Author: Timothy Donahue

UK Vaping Industry Association Forum Starts Nov. 15
The U.K. Vaping Industry Association’s (UKVIA) annual Industry Forum will take place at the London Marriott Hotel Regents Park on Friday, Nov. 15.
The event will feature a program of timely panel discussions, including “Politics in the Spotlight”; “Closing the Trust Gap”; “Adding Consumers to the Conversation”; and “The Balancing Act,” which will explore the best route to further unlock vaping’s potential to improve harm reduction while also protecting young people.
It will also include a panel discussion titled “Killing the Black Market, Not the Consumers,” which will look at how interventions such as a vape retailer and distributor licensing scheme could put a stop to rogue traders for good and bring about a new age of responsibility and accountability for the sector.
“The industry has long been calling for stronger action against the unscrupulous sellers who flout the law and put young people, consumers and legitimate businesses at risk, and we were delighted to see the inclusion of licensing in the new government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill,” said UKVIA Director General John Dunne in a statement.
“Earlier this year, the UKVIA was involved in the development of a vape retailer and distributor licensing framework, which would prevent inappropriate businesses—including sweet shops—from ever selling these products, would bring into force stronger penalties for those breaking the rules and would generate upward of £50 million [$63.65 million] per year in self-sustaining funding, which could be used to empower Trading Standards.”
This year’s UKVIA Forum will also feature a keynote on the “new era of enforcement” from Kate Pike, lead officer for vaping with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, as well as a Q&A with Orla Menzies, the vaping policy lead for HMRC, and—for the first time—an onstage showcase where five companies will discuss how they are adapting their product offerings and leading on innovation across the sector.
November 14, 2024
Northern Ireland: Many Vapers Avoid Verifying Age

Credit: Miroslav
According to a recent survey, 4 out of 5 vape users in Northern Ireland have never been asked to verify their age compared to 45 percent of UK users.
Despite this, the survey showed retailers would support checks coming into force where the minimum age to purchase a vape in Northern Ireland or the UK is 18 years old.
Campaigners say vapes are just as threatening to our nation’s health as other age-restricted items, like cigarettes and alcohol, but currently have a hold over our youth who have access to vapes. The tools for age verification are more accessible to sources too for convenience stores.
The topic of age-restricted sales, which made it into the King’s Speech, also tackles shoplifting. Identification has been an essential aspect in delivering, according to media.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, driven by Rishi Sunak to stop under-15-year-olds being legally sold tobacco products.
Knowledge has evolved around vaping culture; suppliers like Vape Supplier Limited (VSL) have distributed ITL’s MyCheckr scanners to convenience stores.
November 13, 2024
Navajo Nation Increases Nicotine Tax, Adds Vapes

Credit: Pabrady63
The Navajo Nation Budget and Finance Committee Vice Chair Carl R. Slater joined Navajo Nation President Dr. Buu Nygren as he signed Legislation 0145-24 into law, amending the Tobacco Products Tax to include electronic smoking devices and other nicotine products.
Council Delegate Slater, who sponsored the legislation, thanked President Nygren for signing the bill, emphasizing its potential to reduce tobacco and nicotine use among Navajo youth.
“We’ve seen the tobacco and nicotine industries evolve to target our young people in new ways, making them lifelong users dependent on these harmful substances,” Council Delegate Slater said. “Our traditional and sacred tobacco serves a much different purpose. It’s not about quick gratification, but about purifying our minds so our thoughts are strong, clear, and aligned with our teachings.”
The newly implemented Nicotine Products and Electronic Smoking Products Tax applies a 22 percent tax rate to nicotine and electronic smoking devices, according to media reports. It also increases taxes on tobacco products, including an additional 12.5 cents per cigarette, $3.85 per ounce of smoking tobacco, snuff, and chewing tobacco, $1.25 per ounce of plug or twist tobacco, $2.50 per package of small cigars, and $3.62 per larger, single cigar.
Council Delegate Slater highlighted how the Fund Management Plan for the new tax will support the Office of Traditional Culture and Spiritual Healing, which has not been funded since its creation. Additionally, the new tax revenue will support the Department of Health’s projects in partnership with traditional Navajo healer non-profit organizations.
November 13, 2024
Sweden First Country to ‘Officially’ be Smoke Free

