Tag: e-cigarettes

RLX Technology Releases its Annual ESG Report

RLX Technology has released its annual corporate social responsibility report Envisaging a Better Future, highlighting its efforts in market responsibility, research and development investment, environment protection, employees career and corporate governance.
According to the report, RLX has strengthened its commitment to product quality and vaping science. Since its inception, RLX has invested RMB800 million ($111.1 million) in research and development. RLX operates eight laboratories and has developed a research chain covering product quality, physiochemical research, toxicology research, long-term impact assessment and clinical research.
In March 2021, RLX launched the first e-cigarette clinical research project in China. In February 2022, RLX started the first clinical study on the safety of e-cigarettes in China. The results of various research projects were published in prominent academic journals such as Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety and the Chinese Journal of Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment.
By June 2022, RLX had applied for over 610 patents covering vaping device design, e-liquid formula, electric control, smart device and released content.
Environment protection is another highlight in RLX’s CSR report. In September 2021, RLX started the Pods Reborn recycling program with China Siyuan Foundation for Poverty Alleviation. By June 2022, the program had been carried out in 188 Chinese cities. More than 16,000 stores have been equipped with a used pods recycling bin.
As part of the Amur Tiger and Leopard Conservation Project, RLX has planted 20 ha of eco-fields in Jilin Province to ensure sufficient food supply for these endangered species. RLX has also organized a patrol team to remove animal traps. By the end of 2021, the RLX Tech Patrol Team had patrolled 12,600 kilometers.
In April 2022, RLX launched its net-zero carbon emission plan Aim for Zero to achieve carbon neutrality in its direct operations by 2033 and along the value chain by 2050.
As part of this project, RLX will take eight major initiatives including plastic reduction, waste reduction, promoting the Pods Reborn program, establishing a green supply chain partner mechanism, reducing product carbon footprint and introducing zero-carbon products, creating a zero-carbon plant and a green store and reducing carbon footprint in office and during business travel.
By the end of 2021, RLX had opened more than 24,000 stores in more than 300 cities, creating about 370,000 jobs across the industry chain.
“In more than four years of entrepreneurship, one of the things we are particularly proud of is our dedication to fulfilling our social responsibility,” said Kate Wang, founder and CEO of RLX Tech in a statement. “RLX Tech sees social responsibility as one of its core competitive advantages. It is also our duty as corporate citizens.”
October 17, 2022
Purdy Appointed as CEO of Turning Point Brands

Turning Point Brands announced the appointment of long-tenured company executive Graham Purdy as CEO and board director, effective October 16, 2022, following Yavor Efremov’s resignation as CEO and director.
Additionally, David Glazek will transition from non-executive to executive board chairman, effective January 2023, according to a press release.
Purdy will lead TPB’s strategy, execution, and operations, with a particular focus on growing and maximizing the value of the company’s portfolio of iconic and emerging brands. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Purdy served as chief operating officer since 2019.
Purdy previously led day-to-day operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, managing through complex challenges to the business while completing three of the most successful years in the company’s history.
“I am excited to serve as Turning Point’s next CEO and drive the company’s strategic priorities to enhance shareholder value,” said Purdy. “Over the past three decades, Turning Point has built a leading industry position through our portfolio of large and leading brands, innovative marketing, and omni-channel distribution capabilities, along with our strong track record of new product innovation.
“I look forward to working with our highly talented team to continue to build a world-class consumer products company for the benefit of our employees, customers, and shareholders.”
October 17, 2022
Keller & Heckman Annual Vapor Symposium Feb. 15-16

The Keller and Heckman law firm will hold its annual E-Vapor and Tobacco Law Symposium on Feb. 15-16, 2023, at the Courtyard Irvine Spectrum in Irvine, California, USA.
This year’s program will feature topics designed to help vapor and deemed tobacco product manufacturers stay in compliance with rapidly evolving laws and policies, according to Keller and Heckman.
The conference will cover marketing denial orders (MDOs), U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed rulemakings and youth access prevention plans, among other topics.
For more information, visit the symposium information webpage.
October 17, 2022
Asia Harm Reduction Forum 2022 set for Oct. 28

