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A study conducted by researchers at the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center in Athens, the National School of Public Health and the University of Patra in Greece and the University of Macedonia, which involved a sample of 2,568 former and current smokers in Attica, showed that 40 percent of respondents who quit smoking since 2014 reported using or having used vapor products. 

Lead researcher Dr. Konstantinos Farsalinos said “[o]nce again, the assessment of scientific data shows that Greece is the most successful country in the world in terms of the positive effects of electronic cigarettes on reducing smoking in the population.”

He added that global research shows that vapor product users are up to 11 times more likely to stop smoking, compared to those who do not use the devices. Farsalinos said “[t]he findings are extremely important, especially if we consider that our country has the highest prevalence of smoking in Europe.”

The study also indicated that 36.2 percent of vapor product users are also tobacco smokers, 62.2 percent are former smokers, while 0.2 percent have never smoked.

‘There is no epidemic in [US] teen vaping,’ according to a story by Michelle Minton published at insidesources.com.

Minton pointed out that the latest survey data [on which claims of an epidemic are based in part from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) dealt only with any electronic-cigarette use during the past month.

Previous data, she said, had shown that fewer than six percent of teens (including 18-year olds, who can legally purchase e-cigarettes) vaped habitually (20-30 days a month).

That meant that more than 94 percent of teens were not vaping regularly.

Furthermore, Minton said, CDC data did not indicate how many of these teenage vapers were using nicotine, an important point given that previous research had found most of them were not.

The data didn’t indicate either what percentage of teen e-cigarette users had never smoked, a number previous research put at less than one percent.

More important, the latest CDC data revealed nothing about underage smoking, which was the single most important data point in evaluating the harms or benefits of teenage vaping.

Since the introduction of e-cigarettes to the US market, adolescent use of cigarettes had more than halved, from 15.8 percent in 2011 to 7.6 percent in 2017.

‘Rather than e-cigarettes acting as a gateway to smoking, as is assumed by government and advocacy groups, this indicates that teenage e-cigarette use is more likely diverting would-be smokers toward a less harmful means of nicotine consumption and potentially away from nicotine consumption altogether,’ Minton said.

Minton’s piece looks too at why government agencies and certain health activists focus more on scaring people about the unknown risks of e-cigarettes than helping them understand the relative risks of vaping compared to smoking.

The Global Vaping Standards Association (GVSA) says it approves of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) efforts to curb the recent uptick in youth vaping. The GVSA stated on Monday that it would support regulations limiting the sale of certain flavored e-liquids to vape shops and tobacconists.

GVSA members have agreed to remove their products from all U.S. retailers that have been identified by the FDA as habitual violators of its age-verification requirements. Maggie Gowen, executive director of the GVSA, said that reinforcing accountability is a “reasonable first step” in prohibiting youth use of vapor products to help protect the millions of former smokers who now vape instead of smoking cigarettes.

The unprecedented action comes in response to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb’s recent statements calling the rise in the use of vapor products by youth an “epidemic.” The regulatory agency has stated that it will announce new regulations this week that ban the sale of all flavored e-liquids other than tobacco, menthol and mint from gas stations and convenience stores. The agency is also expected to require strict age-verification requirements for all online sales of vapor products.

“We know that smart regulations like this help to crack down on violators that hurt our industry and support the adult smokers who have seen the benefits of vaping and use the next-generation products as an alternative to smoking,” Gowen said. “That’s why we are coming out in full support of what the FDA has initially proposed. We believe the FDA’s action will be a positive benefit towards the future of the vapor industry.”

GVSA members are industry leaders that are all committed to advocating for adult vapers and their right to choose flavored e-liquids, while also following strict regulatory guidelines to keep vapor products out of the hands of youth, according to Gowen. “Studies have shown that flavored e-liquids are a crucial element to keeping former smokers from returning to smoking cigarettes,” she said. “However, limiting youth access is a necessary and positive move for the vapor industry as a whole.”

The Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association (SFATA) has announced the “Save the vape” program, a multi-media initiative dedicated to saving the vapor industry from excessive regulation and taxation, biased science, inaccurate reporting, and unfair competitive practices.

“Millions of dollars are being spent to eliminate vaping. This is do-or-die time right now,” said SFATA Executive Director Mark Anton. “Vapers are an endangered species, and they are counting on us to speak out for them. So if we do not get the accurate story out to legislators, to industry participants, and to the millions of people who have used vaping to quit smoking, we’ll be regulated and taxed out of existence. ‘Save the vape’ will help us counter the forces that are trying to put us out of business.”

