Category: News This Week

  • Smoking down but vaping up among US’ youngsters

    While the incidence of cigarette smoking among young people of middle- and high-school age has fallen in the US, the use of electronic cigarettes has more than doubled in three years, according to the results of a federal survey relayed by HealthDay.

    The 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that 25 percent of high school students had used a tobacco product [taken to include electronic cigarettes] during the month prior to the survey’s being undertaken. The survey found also that one in 13 young people of middle-school age had admitted to using a ‘tobacco product’ during the month.

    Between 2011 and 2014, the proportion of young people smoking cigarettes fell from 16 percent to nine percent. During the same time hookah use among high school students doubled.

    Of the 4.6 million young people who admitted using ‘tobacco’, 2.4 million used electronic cigarettes.

    This was said to be the first time that electronic cigarette use had been found to have exceeded the use of every other ‘tobacco product’.

    Two point two million young people said they had used more than one tobacco product during the past month.

    ‘One thing the study confirms for us is that the tobacco product landscape has changed dramatically,’ Benjamin Apelberg, branch chief of epidemiology at FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, said in a press note.

    ‘Middle- and high-school kids are using novel products like e-cigarettes and hookahs in unprecedented numbers, and many are using more than one kind of tobacco product.’

  • Aviation organization advises ban on e-cigs in checked luggage

    The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has amended its 2015-2016 Technical Instruction for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods By Air to prohibit passengers and crew from carrying e-cigarettes and other battery-operated electronic smoking devices in checked luggage, and from charging such devices in aircraft cabins.

    Although these standards are not legally binding, they are used as references by the 191 countries that follow ICAO guidance when developing legally-enforceable domestic regulations. Passengers will still be permitted to carry e-cigarettes in cabin baggage, and rules on usage will continue to be determined by individual airlines.

    The ICAO initially issued advice regarding e-cigarettes in December 2014. The organization recommended that airlines require passengers to pack these devices in carry-on luggage stored inside the cabin rather than in baggage checked and stored in the cargo hold, so that any incidents—such as potential fires—would be noticed immediately by passengers or crew and dealt with promptly.

    “Several incidents have been reported involving e-cigarette heating elements being accidentally activated and resulting in fires in checked baggage,” said ICAO council president Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu. “We had already recommended that our member states take actions on these concerns late last year but, after a further review by our Dangerous Goods Panel, it was determined that a formal amendment to the ICAO Technical Instructions should also be undertaken.”

  • Vapor market could hit US$50 billion by 2030

    Euromonitor International said yesterday that the value of sales within the global e-vapor category had nearly doubled between 2013 and 2014, when they reached US$6.0 billion.

    E-vapor sales last year had eclipsed those of nicotine replacement therapy products which had totaled US$2.4 billion, it added.

    The number of vapers reached 13 million worldwide in 2014, but the US dominated the e-vapor market with sales of US$2.8 billion.

    Other markets with high e-vapor sales were the UK, Italy, Poland and France.

    But Bosnia-Herzegovina, Switzerland, Japan, the US and Egypt had the fastest growing markets.

    Euromonitor said the vapor market was estimated to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 29.3 percent to reach US$23.0 billion in 2019.

    Zora Milenkovic, Euromonitor’s head of tobacco research, said however that these forecasts would have to be cut if legislation such as that to do with e-vapor taxation and public vaping bans became widespread.

    If legislation remained as it is, the vapor market could surpass US$50 billion by 2030, Milenkovic added.

  • Consulting company dedicated to vapor segment is formed

    On June 19, 9.8 Group, TNV Ventures and Wingle Group announced the formation of Calumet Advisors, a strategic consulting company dedicated to the fast-growing e-cigarette and vapor segment. The new company was formed in response to an increasing demand for business advisory services, technology guidance and strategic thinking.

    Calumet Advisors is a partnership of respected and widely recognized industry veterans who have years of experience working with clients ranging from Big Tobacco and Big Pharma to small and medium enterprises and financial services.

