A plan to hike the tax on vapes in the U.K. risks undermining the country’s efforts to reduce smoking rates and would increase smoking-related death and disease, according to tobacco harm reduction advocates.
The U.K. chancellor is reportedly considering the tax increase in the state budget this month. But harm reduction specialists say any rise could drive people who smoke back to far more dangerous cigarettes.
“Vapes are proven to be 95 percent less harmful than combustible cigarettes and are helping millions of people who smoke worldwide transition to a safer option,” says Delon Human, leader of Smoke Free Sweden.
“Both Sweden and New Zealand have dramatically reduced their smoking rates in large part due to the availability and accessibility of alternative nicotine products like vapes. As a result, both countries are now on the verge of being declared smoke free and are reaping the subsequent public health dividend.
“Any policy that limits access to these alternatives—whether through taxation or other barriers—threatens to reverse such progress.”
Sweden is poised to be the first country to become smoke free as a result of its progressive policy approach, which includes lowering taxes on reduced-risk products while increasing taxes on more harmful cigarettes.
Compared to the rest of the European Union, Sweden has 44 percent fewer smoking-related deaths, a 41 percent lower cancer rate and 38 percent fewer deaths attributable to any cancer, notes Smoke Free Sweden
“At Smoke Free Sweden, we advocate for sensible regulations that protect adult access to safer alternatives while discouraging underage uptake,” Human said. “This includes restrictions on youth-oriented packaging and clear communication about the risks of nicotine.
“However, excessive taxation of harm reduction products is a step in the wrong direction. Rather than penalising vapers, governments should focus on creating an environment where adults have easy access to safer alternatives and are supported in their efforts to quit smoking.
“We urge the U.K. government to reconsider this proposed tax increase and to look towards evidence-based policies that have been successful in Sweden and other progressive nations. The world now has the tools to create a healthier, smoke-free future. We must not sacrifice those tools, which are already helping millions of people quit smoking for good.”
Honeywell has announced a partnership with a US bioenergy company to produce biochemicals from industrial hemp and other non-food crops.
Honeywell, a huge multinational corporation, has its fingers in several pies, including energy and sustainability solutions. SGP BioEnergy is a fully integrated bioenergy products development firm based in New York, according to media reports. The pair announced last week that they are teaming up to develop new technology to convert industrial hemp and other biomass materials into biochemicals that can be used to produce plastics and other everyday items.
Under the arrangement, Honeywell will develop new feedstock tech and ongoing operational support and workforce training, while SGP BioEnergy will provide the infrastructure, workforce, and second-generation feedstock via its “Ready. Grow” program. The program delivers low-carbon-intensity feedstocks with full traceability and sustainable certification using the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC).
“By using hemp and other non-edible feedstocks to produce these important chemicals, Honeywell and SGP BioEnergy are helping to reduce the world’s reliance on fossil fuels without impacting the food chain,” said Honeywell’s Bryan Glover.
While hemp can be used as a food crop, industrial hemp, as the name suggests, can be used for other purposes, including cordage, building materials, textiles, paper, biofuel, and bioplastics. Furthermore, it can help restore soil integrity to damaged and depleted farm soils.
The minister of mental health and addictions says the federal government will ban most vape flavors across Canada soon — more than three years after Ottawa first promised to bring in the regulations.
“We have made a commitment from the start to restrict flavors. We haven’t wavered from that,” Ya’ara Saks told CBC News.
“We will have this in place soon. I don’t anticipate this is going to take much longer.” She did not specify a timeline.
Saks’ promise comes after a coalition of anti-tobacco health groups held a press conference in Ottawa earlier this month to call on Saks to introduce the ban swiftly or resign.
They accused her of bowing to vaping industry pressure by failing to finalize the regulations this spring, as the federal government had planned.
Nexa announced the launch of its Nexa ULTRA vaping device.
The ULTRA introduces two new design structures: the Crystal Tank and the Flavor Booster, delivering 35 percent more puffs.
The Crystal Tank allows for the full injection of 20 mL of e-liquid, with an actual capacity of 20 mL for use, according to a release. Its visible e-liquid tank design allows consumers to easily track their vaping usage.
Its aluminum-plastic membrane preserves e-liquid aroma and flavor for extended periods, significantly enhancing shelf life. The design protects against e-liquid leaks during transport, according to a press release.
