Tag: e-cigarettes

FDA Denies Marketing of Suorin, Blu Plus+ Products
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) to Shenzhen Youme Information Technology Co. Ltd. for two Suorin brand e-cigarette products. It also issued Fontem US, LLC MDOs for its Blu PLUS+ brand e-cigarette products.
“Thorough scientific review of tobacco products applications is a key pillar of FDA’s comprehensive regulatory approach,” said Brian King, director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). “It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that sufficient scientific evidence is included in an application to meet the necessary public health standard required by law. In these cases, such evidence was lacking.”
The companies must not market or distribute these products in the United States or they risk FDA enforcement action. The companies may submit new applications for the products that are subject to these MDOs, according to an agency press release.
The FDA denied Suorin Air refillable vaporizers in various colors and an empty refillable cartridge. The FDA stated that Suorin Air’s empty cartridges would allow consumers to fill the cartridge with an e-liquid purchased separately.
“The applications submitted by Shenzhen Youme Information Technology Co. Ltd. lacked sufficient evidence regarding abuse liability, which is the ability of a tobacco product to promote continued use and the development of addiction and dependence,” the release states.
SMOK recently had 22 products denied, including devices, pods, atomizers, and cartridges. It was the first time the agency has denied strictly hardware products from one company en mass. The products were denied because they were submitted without a specific e-liquid to be used with the devices, according to the FDA.
The denied Blu PLUS+ products include a battery and several prefilled e-liquid pods:

blu PLUS+ Battery
blu PLUS+ Carolina Bold 2.0%
blu PLUS+ Classic Tobacco 1.2%
blu PLUS+ Classic Tobacco 2.4%
blu PLUS+ Gold Leaf 1.2%
blu PLUS+ Gold Leaf 2.4%
blu PLUS+ Menthol 1.2%
blu PLUS+ Menthol 2.4%
“Among other deficiencies in their applications, Fontem US, LLC failed to include sufficient ingredient information, harmful and potentially harmful constituent (HPHC) yield quantities, and abuse liability information.,” the FDA stated. “In addition, the applicant did not provide sufficient evidence demonstrating that the flavored new products have a potential to benefit adult smokers, in terms of complete switching or significant cigarette use reduction, that would outweigh the risk to youth.
The FDA also issued MDOs for additional blu PLUS+ products not listed above. The regulatory only publicly names products that the FDA or the manufacturer has confirmed to be currently marketed to avoid the release of confidential commercial information.
January 19, 2024
RLX Releases Corporate Sustainability Report
RLX Technology presented its “Corporate Social Responsibility Report.” The report outlines the firm’s annual progress in fulfilling various corporate social responsibilities, including rural revitalization, product-related responsibility, corporate governance, environmental responsibility and employee responsibility.
According to the report, as of 2023, RLX has invested a total of CNY44.3 million ($6.2 million) in areas such as biodiversity conservation and rural revitalization. By the end of April 2023, RLX had effectively generated approximately 120,000 employment opportunities along the supply chain and accumulated research and development investments totaling CNY800 million.
Navigating the delicate balance between compliance and innovation is the most crucial challenge for RLX, according to a company press release. In pursuit of a first-class user experience, the company says it not only strictly adheres to regulatory requirements by developing products in line with national standards to ensure quality and safety but is also comprehensively upgrading its research and development system. This involves establishing eight major laboratory matrices and rigorous factory quality control to enhance product innovation. The report reveals that as of April 2023, RLX has applied for nearly 900 patents globally.
From child-proof locks to anti-dry burn functions, each of the eight laboratories plays a specific role in developing products that meet both regulatory requirements and user-experience expectations. The Innovation Lab, for example, focuses on material purification and flavor perception, significantly reducing the risk of alterations to product taste and flavor. The Quality and Safety Lab conducts tests such as drop and negative pressure tests to ensure product stability in extreme environments. This lab has received accreditation from China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment.
Since outlining its “1+4” scientific research path in 2020, RLX has initiated nearly 50 research projects to fill the gaps in the field of vape science. The report highlights several breakthrough achievements from the past year. In November 2022, the first domestic clinical study on electronic cigarettes initiated by RLX was published in the medical SCI journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research. By the end of April 2023, RLX had conducted 17 collaborative research projects, publishing 11 research papers in authoritative journals.
“From 2022 to 2023, whether in the Chinese e-cigarette industry or at RLX Technology, it has been an extremely important period. We wholeheartedly respond to policies and actively address various changes, not only fulfilling strict compliance and providing reassuring products as ‘required actions’ but also contributing our modest efforts in ‘voluntary actions’ such as wildlife protection and rural revitalization to enhance social well-being,” said Kate Wang, founder and CEO of RLX.
January 19, 2024
Florida Bill Would Ban Vapes at State Parks, Beaches