    Included in the partnership are 9.8 Group, a holding company with a portfolio of consulting companies in various verticals, represented by founder and president Givi Topchishvili; TNV Ventures, an international expert advisory group in tobacco and vapor regulatory affairs, as well as public policy issues, represented by Ron Tully; and Wingle Group, a China-based consulting service and authority on e-cigarette technologies, accessories and e-liquid manufacturers, represented by founder and CEO Dmitri Churakov.

    “The complexity of the regulatory landscape and the dynamic nature of the industry makes managing the technology curve, cohesive business planning and brand development challenging for both established players and new market entrants to the U.S. market,” says Tully. “We believe Calumet Advisers, with its strengths in policy issues, market analysis and evaluation of emerging technologies, will provide Calumet’s clients with a solid platform from which they can make informed decisions about the U.S. vape market.”

  • Unbroken liquids to debut at Vapor Expo International

    The recently launched Unbroken line of high-end, U.S.-made e-liquids produced by Mistic E-Cigs will make its debut at booth 831 of Vapor Expo International. The expo will be held June 17-18 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, USA.

    The new line features five exotic, all-natural flavors derived from real fruits of South America, with four nicotine strengths: 0 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg and 16 mg. Unbroken e-liquids retail for $23.99 and are equipped with easy-grip glass drippers that give vapers the flexibility to fully customize their own vaping experiences.  “Unbroken continues to excite adult vapers by offering a totally unique vaping experience that is unparalleled in the market today,” said John Wiesehan Jr., CEO of Mistic. “Derived from real fruit extracts from Brazil and the Amazon rainforest, each brand has its own story to tell, with its own distinct flavor profile, transporting vapers to various exotic locations across South America.”   Made in the U.S. in an ISO 8/Class 100,000 clean room facility, each Unbroken e-liquid is encased in a green-colored 30 ml bottle that is both child-resistant and tamper-proof bottle. Each is available in five distinct flavor profiles:

    • Raw: Extracted from the pitanga fruit of Brazil’s coastal region, Raw has a delicate fruitful flavor with a hint of sweet, sugary cherry.
    • Rain: Made from the fruit of the cupuacu trees found in the northern region of the Amazon, Rain features a flavor blend of pear, banana, chocolate and passion fruit.
    • Aurora: Derived from the carambola fruit, or starfruit, of northeastern Brazil, Auroa offers an understated, sweet citrus flavor of apple, pear and grape mixed with caramel and sugary nuances.
    • Haven: Developed from the guarana fruit of the northern Amazon region of Brazil, Haven features the full flavor of green apple with a touch of guarana.
    • Root: Derived from the jabuticaba fruit of southeast Brazil, Root has strong grape and berry-like undertones that give it a unique tropical taste while remaining sweet with an sub-acid tang.

  • Never smokers aren’t using e-cigs, U.K. survey finds

    Results of the New Youth Tobacco Policy Survey conducted by Cancer Research UK show that the majority of youth who have never smoked combustible cigarettes are not using e-cigarettes regularly.

    Of the 1,205 children aged 11-16 who took part in a U.K.-wide survey on e-cigarette use, 12 percent reported “ever” use, 2 percent reported “more than monthly” use and 1 percent reported “more than weekly” use.

    Among never smokers, only 3 percent reported ever use and 0 percent reported “at least monthly” use, indicating that regular e-cigarette use occurs only in youths who also smoked tobacco cigarettes.

    The results of the study reflect earlier research that showed regular e-cigarette use to be extremely rare among nonsmoking youth. The latest survey, which was conducted from August to September 2014, marked the first time questions regarding e-cigarettes were included.

    According to Cancer Research UK scientist and University of Stirling professor Linda Bauld, there is a common perception that the recent increase in e-cigarette use will lead to a new generation of adults who have never smoked but become dependent on nicotine. However, the survey results indicate that youth who have never used tobacco products are not using e-cigarettes regularly and that “experimentation is not translating into regular use.”

    The study will be published in the Nicotine and Tobacco Research journal.