“Save the vape” is a multi-media initiative that will include print and television advertising, public relations and lobbying, promotional merchandise, retail grassroots efforts, social media and SFATA-sponsored research in the vapor arena that will be used to create responsible and sensible guidelines for the vaping industry.

“This industry is maturing rapidly, and we are leading this transition. We all must clean up our own act, right now. We can save vaping, but we must also provide responsible guidance to keep vapor products away from underage users and out of schools,” said Anton.

“We are fighting a battle for survival against the many forces that want to kill the vapor industry, because they have been misinformed about the health risk-reduction properties of these products,” added April Meyers, SFATA board president. “We must get accurate information out there, to legislators, to the industry, and to the general public who are not hearing the whole story.”

To accomplish this mission, SFATA is encouraging individual vapers, small businesses in the vapor industry, fans of the vapor industry, YouTube reviewers, vape models, vape influencers to donate even small amounts to help “Save the vape.”

Donations may be made using PayPal, to SFATA’s “Save the vape” effort at www.savethevape.org.

Until now, SFATA has operated via funds raised primarily from annual dues from member vapor companies, e-commerce retailers, distributors, and manufacturers. “But since SFATA is the voice of the entire vapor industry that encompasses millions of individual vapers, and not just other small businesses, we wanted to involve vapers more directly in our efforts. We are actively encouraging their participation,” said Meyers. “It’s time for us to raise our voices and be heard, before we no longer have a voice.”

Joyetech has become the first organization to certify to UL 8139, a safety standard that evaluates the electrical and battery systems of vaping devices and e-cigarettes. The certification was issued to Joyetech’s vapor pen, eGO AIO.

UL recently published ANSI/CAN/UL 8139, Electrical Systems of Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Devices, which is recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), covering the electrical, heating, battery and charging systems of these products. The development of UL 8139 also addresses specific fire safety concerns raised by North American fire officials.

“UL strives to help manufacturers bring safer products to market and empower consumer trust,” said Ghislain Devouge, vice president and general manager for UL’s consumer technology division. “UL 8139 is a collaborative effort with government agencies and industry stakeholders to further enhance consumer safety.”

As the demand for e-cigarettes has grown, so too have the safety concerns. The U.S. Fire Administration reported an increased number of e-cigarette incidents involving fire that resulted in injury requiring medical treatment. The testing requirements for UL 8139 specifically evaluate the safety of the electrical, heating, battery and charging systems. The standard does not address devices that have removable battery cells or the consumables of the e-cigarette, including, e-liquids, vapor substances, wicks and other particulate matter. UL 8139 also does not evaluate the long-term or physiological effects of the consumables.

“We strive to be a leader in the ENDS industry and are constantly looking for ways to ensure the safety of our high-end technology,” said Joshua Church, chief compliance officer for the Joyetech Group. “For us, this UL 8139 certification is a validation of our commitment to using scientific and expert methods to test our products. For our customers, it illustrates our dedication to providing greater peace of mind.”

“Our association has been proactively working towards the introduction of safety standards such as UL 8139 that help manufacturers bring the best products to the consumer,” said Maggie Gowen, executive director of the Global Vaping Standards Association, a non-profit trade group. “Our membership base is dedicated to pursuing higher quality standards, especially those that cover hardware and battery design.”

All UL Certified e-cigarettes and ENDS products receive a certificate of compliance along with holographic product labels featuring the UL Enhanced Mark. The holographic label makes it easier for consumers to distinguish genuine products that have achieved UL Certification for e-cigarettes from counterfeit products that could be potentially unsafe.

Recognized as a global leader in battery safety testing, UL tests and certifies batteries and also contributes to the development of industry safety and performance standards. The UL 8139 Standard helps manufacturers address lithium-ion battery hazards for electronic cigarettes and vaping devices, which aligns to UL’s public safety mission.

The U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) is leading an international push for the World Health Organization (WHO) to reform its stance on vaping regulation.

According to the UKVIA, this will be the first time that international campaigners and leaders of the vaping industry join forces to reform discordant global health policies. Organizations from across North America, Europe, Asia and Australasia have signed the UKVIA’s call to action.

The WHO’s tobacco control group will be meeting at the eighth session of its Conference of the Parties (COP8) in Geneva, Oct. 1-6, to explore international guidance on electronic nicotine delivery systems. Despite having recognized vaping’s potential for reducing smoking rates, the WHO tobacco control group took the contradictory stance in 2016 that member states could also ban vaping products outright as part of a tobacco control plan.

