Author: Timothy Donahue

  • Some EU Countries Want Vapes in With Tobacco Tax

    Some EU Countries Want Vapes in With Tobacco Tax

    Credit: Zerbor

    Sixteen EU countries asked the European Commission on Monday to propose a new law in the coming months on taxing tobacco in the bloc to include new products such as e-cigarettes and other vaping products – which are not covered under existing legislation.

    The initiative, led by the Netherlands, is supported by Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Slovakia, Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Ireland, Slovenia, and Portugal.

    In a letter to the Commission, finance ministers from the countries say an update to the bloc’s 2011 EU tobacco taxation law is needed because – in the absence of EU regulations on vaping – each country now applies different rules and levels of excise tax, distorting the bloc’s single market.

    “Based on the current directive, most of these products cannot be taxed like traditional tobacco products. The provisions of the current directive are insufficient or too narrow to meet the challenges faced by the administrations of Member States given the ever-evolving offerings of the tobacco industry,” said the joint letter, seen by Reuters.

    “Due to shortcomings in the EU legislation, Member States have taken appropriate actions at the national level. This has led to fragmentation, an uneven playing field and, ultimately, to the distortion of our internal market,” it said.

    An update to the EU tobacco taxation law was due at the end of 2022, but has been delayed and governments want the new Commission, which took office on Dec. 1 for the next five years, to address this urgently.

  • Rhode Island Shop Owners Sue Over Flavor Ban

    Rhode Island Shop Owners Sue Over Flavor Ban

    Rhode Island State House in Providence, Rhode Island. (Credit Design Pics)

    Two Rhode Island businesses are challenging the impending statewide ban preventing them from selling flavored vaping products.

    Vaporetti LLC, an East Providence vape shop, and Sunshine Vape LLC, which runs three stores in Providence, Warwick and South Kingstown, filed a lawsuit against the Rhode Island Department of Revenue, Division of Taxation and Department of Health last month in an attempt to block the statewide ban.

    The business owners are asking the court to stop the “unconstitutional” and “unlawful” ban from taking effect on Jan. 1, 2025, media reports. Gov. Dan McKee signed the statewide ban, which was included in his $14 million budget proposal for the next fiscal year, into law over the summer.

    In the lawsuit, the business owners warned that the ban would severely impact their bottom lines and force their inevitable closures. “Each [business] derives more than 70% of its annual sales revenue from flavored ENDS products,” the lawsuit explained. “The sale of flavored ENDS products is an integral part of [their businesses], and the viability of their businesses is directly related to their ability to sell these products.”

    If enforced, the ban “will prove fatal to these businesses because they cannot survive the loss of nearly three quarters of their revenue.” In the lawsuit, the business owners also stressed that the ban may do more harm than good.

  • Mexico’s Lower House Passes Ban on Vape Products

    Mexico’s Lower House Passes Ban on Vape Products

    The lower house of Mexico’s Congress voted to alter the constitution to include a ban on e-cigarettes, reports Reuters. The measure passed with 410 votes in favor and 24 against.

    The reform also sanctions “production, distribution and sale of toxic substances, chemical precursors, the illicit use of fentanyl and other non-authorized synthetic drugs.”

    Less than 1 million people from ages 12 to 65 reported regularly using a vape in 2022, according to federal data cited by lawmakers. Meanwhile, around 500,000 teens and 300,000 adults used e-cigarettes.

    The proposal was sent to Congress by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who argued that smoking devices were damaging public health, with children particularly susceptible to getting hooked.

    Lopez Obrador had already banned such devices through a presidential decree, though they remain widely available for purchase. Millions of Mexicans, meanwhile, smoke traditional cigarettes, which remain legal.

    Opposition legislator Ector Jaime Ramirez said banning fentanyl and vaping in the same reform was excessive and “trivializing to the effort being made to combat the most addictive and dangerous drugs.”

  • FDA Issues Warnings to 115 Retailers for Illegal Sales

    FDA Issues Warnings to 115 Retailers for Illegal Sales

    Credit: Marcus Krauss

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to 115 brick-and-mortar retailers for selling unauthorized vaping products. The warning letters cite the sale of disposable e-cigarette products owned by Chinese manufacturers and marketed under popular brand names, including Geek Bar Pulse, Geek Bar Skyview, Geek Bar Platinum, and Elf Bar. 