The Fifth Asia Harm Reduction Forum (AHRF 2022) will take place Oct. 28 at The Manila Hotel in the Philippines.
Under the title, “Integrating Harm Reduction in Asian Policies: A Major Win for Public Health,” the forum will cover the merits of harm reduction as the most effective tool to address the smoking epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ron Sison
“This key event comes at a critical turning point, as tobacco harm reduction (THR) takes root in several Asian countries,” says AHRF 2022 Lead Convenor Ron Sison, who is also president of The Harm Reduction Alliance of the Philippines.
A hybrid event, AHRF 2022 will engage scientists, consumers, legislators and policymakers. The sessions will be streamed live on the AHRF YouTube Channel and Facebook.
“Asia is actively tackling the steps towards securing a smoke-free future,” says Peter Dator, president of Vapers PH, a consumer group. “The Philippines recently lifted its vaping ban, regulating the importation, manufacture, sale, and marketing of vaping products. Malaysia and Thailand are also set to regulate, thanks to the sheer weight of scientific evidence and the hard work of THR advocates.”
“Despite more countries supporting vaping, we must remain vigilant and active in our THR discussions and advocacy,” says Asa Saligupta, director of ENDS Cigarette Smoke Thailand. “Let’s not forget the most convincing smoking cessation devices remain illegal in many parts of Asia-Pacific. We’ve got plenty of work to do, with AHRF 2022 key to this region’s future success.”
October 17, 2022
FDA Denies Nearly 95% of Synthetic Nicotine PMTAs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administartion today announced that, as of Oct. 7, the agency has issued refuse to accept (RTA) letters for more than 889,000 products in premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) that do not meet the criteria for acceptance.
The agency also announced it FDA has accepted over 1,600 applications, with the vast majority being for e-cigarette or e-liquid products.
“While the application review is ongoing, FDA remains vigilant in overseeing the market and will continue to use our compliance and enforcement resources to curb the unlawful marketing of [non-tobacco nicotine] NTN products. To date, FDA has issued a total of over 60 warning letters to manufacturers, including brands popular among youth such as Puff Bar,” the FDA stated in a release. “The manufacturer warning letters include those for products for which an application had been submitted but where the agency has taken a negative action, such as a [RTA].”
The FDA has also issued over 300 warning letters to retailers for violations in relation to their sale of NTN products to underage purchasers, and imposed civil money penalties against two retailers for sales of NTN products to underage purchasers.
“To date, the FDA has not authorized any NTN products. Therefore, all NTN products on the market are marketed unlawfully and risk FDA enforcement action,” the FDA stated. “It is illegal for a retailer or distributor to sell or distribute e-cigarettes that the FDA has not authorized, and those who engage in such conduct are at risk of FDA enforcement, such as a seizure, injunction, or civil money penalty.”
All authorized e-cigarettes are posted on FDA’s Tobacco Product Marketing Orders page.
October 14, 2022
FDA Fails to First Inform Hyde of MDOs Before Public

