Author: Timothy Donahue

  • U.S. House Lawmakers Push FDA Chief on Vaping

    U.S. House Lawmakers Push FDA Chief on Vaping

    Credit: Rafel

    A news media outlet is reporting that U.S Reps. Rob Wittman and Raja Krishnamoorthi wrote a letter to Robert Califf, head of the Food and Drug Administration, asking for answers to inquiries they had sent to the agency in November.

    “While we appreciate the recent joint federal operation resulting in the seizure of more than 1.4 million units of illegal e-cigarettes in December 2023, much more needs to be done,” the letter exclusively provided to The Hill states. “Illegal vaping products from the PRC [People’s Republic of China] now make up more than half of all vaping products sold in the United States and contribute significantly to underage vaping rates.”

    The lawmakers specifically cited the brand Elf Bar as being “illegally imported” from China. The product line features brightly colored e-cigarettes with various fruity flavors, which anti-vaping advocates say attract youth.

    The lawmakers asked what the FDA planned to do to stem the flow of e-cigarettes from China and whether it planned to enforce legal proceedings against manufacturers. They also asked why the FDA has not issued a rule requiring foreign manufacturing registration, which the Tobacco Control Act allows for.

    The agency has repeatedly delayed its reviewing of premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs), which are required for new tobacco products to be legally marketed in the U.S. The FDA previously said it would finish reviewing applications by the end of December 2023.

    The FDA now states that it will complete all covered marketing applications by June 30. In its latest court-ordered status report, the agency stated that continued review is necessary in light of recent judicial decisions, including the D.C. Circuit’s decision in Fontem US.

    Krishnamoorthi and Wittman asked when the FDA would complete its reviews and pressed the agency over the delay.

  • VTA Buys Ads Targeting Senator Over Zyn Comments

    VTA Buys Ads Targeting Senator Over Zyn Comments

    vta-logo-square

    The Vapor Technology Association (VTA) announced the launch of a cable news ad buy targeting Sen. Chuck Schumer and his proposed ban on Zyn nicotine pouches. The ad runs this week on FOX News and FOX Business during key programming slots, including “FOX and Friends,” “Kudlow,” and “The Five.”

    Sen. Charles Schumer

    The ad connects a proposed ban on e-cigarettes with a ban on all less harmful, tobacco-free nicotine products, such as Zyn nicotine pouches. The ad also calls out entrenched bureaucrats at the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), led by Brian King, for repeatedly blocking access for millions to e-cigarettes as harm reduction tools that the science has proven are the most effective product on the market to help people quit smoking cigarettes, according to an emailed press release.

    “Sen. Schumer and the FDA are simply wrong: wrong on e-cigarettes, wrong on Zyn, and wrong on the science,” said Tony Abboud, executive director of VTA. “Rather than give adult smokers broader access to a greater number of lower-risk alternatives, the FDA and CTP have instead imposed a de facto ban on e-cigarettes – and Zyn is next.”

    The ad states that Schumer’s proposed Zyn ban precisely mimics his attempts to eliminate e-cigarette use nationwide, amounting to an assault on Americans’ personal freedom to choose lower-risk, tobacco-free nicotine products that overwhelming scientific and medical data demonstrates are effective at helping adults quit smoking.

  • New FEELM Turbo Promises ‘Explosion’ of Flavor

    New FEELM Turbo Promises ‘Explosion’ of Flavor

    Credit: FEELM

    FEELM, a leading vape solution provider, has launched the world’s first “burst power ceramic coil” vape solution. The FEELM Turbo solution leverages “cutting-edge” ceramic coil technology to deliver an explosion of flavor for consumers, according to an emailed press release.

    “Like none others, it can deliver intense flavors, powerful vapor in the shortest time, and enduringly long product life. Compared to other high-powered vapes, products equipped with FEELM Turbo have smaller sizes yet deliver even higher bursts of vapor,” FEELM states. “This technology is also perfectly adapted to the two major vape categories, the disposables, and the pod-system, suitable for customers to create differentiated products to seize the market.”

    Despite its small size, the Turbo can deliver a 200 percent improvement in taste intensity. It efficiently atomizes large molecules while enhancing e-liquid aroma recovery, resulting in a richer and more satisfying hit, according to the release. “With a burst time of just 0.5 seconds, it outperforms mainstream products on the market by strides. Tests show that just one burst power ceramic coil performs more than on par with dual MESH coils,” FEELM states.

    At this year’s TPE exhibition, FEELM showcased an ultra-thin burst power disposable product the 2024 TPE trade show held in Las Vegas at the end of January. With a body thickness of only 14mm, the product “impressed consumers with its elegant thinness, excellent feel, and powerful first puff. It truly lives up to its name: ‘thin yet powerful!’”

    The FEELM Turbo solution delivers significantly more vapor at a lower power setting. Compared to dual Mesh products on the market, FEELM Turbo sees an 80 percent increase in performance, offering a richer flavor experience. The Turbo also boasts constant power engine technology, which ensures consistent flavor and vapor volume throughout the product’s lifespan.

