Category: News This Week

Canada Flavored Pouch Ban Begins Wednesday

Canada’s federal government will impose new restrictions beginning Aug. 28 on nicotine pouches, making it illegal to sell them anywhere but from behind a pharmacy counter.
The pouches, which carry the brand name Zonnic, will be completely banned from convenience store and gas station shelves. Berry Frost and Tropic Breeze flavors will be recalled, and only menthol—and mint-flavored pouches will be allowed in pharmacies.
“All the stuff that’s clearly designed to target youth — it’s over,” Health Minister Mark Holland told CBC News.
Ottawa has been promising to crack down on sales of nicotine pouches for nearly 10 months. National health groups have warned about the risk of teenagers using them and becoming addicted to nicotine.
“It has been so deeply disturbing to see so many young people becoming addicted to these nicotine pouches who’ve never had any interaction with cigarettes,” Holland said.
Holland has accused Imperial Tobacco, the cigarette manufacturer that makes the pouches, of using a loophole in Canadian law to get approval from Health Canada.
The federal government says it will give Imperial Tobacco six months to change its packaging and advertising. The new containers must include an addiction warning on the front label and any advertising that could appeal to youth must be changed by the end of February.
Holland said the new measures may come too late for some.
“I’m very concerned that there are kids who are already addicted. I am very concerned that tobacco companies have already achieved their goal,” he said. “It repulses me.”
Eric Gagnon, vice president of corporate and regulatory affairs at Imperial Tobacco Canada, believes Holland has a “personal vendetta” against the company, which went through a two-year approval process to legally sell nicotine pouches.
“Apparently, because we’re a tobacco company, we’re treated differently than anybody else,” he told CBC News. “The biggest losers right now are the adult smokers that have been using Zonnic.”
August 26, 2024
Japan Tobacco to Process Leaf for HTP in Trier

The products prepared in Trier will be finalized at a JTI factory in Poland (pictured) Photo: JTI
Japan Tobacco International is investing €30 million in its Trier, Germany, factory, reports Tagesschau.
The company plans to build a new facility to process leaf tobacco for heated-tobacco sticks. According to the company, these products will be prepared in Trier and then completed at a JTI plant in Poland.
JTI-Trier Plant Manager Peter Kilburg views the investment as a sign of trust in the factory and its workforce.
According to the company, Trier is the only JTI plant worldwide to establish such a facility. It is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2026.
The Trier factory employs about 1,800 people.
August 26, 2024
Kurdistan Bans Imports, Sales of Vaping Devices

Credit: Dalpings
Local authorities have vowed to take legal action against those who defy the ban.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has intensified efforts to crack down on the use of e-cigarettes, with both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior enforcing a decision to ban their import and sale.
E-cigarettes are prohibited under the new regulations, and local authorities are committed to taking legal action against anyone who violates the ban.
According to media reports, Akar Mohammed, a local cigarette and hookah seller, supported the measure. “Dozens of men and children ask me about vapes and e-cigarettes every day,” he said. “This decision is appropriate.”
In Erbil, the governor’s office has been leading the crackdown on e-cigarettes, announcing that more than 26,000 devices were seized and destroyed this month. Many were found hidden in shops and warehouses.
Authorities are stepping up their efforts by increasing inspections at checkpoints and markets and monitoring online sales.
Erbil Mayor Nabaz Abdulhamid stated on Aug. 19 that investigations have uncovered the illegal smuggling of e-cigarettes into Erbil from Sulaimani. “We want to control this phenomenon together,” Abdulhamid said, emphasizing the need for collective action to tackle the issue.
August 25, 2024
Golden, Colorado has First-Ever Fund for Shop Owners