Credit: Summit Art Creations
Today, the Swedish government released data showing that Swedes have made history by officially becoming the first country to be ‘smoke-free’.
Swedes have hit the remarkable milestone 16 years ahead of the European Union target – while most of the EU’s fellow member states are set to miss it by some distance.
Official health data released by Sweden’s public health agency show that just 4.5% of Swedish-born adults smoke – significantly below the globally recognized benchmark of 5% for smoke-free status.
Average smoking rates in Europe (24%) are five times higher than Sweden’s.
The Swedes’ extraordinary success results from their pioneering policy approach to safer cigarette alternatives, according to press releases.
Dr. Delon Human, leader of Smoke-Free Sweden, said the outstanding achievement marks a significant moment in global public health and stands as a testament to the progressive policies that have guided Sweden’s approach to tobacco control.
“In the early 1960s, nearly half of Swedish men smoked. By embracing and encouraging the use of alternative nicotine products such as snus, oral nicotine pouches and vapes, Sweden has paved a clear path to a smoke-free society while safeguarding public health,” he said. “They should serve as a beacon of hope for the rest of the world and as inspirational proof that a pragmatic, enlightened approach can deliver sensational public health gains and save lives.”
The new statistics show that 5.3% of all adults in Sweden, including immigrants, currently smoke. Remarkably, the data also reveals that people born elsewhere in Europe would be three times more likely to smoke if they had not moved to Sweden.
Dr. Anders Milton, a physician, former president, and CEO of the Swedish Medical Association, said that the key to Sweden’s success is its pragmatic focus on harm reduction rather than prohibition.
“A wide range of safer nicotine products, with a variety of strengths and flavours, is legally available both online and in stores, supported by advertising, which raises awareness and encourages uptake,” he said. “The Swedish government also applies a proportional excise tax, keeping smoke-free products more affordable than cigarettes.
“This tax policy, coupled with public education campaigns, has empowered Swedish consumers to make healthier choices and contributed to the country’s leading role in tobacco harm reduction.”
The benefits of Sweden’s strategy are enormous, with the country having the lowest percentage of tobacco-related diseases in the EU and a 41% lower incidence of cancer than other European countries.
“While Sweden celebrates this historic achievement, most other nations remain far from reaching their smoke-free goals,” said Human. “Their rigid, prohibitionist policies limit access to safer nicotine alternatives, including oral nicotine products and e-cigarettes. These regressive measures are pushing smokers away from potentially life-saving tools and stalling progress toward reducing tobacco harm.
“Rather than follow Sweden’s lead, these nations are heading in the opposite direction, with smoking prevalence stagnating or even rising. Sweden’s success is living proof that alternative nicotine products are a powerful force for positive change when supported by evidence-based policies.
“Smoke-Free Sweden calls on all countries to re-evaluate their tobacco control strategies and adopt harm reduction as a central pillar in their fight against smoking. Sweden’s smoke-free status should be a wake-up call to policymakers across the globe: progressive, science-backed policies on nicotine alternatives can make smoking history without sacrificing public health goals.”
November 13, 2024
Juul Labs Hires Wisdom as Managing Director

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Juul Labs has appointed Melissa Wisdom as its new managing director.
Wisdom comes from the Stonegate Group, where she served as chief commercial officer. Prior to that, she also served as a commercial director at Diageo, and held senior positions at prominent national and global brands.
In her new role, Melissa will oversee all of Juul Labs U.K commercial activities as the company seeks to bring its next-generation product technology to more parts of the world.
“Joining Juul Labs as its new managing director is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the company’s bold vision for the future—one where long-term success is achieved through responsible innovation and investment in high-quality, scientifically-supported products,” said Wisdom in a statement.
“I look forward to advancing Juul’s commercial objectives across this rapidly changing industry to ensure we are delivering the best possible alternatives for adult smokers, whilst taking serious action to prevent underage access to and appeal of our products.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Melissa Wisdom as Juul Labs’ new managing director,” said Juul Labs CEO, K.C. Crosthwaite. “Melissa’s extensive commercial experience and her commitment to responsible growth in consumer markets make her an invaluable addition to the team.
“With new U.K. legislation coming down the track and the regulatory environment evolving in many markets, Melissa’s leadership will play a pivotal role in advancing our efforts to drive tobacco harm reduction by offering adult smokers high-quality product technology designed specifically to help them move away from traditional cigarettes.
“I am confident that Melissa will be a huge asset at this exciting time of opportunity for the company.”
November 13, 2024
No Tourists Allowed to Bring Vapes Into Maldives

