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  • South Korea Expands Vape-Only Smoking Lounges 

    South Korea Expands Vape-Only Smoking Lounges 

    Credit: Sayan

    With the growing popularity of e-cigarettes, South Korea is increasingly accommodating users by introducing dedicated smoking spaces, reflecting a broader shift in attitudes toward smoking alternatives.

    E-cigarette-exclusive lounges have emerged in places like Incheon International Airport and major commercial hubs, catering to smokers who wish to avoid the strong odors and cramped conditions of traditional smoking booths.

    Incheon Airport, for instance, has operated three e-cigarette lounges since June—one each in Terminals 1, 2, and a concourse. These facilities, converted from existing smoking areas, have been redesigned to eliminate ashtrays and mitigate lingering odors from conventional cigarettes.

    According to the airport, these lounges serve an average of 4,000 users daily, with a 4.2 out of 5 satisfaction rate, as measured by a September survey, state media reports.

    The rise of e-cigarette smoking parallels shifting smoking trends in South Korea. While overall tobacco product usage increased marginally from 21.6% in 2019 to 22.2% in 2023, e-cigarette usage has grown significantly.

  • BAT Launches New Synthetic Vape in South Korea

    BAT Launches New Synthetic Vape in South Korea

    Nomad Sync 5000 (BAT)

    British American Tobacco on Monday officially launched its synthetic nicotine-based liquid e-cigarette, Nomad Sync 5000, in South Korea, the first market in the world to release the product.

    The Nomad Sync 5000, available in sweet “Purple” and refreshing “Cold” flavors, offers up to 5,000 puffs with a liquid capacity of 10 milliliters and a nicotine concentration of 0.9 percent. Priced at around 17,000 won ($12), the product is now available at vape shops nationwide.

    BAT Rothmans, the company’s Korean subsidiary, attributed the product’s Korean debut to the country’s regulatory framework, according to media reports.

    “South Korea is the only OECD country where synthetic nicotine products are governed separately from natural nicotine products,” a BAT Rothmans official said. “This unique distinction provides a favorable environment for innovation and allows us to responsibly introduce products that meet high industry standards.”

    Under Korea’s current tobacco laws, only products derived from tobacco leaves are classified as tobacco, leaving synthetic nicotine products exempt from taxes, health warning labels, advertising restrictions, and sales restrictions to minors.

    Despite this regulatory gap, BAT Rothmans emphasized its voluntary compliance with local standards, including displaying health warnings and ensuring branding avoids youth appeal.

  • EU Resolution to Ban Vaping in Public Places

    EU Resolution to Ban Vaping in Public Places

    VV Archive

    Several MEPs are finalizing their draft joint resolution on smoke- and aerosol-free environments. The topic will be debated in plenary on Wednesday (November 27), and the text will be put to a vote in the European Parliament the following day.

    According to the document, seen by Euractiv, MEPs primarily aim to urge member states to “extend public smoking bans to new and emerging products such as heated tobacco, e-cigarettes, and other aerosol-emitting products.”

    The draft resolution proposes extending smoking and aerosol use bans to key outdoor areas, including outdoor restaurants and cafés, workplaces, the surroundings of healthcare facilities, educational institutions, care facilities, and public transport, including bus and tram stops, and train stations.

    Railway platforms, airports, recreational areas, and other areas of high congregation would also fall under the scope of these restrictions.

    Furthermore, the Commission, according to the document, should conduct studies and encourage research on the risks of secondhand exposure to heated tobacco and aerosols, including those emitted by e-cigarettes.

    The document, which must still be finalised before the vote, also highlights the need to combat the sale of black-market vaping products. According to the draft resolution, “the Commission and member states should commit to taking stricter measures.”

  • SCOTUS to Hear Triton Vaping Case Next Week

    SCOTUS to Hear Triton Vaping Case Next Week

    Credit: Renas Child

    In one week, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s defense of the agency’s rejection of two companies’ premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) to sell flavored vape products that it has determined pose health risks for young consumers.

    The live audio of the hearing can be found here.

    The justices took up the FDA’s appeal filed after a lower court ruled that the agency had failed to follow proper legal procedures under federal law when it denied the applications to bring their nicotine-containing products to market.

    The Supreme Court is due to hear the case in its next term, which begins in October, according to Reuters.

    Two e-cigarette liquid makers, Triton Distribution and Vapetasia LLC, filed FDA applications in 2020 for products with flavors such as sour grape, pink lemonade, and crème brulee and names such as “Jimmy The Juice Man Strawberry Astronaut” and “Suicide Bunny Bunny Season.”

    An FDA rule that took effect in 2016 deemed e-cigarettes to be tobacco products, like traditional cigarettes, subject to agency review under a 2009 federal law called the Tobacco Control Act. The rule said manufacturers of the products would need to apply for approval to continue selling them.