    “Users can enjoy the same satisfying taste with every puff, unlike mainstream products where flavor often fades to bland. Compared to the competitors, FEELM Turbo products demonstrate a 35 percent improvement in flavor consistency and a remarkable 95 percent consistency in the vapor volume,” the release states.

  • Australia: Over $1 Million in Illicit Nicotine Seized

    Australia: Over $1 Million in Illicit Nicotine Seized

    More than 30,000 vapes and tobacco products worth more than AUD 1 million ($650,000) have been seized by health authorities in a series of raids across Sydney.

    The major vaping blitz saw 60 retailers targeted throughout the city’s southeast last week.

    More than 30,000 e-cigarettes, 118,000 cigarettes, 45 kilograms of flavored and loose-leaf tobacco, and 284 containers of nicotine pouches were taken during the NSW Health and Therapeutic Goods Administration raids.

    The total street value of the seizures is over $1.1 million, NSW Health said.

    It takes the total value of illegal vapes and tobacco products seized across the state since July 2020 to $31.6 million.

  • FDA Denies Blu Marketing of 5 Flavored Products

    FDA Denies Blu Marketing of 5 Flavored Products

    Credit: Fontem US

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continued its de-facto flavor ban and issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) to Fontem US LLC for four Blu disposables and one Myblu brand e-cigarette product.

    The currently marketed products that received an MDO are:

    • Blu Disposable Menthol 2.4%
    • Blu Disposable Vanilla 2.4%
    • Blu Disposable Polar Mint 2.4%
    • Blu Disposable Cherry 2.4%
    • Myblu Menthol 1.2%

    After reviewing the company’s premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs), the regulatory agency determined that the applications lacked sufficient evidence to demonstrate that permitting marketing of the products would be appropriate for the protection of the public health, which is the standard legally required by the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, according to a press note.

    “The application lacked sufficient evidence regarding harmful and potentially harmful ingredients in the aerosol for one product and battery safety for several products,” the release states. “Additionally, the applicant did not present sufficient data demonstrating that the new products have a potential to benefit adult smokers, in terms of complete switching or significant cigarette use reduction, that would outweigh the risk to youth.”

    While the FDA has approved 23 vaping products, none have been a flavored product. Last month, the agency also issued Fontem US, LLC MDOs for its Blu PLUS+ brand e-cigarette products. Fontem is expected to appeal the FDA decision.

  • Vermont Moving Closer to Flavored Nicotine Ban

    Vermont Moving Closer to Flavored Nicotine Ban

    Credit: Belyay

    It’s likely going to become law. The Vermont House Committee on Human Services advanced a bill last week that would ban selling flavored vaping and other tobacco products, but made changes to address disagreements on whether to include menthol cigarettes.

    If passed, the ban would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. However, the ban on menthol cigarettes would be delayed until July 1, 2025, and the Health Equity Advisory Committee would produce a report on whether the ban is discriminatory and present it to the assembly in the 2025 legislative session, according to media reports.

    The bill proposes a ban on selling flavored tobacco products and substitutes, including cigarettes, vapes, cigars, snuff, and chewing tobacco. The bill’s most recent draft defines flavors as any taste or aroma other than that of tobacco, including “fruit, chocolate, vanilla, honey, maple, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, mint, menthol, wintergreen, herb or spice, or other food or drink.”

    There were disagreements over whether the ban supports people of color, who are disproportionately targeted by the marketing of menthol cigarettes, leading to them being more likely to die of tobacco-related diseases. Or, the ban would discriminate against people of color and the LGBTQ community by banning their preferred cigarettes and other menthol tobacco products.

  • North Carolina Launches Juul Document Depository

    North Carolina Launches Juul Document Depository

    north carolina state line
    Credit: Andreykr

    The attorney general for the U.S. state of North Carolina announced the launch of an online, searchable public depository that will contain nearly four million documents from the state’s lawsuit against e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs.

    The depository was created and is being housed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s University Libraries (UNC) and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The first 50,000 documents are now available online in the UCSF Industry Documents Library, and additional documents will be added monthly, according to Attorney General Josh Stein.

    “We insisted on a publicly accessible database of JUUL’s documents to ensure transparency,” said Stein. “We want people to understand what JUUL did so this never happens again. I’m grateful for the partnership with UNC and UCSF and appreciate their teams’ hard work to bring this document library to life.”

    Attorney General Stein sued Juul Labs in 2019 for unlawfully designing, marketing, and selling its e-cigarettes to teenagers. In 2021, he reached a first-in-the-nation settlement with the pod vaping system manufacturer, winning $47.8 million and requiring the company to make significant business changes and publicize many of the documents it had produced during the lawsuit.

    The documents include information about Juul Labs’ business practices, research, advertisement, marketing, and sales data, and “they shine a light” on how the company marketed its products to youth. Stein negotiated the release of the documents to help the public and regulators better understand JUUL’s “unlawful business practices” and prevent other companies from being able to follow the same path, the press release states.

    “Libraries have deep expertise in managing complex information, along with a strong professional ethos of collaboration,” said María Estorino, vice provost for University Libraries and University Librarian at UNC-Chapel Hill. “This partnership between UNC-Chapel Hill and UCSF is a perfect example of libraries working together to bring vitally important information directly to the public.”