The WHO’s position is at odds with that of member states such as the U.K. and New Zealand, who advocate smokers switching to vaping as part of harm-reduction policy.  The UAE, Philippines and Australia are also currently considering lifting their bans on vaping.

This follows growing evidence that vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking. The UK’s Public Health England states that vaping is likely to be at least 95 percent less harmful than cigarettes, with the U.K. seeing a record 23 percent decline in smoking rates in recent years.

International vaping bodies have come together out of concern that the WHO’s stance may compromise the progress made by countries who have embraced vaping, by opening the door to potential bans.

Vapers believe the WHO tobacco control group’s messaging is not only detrimental to public health, but also unaccountable, least of all to the consumers whose taxes fund but do not appear to influence its policies.

Despite the U.K.’s promotion of vaping as an alternative to smoking, questions have been raised about the U.K.’s influence on the WHO proceedings. After all, the U.K. makes an annual donation of $164 million to the WHO, making it the organization’s second-largest funder.

“We and our international co-signatories are proud to stand up for vaping as a route for smokers seeking a less-harmful alternative,” said Lizi Jenkins, a member of the UKVIA’s COP working group and head of regulatory affairs at BSMW. “We are keen to work with the U.K. delegation and the WHO to ensure that its policy decisions at the Geneva congress reflect the evidence and good common sense.”

To global call to action urges the WHO tobacco control group to acknowledge vaping as part of an effective harm reduction strategy, to reverse its previous decision to invite bans and restrictions on vaping; and to recommend that member states regulate tobacco and vaping products separately.

The signatories include:

• ANAFE-Confindustria – Italy
• Asian Vape Association – Asia
• Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance – Australia
• Australian Vaping Advocacy, Trade and Research – Australia
• Canadian Vaping Association – Canada
• Global Vaping Standards Association – USA
• GO for France Vapotage – France
• Koora Elektronické Kouřeni – Czech Republic
• Malaysia E-Vaporizers and Tobacco Alternatives – Malaysia
• Philippine E-Cigarette Industry Association – Philippines
• Udruga Korisnika Osobnih Isparivača – Croatia
• Vape Business Ireland – Ireland
• Vaping Trade Association of New Zealand – New Zealand
• Vapour Product Association of South Africa – South Africa
• Verband des eZigarettenhandels – Germany

Created in September 2016, the UKVIA is a partnership of leading producers, distributors and vendors of vaping products in the U.K. The association has been established to support all parts of the vape industry and aims to represent all responsible and ethical vaping businesses in the U.K., irrespective of the size of their companies and operations.

The UKVIA currently has 29 members.

The Vapor Technology Association described yesterday’s announcements regarding e-cigarettes by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as “a giant step backward” against the best interest of public health.

“By threatening an industry—and technology that millions of adult smokers are successfully using to reduce or quit smoking deadly cigarettes-–FDA is venturing into dangerous territory, the organization said in a statement. “It is upending its own process by threatening to move forward deadlines and banning ‘certain flavors’ without engaging in its required comprehensive, science-based analysis.”

The VTA said it is surprised by FDA’s statement in particular because the most recent available data does not indicate an epidemic.  “It is arguably irresponsible and clearly unscientific to suggest that there is an ‘epidemic’ based upon ‘news coverage’ and ‘increased concerns among kids, parents and educators’ especially when the current available data suggests the contrary—that youth smoking and vaping rates are and have been declining,” said Tony Abboud, executive director of the Vapor Technology Association.

According to the VTA, the announcement threatens the entire vapor industry, essentially throwing the baby out with the bathwater in response to sensationalized anecdotes and the loudest voices.  An entire industry that is saving people’s lives should not be jeopardized to kowtow to hysterical public health groups.

“What is frightening is that today’s statement offers little but lip service to FDA’s so-called plans to support innovation and prioritize smoking cessation,” said Abboud. “VTA is concerned that this Administration may be the victim of overhyped media reports regarding the vapor industry and as a result may be reverting to Obama-era regulation that prevents any new innovation.”

“Decisions of this magnitude must be made on science, not emotion. That is FDA’s charge.  Today’s actions have sent Big Tobacco stocks skyrocketing.  Does FDA really want millions of Americans to return to smoking cigarettes?” added Abboud.

Citing a “substantial increase” in youth vaping this year versus 2017, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb this morning announced new steps to address youth e-cigarette use.

The FDA gave five tobacco companies 60 days to submit plans describing how they will address youth access and use of their products.

The companies include Juul, Philip Morris, Fontem Ventures, British American Tobacco and Logic.

If the companies fail to comply they will have to go through a formal FDA review/approval process to re-enter the market.