    The FDA rejected the applications by the two companies, along with more than one million other products, according to court records. The FDA has approved only 27 e-cigarette products, all tobacco or menthol flavored.

    Triton and Vapetasia in 2021 asked the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review the FDA’s denial of their applications.

    In January, the full slate of 5th Circuit judges ruled 10-6 that the FDA had been arbitrary and capricious, in violation of a federal law called the Administrative Procedure Act, by denying the applications without considering plans by the companies to prevent underage access and use.

  • Ispire Launches VLT ‘Reloadable’ Cannabis Vape

    Ispire Launches VLT ‘Reloadable’ Cannabis Vape

    Ispire Technology announced the launch of VLT, a groundbreaking vaping pod system that redefines the 510-thread experience. VLT’s proprietary reload system offers a sustainable and eco-friendly solution that empowers consumers to take control of their vaping devices, addressing key concerns about environmental impact and disposable hardware waste.

    “VLT is a transformative step forward for cannabis vaping,” said Michael Wang, co-CEO of Ispire. “We’ve combined the familiarity of 510-thread devices with a versatile reloadable system that gives our partners and consumers true ownership of their vaping experience while tackling the environmental and economic challenges that come with disposables.”

    Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Design

    Unlike disposable vapor products that contribute to electronic waste by discarding the entire device, including the battery, VLT’s reusable system promotes sustainability by allowing consumers to reload their pods. This means the battery isn’t thrown out with each use, reducing electronic waste and making the product more environmentally friendly.

    The eco-friendly design, featuring a reusable battery and multiple pod sizes, reduces electronic waste and supports Ispire’s commitment to environmental responsibility. A portion of VLT’s proceeds will be donated to organizations dedicated to reducing non-recyclable waste, making VLT a plastic-neutral product.

    Cost and Operational Efficiency

    VLT’s reloadable pods offer a greener alternative and are cost-effective compared to traditional disposable systems. For manufacturers, VLT drives operational efficiency through the Ispire ONE filling machine, cutting labor costs and maintaining product integrity. VLT’s airtight design preserves the natural terpenes in cannabis extracts, enhancing flavor profiles and extending shelf life.

    Elevating the 510-Thread Experience

    VLT elevates the vaping experience by merging the convenience of disposables with the reliability and performance of the 510-thread system. Available in a variety of pod sizes, colors, and fully customizable options, VLT caters to the needs of THC, CBD, and alternative cannabinoid users.

    The advanced pod technology ensures maximum terpene preservation with an airtight chamber that prevents evaporation and ensures every draw delivers a consistent and premium experience.

    “Disposable vapes have contributed significantly to electronic waste, but with VLT, we’re giving consumers the power to not only save money but also reduce their carbon footprint. VLT offers a premium, sustainable experience without sacrificing convenience or affordability,” Wang stated in a release. “It’s an ideal solution for multi-state operators (MSOs), single-state operators (SSOs), and brands seeking sustainable growth while offering consumers a smarter, eco-friendly alternative to disposables.

  • CAPHRA Calls on Mongolia to Adopt THR Policy

    CAPHRA Calls on Mongolia to Adopt THR Policy

    Credit: Zero Photo

    The Coalition of Asia Pacific Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) has called on the Mongolian government to reassess its stance on tobacco harm reduction (THR) products. CAPHRA cites evidence from Japan that demonstrates significant health and economic benefits from embracing safer alternatives to smoking.

    A recent study published in the journal Healthcare indicates that if 50 percent of smokers in Japan switched from combustible cigarettes to heated tobacco products (HTPs), it could prevent 12 million patient cases and save JPY 454 billion ($2.95 billion) in healthcare costs. This data underscores the immense potential of THR strategies in countries with high smoking rates.

    Nancy Loucas, Executive Coordinator of CAPHRA, stated, “The Japanese example clearly illustrates that safer nicotine products can be an effective harm reduction tool in nations where smoking prevalence remains high and other safer nicotine products are unavailable.”

    Mongolia, which faces significant tobacco-related health issues, could greatly benefit from adopting a more progressive approach to THR. Despite the adoption of a Tobacco Control Law in 2005 and a ban on indoor smoking since 2015, enforcement remains weak. Cigarettes are still sold near schools without regulation, and there is no violation monitoring or fines.

  • Spain Begins Consultation on Vape Flavor Ban

    Spain Begins Consultation on Vape Flavor Ban

    Credit: Oleksii

    Spain has started a public consultation on new rules for vaping devices, reports Sur.

    The proposed legislation would ban the ban on the use of non-tobacco flavorings in e-cigarettes with the goal of making these products less attractive to young people.