    The warning letters result from the FDA’s ongoing enforcement efforts, in coordination with state partners, to identify and crack down on the sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes, according to the agency. FDA has contracts with states, territories, or third-party entities to assist with compliance check inspections of retail establishments.  

    Findings from the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey indicated that 5.8 percent of current youth e-cigarette users reported using products under the Geek Bar brand. FDA’s review of additional rapid surveillance data and preliminary data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study has also identified the brand as popular or youth-appealing. 

    Warning letter recipients are given 15 working days to respond with the steps they will take to correct the violation and to prevent future violations. Failure to promptly correct the violations can result in additional FDA actions such as an injunction, seizure, and/or civil money penalty. 

    A new tobacco product must have FDA authorization before it can be legally marketed, and generally, products without authorization are at risk of enforcement action. To date, the FDA has authorized 34 e-cigarette products and devices.

  • Carlson’s Alp Could Upend Pouch Market: Survey

    Carlson’s Alp Could Upend Pouch Market: Survey

    Credit: Wiki Media

    More than 86 percent of current U.S. nicotine pouch users say they are likely to switch to the recently launched Alp brand, according to a survey carried out by online retailer Nicokick. Such a shift would upend the nicotine pouch industry, which is currently valued at approximately $988.4 million and dominated by Philip Morris International’s Zyn brand.

    Alp was launched in November by Tucker Carlson and Turning Point Brands. The conservative commentator touts the product as “the first nicotine pouch brand made by and for adults who unapologetically love nicotine.”

    According to an earlier article in The Wall Street Journal, Carlson decided to enter the tobacco business because of the way Zyn manufacturer Philip Morris International responded to an off-color remark he made in 2023 about America’s bestselling nicotine pouch.

    It’s clear the introduction of Tucker Carlson’s brand Alp should have a significant impact on the nicotine market, not only with current pouch users, but also with consumers of other forms of smoking and tobacco products.

    Marina Murphy, senior director of scientific affairs, Nicokick

    Also in Nickokick’s survey, 41.4 percent of cigarette users and 53.6 percent of cigar users said they would be likely to switch to Alp nicotine pouches. Nearly 55 percent of vapers also said they would be likely to switch.

     “It’s clear the introduction of Tucker Carlson’s brand Alp should have a significant impact on the nicotine market, not only with current pouch users, but also with consumers of other forms of smoking and tobacco products,” said Marina Murphy, senior director of scientific affairs at Nicokick.

    “A shift away from cigarettes, and towards nicotine alternatives like pouches, could have impacts not only on the industry, but on the lives and health of millions of American consumers.”

  • Cigarette Smoking Drops to Record Low in Spain

    Cigarette Smoking Drops to Record Low in Spain

    Smoking rates in Spain have dropped to a record low, reports Euro Weekly News.

    In 2024, 25.84 percent of the population smoked, down from 33.1 percent in 2022. Health advocates credit successful government initiatives, including higher taxes on tobacco products, stronger restrictions on tobacco advertising, the expansion of smoke-free zones to include public outdoor areas, and increased funding for smoking cessation services.

    Despite these recent declines, tobacco remains a major public health issue in Spain. The Spanish Ministry of Health attributes nearly 50,000 deaths annually to smoking-related illnesses, accounting for nearly 15 percent of all deaths in the country.

    Meanwhile, the decline in cigarette smoking has been accompanied by a surge vaping. The number of e-cigarette users has doubled in the past four years, with 19 percent of Spaniards having tried them. Over half of e-cigarette users are opting for nicotine-free versions.

    In response to this shift, the Spanish government is introducing new regulations to curb e-cigarette usage, including banning e-cigarettes in indoor public spaces, restricting flavored e-liquids, and limiting them to tobacco flavors. It is also considering plain packaging for e-cigarette products, and discussing the introduction of taxes on e-liquids to mirror tobacco taxes.

  • Report Details Global Age Verification Regulations

    Report Details Global Age Verification Regulations

    Image: Ondato

    Ondato, a global provider of digital identity and age verification solutions, has released a report that maps the intricacies of age verification regulations worldwide.

