Tag: e-cigarettes

Ireland Preparing to Implement E-Cigarette Tax

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The government of Ireland is working to introduce a tax on e-cigarettes in 2025, reports The Irish Times.
Finance Minister Michael McGrath confirmed that his department had started work with the revenue department to announce the tax in the next budget and introduce it next year.
McGrath cited the vaping industry’s “insidious” targeting of e-cigarettes toward young people as justification for the tax.
“There’s no doubt, but it is a deliberate policy,” he was quoted as saying. “In my mind, what is happening when you see all the attractive flavors and names, it’s definitely targeting young people and very successfully.”
While acknowledging that e-cigarettes are helping some smokers quit more harmful combustible cigarettes, McGrath also noted that there are many unknowns about the long-term effects of e-cigarettes.
He said it was important for the Department of Finance’s proposed tax to align with policies of other departments around e-cigarettes and vapes, such as the Department of Health and the Department of Environment.
March 1, 2024
Study: E-cigarette Harm Perceptions Worsening

Photo: Asier
Harm perceptions of e-cigarettes have worsened substantially over the last decade among adult smokers in England, according to a study published by Jama Network Open.
In 2023, most adults who smoked believed e-cigarettes to be at least as harmful as cigarettes. The timing of the changes in harm perceptions coincided with the e-cigarette, or vaping product, use-associated lung injury outbreak in 2019 and the recent increase in youth vaping in England since 2021.
Researchers collected data from 28 393 adult smokers. In November 2014, 44.4 percent thought e-cigarettes were less harmful than cigarettes, 30.3 percent thought e-cigarettes were equally harmful, 10.8 percent thought they were more harmful, and 14.5 percent said they did not know.
However, by June 2023, the proportion who thought e-cigarettes were less harmful had decreased by 40 percent, and the proportion who thought e-cigarettes were more harmful had more than doubled.
Changes over time were nonlinear: late 2019 saw a sharp decline in the proportion who thought e-cigarettes were less harmful and increases in the proportions who thought they were equally or more harmful. These changes were short-lived, returning to pre-2019 levels by the end of 2020.
However, perceptions worsened again from 2021 up to the end of the study period: the proportion who thought e-cigarettes were more harmful increased to a new high, and the proportion who thought e-cigarettes were less harmful decreased to levels comparable to those in late 2019.
As a result, in June 2023, the perception that e-cigarettes were equally as harmful as cigarettes was the most commonly held view among adults who smoke, with roughly similar proportions perceiving e-cigarettes to be less and more harmful.
February 29, 2024
Poland Mulling Ban on Disposable E-Cigarettes

Photo: Yelena Belodedova
Polish Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna is mulling a ban on the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes, according to the Polish edition of Business Insider.
Leszczyna added that she would like to pursue the fastest possible legislative path to such as measure, given that as many as 64 percent young people in Poland had “contact” with the product.
The news comes after the United Kingdom announced a ban on single-use cigarettes in January.
Meanwhile, Poland is preparing to implement the EU directive banning the sale of flavored heated tobacco products. According to local media reports, the regulation may take effect from next year.
The EU directive prohibits the placing on the EU market of flavored heated tobacco products and removes the possibility for member states to grant exemptions for such products from certain labeling requirements set out in EU law.
February 29, 2024
FDA Warns 5 More Online Retailers for Illegal Vapes
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned five more online retailers for selling flavored disposable vaping products.
On Feb. 28, the regulatory agency announced the warning letters cite the sale of disposable e-cigarette products marketed under popular brand names such as Elf Bar/EB Design/EB Create, Funky Republic, Lost Mary, Hyde, Breeze, and Cali Bars, according to a press release.
“Protecting our nation’s youth from the harms of tobacco products is crucial to our center’s public health mission,” said Brian King, director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “We’re committed to continuing to use a data-driven approach to identify and prevent the sale of unauthorized tobacco products and to take compliance and enforcement action when appropriate.”
February 28, 2024
More Penalties for Unauthorized Elf Bar Sales