Welcome to Golden sign along Washington street in Golden, Colorado (Credit: PaBrady63)
Lawmakers in Golden, Colorado, dropped the hammer on more than two dozen retail outlets last year when they banned the sales of all flavored tobacco and nicotine products in the city.
The move is costing the businesses thousands of dollars in revenue.
Now, this city on the western edge of the Denver metro area is setting up a one-time $100,000 relief fund for smoke and vape shops, gas stations, and convenience stores to soften the financial hit they’ve taken since Golden’s prohibition went into effect on Jan. 1, according to media reports.
The City Council earlier this month directed staff to create a competitive grant program for businesses to apply for funds. No single store can receive more than $10,000, and the money must be allocated before the end of the year.
About 30 businesses in Golden are affected by the city’s prohibition.
“The City Council is trying to say they’ve heard the concerns of local businesses and they want to be responsive to local businesses that were impacted by an ordinance they weren’t anticipating,” said Rick Muriby, Golden’s community development director.
While several Colorado municipalities, including Boulder, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, and Edgewater, have passed similar flavored tobacco sales bans in recent years to combat youth nicotine product consumption, Golden appears to be the first willing to backfill revenues lost to a law it passed.
Muriby said the $100,000 figure wasn’t based on sales data from city businesses but was a figure the council and city manager “felt was a reasonable amount for the city to spend.” While Golden wants to ensure its businesses remain healthy, he said, it has no intention of taking a second look at its flavored nicotine ban.
In March, for the second time in the last three sessions, a bill to regulate flavored nicotine products has died in Colorado’s General Assembly.
August 22, 2024
Brazil Considers Legalizing Vaping Products, Again

VV Archives
The Brazilian Senate’s Economic Committee was set to vote on Tuesday on a bill that would legalize e-cigarettes in the country. Currently, e-cigarettes are prohibited in the country for manufacture, import, marketing, distribution, storage, transportation, and advertising.
The vote on the text has been repeatedly postponed due to a lack of consensus among legislators, according to media reports.
Although the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) banned them in Brazil in 2009, the products are still on the market and are sold illegally.
In a joint statement led by the Brazilian Medical Association (AMB) and the Brazilian Society of Pulmonology and Tisiology (SBPT), the medical entities unequivocally reiterate their stance against any changes to the regulation of electronic cigarettes, also known as vapes, “without any reservations.”
Ricardo Meirelles, coordinator of the AMB Anti-Smoking Commission, argues, “This project is a disservice to the Brazilian population because it intends to release a product that causes a lot of harm to health.”
In April, the board of directors for the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) voted unanimously on April 19 to maintain a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes and other vaping products.
August 22, 2024
VPR: $1.77 Million in Revenue, Down From $1.9 Million
VPR Brands reported revenues of $1.77 million for the second quarter of 2024, down from $1.9 million in the comparable 2023 quarter. Gross profit was $451,469, compared with $1.1 million in the second quarter of 2023.
“While the second quarter presented some challenges, we are encouraged by the solid growth in our product sales and the positive trajectory of our business,” said VPR Brands CEO Kevin Frija.
“Our ability to generate consistent revenue, coupled with our strategic investments, positions us well for future success. We are committed to driving innovation and expanding our market presence, and we believe that our focus on quality and customer satisfaction will continue to deliver value to our shareholders.”
Looking ahead, VPR Brands says it remains focused on expanding its product lines and enhancing its market footprint. “With a solid balance sheet and a dedicated team, the company is well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the electronic cigarette and vaporizer markets,” the company wrote in a press note.

Photo: crizzystudio
August 22, 2024
Thailand: Police Seize $300,000 in Illegal Vapes

Credit: Natanaelginting.
Police conducted a raid on a warehouse owned by a major online e-cigarette dealer in northern Thailand, YAI VAPE, confiscating 30,000 items valued at 10 million baht ($291,000).
The police discovered e-cigarettes disguised as toys to evade detection. The Ministry of Public Health is advocating for legislative changes to close legal loopholes, according to media reports.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Nirundorn disclosed that the inquiry commenced with the discovery of the website yaivapeth.com, which promoted e-cigarettes and related items and offered nationwide delivery services.
Earlier this week, child health and rights experts in the country began calling for more awareness of the dangers of vaping around children, claiming exposure to secondhand vapor from vaping at home could be seen as a violation of Thailand’s child protection laws.
August 21, 2024
Czech Health Ministry Wants Ban on Flavored Vapes