  • E-cigarettes to be kept out of airline checked bags

    The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has announced a ban on electronic cigarettes being included in checked baggage, according to an ndtv.com story citing an Agence France Presse report.

    The ban is said to have been announced in response to reports that electronic cigarettes have sparked fires in the cargo holds of aircrafts.

    Airline passengers and crew are being encouraged instead to carry the devices in the cabin so that incidents can be dealt with immediately.

    The ICAO, which is based in Montreal, works with 191 member states and airlines to develop international standards and safety regulations.

    The amendment to those regulations that deals with electronic cigarettes prohibits also the recharging of electronic smoking devices in aircraft cabins.

    “Several incidents have been reported involving e-cigarette heating elements being accidentally activated and resulting in fires in checked baggage,” said Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, the president of the ICAO Council.

    Several airlines had already taken measures against electronic cigarettes after concerns were raised late last year, he added.

  • Essentra launches rechargeable and disposable e-cigarettes

    Essentra, a global supplier of specialist plastic, fiber and foam products, has launched two industry-leading e-cigarette solutions. The new e-cigarettes—a rechargeable and a disposable option—are the company’s first “full service” white-label products in the category.

    Developed in response to the company’s extensive customer research and industry insights, both e-cigarettes deliver a high-performing and consistent “extraction efficiency” for optimum taste and nicotine release, according to Essentra.

    “We have developed close and confidential partnerships with our customers by applying our technical expertise and analytical testing capabilities,” says Patrick Meredith, Innovations Director at Essentra. “This has allowed us to provide bespoke solutions that meet our customer’s demands.”

    Essentra’s rechargeable portfolio ranges from a traditional cigarette size to a cigar size. The company also offers e-cigarette kits, which include battery units, refill cartridges and a USB charging device. Designed to be a more convenient solution for consumers, the disposable e-cigarettes will be available as a single unit or as multiples, and are packaged into a branded outer carton or blister carton.

    The new rechargeable and disposable e-cigarettes were developed using Essentra’s specialist knowledge and sector expertise, including its patent-pending reservoir technology. According to Essentra, the reservoir can be manufactured without the use of processing aids such as antistatic, lubricate, bonding agent or surfactant, meaning that it does not interfere with the chemistry of the e-liquid it holds and instead ensures a more pure experience.

    “As experts in specialty plastic, fiber, foam and packaging components, we can provide a complete end-to-end service while adding value and maximising efficiency,” says Meredith. “With the only independent e-cigarette testing laboratory in the industry, Essentra can guarantee consistent industry leading quality.”

  • Plans to ban e-cigarette use in public “ridiculous”

    Proposed bylaws banning the use of electronic cigarettes in public places in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, are “ridiculous,” councillor Andre Chabot has told the Calgary Herald.
    “We have become so Big Brother in what we do that pretty soon we won’t be able to wear makeup,” said Chabot, a former smoker.
    “I don’t know where we’re going to draw the line in what might entice who. E-cigarettes have helped a lot of people that I know get off of the use of tobacco.”
    One of Alberta’s top health officers, however, says Calgary’s proposed bylaws limiting the use of electronic cigarettes are essential to prevent youth from starting to smoke, according to the author of the Herald story, Emma McIntosh.
    “Unfortunately, what we’re seeing with e-cigarettes is an increase in terms of the number of non-smoking youth that are reporting having tried or experimented with e-cigarettes,” said Alberta Health Services officer Brent Friesen. “We are worried, and this has been supported by at least one study.”

  • Beijing smoking ban will boost vapor, says e-cig inventor

    Hon Lik, the Chinese inventor of the modern e-cigarette, has predicted that Beijing’s new public-places smoking ban will prompt many consumers to switch from smoking to vaping. Although China’s e-cigarette market is still relatively small compared to those in other countries and smoking rates in China remain high, the ban—which took effect June 1—could be the push smokers need to quit combustible cigarettes.

    Anyone who violates the ban on smoking in restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools and certain outdoor public places will be fined CNY200 ($32.35). Other cities in China are expected to follow suit by implementing similar smoking bans as governments seek to improve public health.