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On Feb. 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the filing of complaints for civil money penalties (CMPs) against 20 brick-and-mortar retailers for the sale of unauthorized Elf Bar e-cigarettes. The FDA previously issued each retailer a warning letter relating to their sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes. However, follow-up inspections revealed that the retailers had failed to correct the violations, and the agency is now seeking the maximum penalty amount of $20,678 for a single violation from each retailer.
Including these complaints, the FDA has filed more than 100 CMP complaints against retailers for the illegal sale of Elf Bar e-cigarettes. Data indicate these products are appealing to youth. According to the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey, Elf Bar was the most commonly used brand among U.S. youth e-cigarette users; among middle and high school students who reported using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, more than half said they used Elf Bar products during that period.
“These retailers have not adequately addressed the violations noted in previous warnings from FDA regarding the sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes,” said Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “Their continued failure to comply with the law is inexcusable, and as is evidenced by today’s actions, we’re committed to holding them accountable for it.”
As of Feb. 15, the FDA has issued more than 440 warning letters to and filed 100 CMP actions against retailers, including brick-and-mortar and online retailers, for selling unauthorized tobacco products. In addition to actions involving retailers, the FDA has issued more than 660 warning letters to manufacturers, importers and distributors for illegally selling and/or distributing unauthorized new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. The agency has also filed CMP complaints against 50 e-cigarette firms for manufacturing unauthorized products and sought injunctions in coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice against seven manufacturers of unauthorized e-cigarette products.
February 27, 2024
U.K. Poised to Announce Strict Vaping Levies

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U.K. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce a “vaping products levy” during the presentation of the government budget on March 6, reports The Guardian.
The tax would be similar to 15 schemes in European countries, including Germany, where a €1.60 ($1.73) tax is charged on every 10 mL of vape liquid, and Italy where the rate is €1.30. The EU is also planning a vaping levy across the 27-nation bloc.
The U.K. tax would charge higher rates for products with more nicotine. There would also be a one-off increase in tobacco duty to ensure that vaping remains a cheaper alternative, with the two measures expected to raise more than £500 million ($633.73 million) a year by 2028–2029, according to The Times.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak plans to ban smoking for the next generation by steadily increasing the legal smoking age in England so that tobacco would end up never being sold to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009.
Vaping industry representatives described the tax plan as an attack on people trying to quit smoking.
“Vaping is proven to be the most effective way for smokers to quit and in doing so helps drastically reduce the cost of care the NHS [National Health Service] provides to smokers,” said John Dunne, director general of the U.K. Vaping Industry Association, in a statement.
“It makes absolutely no sense to make it more difficult for adults to stop smoking by penalizing those who choose a safer and healthier option in vaping. Smoking kills 250 people every day in the U.K. and according to Action on Smoking and Health costs the U.K. £17 billion a year,” Dunne added.
“A Centre for Economics and Business Research report in 2022 found that smokers switching to vaping saved the NHS £322 million, a figure that was estimated to more than double if 50 percent of U.K. smokers made the switch to vapes.
“Surely, we should be doing everything we can to help smokers escape a habit that kills so many. Increasing taxes on vaping will make vapes less accessible for the most disadvantaged in society who have the highest smoking rates and are most in need of an effective tool to quit.
“The government continue to hide their heads in the sand while taking actions that will fuel a black market which is already in danger of being out of control. Restricting access to vapes will not only mean more smokers; it will also mean more illegal and unregulated vapes. We need the government to license vape retailers and properly enforce the law against youth access before it is too late.”

It makes absolutely no sense to make it more difficult for adults to stop smoking by penalizing those who choose a safer and healthier option in vaping.
John Dunne, director general, UKVIA
“A Centre for Economics and Business Research report in 2022 found that smokers switching to vaping saved the NHS £322 million, a figure that was estimated to more than double if 50 percent of U.K. smokers made the switch to vapes.”
“Surely, we should be doing everything we can to help smokers escape a habit that kills so many. Increasing taxes on vaping will make vapes less accessible for the most disadvantaged in society who have the highest smoking rates and are most in need of an effective tool to quit.
“The government continue to hide their heads in the sand, while taking actions that will fuel a black market which is already in danger of being out of control. Restricting access to vapes will not only mean more smokers; it will also mean more illegal and unregulated vapes. We need the government to license vape retailers and properly enforce the law against youth access before it is too late.”
February 27, 2024
Colorado Senate Approves County-Wide Flavor Bans

Credit: Marek Photo Design
Last week, the Colorado Senate voted 21-14 in favor of S.B. 24-022, a bill that allows counties in the state to pass bans on the sales of flavored tobacco products and regulate the distribution of tobacco products.
While the bill itself wouldn’t ban the sale of flavored tobacco products, it would open the door to local bans, which are currently forbidden.
This is the second time in recent years that the Colorado General Assembly has moved towards allowing local control over tobacco regulation. In March 2019, H.B. 1033 was enacted, allowing Colorado cities, towns, and counties to increase the minimum age to purchase tobacco products to 21 and increase taxes and retailer licenses, according to Halfwheel. Previously, those actions were prevented via a preemption clause.
That law was signed by Gov. Jared Polis, who remains governor today. Two years ago, Polis, a Democrat, indicated that he opposed efforts to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products statewide, saying that he instead supported giving local communities the option to enact their own bans.
S.B. 24-022 now moves on to the House of Representatives.
February 26, 2024
Scotland Closer to Banning Disposable Vapes
The sale and supply of single-use vapes in Scotland could be banned by the start of April 2025.
It follows a UK-wide consultation last year, with the date agreed by the devolved governments and Westminster.
The draft legislation – which is open for consultation until March 8 – is being taken forward in Scotland using powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, according to media reports.
The age limit for buying tobacco would also change under UK government plans.