“The Flavor Booster is the core internal technology of the ULTRA and serves as the secret weapon for conquering consumer taste preferences … engineered to deliver rich flavor profiles that rival and surpass those of vape products using oil-absorbing cotton,” the release states.
The device has 15 flavors, including Sour Apple Ice, Blue Razz Ice, and Georgia Peach Ice.
Guam’s Governor Lou Leon Guerrero on Monday vetoed a bill that seeks a 10 percent tax on vaping and electronic nicotine products.
The governor stated that she does not object to taxing electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) to include vape products in her veto letter for Sen. Joe San Agustin’s Bill 193-37.
“It makes sense to implement a common-sense taxing structure on ENDS products,” she wrote.
The governor said the tax scheme in the bill would cause “unnecessary confusion and inefficiency.”
She said the tax would apply to retail sales of vaping and nicotine products, adding the cost directly to customer receipts in a way no other product on Guam is taxed, according to media reports.
Guam’s 2006 Tobacco Control Act already allows for vaping and nicotine products to be taxed at the same wholesale level as “electronic cigarettes,” the governor writes.
Leon Guerrero stated that senators should instead direct the Department of Revenue and Taxation to create rules for assessing the taxation of vaping and electronic nicotine products and extend existing tobacco taxes.
Guam law provides a sin tax of $4 per pack on cigarettes, though it’s unclear how the tobacco tax would be extended to vaping products.
A majority of 12 senators voted to pass Bill 193-37, enough to overcome the governor’s veto if support holds.
Flonq introduces its solution to address the lack of ability to control nicotine consumption.
Contributed
A range of studies suggests that e-cigarettes can be an effective tool for helping conventional tobacco smokers quit. However, once individuals switch from tobacco smoking to e-cigarettes, there is no clear baseline for before and after comparison, since most users are unable to track how frequently they vape. Vape companies and manufacturers should propose solutions as part of their responsibilities. How can this be achieved? Alfabet Labs, the company behind the Flonq brand, offers its perspective on this issue.
One of the most recent studies on the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool was conducted by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The report concluded that there is high-certainty evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes are more effective than other methods, such as nicotine-replacement therapy—like patches or gum.
However, the goal after switching to e-cigarettes is to control, decrease or quit nicotine consumption. This presents a challenge, as it’s hard to accurately measure e-cigarette use to control nicotine intake. The main issue is figuring how to measure usage intensity, given the wide range of products and user behaviors.
So what should be the basis for comparing the consumption dynamic after switching to e-cigarettes? Should industry professionals measure the number of times an e-cigarette is used per day, the number of puffs taken, or the volume of e-liquid consumed? A consensus on measurement standards has yet to be established.
Vaping vs. cigarettes
The Eurobarometer study, which revealed key trends in smoking behavior in the EU, clearly illustrates the issue of accurate vape measurement. According to the report, the average daily consumption of tobacco was slightly higher than 14 units.
The data also reveals insights into e-cigarette usage. Among smokers who use e-cigarettes, the range resulted to be the following: 60 percent reported using them less than 10 times per day, 28 percent less than 20 times and approximately 11 percent over 21 times. A similar pattern was observed among ex-smokers who used e-cigarettes.
However, what is particularly important is that nearly half of the respondents reported being unsure about their previous daily usage of e-cigarettes. This uncertainty among former smokers about their past usage highlights the need for more research in this area.
Measuring consumption
The Nicotine & Tobacco Research journal conducted a study asking young adults who vape to provide suggestions for improving the scientific measurement of vaping.
Participants reported that they don’t actively monitor the number of puffs they take during a vaping session or over the course of a day. One participant remarked, “I would never count how many [puffs] I take.”
Additionally, several respondents noted that it is challenging for them to estimate how many times they vape during the day. They also expressed uncertainty about the amount of nicotine they consume per session. One participant said: “I wish that I could measure how much I’m [vaping]. I have no idea how much nicotine I’m taking in … I’m probably taking in more than a pack [of cigarettes] a day.”
Another respondent added, “No one can count how many times or how many hits in an hour. It’s pretty subconscious.”
It’s clear that using vapes to quit smoking or manage nicotine dependence won’t be effective without devices that include features for monitoring consumption. Whether it tracks the number of puffs, daily usage or other patterns, the device should provide a comparison point for the user.
Practical solutions
The Flonq vaping brand recently introduced its solution to address the lack of controlling the nicotine consumption in the industry. The brand presented META by Flonq—an advanced pod system designed for tracking and managing nicotine use. The device features a wide range of features that respond to the market demand for consumption transparency.