Credit: Visual Content
The Maldives is implementing new regulations on November 15, which will result in tourists having their vapes confiscated upon arrival to the country.
If a traveler arrives with a vape, they can deposit it at a designated counter at the airport for a receipt and collect it again upon departure, tourism officials in the popular Indian Ocean holiday destination told media.
Turkey, Singapore, Mexico, India, Brazil, and Thailand are among the other countries that do not allow travelers to bring vapes with them.
The Maldives import ban also applies to tobacco, smoking accessories, shishas, and flavored cigarettes, with one exception: travelers aged 18 and over with a tourist visa may import up to 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco.
People who vape are generally advised to double-check whether they are allowed to bring their device with them on holiday before getting on a flight.
In Thailand, which has some of the world’s strictest anti-vaping rules, anyone caught breaking the e-cigarette laws can be punished with a steep fine or even imprisonment for up to five years.
In Australia, there has been a ban on the import of all types of vapes since March 2024 unless a special license or permit has been obtained.
November 12, 2024
Vietnam Continues to Seek Ban on Vapes, HnB

A vape shop in Vietnam.
E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products were the focus of a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam on Monday, during which the health minister proposed a ban on these products. Vietnam has been seeking to ban vaping products for more than a year.
In response to a query raised by a deputy from the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on solutions to vapes and heat-not-burn ((HnB) products, which are a danger to human health, Minister of Heath Dao Hong Lan said that the use of these products is rapidly increasing and poses potential health and safety risks, especially for young people.
She cited the results of a survey conducted in 34 provinces and cities in 2020, which showed that the rate of e-cigarette use among adults aged 15 and over increased 18 times. It went from 0.2% in 2015 to 3.6% in 2020, with the highest concentration in the age group of 15 – 24.
The minister proposed amending the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms to address this issue. She said it should include provisions to ban vapes and HnB products, and the ministry’s stance is “to prohibit these products,” hoping the government will take stronger measures against vaping, according to media reports.
Feedback from various ministries and agencies showed that most of them highly support the proposal that the Government recommends to the NA on solutions to ban the use of novel nicotine products. The Ministry of Health has conducted impact assessments as scientific evidence and has also made public the harmful effects of heated tobacco products and e-cigarettes, she said, adding that these measures are key solutions to provide evidence and a legal basis for the Government to decide on measures to prevent the harms of these products.
Responding to an inquiry by a deputy from the northern province of Quang Ninh on solutions to manage e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, the minister said her ministry has submitted a report to the government to propose that the NA Standing Committee release a resolution on the issue. The draft Law on Special Consumption Tax presented at the 8th session also includes content on taxes for novel nicotine products.
The official said that Vietnam has participated in the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Regarding support for smoking cessation, Lan said that by implementing the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms, the Government established a tobacco control fund with a network to help people quit smoking.
November 12, 2024
Study: ‘Switchers’ See Improved Respiratory Health

