New legislation aims to restrict the use and sale of vaping and other tobacco products in Portugal.
A new bill will ban smoking in outdoor spaces next to public buildings such as schools, colleges and hospitals. It will also tighten control over the sale and marketing of cigarettes and other tobacco products in the country.
The aim is that by 2025 they will only be available for purchase in tobacconists, petrol stations and airports, reports EuroNews.
If enacted, it will no longer be possible to sell tobacco directly or through vending machines in places such as restaurants, bars, concert halls and venues, casinos, fairs and exhibitions. The products will also be prohibited at music festivals.
Portugal is also complying with the European directive of June 29, 2022, which puts heated tobacco products on an equal footing with other tobacco products.
Knowledge Action Change (KAC) has published a briefing to help policymakers, health officials and consumers better understand the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The 10th edition of this event, which normally takes place every two years, is scheduled for November in Panama.
While decisions made at the conference are likely to significantly impact tobacco companies and their customers, industry representatives and organizations advocating for access to safer nicotine products have traditionally been barred from attending the event.
As a result, tobacco harm reduction has been getting short rift at COP meetings despite the fact that the concept is an integral part of the FCTC.
“Harm reduction is explicitly named as one of three tobacco control strategies in the opening lines of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, but at present, the indications are that COP10 is unlikely to result in any decisions that support consumer access to safer nicotine products,” said KAC Director Gerry Stimson in a statement.
“Parties to the FCTC must seize the opportunity in Panama to consider evidence from countries where tobacco harm reduction is saving lives, including the U.K., New Zealand, Sweden, Norway and Japan—and ask why the WHO and its influential philanthropic funders are refusing to do the same.
“With no media present, FCTC COP meetings are shrouded in a secrecy more akin to a U.N. Security Council meeting—and in direct contrast to other COP meetings, for example those on climate change. This briefing paper gives policymakers, health officials and consumers more insight into the processes of COP10 and the opportunity to engage more fully prior to and during the event in Panama,” said Stimson
The innovative new disposable vaping system FEELM Max was launched during the UK Vaper Expo in Birmingham on May 13.
The FEELM Max is now available in the UK and EU markets. The event was attended by many top-level e-cigarette industry representatives and FEELM clients, including BAT, RELX International, Totally Wicked and KIWI.
A subsidiary of Smoore Technology, the world’s largest vaping company, FEELM says the FEELM Max brings three major breakthroughs to vaping, including the advanced heating technology of the Ceramic Coil S1, a constant power control system and “mindful design,” according to a press release.
“The FEELM Max uses the new Ceramic Coil S1, which is designed to deliver a superior vaping experience” and offers an increased puff count that sets a new benchmark in the market, according to the release.
Johnny Zhang, assistant president at FEELM
“Benefitting from its cotton-free design and the resulting improvement of e-liquid utilization, the FEELM Max is able to boost puff count by more than 30 percent compared to cotton coil disposable solutions, providing 800 more puffs and setting a new benchmark for 2ml (e-liquid volumes),” said Johnny Zhang, assistant president at FEELM. “This innovation allows products using the FEELM Ceramic Coil S1 to offer increased puff counts while remaining totally compliant with all local regulations.”
Additionally, the new S1 coil decreases the number of impurities created in the heating process by 78 percent, resulting “in fresher breath and no unpleasant aftertaste.”
The new system also has several technological innovations. The FEELM Max solution uses a constant power energy management system for stable vaping. This technology improves taste consistency by 35 percent, which further enhances the user experience, according to the release.
FEELM Max products have a transparent e-liquid tank for both aesthetics and user convenience that allows consumers to easily see how much e-liquid is left in the device.
The first industrial whole-chain recycling program was also introduced by FEELM during the UK event. Collaborating with RELX International in the UK, FEELM has “taken the responsibility for implementing a scheme that will facilitate vape recycling to a fuller extent, thereby minimizing the environmental impact.”
Bing Du, the CEO and founder of RELX International stated at the event: “Thanks to the groundbreaking technology of FEELM Max, and driven by our legendary partnership with FEELM, RELX International is on course to revolutionize the vaping experience across the globe.”
The company’s commitment to making recycling more accessible demonstrates its dedication to environmental sustainability, according to the release. As the initiative gains traction, it could serve as a model for other industries looking to implement eco-friendly practices and engage adult customers in sustainability efforts.
FEELM intends to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in vaping technology, while keeping its commitment to sustainability and compliance at the heart of its operations, according to the release. “The company’s mission to shape a better vaping industry, not only for today but for generations to come, remains stronger than ever,” Zhang said.