Disposable vapes to be banned using devolved powers
Disposable vapes to be banned for child health
‘Massive’ increase in young Scots vaping, MSPs told
Each nation has introduced separate legislation banning the sale and supply of disposable vaping products.
Circular Economy Minister, Lorna Slater said the Scottish government was committed to reducing vaping among non-smokers and young people and tackling their environmental impact.
February 26, 2024
Altria set to Submit PMTA for Flavored Njoy Products

It seems U.S. regulators are prepared to accept premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) for some flavored vaping products other than tobacco from a brand that already has a marketing authorization for its tobacco-flavored products.
A marketing authorization for a fruit flavor would be unexpected from U.S. regulators. And giving a flavored-product authorization to a major tobacco company would likely cause an uproar from a majority of the vaping industry.
According to media reports, Altria Group is finalizing its submissions to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell Njoy vape products in blueberry and watermelon flavors, CEO Billy Gifford said Wednesday at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference in Florida.
Altria is already waiting for action from the FDA on a menthol version, he said. The company said it hopes its plans to employ Bluetooth technology to prevent underage use in a way it hasn’t yet detailed will be enough to sway the regulatory agency that has yet to approve a flavored e-liquid vaping product in a flavor other than tobacco.
“We’ve demonstrated the age-gating restrictions are effective at preventing underage access in virtually all cases,” Gifford said, according to a transcript of the company’s webcast.
Altria plans to get its regular tobacco-flavored Njoy vape products into 100,000 stores in 2024, up from around 75,000 last year, with new packaging, Gifford said. He estimated that the international opportunity to sell heated tobacco and vape products is worth $35 billion to $50 billion.
After encouraging results from the launch of its larger-sized oral nicotine pouches, On! Plus, in Sweden, Altria plans to expand distribution there, and launch the On! Plus products in the U.K. this year, according to CFO Salvatore Mancuso.
February 22, 2024
Ispire Technology Adds Partners for Joint Venture
Credit: Kamiphotos
Ispire Technology has partnered with Touchpoint World Wide, parent to Berify, a platform that links physical products to the digital world, digital engagement, and brand protection, and Chemular International, a multi-disciplinary regulatory consulting firm to form a joint venture.
The group hopes to expedite innovation in the e-cigarette technology space, including developing secure, user-friendly solutions for age verification and age-gating nicotine vapor devices.
“The U.S. market is ripe for technological disruption that addresses age-verification, safety, and counterfeit issues,” said Berify Founder and CEO Dan Kang. “Our mission is also to create smart products that generate a new level of consumer satisfaction. We plan to achieve this by leveraging our blockchain authentication, tokenized rewards, and creating true decentralization while keeping companies in control of their products and data.”
Leveraging Berify’s multi-patented technology, Chemular’s regulatory consulting and PMTA expertise, and Ispire’s hardware capabilities, the joint venture’s goals are to introduce an industry-standard age-verification solution for vapor devices as well as the submission of PMTA applications that incorporate new technologies across the U.S. e-cigarette market.
“Our commitment is not only to create next-gen vapor devices but also to elevate market education. This venture includes additional partnerships that will bring together biometric identity and access control, ensure the solution is embedded into vapor devices during manufacturing, and provide safety, security, and privacy for consumers,” Kevin Burd, CEO of Chemular, added. “It is also a testament to our dedication to positively shaping the future of vape hardware innovation.”
Some of the possible solutions include:

Next-generation e-cigarette hardware with a user-friendly point-of-use age-verification and geo-fencing capability that eliminates the use of hardware in certain designated areas such as schools and sensitive areas;
E-cigarettes with end-to-end a range of dynamic features such as authentication, direct-to-consumer engagements, and exclusive offerings all built on the foundations of blockchain technology;
A real-time biometric identity platform for user access controls, creating added security and reliability that deters counterfeiting.
“By combining our collective expertise in hardware, blockchain and regulatory consulting, we aim to set a new standard for age verification, security and overall quality in the e-cigarette space,” said Ispire Technology Co-CEO Michael Wang. “Our hope is that this JV will be a large step forward in innovative device control, safety, counterfeit prevention and enhanced user experiences that increase overall market and consumer satisfaction.”
February 22, 2024