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed that Magellan Technology received marketing denial orders (MDOs) on Oct. 6 for 32 products. However, Magellan CEO Jon Glauser said the FDA acknowledged in writing that it had “erred in failing to inform the company” about the MDOs and only after the Oct. 6 announcement did Magellan receive the letters from the FDA.
“Because the affected PMTAs had been pending with the agency for over two years, we can only surmise that what the FDA deemed an “inadvertent error” in failing to inform the company was caused by an apparent rush to include the MDO action with the Agency’s press release on the National Youth Tobacco Survey data, which shows youth vaping down 50% since 2019,” Glauser states in an email. “The MDOs covered only certain Hyde products containing tobacco-derived nicotine. No Hyde products containing non-tobacco nicotine are subject to an MDO.”
In response to an inquiry by Vaping360, the FDA reiterated that it had served Magellan Technology with an MDO.
“After reviewing premarket tobacco applications for 32 Hyde e-cigarettes, FDA issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) for these applications submitted by Magellan Technology, Inc. on Oct. 6,” the agency told Vaping360. “In addition to the MDOs issued on Oct. 6, as acknowledged by Magellan Technology, Inc. in their statement, FDA also issued a Refuse to Accept (RTA) Letter for other Hyde e-cigarette products.”
Glauser states that the FDA did issue a Refuse to Accept (RTA) letter for certain of Magellan’s Hyde
products containing non-tobacco nicotine, identifying two administrative requirements the regulatory agency claims the company’s premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) were lacking.
“First, with respect to two of our bundled applications, the FDA stated that a signed statement as to the accuracy of certain translated documents was missing. However, the agency misunderstood the fact that the documents themselves are dual language documents that are maintained by our Chinese manufacturer in both English and Chinese. Because the relevant FDA regulation only requires a
certification for documents that have been translated from another language into English, we believe that the cited regulation is inapplicable,” Glauser explains. “This is the only issue cited against one of our bundled applications and on October 12, 2022, we filed a petition for stay with FDA requesting that the agency immediately stay the RTA determination on this basis.”
The second Item, Glauser wrote, relates to nine other applications that the FDA claims a certification statement verifying the PMTA submissions were “true and correct” was missing from those submissions. The FDA had preciously told Magellan that the company already had submitted amendments to its applications with the certification, but the agency could not determine to which applications the amendments needed to be applied.
“To that end, the FDA noted that ‘although your submission(s) may include the required content for a PMTA,’ the absence of the form made it impossible for the FDA to review the applications. While it is unfortunate that these technical issues cropped up with respect to these applications which had to be filed under enormously short time constraints, it is not a reflection of the high quality of scientific work that Magellan has assembled and continues to generate as part of its commitment to the PMTA process, work which the FDA has not yet reviewed,” wrote Glauser. “Magellan’s counsel and consultants already are engaging with the FDA regarding these issues and are asking the Agency to reconsider its initial determination so that Magellan’s application review can progress forward. In the event that FDA refuses, Magellan intends to move promptly to seek judicial relief regarding the RTA letter.”
In response to the FDA press statement announcing the order, Magellan Technology denied having received an MDO, saying the agency had refused to accept its premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) on a technicality without reviewing the PMTA on its merits.
Magellan Technology demanded that FDA not only retract the press announcement but also issue a corrective statement making clear that FDA did not issue an MDO to Magellan and that it has not yet conducted a scientific review of Magellan’s products.
October 14, 2022
FDA Gives Most Warning Letters to Small Companies

Photo: Postmodern Studio
Current U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversight of the vaping industry in the U.S. is likely to have minimal impact, suggests an analysis of the regulator’s warning letters for marketing violations, published online in the journal Tobacco Control.
The regulator is failing to target the key players or the products most popular with young people, the analysis suggests, with over 90 percent of warnings sent to small online retailers rather than leading tobacco companies, and a focus on refillable devices.
While the prevalence of vaping among U.S. adults remains low, at just under 4 percent in 2020, it is four times higher among young people.
In 2016, the FDA announced plans to regulate the vaping industry, including a requirement for the manufacturers of e-cigarettes to obtain premarket approval (PMTA) to ensure that their products protect public health.
In 2017, the regulator began sending warning letters to manufacturers, retailers and distributors for potential violations, such as advertising to young people, selling to minors, packaging or labeling that contravened regulations, and failure to apply for a PMTA.
But little is known about who received these letters, the types of product they concerned, or details of the violations and their consequences.
To try and find out, researchers from Truth Initiative assessed the content and recipients of publicly available FDA warning letters issued in 2020 and 2021. In total, the FDA issued 303 warnings: 126 in 2020 and 177 up to Sept. 9, 2021.
The analysis revealed that in 2021, over 98 percent of all the targeted companies fulfilled all three roles (manufacturer, distributor and retailer).
But nearly all the letters (97 percent) were sent to small online retailers, none of which were large companies with measurable market share, as evidenced by sales data.
Companies were cited for between one and three infractions. Most involved failure to obtain a PMTA. In 2020 and 2021, respectively, 56 percent and 99 percent-plus of the infractions concerned a PMTA violation.
And more than 90 percent of the products cited—880 different ones in total—were flavored refillable e-cigarette liquids rather than the disposable vaping devices that the evidence indicates are most popular with young people.
Penalties ranged in severity from product detention to product seizure and fines. But loss of tobacco distributor license and criminal charges appeared less frequently in both years than these other consequences.
At the time of the review, most (72 percent) of the websites cited for 2020 infractions were still operating as were 29 percent of websites cited for 2021 infractions.
And as the authors note, it was impossible to find out how the targeted companies responded and whether the FDA followed through with the consequences cited in the warning letters because that information isn’t publicly available.
“While current research estimates that online sales comprise around one-third of the marketplace, data tell us that most young people get their products from friends (32.3 percent), buy them from another person (21.5 percent) or purchase from a vape shop (22.2 percent),” the authors noted in a statement.
“Prioritizing the products most accessed by youth, which are made available from a variety of sources, will be important to curb youth use,” they add.
“Strong, impactful and transparent consequences need to be in place to prevent the sale of products that violate regulations necessary in protecting the health of adult users of e-cigarettes and preventing youth use alike,” the authors added.
“The FDA should use its enforcement powers to target the manufacturing, distribution and sellers of the tobacco products that have the greatest impact on youth and products that provide no public health benefit.”
October 14, 2022
‘U.K. Unlikely to Enact Khan Recommendations’

