Category: News This Week

Leaked Draft: EU Wants to Ban Outdoor Vaping

The European Commission will propose extending smoking bans to outdoor areas, such as cafe terraces, bus stops and zoos. The proposal will also include nicotine-free products, according to leaked documents.
The recommendations include “heated-tobacco products and electronic cigarettes, whether containing nicotine or nicotine-free.” The commission also wants to include “tobacco surrogates and any other smoke and/or aerosol emitting products, according to the documents.
“The evidence on the use of emerging products as a cessation aid is inconclusive,” the documents said. The recommendations follow growing evidence that secondhand exposure to “aerosols from electronic cigarettes, both with and without nicotine, expose bystanders to quantifiable levels of particulate matter and key toxicants and contaminants.”
“The level of coverage of smoke-free rules varies greatly based on the type of smoke-free environments, and the general level of coverage of outdoor spaces in smoke-free policies is low,” the commission said.
The new guidelines would include outdoor or semi-outdoor, meaning partially covered or enclosed spaces like rooftops, balconies, porches and patios, associated with service establishments such as restaurants, bars and cafes. Public transport hubs like bus stops and airports and outdoor areas linked to workplaces, hospitals and nursing homes would also be included. Recreational areas where children are present would also be covered, including public playgrounds, amusement parks, swimming pools and zoos as well as educational premises ranging from preschool childcare to university.
The new recommendations are expected to be announced Sept. 17.
The leaked proposal has already received backlash from the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA). “The commission is making a disastrous mistake by lumping vaping with smoking,” said Michael Landl, director of the WVA. “This sends a dangerous message to millions of smokers who need vaping to quit. This falsely equates vaping with smoking, misleading millions into believing vaping is just as harmful when it’s actually 95 percent less harmful. There is virtually no secondhand vaping, and it is way less harmful than smoking. These recommendations will keep more people smoking and put public health at greater risk by equating vaping with smoking.”
“The commission is outright misleading smokers by claiming vaping and smoking are the same,” said Alberto Gomez Hernandez, policy manager at the WVA. “This blatant disregard for science and consumer choice ignores the facts. Allowing vaping in smoke-free areas could drive more smokers to switch, cutting smoking deaths across Europe. Instead, they’re blocking a proven harm reduction tool and putting lives at risk.”
September 17, 2024
New Zealand Cracks Down on Illegal Nicotine Sales

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New Zealand has started sentencing for repeat violators of its cigarette and vape laws, according to the ministry of health.
Christchurch tobacco retailer Canteros received a fine of NZD28,000 for eight breaches of the Smoke-free Environments and Regulated Products Act. The violations related to the selling, labeling and advertising of cigars.
The owner and an employee of Discount Specialist were fined a total of NZD8,000 for repeatedly selling single cigarettes and allowing tobacco products to be visible to the public inside the store.
While infringement notices with fees of NZD500 are routinely issued for sales of regulated products to minors, this chain of prosecutions is among the strongest action to be taken against illegal vape and cigarette sales to date.
In August, a Christchurch dairy owner was fined NZD56,000 under the act.
“A significant majority of retailers comply with the law and do not sell restricted products to young people, though it’s disappointing to see some retailers fail to abide by the law and sell cigarettes or vapes to children and young people,” said Jo Pugh, compliance manager at the national public health service.
“This compliance work is a high priority for the health agencies. We will continue to monitor and identify retailers who are not complying with the law.”
September 17, 2024
Study: Vapes Lack Health Labels on Social Media

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Many synthetic nicotine brands on social media lack the required health labels, according to a Boston University study published in JAMA Network Open.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration passed a requirement in 2022 that says health warnings need to take up 20 percent of the advertising and appear in the upper portion of the advertisement for e-cigarettes that contain synthetic nicotine.
“When synthetic nicotine started appearing in products, we really wanted to know how it was being received and how it was being promoted,” says Traci Hong, a Boston University College of Communication professor of media studies.
The researchers studied more than 2,000 Instagram posts from 25 different synthetic nicotine brands, identified whether an image posted on Instagram included the required health warning and, if it did, whether it took up the right amount of space.
The Instagram posts were analyzed using a custom-built AI algorithm, which uses computer vision to detect if health warnings follow the FDA rules. The team found that only 13 percent of the analyzed posts complied with FDA health warning requirements.
They also discovered that the posts with health warnings received fewer likes and comments than posts without the warnings. According to the paper, the larger the warning label, the less comments the posts received. According to the paper’s authors, this suggests that having health warning labels could reduce how many social media users, especially young adults, are seeing and engaging with this content.
“These are brands that I think have a legitimate responsibility to inform their potential consumers that there are health risks and you need to be aware of them,” said Hong in a statement.
September 16, 2024
Study Suggests Vapes Alter Brain Function in Youth