    The Juul Labs documents will be cross-searchable with more than 18 million other documents in the UCSF library’s tobacco, opioid, chemical, drug, food, and fossil fuel industry archives.

    Stein is also investigating Puff Bar and other e-cigarette manufacturers, distributors, and retailers due to ongoing concerns about flavors, age verification, and marketing.

  • Innokin Eco-Friendly ‘Trine’ Device Coming in March

    Innokin Eco-Friendly ‘Trine’ Device Coming in March

    To help lessen the environmental impact of disposable vapes, vaping manufacturer Innokin is stepping up its efforts to ensure a more sustainable future in vaping. With the introduction of its Trine innovation, Innokin is at the forefront of aligning with initiatives in European regions to tackle the environmental challenges posed by disposable vapes.

    Innokin’s new Trine vaping device represents a revolutionary approach with its unique 3-in-1 structure, according to an emailed press release. It moves away from the traditional disposable model and incorporates innovative features that enhance sustainability. The new design focuses on easy recycling and longer device life cycles.

    First, the Trine’s design includes a removable battery, facilitating easy recycling and reducing electronic waste. This feature allows the battery to be easily replaced or recycled, much like regular external batteries, thus minimizing the device’s environmental footprint.

    The battery endurance of the Trine solution also leads to an enhanced lifespan. Each battery supports over 300 full charge cycles while maintaining more than 80 percent of its original capacity. This translates to a lifespan of up to two years under normal usage conditions, in stark contrast to disposable alternatives that contribute to the rapid accumulation of electronic waste, according to Innokin.

    Additionally, the Trine solution incorporates Innokin’s new EcoDrain technology, an eco-safe battery recycling solution. This technology actively addresses the challenges of handling discarded batteries, ensuring their safe and efficient discharge before recycling.

    “Innokin’s forward-thinking approach also aligns with the upcoming EU battery regulation, which mandates that all battery-powered devices, including e-cigarettes, must feature batteries that are removable and replaceable by the end user,” the release states.

    Innokin plans to launch a new product that uses the Trine solution in March. “This eagerly awaited release represents a significant milestone in their commitment to sustainability and innovation, promising consumers a greener and more eco-friendly vaping experience,” the release states.

    For more information about Innokin’s Trine solution and its approach to sustainability, visit https://innokin.com.

  • UK Seized Nearly 10 Tons of Illegal Vapes Last Year

    UK Seized Nearly 10 Tons of Illegal Vapes Last Year

    Credit: Mary

    The number of illegal vapes seized at the border quadrupled last year as UK authorities wrestle with unlicensed imports amid a surge in youth vaping. More than 4.5 million vapes weighing nearly 10 tons were seized over the last 12 months, four times more than in 2022.

    The figures were released to the BBC after a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. The government is soon to announce new rules for the industry, including a possible ban on disposable vapes.

    Figures released to the BBC in response to an FOI request show that Border Force seized just 4,430 vapes in 2021, rising to 988,064 in 2022 and 4,537,689 from Jan. to Oct. 2023.

    Unlike legal vapes, illegal e-cigarettes are not registered with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and do not pass through quality control processes, so they may contain harmful chemicals. And retailers prepared to flout product rules may not be scrupulous about observing the ban on selling to under-18s

    A Home Office spokesperson said the government would “not tolerate the sale of illegal products and… harmful goods, such as illegal or counterfeit vapes”.

  • Columbus, Ohio Vows to Sue State Over Flavor Ban

    Columbus, Ohio Vows to Sue State Over Flavor Ban

    Ohio State House in Columbus (Credit: Mandritoiu)

    The City of Columbus is drafting a lawsuit against Ohio for the legislature’s recent decision to ban cities from regulating tobacco sales, continuing a long battle between state and city government officials.

    Last week, the Ohio Senate followed the House’s lead and voted to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto on a provision prohibiting local governments from enacting regulations on the sale of tobacco, including banning flavored tobacco products, according to media reports.

    Starting on April 24, when the law goes into effect, cities with flavored tobacco bans will no longer be able to enforce the legislation. Columbus, Grandview Heights, Worthington and Bexley will be among the cities barred from enforcing their flavored tobacco bans.

    Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein is now looking to file a lawsuit in response to the veto override.

    “The governor was right to veto legislation undermining local efforts to reduce tobacco use and long-term adverse health effects, especially among young people,” Klein said. “Now that Republican lawmakers have chosen to override the governor’s veto, the City is weighing all options, which certainly includes filing a lawsuit challenging this legislative overreach.”

    Klein said his office must defend the Ohio Constitution’s home rule authority, which has existed for more than 110 years. Municipal home rule grants cities the constitutional right to establish laws; as long as a rule or regulation doesn’t interfere with the laws in the Ohio Revised Code, cities have the right to make their own policies.

    Republican state lawmakers have tried multiple times to prohibit local governments from restricting the sale of tobacco, only to be thwarted by DeWine’s vetoes.

    In 2022, he struck down such a proposal. Last July, he struck the provision from the rest of the state budget, saying that local bans were “essential” to curb nicotine use, especially among children, without a statewide ban in place.