The real-time tracking system
The device monitors data such as the number of puffs, usage time and nicotine index level, all displayed on a single touch screen. The device collects data throughout the entire period of vape usage.
META Smart AI assistant
The integrated AI assistant helps to analyze nicotine usage patterns. With built-in behavioral therapy techniques, META is designed to offer personalized guidance.
Nicotine index
A key highlight of the device is the nicotine index developed by Flonq, which measures estimated nicotine saturation and determines the optimal timing for the next puff. It updates in real time, allowing users to follow a suggested plan to reduce nicotine intake or quit smoking.
“Whether you want to vape, reduce your nicotine intake or move toward a smoke-free life, the choice is yours,” says Marlen Nazarov, Flonq’s founder and CEO. “Our company’s focus is to respect your decision to vape while encouraging mindful choices.”
Overall, it seems that META offers consumers a straightforward and user-friendly way to track their nicotine usage—something the market needs to implement right away. This can be achieved through smart technologies such as integration with mobile apps, Bluetooth connectivity and alerts to notify users of excessive consumption. As the industry evolves and expands, these efforts will be essential in helping users manage their nicotine intake, make positive changes to their health and, what’s also important—to improve the industry’s overall image.
Philip Morris International will hold several events in Austin, Texas, this weekend, to mark the upcoming introduction of its IQOS tobacco heating product in the United States.
In anticipation of launch, current nicotine users who are over the age of 21 and live in designated areas of Austin will be given the opportunity to join a wait list to be among the first to try IQOS once the product becomes available.
“We believe having a portfolio of satisfying alternatives can help traditional tobacco users switch completely and walk away from cigarettes for good,” said Stacey Kennedy, CEO of PMI in the U.S. operations “Austin is a hotbed for innovators, entrepreneurs and trailblazers. Cultural trends adopted here have a ripple effect, so it was a natural place to introduce IQOS in the U.S.”
Austin is a hotbed for innovators, entrepreneurs and trailblazers. Cultural trends adopted here have a ripple effect, so it was a natural place to introduce IQOS in the U.S.
The (re)introduction of tobacco-heating products into the U.S. has been eagerly awaited by investors and tobacco harm reduction advocates, who hope the product will help transition smokers from deadly combustible cigarettes to less-harmful heating products. Tests suggest that heating tobacco produces lower levels of harmful chemicals than burning it. IQOS has been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a modified-risk tobacco product.
IQOS was briefly test-marketed by PMI’s former U.S. partner, Altria Group. In September 2021, the International Trade Commission determined that the product infringed patents owned by British American Tobacco and barred IQOS imports.
IQOS is already available in an estimated 80 countries, and since launching in Japan 10 years ago, it has helped more than 22 million people worldwide make the switch from cigarettes, according to PMI. A 2019 study by researchers at the American Cancer Society showed that cigarette sales decreased five times faster after IQOS was introduced in Japan.
IQOS is now PMI’s top revenue earner, surpassing the company’s bestselling Marlboro cigarette brand.
PMI’s latest integrated report shows that 38 percent of the company’s total net revenue now comes from its smoke-free business, which also includes the popular Zyn nicotine pouches .
“For the first time in history, smoke-free products have surpassed cigarette combustibles,” PMI CEO Jacek Olczak said at the Technovation event on Oct. 9 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, according to Malaya Business Insight.
Elfbar and Lost Mary have created a board in the U.K. to provide strategic advice for the brands.
Board members are from across relevant disciplines in the U.K. with senior-level experience, including in the national and local government, the medical profession and law enforcement.
The newly formed advisory board also serves Heaven Gifts, the company that manages Elfbar and Lost Mary.
“The creation of this advisory board marks a milestone in the global operations of Elfbar and Lost Mary. This aligns with our long-term commitment as the responsible market leader for the vaping sector worldwide, and our exploration of the smoking cessation role vaping products play,” said Heaven Gifts Global Vice-President Victor Xiao in a statement.
“This board further signals our intent to address concerns around, for example, youth vaping, the environmental impact, and illicit trade. Starting in the U.K., we are looking to bring this mechanism to more global markets, particularly those in Europe.”