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College students who vape have lower cognitive function scores than those who don’t, researchers reported Sunday at the American Neurological Association’s annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.
Researchers found that the more students vape, the lower their scores on learning, memory, problem-solving, and critical thinking tests.
Researchers found that students who vaped 10 to 20 puffs per day scored 9 percent lower than those who did not vape or smoke, while those who vaped more than 20 puffs a day scored nearly 14 percent lower, media states.
“We believe our research marks a before-and-after in the field of studying cognitive function regarding vaping,” said lead researcher Linker Vinan Paucar, a medical student at the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil in Ecuador.
Previous studies have shown that smoking can affect brain function by shrinking the brain and lowering blood flow to brain cells, researchers said in background notes. Nicotine also causes neurotoxicity that damages brain cells.
The risk might be even more significant in people who vape, Paucar said.
“People in the study who had previously smoked cigarettes typically smoked three or four a week, but with vaping, they now smoke double, triple or more, especially if they smoke and vape,” Paucar said.
September 16, 2024
Rocky River Set to Ban Vaping in Public Parks
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The Rocky River City Council in Ohio could vote today to ban smoking and vaping on city property, including public parks.
The legislation is set for its third and final reading at Monday’s regular council meeting at City Hall.
According to media reports, the new law would apply to all publicly owned property in the city, which would include the city’s 10 parks.
Rocky River’s city policies already bar smoking on all city-owned properties. If public staffers catch someone smoking, they can escort them off the property.
The proposed ordinance would make it a minor misdemeanor, and violators could be ticketed and/or fined.
September 16, 2024
New Zealand Urged to Rethink Closed-System Ban

Photo: Evgeniy Vershinin
The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is urging New Zealand to reconsider its proposed vaping regulations, which include a ban on closed systems, tighter limits on displays in retail shops and new flavor restrictions.
“This amendment will make it more difficult for adults who smoke to access vaping products, potentially pushing them back to smoking,” said CAPHRA Executive Coordinator Nancy Loucas. “It’s a step backwards in our journey towards a smoke-free New Zealand.
The CAPHRA submission highlights several concerns. According to the advocacy group, the ban disproportionately affects older adults and those with dexterity issues who rely on simpler closed systems. The proposed display restrictions, says CAPHRA, may deter smokers from switching to less harmful alternatives. Meanwhile, the focus on further display restrictions in retail shops ignores the real issue of social supply to youth, according to the organization, while flavor restrictions could hinder successful smoking cessation efforts.
“Consumers have the right to make informed choices about their health. This amendment proposes to restrict consumer autonomy and may hinder harm reduction efforts,” said Loucas.
“Even the Ministry of Health suggested that the regulations, as they are, are fit for purpose and the ASH Year 10 survey has shown that youth vaping has declined from the peak a couple of years ago.
“CAPHRA calls for a more balanced approach, focusing on education and transparent risk communication. By highlighting the facts about vaping, who it is for, and what it is, we can combat misinformation and support public health,” said Loucas.
September 16, 2024
Korea Urged to Regulate Vapes Same as Tobacco

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Health advocates are calling on South Korea to regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products, reports the Maeil Business Newspaper
The current law does not classify vapes as cigarettes, which means they are exempt from many of the regulations that apply to tobacco products. For example, vaping companies do not have to print graphic health warnings on their products or charge their customers tobacco consumption tax.
Article 2 of the Tobacco Business Act, defines “cigarettes” as products suitable for smoking, sucking, inhaling, chewing or smelling.
The calls for expanding the legal definition come follow concern about the growth of unmanned e-cigarette stores in Seoul, which are said to have inadequate age-verification procedures.
A survey by the Seoul metropolitan government revealed that the number of unmanned e-cigarette stores has quadrupled since April.
According to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three out of 10 youth smokers started smoking e-cigarettes from 2019 to 2023. Six out of 10 teenagers who started with e-cigarettes are currently smoking regular cigarettes, the centers said.
Bills to regulate e-cigarettes were tabled in the 20th and 21st National Assembly, but failed to cross the plenary session threshold in each instance.
September 15, 2024
Minnesota bans Vaping THC in Multifamily Properties