In addition, the FDA issues 12 warning letters to online retailers that are selling misleadingly labeled and/or advertised e-liquids that resemble kid-friendly food products such as candy or cookies.

“We’re committed to the comprehensive approach to address addiction to nicotine that we announced last year. But at the same time, we see clear signs that youth use of electronic cigarettes has reached an epidemic proportion, and we must adjust certain aspects of our comprehensive strategy to stem this clear and present danger, said Gottlieb.

“This starts with the actions we’re taking today to crack down on retail sales of e-cigarettes to minors. We will also revisit our compliance policy that extended the dates for manufacturers of certain flavored e-cigarettes to submit applications for premarket authorization. I believe certain flavors are one of the principal drivers of the youth appeal of these products.

“While we remain committed to advancing policies that promote the potential of e-cigarettes to help adult smokers move away from combustible cigarettes, that work can’t come at the expense of kids. We cannot allow a whole new generation to become addicted to nicotine. In the coming weeks, we’ll take additional action under our Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan to immediately address the youth access to, and the appeal of, these products

“Today, we asked five e-cigarette manufacturers to put forward plans to immediately and substantially reverse these trends, or face a potential decision by the FDA to reconsider extending the compliance dates for submission of premarket applications. Our comprehensive plan on nicotine and tobacco regulation remains intact and we remain committed to its goals to reduce tobacco-related disease and death, including our efforts to reduce the nicotine in combustible products to render cigarettes minimally or non-addictive.

“We’re also fully committed to the concept that products that deliver nicotine exist on a continuum of risk, with combustible products representing the highest risk, and electronic nicotine delivery systems perhaps presenting an alternative for adult smokers who still seek access to satisfying levels of nicotine, but without all of the harmful effects that come from combustion. But in enabling a path for e-cigarettes to offer a potentially lower risk alternative for adult smokers, we won’t allow the current trends in youth access and use to continue, even if it means putting limits in place that reduce adult uptake of these products.”

Smokers believe that advertising that included messages about the positive public-health and financial potential of vaping would be key to them making the switch from smoking, according to a press note from the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) citing new research.

The study, which was conducted by Consumer Intelligence on behalf of the UKVIA is said to have shown that:

• 68 percent of respondents felt that changing current advertising restrictions imposed by the Advertising Standards Agency to allow public health messages to be promoted by the vaping industry would help more smokers make the switch.
• 63 percent of those interviewed felt that information from their GP, pharmacist or a healthcare professional would influence their decision to make the change;
• 61 percent said that information in a healthcare environment would be beneficial;
• 48 percent called for more ‘educational advertising’ by public health organizations or the government in the media;
• 61 percent agreed with the idea that Public Health England’s recent recommendation for hospitals to allow vaping on their premises and to sell e-cigarettes and e-liquids on site would convince more of them to take up vaping.

“This highlights the critical role that accurate advertising has to play in realizing the public health prize that vaping represents,” said John Dunne (pictured), a director at UKVIA, in commenting on the findings. “This isn’t coming from the industry but from smokers who could be convinced to break their habits.

“More education all round is needed to get smokers to make the switch and to realise the full public health potential of vaping. There needs to be a strong and cohesive message from government, public health and the vaping industry to make switching from smoking to vaping an obvious choice.”

The research, which surveyed more than 1,000 smokers, revealed also that the vaping industry, despite its fast rate of growth, was in danger of not fulfilling its potential. It showed that many people considered vaping to be as harmful or more so than smoking. A significant number of people wrongly believed that vaping was more expensive than smoking and were confused by the array of vaping devices on the market.

The Consumer Intelligence study looked also at smokers’ experiences of and attitudes to using e-cigarettes to identify what was most likely to help them make the switch to vaping. It showed that:

• The odor of conventional cigarettes (62 percent of respondents), vaping being cheaper (60 percent) and favourable insurance premiums for vapers (50 percent) were viewed by smokers as being key influences in making the switch from smoking to vaping;
• 46 percent of smokers said media coverage of vaping hadn’t encouraged them to consider a switch to vaping;
• Over-55s are the least likely group to have tried vaping and are proving to be the hardest group to reach with vaping communications, with 73 percent claiming not to have seen any form of information from the media and health bodies.

“The research reveals that there is an appetite for better information, including clear benefits in terms of assured health implications and the cost savings that can be made by consumers,” said Dunne. “Current advertising restrictions inevitably make it very difficult to reach smokers on the potential health benefits. This is particularly concerning when considering smokers over 55, who are most likely to suffer the ill effects of smoking. We currently have few ways to let them know that a switch to vaping could dramatically improve their health.”