On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) to 10 companies that collectively manufacture and market about 6,500 flavored e-liquid and e-cigarette products.
The health regulator said these companies cannot market or distribute the products in the U.S. and retailers who sell them risk FDA enforcement action.
“Science is a cornerstone of FDA’s tobacco product review process,” said Matthew Farrelly, director of the Office of Science within FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “Today’s decision to deny approximately 6,500 products was based on the lack of scientific evidence provided in the applications. We will continue to ensure all new tobacco products undergo robust, scientific premarket evaluation to determine whether they meet the appropriate public health standard to be legally marketed.”
The companies that received MDOs include:
Imperial Vapors LLC
Savage Enterprises
Big Time Vapes
SWT Global Supply Inc.
Great Lakes Vapor
DNA Enterprise LLC dba Mech Sauce
Absolute Vapor Inc.
ECBlend LLC
FDA is not disclosing the names of the other two companies that received MDOs to protect potential confidential commercial information (CCI).
The FDA added the premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) submitted for a variety of flavored e-cigarette products did not provide sufficient evidence to show that permitting the marketing of these products would be appropriate for public health.
The agency said the product applications covered a variety of flavored e-cigarettes, including some with flavors such as Citrus and Strawberry Cheesecake, as well as Cool Mint and Menthol.
“It doesn’t really matter to the FDA what your scientific evidence is or anything else, they’re pretty much handing anyone out there an MDO,” said Char Owen, president of the American Vapor Manufacturers Association.
She said some of the companies targeted Friday had just one or two storefronts and were genuinely trying to help adults stop smoking through the use of flavored products, according to the Washington Post.
“It’s tough out here because you’re dealing with lives and businesses,” Owen said.
Based on the latest status report, the FDA plans to have 53 percent of covered applications acted on by June 30, 55 percent of covered applications acted on by Sept. 30 and 100 percent of covered applications acted on by Dec. 31.
The court-ordered deadline for FDA review of PMTAs was Sept. 9, 2021, but the agency did not meet that deadline and now has to file regular status reports on progress. The next status report is due by July 24.
Altria has reportedly struck a $235 million deal to end a lawsuit brought by the San Francisco public school system one day after the plaintiff’s lawyers ended closing arguments.
This settlement represents a positive step forward in addressing the harmful impacts of vaping on the public,” said Girard Sharp partner Dena Sharp, Co-Lead Counsel for Plaintiffs in the litigation. “The settlement funds will compensate JUUL purchasers, young people, parents, and governmental organizations across America, and avoids the delay and uncertainty of continued court proceedings. We are proud of our clients and the federal court system that made this result possible. The legal system worked in this case, and we thank the jurors who devoted their time to this trial over the past few weeks.”
The Altria settlement brings a final resolution to the personal injury, consumer class action, and government entity cases brought in the MDL and the JCCP brought on behalf of children, families, and JUUL purchasers everywhere in the U.S.
Much of the school district’s argument in its case against Altria involved the distraction which occurred when vaping became “endemic,” interfering not only with teachers’ abilities to control their classrooms but nearly all levels of student life.
The bellwether trial forced Altria to publicly defend itself solo for the first time as it faces thousands more cases that were brought against the company and Juul. In December, Juul Labs agreed to pay more than $1.2 billion to settle more than 5,000 suits blaming the company for a youth vaping epidemic across the U.S.
Juul and Altria defended the first trial that started in March over a case brought by Minnesota over deceptive marketing of e-cigarettes. The companies settled the state’s case earlier this year.
In April, Juul agreed to pay $462 million to six states and the District of Columbia to resolve lawsuits and investigations into the marketing of addictive vaping products to children.
In the U.S. state of Illinois, a statewide ban on vaping inside public buildings is just a signature away from becoming law.
Both the Illinois House and Senate passed a bill that would make Illinois the 18th state in the country to outlaw indoor vaping, according to CBS News.
The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Julie Morrison. It expands the Smoke-Free Illinois Act, which forbade smoking in public buildings and within 15 feet of entrances.
The bill now heads to Governor JB Pritzker’s office to be signed into law.
Illinois also passed a law to raise the age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 in 2019, and limited the advertising of e-cigarette products in 2022.
E-cigarette maker Logic filed papers in court on May 9 that challenge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s marketing denial orders (MDO) that it issued against two brands: Logic Pro Menthol E-Liquid Package and Logic Power Menthol E-Liquid Package, reports Bloomberg Law.
Logic called the FDA’s MDOs “arbitrary and capricious.”