Credit: Piotr
The Czech Health Ministry is drafting an amendment to a decree that could significantly impact the e-cigarette industry. The proposed changes would prohibit all flavors except tobacco, as well as sweeteners and other additives commonly used in e-liquids.
These regulations would apply solely to vaping products, leaving traditional cigarettes and other nicotine alternatives unaffected. Industry representatives have responded with alarm, warning that this move could lead to the collapse of the entire sector.
“We are stunned. Without any prior consultation, the ministry is essentially planning to ban e-cigarettes in the Czech Republic,” said Robert Hrdlička, chairman of the Chamber of Electronic Vaping (KEVAP).
He argued that without the now-banned ingredients, tobacco-flavored e-liquids would be unsellable. “The ministry is imposing an amateurish and uninformed view on what tobacco should taste like,” Hrdlička added.
In addition, a new excise tax on e-cigarettes is set to take effect in September, with further increases planned in the coming years, according to media reports. “The government’s approach is entirely illogical. First, they encourage e-cigarettes as a tool to reduce smoking, and now they’re essentially banning them,” Hrdlička criticized.
Experts in the e-cigarette field warn that such a ban could push users back to conventional cigarettes or encourage smuggling of e-liquids from abroad.
August 21, 2024
Burbidge Joins Global Action to End Smoking

Global Action to End Smoking appointed Cole Burbidge as a new director of programs. With a distinguished career in advancing public health in underserved communities, Burbidge brings a wealth of experience that will support the organization’s grantmaking work, according to the organization.
Burbidge is a physician by training and a strong advocate for patient-centered care, understanding firsthand the gaps between idealized healthcare models and the reality faced by patients. His career has been dedicated to improving health outcomes for recreational substance users and high-risk patients.
At Global Action, Burbidge’s main roles will be developing requests for grant proposals and evaluating prospective research projects. He will also be supporting the communications team as it disseminates relevant information to people who smoke. He will report to Erik Augustson, vice president of programs.
“I’m excited to continue my work in improving public health through my new role at Global Action,” said Burbidge in a statement. “I am deeply passionate about meeting individuals where they are to make sure that a healthier lifestyle is effective and accessible.”
Burbidge’s experience spans consulting roles with healthcare organizations, pharmaceutical companies and risk-reduction advocacy groups as well as leadership positions in industry, where he oversaw teams in scientific and regulatory affairs.
“Dr. Cole Burbidge is a strong addition to our team at Global Action,” said Augustson. “His expertise and passion for patient-centered care will be invaluable as we continue our mission to end smoking. Dr. Burbidge’s focus on innovative, data-driven solutions aligns perfectly with our goals, and we look forward to the impact he will have on our programs.”
August 21, 2024
Registry Rules in Kentucky Decimating Vape Shops

Credit: Zoran Milic
A leading figure in the retail vaping industry in Kentucky has stated that businesses statewide are experiencing a decline. A new law that affects most vaping product outlets will come into effect this January.
Tony Florence owns six vape stores in Kentucky and a manufacturing facility. He said his father died from lung cancer and his interest in the business has been to provide an avenue to help people quit smoking cigarettes. Florence said open-system vaping devices can work to that end.
“If it got to the point where 20 years from now, I went out of business because there were no more people smoking and no more people vaping, mission accomplished. I’m good with that,” said Florence, according to media reports.
But Florence predicts a vast majority of vape shops in Kentucky will be closing in the months ahead. He said HB 11, passed earlier this year, limits legal sales to relatively few products. Florence said disposable vape devices often do have higher nicotine levels, which can foster continued use.
Florence said he’s seen a trend since April when lawmakers passed the legislation.
“More and more stores just going out of business. They are not renewing leases. I mean, from a manufacturing-distribution standpoint, I’m down 80 percent since April. Because stores are just … they’re either not buying new product because they’re selling off the old or they’re going out of business,” said Florence.
August 20, 2024