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The restriction, which went into effect this summer, does not apply to approved medical use.
Minnesota’s ban on smoking and vaping cannabis in multifamily properties was initially to become effective in March 2025. However, the new law moved up the effective dates to establish the full powers of the newly formed Office of Cannabis Management by July 1. Cigarette smoking is still permitted in private units in the state.
The exception on smoking for medical marijuana leaves housing providers caught in the middle between those with prescriptions and residents who object to marijuana smoke, according to Cecil Smith, president and CEO of the Minnesota Multi Housing Association.
“Many multifamily properties became smoke-free years ago and that is now the resident expectation,” Smith told Multifamily Dive. “It is unclear how this conflict [will be] resolved.”
Federally funded housing is not covered under the medicinal marijuana exemption because marijuana use and possession is illegal under federal law, according to HUD. Residents of federal housing, such as through Section 8 or other programs, cannot legally use or possess recreational or medical marijuana in any form, regardless of state law. HUD also banned smoking tobacco in all public housing properties in 2016.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, while 12 states, including Minnesota, have laws prohibiting smoking in the public areas of private housing communities, no states ban smoking in private units.
Eighty-five municipalities have enacted bans on smoking in multifamily units, all of them in California, according to a list compiled by the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation. Carlsbad, California, is the latest jurisdiction to ban smoking tobacco or marijuana in apartment properties with a law announced Aug. 28.
September 14, 2024
FDA Warns 6 Companies for Trade Show Sales

Credit: Mr. Fog
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued six warning letters to manufacturers and retailers for selling or distributing unauthorized e-cigarette products promoted at an industry trade show.
After observations made by Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) staff attending the trade show, the FDA conducted investigations and issued warning letters to six retailers and manufacturers for selling or distributing unauthorized e-cigarette products.
Regulated entities must comply with all applicable requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Under these requirements, the sale and distribution of unauthorized tobacco products is illegal, including at industry events such as trade shows or expos, according to the FDA.
“Regulated industry should be aware that CTP obtains leads that inform investigations from many sources, including trade shows,” said John Verbeten, director of CTP’s Office of Compliance and Enforcement. “We remain committed to identifying and taking action against those breaking the law, including at these events.”
FDA also announced the issuance of warning letters to five online retailers for selling unauthorized e-cigarette products popular with youth, including products marketed under the brand names Breeze, Mr. Fog, and Raz.
“Results from the recently released 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that Breeze and Mr. Fog were among the top five most commonly used brands among youth who use e-cigarettes,” an FDA release states. “Additionally, Raz was identified as a popular brand through routine surveillance, with youth-appealing flavors such as sour mango pineapple and razzle-dazzle.”
The companies receiving these warning letters sold or distributed e-cigarette products without marketing authorization from the FDA. Warning letter recipients are given 15 working days to respond with the steps they will take to address the violations cited in the warning letter and to prevent future violations.
Failure to promptly address the violations can result in additional FDA actions such as an injunction, seizure, and/or civil money penalties.
The trade show was not named in the FDA release.
September 13, 2024
Ireland Nearing Total Ban on Disposable Vapes

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The Irish government is set to ban disposable vapes.
This week, Cabinet approved draft laws tabled by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. Under the proposed laws, the sale, manufacture, and import of single-use or disposable vapes in Ireland will be completely banned.
The legislation will also introduce a ban on a multitude of flavors that the government believes often appeal to children – it is estimated that as many as 15,000 flavor combinations exist.
The laws will also introduce a ban on point-of-sale display or advertising in shops, other than specialist shops that only sell the products, reports the BBC.
Donnelly also wants to restrict the colors and imagery on packages and devices to prevent them from being aimed at youth.
Ireland has already banned the sale of all nicotine inhaling products to under 18s and a range of other curbs such as advertising, pop-up shop sales and a ban of sale from vending machines will commence next year.
The minister has said the plans to introduce a ban are on environmental and public health grounds.
September 13, 2024