The 3rd Circuit Court entered a stay on the FDA’s MDOs in December 2022. The MDOs were the FDA’s first-ever MDOs directed at menthol e-cigarette products.
The governor of the U.S. state of Washington has signed a bill into law that will protect workers from facing employment discrimination during the hiring process over their lawful use of marijuana.
At a signing ceremony on Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee gave final approval to the legislation, enacting the bill into law about three weeks after it cleared the legislature, according to Marijuana Moments.
The reform is limited to job applicants. As Inslee noted before signing the measure, employers would still be able to maintain drug-free workplaces, or prohibit the use of cannabis by workers after they are hired.
SB 5123 “seeks to protect applicants from hiring discrimination if they use legal cannabis outside of work,” the governor explained, adding that “there are exceptions” for certain industries.
Zinwi Biotech, a major Chinese e-liquid manufacturer, has announced it will bring its Good Flavor products to the UK Vaper Expo from May 12 – 14 in Birmingham. Attendees of the occasion will have the opportunity to witness firsthand Zinwi’s Good Flavor and will be able to customize their own flavors during the event.
“Zinwi’s products are known to be equivalent to three keywords in the industry: high return to flavor, high smoothness and high stability,” stated to a Zinwi spokesperson. “The primary reason behind the ‘high return to flavor’ characteristic is the stringent fragrance selection process.”
The “high return to flavor” concept is the requirement that each component of Zinwi’s e-liquids to have the highest levels of quality and purity. One of the most important components of an e-liquid is fragrance and the fragrance selection process begins in Quality Control where Zinwi analyzes a fragrance’s physical and chemical indicators and the legality of the components used, according to the spokesperson.
“It is then followed by our sensory evaluation team to evaluate the richness and purity level of the fragrances,” the spokesperson said. “The samples and the finished products will then be evaluated by Quality Control to ensure the highest level of quality of the e-liquid after the fragrances have been added to the products in the testing and manufacturing stage.”
Another reason Zinwi’s e-liquid has an enhanced flavor profile is the company’s Atomization Technology Research Center, which has self-developed nicotine salts and the sweeteners used in the e-liquids to ensure the highest quality of those components of the e-liquid formula, according to the spokesperson.
“Nicotine salt has been delicately developed taking into close consideration the stirring time, the temperature, and the amount of nicotine added in combination with other components such as benzoic acid. The diverse range of sweeteners are also developed to match different vaping devices, for example, different puff-range disposable devices and ceramic core vaping devices,” the spokesperson explained.
“Sweeteners can easily affect the flavor either to be ‘too sweet’ or ‘not enough sweet.’ Having a diverse range of sweeteners can avoid the “too sweet” or “not enough sweet” challenge and help the finished products to maintain the ‘high return to flavor’ characteristic.”
Additionally, Zinwi’s flavoring team are some of the most experienced in the industry. Apart from flavorist’s own flavoring experiences, Zinwi’s flavoring team together has created over 50, 000 formulas, and hundreds more are added every day on average.
“Zinwi’s good flavor products are not attributed by one single factor,” said the spokesperson. “It is the combined factors including the raw materials selection, the self-developed e-liquid components such as nicotine salts and sweeteners, the quality control procedures and the well-trained flavoring team that guarantee the good flavor.”
Established in 2016 and headquartered in the Guangming District of Shenzhen, China, Zinwi Biotech is a high-tech company that specializes in providing integrated e-liquid solutions including R&D, production and sales services to global e-cigarette manufacturers and brands. Due to its strong R&D capabilities, stringent quality control procedures and premium client network, Zinwi has become the world’s leading integrated e-liquid solutions provider.
In the UK, campaigners say figures in a new report showed inmates are spending more than £7 million ($8.5 million) a year on e-cigarettes.
The amount spent in canteens has risen every year since 2019 after a smoking ban was phased in by the government across closed jails in England and Wales.
In the previous financial year, inmates spent £7,655,766 on vapes and £7,930 on e-cigarettes — a three-year high overall, according to media reports.
Prisoners have already spent £6,730,176 of their own money on vapes alone in the current period up to January.
British American Tobacco (BAT) and Manchester-headquartered Supreme Imports Ltd. were named as suppliers of the products in the data released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
Zinwi Biotech, a major Chinese e-liquid manufacturer, has announced it will bring its Good Flavor products to the UK Vaper Expo from May 12 – 14 in Birmingham. Attendees of the occasion will have the opportunity to witness firsthand Zinwi’s Good Flavor and will be able to customize their own flavors during the event.
