Category: News This Week

  • PAX Labs continues global expansion

    PAX Labs’s PAX 2 vaporizer will now be available for purchase in France, Holland and Italy. Introduced earlier this year, the premium loose-leaf vaporizer is available at PAXvapor.com and coming soon to select local retailers throughout the three countries.

    PAX introduced its PAX 2 vaporizer to the U.K. and Germany in September.

    “Kicking off our international expansion in the culturally progressive cities of London and Berlin was just the beginning for PAX, allowing us to lay the groundwork for continued and significant growth,” said Richard Mumby, chief marketing officer of PAX Labs.

    “As we seek to widen distribution, our strategy is to identify other vibrant markets with the same passion for cutting-edge technology, innovative design and sophisticated style. France, Holland and Italy are natural choices for our next phase as we look to fulfill a void for these consumers who are actively seeking out a product like PAX 2.”

    PAX 2 retails for €259 ($280) in France, Holland and Italy. The product is now available in the United States, Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, Holland and Italy from its online store PAXvapor.com and at select retail locations.

  • Oman bans e-products

    Oman’s Public Authority for Consumer Protection (PACP) has banned electronic cigarettes and electronic shisha.

    A PACP official was quoted as saying that the bans were imposed after medical studies had found that these items ‘contain cancer-causing elements’.

    Although the ban was said to have been imposed only on Sunday, the PACP said it would‘intensify inspections across the country to ensure the safety of the public’.

    Anyone found selling the electronic devices will be liable to an OMR500 fine. The fine will be doubled for repeat offenses.

    Other Gulf states have already banned the sale of electronic cigarettes.

  • Ban sought on products that promote nicotine

    A bill due to be tabled in Thailand next year will seek to ban all products that promote nicotine use, according to a story by Loh Foon Fong for The Star (Malaysia).

    “We need this law because we are seeing attempts by tobacco companies to come up with more and more of these products,” said Dr. Suthat Rungruang­hiranya, a member of the Thai Health Professional Alliance against Tobacco (ThPAT).

    Suthat was quoted as saying that studies on electronic cigarettes had so far been inconclusive in respect of whether they posed a health risk. But it would be better for governments to ban such products.

    If it were later found that they could help smokers quit, the ban could always be lifted, he said.

  • E-cigs should be banned, Health Ministry maintains

    The Health Ministry of Malaysia has remained firm in its view that e-cigarettes containing nicotine should be banned.

    The Health Ministry will not support any activity that could contribute to increased health problems, according to health deputy director-general Datuk Dr. Lokman Hakim Sulaiman. He said the decision was reached based on a study conducted by the technical committee to review the effects of e-cigarettes and shisha on health.

    The Health Ministry has defined electronic cigarettes containing nicotine as e-cigarettes and electronic cigarettes without nicotine as vape.

    “But most people cannot differentiate between e-cigarettes and vape,” Dr. Lokman Hakim told a press conference in Putrajaya on Nov. 4. “For them, vape and e-cigarettes are the same thing. In addition, there is also nicotine-contained liquid vape.”

    “The sale and use of e-cigarettes containing nicotine liquid are subject to the Poisons Act 1952 and Food Act 1983 under the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations 2004,” he said, adding that only licensed pharmacists in licensed premises could sell products containing nicotine.

    Dr. Lokman Hakim stated that the ministry would take action against sellers and users of e-cigarettes that contained nicotine under the Poisons Act 1952. He also said the ministry also would intensify the anti- e-cigarette and vape campaign.

    “The ministry’s message to the community is do not use e-cigarettes or vaping as it is harmful to your health in the long term,” he said.

  • Raids target vape stores in Malaysia

    Vape stores in Malaysia have been the target of nationwide raids carried out to seize nicotine-based vapes, according to the country’s Health Ministry.

    An official from the Health Ministry told The Star that the move was undertaken to monitor the nicotine content in vaping fluids. The sale and use of e-cigarettes containing nicotine are subject to the Poisons Act 1952 and Food Act 1983 under the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004.

    Deputy health director-general Datuk Dr. Lokman Hakim said in a statement that action would be taken against sellers and users of e-cigarettes that contained nicotine under the Poisons Act 1952.

    Malaysian Organisation of Vape Entities president Samsul Kamal Arriffin says that more than 300 stores have been raided by the Health Ministry.

    Among the stores raided following the discovery of products containing nicotine was a vape store in Shah Alam.

    The store’s owner claims officers from the Health Ministry have confiscated more than 3,000 bottles of vape liquid worth RM100,000.

    Dr. Lokman announced Nov. 4 that the Health Ministry would intensify the campaign against e-cigarettes or vaping: “The ministry’s message to the community is do not use e-cigarettes or vaping as it is harmful to your health in the long-term,” he said.

  • BAT scientists propose new framework for assessing reduced-risk products

    Scientists at British American Tobacco (BAT) have proposed a new scientific framework that could be used to assess the reduced-risk potential of nicotine and tobacco products currently being developed.

    The new assessment framework employs a four-stage process that uses lab-based and clinical tests along with real-world observations of individual and population perception and use, according to BAT.

    “We propose that this assessment framework will help us build the required evidence base to demonstrate that novel tobacco and nicotine products can deliver a net population health gain in comparison to cigarette smoking,” Dr. James Murphy, head of reduced-risk substantiation at BAT told delegates at the Tobacco Science Research Conference (TSRC), in Naples, Florida, USA, in September.