Credit: Aleksandr Kondratov
A Florida Senate panel approved a proposal to ban smoking and vaping in state parks and beaches.
The Environment and Natural Resources Committee backed a measure (SB 1576), filed by Chair Ana Maria Rodriguez, that would lead to fines for smoking and vaping in state parks.
Fines would start at $100 for the first violation and jump to $500 for each subsequent offense, according to media reports.
The state park system mostly follows the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, which bars smoking inside buildings. The exception is Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, where smoking is prohibited. The park is deemed a “congested area” because of its layout and many visitors.
While he supported the bill, Sen. Jonathan Martin suggested including an exemption for areas where people stay overnight.
“I know a lot of state parks do allow for camping and RVs, enclosed containers where individuals might pay 30 bucks a night to stay there. Perhaps there could be a carve-out for that,” Martin said.
The bill next goes to the Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government.
A similar House bill (HB 495) has not been heard in committees.
In 2022, lawmakers passed a measure that allows cities and counties to restrict smoking at beaches and parks that they own.
January 19, 2024
US Tourist Fined for Vaping During Flight to Caymans
Credit: S. Tratong
In what is believed to be the first case of its kind before a Cayman Islands court, an American tourist has been fined KYD$1,000 ($1,219) for vaping inside an airplane bathroom.
Brendan Joseph Fallon, a US Navy veteran, vaped to try to calm his nerves as the United Airlines jet from Newark, New Jersey, was preparing to land at Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman on Wednesday, 10 Jan., according to court records.
While e-cigarettes are not illegal, their use in public places is prohibited; the Cayman Islands is still developing additional regulations for vaping products.
January 17, 2024
U.S. FDA Denies 22 SMOK Vape Hardware PMTAs
SMOK Osub One 50W AOI
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) to Shenzhen IVPS Technology Co., Ltd for 22 SMOK vaping hardware products.
The denied products include devices, pods, atomizers, and cartridges. It’s the first time the agency has denied strictly hardware products from one company en mass.
The products were denied because they were submitted without a specific e-liquid to be used with the devices, according to the FDA. “The denied SMOK e-cigarette products are not sold with an e-liquid. A consumer instead adds their separately purchased e-liquid into the device,” the agency wrote. “Therefore, these SMOK products have the potential to be used with any e-liquid on the market and available to the consumer, which could include tobacco-flavored and non-tobacco-flavored e-liquids.”
The products receiving MODOs include:

SMOK OSUB ONE Device
SMOK OSUB ONE RPM Cartridge
SMOK RPM DC 0.8 Ω MTL Atomizer
SMOK OSUB ONE RPM Cartridge 3 Pack
SMOK RPM DC 0.8 Ω MTL Atomizer 5 Pack
SMOK Nfix Device
Nfix DC 0.8 Ω MTL Pod
SMOK POZZ Device
SMOK POZZ DC 0.8 Ω Pod
SMOK RPM 40 Device
SMOK RPM Empty Standard Cartridge
SMOK RPM Empty Nord Cartridge
SMOK RPM Mesh 0.4 Ω Atomizer
SMOK Nord DC 0.8 Ω MTL Atomizer
SMOK SCAR-P3 Device
SMOK SCAR-P3 Empty RPM 2 Cartridge
SMOK SCAR-P3 Empty RPM Cartridge
SMOK PRM 2 Mesh 0.16 Ω Atomizer
SMOK RPM Mesh 0.4 Ω Atomizer
SMOK Nord 2 Device
SMOK Nord 2 RPM Cartridge
SMOK Nord 2 Nord Cartridge
After reviewing the company’s PMTAs, the FDA determined that the applications lacked sufficient evidence to demonstrate that permitting the marketing of the products would be appropriate for the protection of public health, which is the standard legally required by the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. More specifically, the applicant failed to provide sufficient data to characterize constituent delivery, product stability, and product abuse liability.
“Science is a cornerstone of FDA’s tobacco product review process, and CTP remains committed to evaluating applications based on a public health standard that considers the risks and benefits of the tobacco product to the population as a whole,” said Brian King, director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide sufficient scientific evidence to demonstrate that marketing a new tobacco product is appropriate for the protection of the public health. In this case, the applicant failed to provide this evidence.”
January 16, 2024
Spain Bans Flavors for Heated Tobacco Products