Photo: William Richardson
The U.K. government is unlikely to enact the actions recommended by Javed Khan in his recent report on smoking, according to an article in The Guardian citing insiders.
The British government has committed to make the country “smoke-free” by 2030. This defined as getting the proportion of adults who smoke down from 14.1 percent to just 5 percent.
Published in June, Khan’s report says that ministers need to accelerate the reduction in smoking by 40 percent if want were to hit the 2030 target. Among other actions, he recommended raising the legal age of buying tobacco by a year every year and putting, imposing a new “polluter pays” levy on tobacco firms, and requiring sellers of tobacco products to have a license.
According to The Guardian, U.K. Health Secretary Thérèse Coffey also intends to break her predecessor’s promise to publish an action plan to tackle smoking.
The paper writes that Coffey has previously accepted hospitality from the tobacco industry. Since becoming an MP in 2010 she has voted in the House of Commons against an array of measures to restrict smoking, including the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces, the outlawing of smoking in cars containing children and forcing cigarettes to be sold in plain packs.
The Department of Health and Social Care said it was “inaccurate” to suggest that the tobacco control plan was being dropped—but did not say if or when it would publish it.
Labour and anti-smoking campaigners voiced alarm at the potential U-turn over the tobacco control plan. It follows a Treasury-ordered review of measures to tackle obesity, and Coffey scrapping a promised white paper on health inequalities.
October 13, 2022
Foster City Again Plans to Ban Flavored Vapes

Foster City, California, plans to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and e-cigarettes, with the city council to consider an ordinance at its next meeting. The city tabled the bill in August for lack of support.
“I firmly believe this is our opportunity to do right by our children,” Councilmember Sanjay Gehani said.
The council originally only planned to apply an ordinance to flavored tobacco, but a push from Gehani and Vice Mayor Jon Froomin at the Oct. 3 meeting to have a more stringent ban that includes e-cigarettes swayed Mayor Richa Awasthi and Councilmember Patrick Sullivan, according to the Daily Journal.
Staff will also bring back a tobacco resale license ordinance to address violations of the smoking ordinance ban brought. The ordinance, suggested by Froomin, will detail enforcement the city can take for those who defy the ban. Froomin said stringent enforcement was needed to be effective in the community.
The proposed ordinance would apply to convenience stores, grocery stores, gas stations and other businesses.
Cities like Half Moon Bay, South San Francisco, Burlingame, San Carlos, San Mateo and Redwood City have prohibited selling flavored tobacco. The state has passed Senate Bill 793, signed into law in 2020, which calls for tobacco retailers not to sell flavored tobacco products.
However, the state has halted implementation due to a referendum calling for its repeal, stalling a decision. California voters in the November election will vote on the status of SB 793, called Proposition 31.
October 12, 2022
VPASA: Bill Will End South African Vapor Industry

Asanda Gcoyi
South Africa’s new tobacco bill will destroy the vapor industry if it becomes law, the Vapour Products Association of South Africa (VPASA) warned.
Among other provisions, the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill opens an avenue for the government to ban the sale of flavored e-liquids, which tobacco harm advocates insist are key to entice smokers away from cigarettes.
VPASA contends that the government neglected to consult the industry about its proposed legislation, which mistakenly conflates vaping with smoking, according to the industry group.
“While the Cabinet statement announcing the adoption of the bill noted that the Department of Health had conducted extensive consultations, it conveniently failed to state that other than anti-tobacco campaigners, no other stakeholders had seen a copy of the revised bill before it was gazetted on Sept. 29,” VPASA CEO Asanda Gcoyi was quoted as saying by The Saturday Star. “This is despite numerous requests for a copy made by industry stakeholders.”
VPASA also believes the proposals on table are not based on science or empirical evidence, treating vaping and smoking as if they are one and the same thing. “Vaping requires a separate set of guidelines recognizing that it is not the same as smoking and therefore cannot be regulated in the same manner,” said Gcoyi.
October 12, 2022