    The decree also aims to regulate the labeling of electronic cigarettes without nicotine. As with traditional tobacco, they will have to have a list of ingredients and health warnings indicating that their consumption is harmful to health.

    They will also have to include a leaflet with information on contraindications and possible adverse effects.

  • Lawmakers Urged to Reject UK’s Generational Ban

    Lawmakers Urged to Reject UK’s Generational Ban

    VV Archive

    Campaigners are urging British lawmakers to reject plans to ban the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to future generations of adults.

    Ahead of the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill on Nov. 26, the smokers’ rights group Forest says the proposal is “unnecessarily divisive” and is not supported by the majority of the public.

    According to a recent poll commissioned by Forest and conducted by Yonder Consulting, 60 percent of respondents said that if people are allowed to drive a car, join the army, purchase alcohol, and vote at 18, they should also be allowed to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products.

    Fewer than a third (31 percent) said they should not be allowed to purchase tobacco when legally an adult, while 9 percent said, “don’t know.”

    MPs need to think very carefully about the unintended consequences of raising the legal age of sale of tobacco.

    Simon Clark, director, Forest

    “A generational ban on the sale of tobacco is unnecessarily divisive because it will create a two-tier society in which some adults have different rights to others,” said Forest Director Simon Clark.

    “Eventually it will create the absurd situation whereby a 40-year-old can purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products, but someone born a few days later could be denied the same right.

    “MPs need to think very carefully about the unintended consequences of raising the legal age of sale of tobacco.

    “Denying future generations of adults the right to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products legally won’t stop people smoking.

    “Creeping prohibition will simply drive the sale of tobacco underground and into the hands of criminal gangs and illicit traders.”

  • Kyrgyzstan Signs Law to Ban Vaping Products

    Kyrgyzstan Signs Law to Ban Vaping Products

    Photo: Taco Tuinstra

    Kyrgyzstan will ban vapes from mid-2025.

    President Sadyr Japarov signed a law prohibiting the import, circulation and use of electronic cigarettes.

    After July 1, 2025, those caught vaping will risk a fine $115 and sellers of e-cigarettes will be subject of a penalty ranging from $230 to $750.

    Importing electronic cigarettes will result in correctional labor for two months to one year or a fine of up to $1,390. Meanwhile, importing electronic cigarettes in large quantities will result in a fine of up to $2,300 or imprisonment for up to two years.

    The law, titled “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts in the Sphere of Protecting Citizens’ Health,” will come into force on July 1, 2025.

  • U.S. E-Cigarette Sales Up Nearly 50 Percent: Report

    U.S. E-Cigarette Sales Up Nearly 50 Percent: Report

    A new report from the CDC Foundation and Truth Initiative showed that from 2019 to 2023, there was a 47 percent increase in e-cigarette unit sales at U.S. retail outlets. Flavors like fruit, candy, mint, menthol and desserts accounted for more than 80 percent of sales.

    The report, Monitoring E-Cigarette Trends in the United States: Urgent Action Needed to Protect Kids from Flavored E-Cigarettes, urges states to adopt comprehensive statewide policies restricting flavored e-cigarette sales. The report found that the most effective policies to restrict these sales clearly define products and include comprehensive flavored tobacco restrictions without flavor or product exceptions, incorporate community and retailer education and are supported by enforcement.

    “The rise in e-cigarette sales, particularly those with youth-appealing flavors and graphics, is deeply concerning, especially as manufacturers evolve e-cigarette products to feature gamified devices and increased nicotine strength,” said Judy Monroe, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation, in a statement. “However, the data from states like Massachusetts, California and New York demonstrate how comprehensive policies can effectively curb youth access. This report underscores the urgent need for widespread adoption of similar measures to protect our young people from the risks associated with e-cigarette use.”

    “E-cigarette sales have skyrocketed in recent years, with an explosion of new products—many designed to attract and addict our youth with increasingly high levels of nicotine,” said Kathy Crosby, CEO and president of Truth Initiative. “Today’s e-cigarettes are available in a vast array of enticing flavors and feature sleek, colorful designs. They’re also bigger, stronger and cheaper than previous devices, which only heightens their appeal. Even more concerning, over 80 percent of e-cigarettes are on the market illegally. While enforcement is vital to ending the youth e-cigarette crisis, retailers also must do the right thing, take responsibility to protect their young customers and remove all illegal products from store shelves.”

    “While the latest data from the CDC Foundation and Truth Initiative show a dangerous rise in sales of e-cigarettes, they also reveal a notable decline in sales where strong policies restricting flavored e-cigarettes are implemented,” said Kelly Henning, public health program lead for Bloomberg Philanthropies. “The progress in states with strong policies underscores the urgent need for more action to swiftly and successfully combat the flavored e-cigarette epidemic among youth across the United States.”