton, an emeritus professor of Epidemiology at the University of Nottingham, said the WHO still fails to differentiate between addiction to tobacco smoking, which leads to millions of deaths annually, and addiction to nicotine, which does not.
“The WHO appears content with the inconsistency of recommending medicinal nicotine products for treating smoking addiction while advocating the prohibition of consumer nicotine products that serve the same purpose, but more effectively. The WHO is correct in discouraging non-smokers, particularly children, from using any nicotine product. However, for over a billion tobacco smokers worldwide, electronic nicotine delivery systems are part of the solution, not the problem,” Britton said.
Mata said many countries, including the Philippines, have in fact chosen to embrace scientific evidence and regulate the use of innovative smoke-free products such as e-cigarettes to provide smokers with better options to quit.
January 15, 2024