Credit: Weyo
The government in Spain has approved a decree that equates the regulation of heated tobacco products with that of traditional cigarettes, prohibiting products with flavorings. The rules do not apply to all vaping products, such as e-cigarettes.
In addition, it will now be mandatory for labels to contain warnings for heated tobacco products that they products are harmful to health, according to Catalan News.
The Ministry of Health is considering further regulations.
“The ban will cover tobacco products with an aroma or flavor in their components (such as filters, papers, packaging, or capsules) or any other technique that allows modifying the smell or taste of the products or intensify the smoke. Filters, papers and capsules cannot contain tobacco or nicotine,” the report states.
Heated tobacco products must include the following informative message on their outer packaging: “Tobacco smoke contains more than 70 carcinogenic substances,” with relevant accompanying photographs.
This decree will enter into force three months after its publication in the official state gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado).
January 16, 2024
Retailer Teams With Industry to Recycle Vapes

Credit: William
UK retailer B&M will soon start a vape recycling program in partnership with the e-cigarette brand Elf Bar and vaping manufacturer Supreme plc. The group hopes to reduce the environmental impact of disposable vaping products.
The partnership will introduce more than 700 in-store vape recycling bins across B&M retail locations.
The campaign aims to enhance vape recycling by providing consumers with a means of disposing of their used vape devices, according to media sources. The products are not collected from homes. It begins before the end of January.
The hazardous waste management provider Wastecare Group will oversee the collection of the bins once full, ensuring the responsible disposal of the single-use devices.
“B&M welcomes the opportunity to work in a three-way partnership with Elf Bar and Supreme to tackle the ongoing environmental damage occurring by single-use, disposable vaping products,” a B&M spokesperson said. “We want our consumers to use the products we sell in a responsible manner, and that remains even when they are no longer of use. Like many of the other products we sell, vapes should never be binned or littered – especially now they can be so easily recycled.”
The Scottish Government has expressed intentions to consult on banning single-use vapes due to concerns about their impact on public health and the environment. The UK Government is being urged to follow suit.
Wastecare Group’s recycling process involves the recovery and recycling of raw materials under existing disposal rules. The collected vape batteries will undergo processing to recover lithium, while the filter and nicotine elements will be sent for incineration.
All recycling processes will take place within the UK.
“Continuing Elf Bar’s commitment to its GreenAwareness program, this marks another step towards helping the public dispose of used vapes sustainably and responsibly,” said Elf Bar UK’s director of government affairs, Eve Peters.
January 16, 2024
WVA: EU Harm Reduction Approach ‘Out of Touch’

Vapor Voice Archive
The European Commission’s approach to tobacco harm reduction is out of touch with EU citizens’ views, according to the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA)
A recent public consultation on the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), analyzed by Snusforumet, reveals a substantial consensus among citizens, NGOs and scientific institutions on the effectiveness of harm-reduction products in assisting smokers to quit.
A striking 77 percent of respondents recognize these products as helpful smoking cessation tools, while a mere 9 percent of EU citizens disagree. Furthermore, an overwhelming 82 percent of respondents refute the notion that new nicotine alternatives pose a risk to public health, with only 6 percent perceiving them as a threat.
“The EU Commission’s current stance on harm reduction is not just out of touch; it’s a blatant disregard for consumer opinions and scientific evidence,” said WVA Director Michael Landl in a statement. “It’s high time the Commission responds to the reality that harm-reduction products are not the enemy but a vital ally in the fight against smoking.”
According to the WVA, countries like Sweden serve as living proof of the success of a consumer-friendly harm reduction approach, significantly outpacing the EU in reducing smoking rates. The EU Commission’s reluctance to embrace this approach is not only perplexing but also detrimental to public health efforts, the organization says.
“Sweden’s success story is a testament to what can be achieved with a sensible harm reduction policy,” said Landl. “It’s baffling and frankly irresponsible for the EU Commission to continue its hostile approach towards these life-saving products. The Commission needs to align its policies with the clear evidence and public opinion, rather than clinging to outdated and ineffective methods.”
January 15, 2024
Colorado Bill Would Allow Counties to Ban Flavors
Credit: Marek Photo Design
A Senate bill in Colorado would grant counties the power to regulate or ban the sale and distribution of flavored vaping, cigarettes and other nicotine products.
Senate Bill 24-022 defines flavored nicotine and tobacco products as anything with a scent or flavor other than tobacco, including products that induce a cooling or numbing sensation.
Citing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rep. Kyle Brown, a sponsor of the legislation, said nearly 9 out of 10 adults who smoke every day first tried smoking “before they turned age 18.”
He said tobacco products are linked to negative health effects, including cancer, and that e-cigarettes and other vape products are “highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development.”
A similar bill was introduced during the 2022 legislative session but died in the Senate. At the time, Gov. Jared Polis said he opposed the bill because he thought the matter should be handled at a local level.
January 15, 2024
Quit for Good President: WHO Report ‘Unscientific’