Members of the advisory board include Steve Bennett, former director of investigations at the National Crime Agency; George Eustice, former member of parliament and secretary of state for the department of environment, food and rural affairs; Susie Kemp, former CEO of Swindon Borough council and deputy chief executive of Surrey county council; Lord Porter, former council leader and chair of the Local Government Association; Sairah Salim-Sartoni, a health psychologist with extensive experience in smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction; and Lord Walney, a former member of parliament and special advisor to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Business Secretary Lord Hutton.
This week, the Coalition of Manufacturers of Smoking Alternatives (CMSA), a trade coalition that represents a diverse array of members who manufacture and distribute smoking harm reduction products, filed an amicus curiae brief before the Supreme Court of the United States supporting White Lion Investments, dba as Triton Distribution, in its case against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
In its brief, CMSA argues that FDA violated the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA) in its wholesale rejection of applications for flavored vaping products by applying a surprise and improperly adopted standard and foregoing the required notice-and-comment process. The brief emphasizes that the U.S. Congress specifically requires the FDA to undergo a transparent rulemaking process before imposing any restriction that amounts to a “tobacco product” standard.
“Importantly, this process tasks FDA with considering the broader public health effects of any such standard, ‘such as creating demand for and increasing the use of unregulated black-market products,’ or other harmful consequences,” the CMSA states. “In its efforts to unilaterally reject flavored vapor product applications based on a new and heightened standard, FDA unlawfully sidestepped this critical regulatory check and operated outside the bounds of its authority.”
The CMSA states that the FDA circumvented the very procedures Congress imposed to check the arbitrary or unreasonable exercise of such delegated power, and causes real harms as the FDA “misleads and whipsaws” manufacturers seeking to provide a robust set of options for consumers seeking to quit smoking,” the CMSA wrote in its brief. Further adding that “the long delays in FDA’s review of the many PMTAs (premarket tobacco product applications) it has received, coupled with the moving goal posts imposed via the review process, creates a level of uncertainty that severely deters investment and innovation in new products with harm-reduction potential.”
Earlier this week, 13 members of Congress, including U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and U.S. Representative Andy Harris, filed an amicus brief supporting the position of Triton Distribution and CMSA. In their brief, the members of Congress write, “There is a clear lack of authority for such a ban. Congress has specifically prohibited the FDA from banning products. Despite this, the FDA imposed a categorical prohibition.”
Also, the Global Action to End Smoking wrote in its amicus brief to SCOTUS that the FDA strayed from a “sensible, science-based harm-reduction approach, adopting an all-or-nothing stance that exalts outright cessation and all but ignores the harm-reduction strategy that Congress mandated…. [ignoring the] overwhelming scientific evidence that e-cigarettes containing flavor additives have an important role to play in moving adult smokers down the continuum of risk.”
SCOTUS announced Dec. 2, 2024 as the date for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration v. Wages and White Lion Investments, LLC, d/b/a Triton Distribution hearing.
The latest tally of federal data finds that vaping rates fell from 10 percent of high school students in 2023 to 7.8 percent this year, “reaching the lowest level ever measured,” reported a team of researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to newly released data from the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), current tobacco product use among U.S. middle and high school students has dropped to the lowest recorded level in 25 years,
“Reaching a 25-year low for youth tobacco product use is an extraordinary milestone for public health. However, with more than 2 million youth using tobacco products and certain groups not experiencing declines in use, our mission is far from complete,” Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, said in a news release announcing the new data.
Rates of use of traditional cigarettes are also meager: Only 1.4 percent of middle- and high-school kids now smoke, the report found.
“We’re headed in the right direction when it comes to reducing tobacco product use among our nation’s youth,” said Brian King, director of the US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products. “But we can’t take our foot off the gas. Continued vigilance is needed to continue to reduce all forms of tobacco product use among youth. Addressing disparities remains an essential part of these efforts to ensure that we don’t leave anyone behind.”
Modern oral nicotine pouches now rank as the second most popular tobacco product, with 2.4 percent of high school students using them regularly, an FDA release states.
“Nicotine pouch sales have substantially increased nationwide since 2016,” noted the team led by CDC investigator Ahmed Jamal, and “nearly one million (890,000) students reported ever using nicotine pouches in 2024.”
Still, the overall trends are positive, and by 2024 only 1 in every 10 middle-and high-school students was using any form of tobacco product.
The minister of mental health and addictions says the federal government will ban most vape flavors across Canada soon — more than three years after Ottawa first promised to bring in the regulations.