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People who switch from smoking to vaping see improved respiratory health, but people who begin consuming electronic cigarettes while continuing to smoke regular cigarettes do not report improved respiratory symptoms, according to a new paper in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, published by Oxford University Press.
Adults increasingly use electronic cigarettes to try to quit smoking because of the perceived reduced risk. But while vaping reduces exposure to toxic chemicals, it has been unclear whether switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes results in a reduction of the respiratory problems—like wheezing and coughing—common in regular cigarette smokers.
Researchers used data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study, a national longitudinal measure of tobacco use in the United States performed by the National Institutes of Health. The investigators here observed adult participants between 2013 and 2019 who reported smoking cigarettes exclusively at the beginning of the investigation and reported a baseline cough or wheeze.
The researchers divided the subjects into four groups: those who transitioned from exclusive cigarette smoking to quitting nicotine altogether, those who switched from cigarette smoking to vaping exclusively, those who continued to smoke cigarettes only, and those who kept smoking and also began vaping.
Completely switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes led to a moderate increase in the resolution of wheeze symptoms compared with persistent smoking. However, there were lower rates of respiratory symptom resolution among those transitioning to vaping while maintaining or increasing their smoking.
Among 5,210 subjects with a baseline cough, 3,362 (65 percent) saw their coughs go away. Of the 5,367 people who reported a baseline wheeze, the researchers observed that 2,862 (53 percent) saw improvements. Switching from cigarettes to e-cigarettes exclusively resulted in significantly reduced wheezing but not cough resolution. Transitioning to both smoking and vaping (versus just continuing to smoke cigarettes) was not associated with respiratory improvement overall or even among participants who reduced their cigarette smoking intensity.
The researchers note that the rates of symptom resolution were 14 percent lower (for cough) and 15 percent lower (for wheeze) among those who switched to dual use and maintained or increased their smoking intensity; those who started using electronic cigarettes while continuing to smoke the same number of regular cigarettes saw their wheeze and coughing get worse.
Switching from smoking cigarettes to quitting nicotine altogether was, perhaps unsurprisingly, associated with the best improvements in both coughs and wheezing.
November 12, 2024
Ondato Launches Age-Verification System

Image: Ondato
Ondato has launched a reusable age-verification solution, called OnAge.
The technology is designed to streamline age-restricted access and ensure user anonymity for digital platforms. Combining AI device recognition with biometric algorithms, the system enables companies to determine the ages of their users with 98.7 percent to 100 percent accuracy and use the results of the verification for subsequent visits, eliminating friction in granting users repeat access, according to Ondato.
Because the system retains only the user’s age eligibility status after verification, it complies with the strictest privacy and security standards. In addition, OnAge can be implemented into any website or app without requiring additional downloads from users.
“We’re excited to launch OnAge as a response to both regulatory needs and user demands for a more seamless, secure age-verification solution,” said Liudas Kanapienis, CEO and co-founder of Ondato.
“Our OnAge solution combines cutting-edge AI and biometric technology to ensure age compliance in a way that doesn’t compromise user experience or data privacy while keeping verification costs lower than other similar solutions. By introducing reusable verification, we’re making it easier for companies to protect minors while offering users a smoother, faster process.”
One of the advantages of OnAge is reusable verification, which allows businesses to save costs and spares customers the hassle of repeated verification each time they want to access restricted content or services.
After verifying their age once, users can create a four-digit PIN to access age-restricted content for a specified period, as set by the platform.
November 12, 2024
Study: Online Vape Sellers Fail to Comply With Rules

Credit: Ployker
Online vape product retailers are not consistently adhering to California laws aimed at preventing the sale of the products to minors, including regulations on age verification, shipping methods and flavor restrictions, report researchers at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego.
In a study published online on Nov. 11, 2024, in JAMA, researchers asked 16 people to purchase flavored vape products online and have them delivered to their homes in the County of San Diego, then analyzed the results of these attempted purchases. Of 156 attempted transactions 73% were processed and 67% were delivered.
As of March 21, 2024, sale restrictions on flavored tobacco have been enacted in eight U.S. states and 392 cities or counties, but some of these do not cover e-commerce. For example, the 2022 California Senate Bill (SB) 793 prohibited the sale of flavored tobacco products but left e-commerce restrictions ambiguous.
Due to the ambiguity in California law, the researchers aimed to test differences in compliance with local tobacco e-commerce ordinances. Eight buyers were from the City of San Diego, where an ordinance restricts the sale of flavored tobacco products, including online sales. The other eight were from other County of San Diego communities, which do not have the same restrictions. Delivery did not differ significantly between buyers in these two jurisdictions.
In addition to violations of flavor restrictions, the online purchases violated the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, a federal law prohibiting the use of the United States Postal Service (USPS) to ship vaping products and requires both age verification and scanning identifications upon delivery.
November 11, 2024