Lorenzo Mata Jr. (Photo: Quit for Good)
A public health advocacy group based in the Philippines has criticized the latest report of the World Health Organization on the use of electronic cigarettes, saying the global body undermines the significant progress made in public health over the past two decades as smokers transitioned to smoke-free products.
Lorenzo Mata Jr., president of Quit for Good, said the WHO’s continued demonization of e-cigarettes disregards the wealth of scientific evidence demonstrating that smoke-free alternatives such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and snus have helped millions of smokers in countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan and Sweden successfully quit smoking.
“The best available clinical and population studies consistently show that vaping has led to adult smoking cessation. While it is necessary to monitor youth vaping, a complete ban on e-cigarettes will only exacerbate the smoking epidemic and its associated serious health conditions,” Mata Jr. said in a statement.
As a Filipino physician, Mata said the WHO’s failure to differentiate between the risks of e-cigarettes and combustible tobacco is unscientific.
Last month, the WHO issued a statement calling for urgent action to safeguard children and prevent the adoption of e-cigarettes based on what Quit for Good insists is a misrepresented account of the scientific evidence to fit its predetermined conclusion to ban e-cigarettes or regulate them as strictly as far more dangerous cigarettes.
Additionally, the WHO provided data indicating that the global market for electronic cigarettes grew from $7.81 billion in 2015 to $22.35 million in 2022. Between 2018 and 2022, the disposable e-cigarette market expanded by 116 percent, encompassing over 550,000 different products.
Mata said the WHO’s diagnosis of the situation is flawed, as it fails to acknowledge the significant decline in harmful substance exposure resulting from smokers switching to e-cigarettes and other smoke-free alternatives, or the fact that smoke-free products work for many smokers better than traditional smoking cessation therapies.
“E-cigarettes do not threaten public health but provide smokers with an exit from smoking, which is the real problem. Labeling these innovative products an emerging threat to public health is worrisome because the WHO essentially tells smokers that continuing smoking is better than switching to e-cigarettes. This is patently wrong,” he said.
Quit for Good highlights that countries that banned e-cigarettes did not eradicate vaping but instead inadvertently created an unregulated underground market that poses risks to public health due to the absence of regulatory standards.
Mata said these bans only benefit unscrupulous criminal gangs that are happy to sell these products to anyone, including children, without any controls as to what’s in them or how they’re made.
According to independent public health experts, e-cigarettes and other smoke-free products offer an opportunity to combat smoking-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease and lung disease by transitioning to nicotine products with significantly reduced risk and no combustion.
Commenting on a similar WHO report published earlier, Peter Hajek, Director of the Tobacco Dependence Research Unit at Queen Mary University of London, said: “Given the tremendous benefits this transition would bring to public health, it is paradoxical that the WHO has adopted such a strident anti-vaping stance that risks impeding this progress. This new report perpetuates this tradition, calling for a ban on less risky alternatives while freely allowing the sale of tobacco. The report misrepresents evidence and should come with a prominent health warning.”
John Britton, an emeritus professor of Epidemiology at the University of Nottingham, said the WHO still fails to differentiate between addiction to tobacco smoking, which leads to millions of deaths annually, and addiction to nicotine, which does not.
“The WHO appears content with the inconsistency of recommending medicinal nicotine products for treating smoking addiction while advocating the prohibition of consumer nicotine products that serve the same purpose, but more effectively. The WHO is correct in discouraging non-smokers, particularly children, from using any nicotine product. However, for over a billion tobacco smokers worldwide, electronic nicotine delivery systems are part of the solution, not the problem,” Britton said.
Mata said many countries, including the Philippines, have in fact chosen to embrace scientific evidence and regulate the use of innovative smoke-free products such as e-cigarettes to provide smokers with better options to quit.
January 15, 2024