    The report analyzes age verification laws and practices across major markets, including the EU, the United States, the United Kingdom and emerging economies. It provides sector-specific insights into regulations affecting industries such as gaming, social media, e-commerce and online content streaming. Additionally, the report identifies common compliance challenges that businesses face when navigating diverse regulations and explores how technology can help mitigate these issues.

    “Our goal is to empower businesses with the knowledge and tools they need to stay compliant and protected,” said Ondato co-founder and CEO Liudas Kanapienis. “This report is an invaluable tool for companies striving to keep pace with the evolving regulatory environment.”

  • CoEHAR: Vape Products Most Effective Quitting Tool

    CoEHAR: Vape Products Most Effective Quitting Tool

    Image: CoEHAR

    A recent review conducted by the Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) at the University of Catania found that e-cigarettes are more effective than other treatments for smoking cessation.

    Published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, the study represents one of the most comprehensive analyses to date, evaluating 16 systematic reviews and encompassing data from 24 randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

    According to the authors, e-cigarettes outperformed other cessation treatments in eight out of 11 meta-analyses. No evidence was found to suggest that e-cigarettes are less effective than any alternative treatments. And while mixed results emerged when comparing ENDS to traditional nicotine replacement therapy, the overall trend favored ENDS for cessation efficacy.

    “The data from our umbrella review can support the integration of harm reduction strategies into public health policies in many countries,” said Renée O’Leary, lead author of the review, in a statement. “However, the review highlights a critical gap in existing cessation strategies, with long-term success rates for e-cigarettes remaining modest at 10 percent-12 percent and the effect of relapse has not been sufficiently studied. New treatments and approaches are urgently needed”.

    Despite these promising findings, the study also emphasizes the need for greater scientific rigor in the field. According to the authors, the analysis exposes significant reporting biases in many studies.

    “This study provides robust evidence supporting the potential of ENDS as an effective cessation aid, but it also calls for enhanced clinical guidelines and further exploration of long-term outcomes,” stated Riccardo Polosa, co-author and founder of CoEHAR.

  • Dallas, Texas to Consider ‘Public Places’ Vape Ban

    Dallas, Texas to Consider ‘Public Places’ Vape Ban

    Credit: Lucitanija

    According to a city council committee memo, Dallas is expected to consider restricting vaping in public spaces like parks next week.

    The Environmental Commission, a group appointed to advise the city council on environmental issues, recommended in May 2023 that the city restrict vaping in public spaces “after identifying the negative health effects of vaping aerosol exposure,” according to a city memo.

    The city council’s Parks Trails and the Environment committee requested in March that the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability and the Environmental Commission recommend updating the city’s smoke-free ordinance to include vaping.

    The full city council is expected to consider the issue on Dec. 11.

    “An outdoor park, as long as you’re being respectful of people and you’re keeping your distance and you’re not getting it in anyone’s face,” said Chris Self, owner of Trilogy Smoke, CBD & Vape Shop in Coppell. Self is a vape advocate who isn’t surprised by the possible rule change. He also says this won’t bother his clients who are used to being discrete anyway.

    WFAA reports that banning vaping in city parks would include all of Fair Park and likely during the State Fair of Texas. The media outlet said it had contacted the city’s Parks department for clarification on this to see if any ordinance change would also extend to the fair.

    “I know they can do a designation area, I know they have a designation area for smoking,” said Self.

  • DEA Begins Formal Process to Deschedule Cannabis

    DEA Begins Formal Process to Deschedule Cannabis

    Credit: Burdun

    The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has begun to publicly share details about its long-anticipated hearings on cannabis rescheduling.

    The agency announced last week that Dec. 2 will mark the beginning of its “formal hearing proceedings” on the U.S. Department of Justice’s proposal to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.

    A “preliminary hearing” is expected “to address legal and logistical issues and discuss future dates for the evidentiary hearing on the merits. No witness testimony will be offered or received at this time.”

    The hearing began today at 9am and will continue until 5pm at the DEA’s headquarters in Virginia, and a live stream is available.

    Nearly two dozen entities requested to participate in the hearing process, but a DEA administrative law judge determined last week that only a dozen had “established standing” to do so.