    The first step in the process is the characterization of the product, which includes laboratory-based testing. This is followed by clinical testing to determine whether toxicant reductions measured in the laboratory are observed in consumers when the products are used. The third step is to determine what impact, if any, this reduction in toxicants will have on a person’s individual risk as well as the collective risk of the population using the products.

    According to BAT, in contrast to modified cigarettes, innovative new tobacco and nicotine products have significantly reduced toxicant levels.

    “We have observed reductions of 90 percent and more in the levels of certain toxicants present in these new tobacco and nicotine products and these are manifesting reductions when the aerosols are applied to in vitro tests, which can mimic some key disease processes and endpoints,” said Murphy. “These early-stage results demonstrate that in comparison to reduced toxicant prototype cigarettes, these new products have a greater potential to demonstrate disease relevant changes in humans—tests that we plan to do over the next 12-18 months.”

  • AEG partners with Human Health Organization

    Leading sports and entertainment presenter AEG has partnered with Human Health Organization and Vaporcade, a leading vape-tech lifestyle brand, to be the exclusive vapor product sold in select U.S. AEG-affiliated venues through 2016. The alliance between Human Health Organization and AEG marks the first time that AEG has selected an exclusive provider for vapor products.

    AEG owns, operates or is affiliated with over 100 of the world’s preeminent global facilities. According to the terms of the partnership, Human Health Organization’s Vaporcade brand of e-cigarettes and e-cigars will be available for purchase at select events in each of the following venues through 2016: Sprint Center (Kansas City, Missouri), Valley View Casino Center (San Diego, California), Rabobank Arena (Bakersfield, California), The Norva (Norfolk, Virginia), the National (Richmond,Virginia) and Rock on the Range Music Festival Columbus, Ohio).

    “Human Health Organization was built on the premise that our mission, message and products would only be effective if supported by the world’s most exceptional brands,” said John D. Cameron, Founder of Human Health Organization. “Based on our exciting new partnership with AEG Global Partnerships, I’m happy to report that we continue to take great strides in promoting our vision. Vaporcade is not only a game-changing brand, [it also] embodies a global community of health-conscious citizens taking a critical stand while raising awareness and saving lives.”

    Beyond the onsite Vaporcade presence, and as part of the partnership, Vaporcade will also have a major digital presence on AXS.com, AEG’s online ticketing and digital media platform. Visitors to AXS.com will learn about the Vaporcade brand, products and exclusive events.

    “The partnership with Human Health Organization is the first of its kind for AEG,” said Nick Baker, senior vice president of global partnerships at AEG. “We believe the partnership and the new lifestyle product offering provides a welcomed new addition for venue and event visitors that have interest in vapor products.”

  • Malaysian government rejects ban on e-cigs

    The Malaysian government has rejected a ban on e-cigarettes, according to a story in The Bangkok Post.

    Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaacob said the cabinet decided against the ban in their meeting on Oct. 31.

    “Thanks to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for understanding the wishes of the youth. I believe vape will be a better alternative to reduce cigarette smoking and for a healthier life,” he posted on his official Facebook page.

    The issue was brought before the cabinet after the Health Ministry proposed a total ban on e-cigarettes. According to Sabri, there are an estimated 1 million e-cigarette users in Malaysia, and a ban would have affected retailers and producers of the devices and flavors.

  • Macau Health Bureau defends proposed ban on e-cig sales

    Macau’s Health Bureau has defended its proposed ban on local sales of e-cigarettes as part of the amendment of the tobacco control regime, saying that it does not agree with a survey suggesting that most smokers want the ability to switch to less harmful alternatives to traditional cigarettes, such as e-cigarettes.

    In a statement released on Oct. 30, the Health Bureau stated that e-cigarettes are not less harmful than traditional cigarettes, and that e-cigarettes should not be considered as an alternative to conventional tobacco products, according to a story in the Macau Business Daily.

    “To ensure public health, the government has clearly suggested regulating e-cigarettes as a tobacco product as written in the delivered bill on the amendment of the tobacco control regime, and this has already gone through the first reading in the Legislative Assembly,” the Health Bureau stated.

    The bill, which is now being reviewed by the second permanent committee of the Assembly, suggests a blanket ban on e-cigarette sales. The same bill also proposed a universal smoking ban in the city’s casinos.

    The Health Bureau’s statement followed the briefing of two Hong Kong-based consumer advocacy groups—Fact Asia and the Asian Vape Association—calling for the government and legislature to give adults the opportunity to choose e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to smoking.

  • Madvapes expands store locations across U.S.

    Madvapes, a leading retailer in e-cigarette stores and a producer of premium e-liquids, has announced an expansion into Savannah, Georgia, USA, with the opening of two new locations.

    The addition of the Savannah locations follows the recent conversion of five locations in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, and increases Madvapes’ total footprint to over 70 U.S. locations in eight U.S. states. Madvapes, through several acquisitions, has tripled store locations since June. In addition to the Savannah market, Madvapes has agreements signed to open additional locations in Georgia and several stores in Virginia in early November.

    The recent growth is an effort to provide the finest selection of products to a wide range of customers in clean, relaxing stores that have exceptional customer service.

    “We are very excited about the recent growth of Madvapes locations around the United States,” says Madvapes chairman Mark Kehaya. “Our goal is to create the best customer experience and continue to bring new products to market and have them accessible in modern and convenient locations for all customers.”