Tag: e-cigarettes

  • Quebec Flavor Ban Begins at End of October

    Quebec Flavor Ban Begins at End of October

    Quebec’s flavor ban will take effect Oct. 31, according to Vaping360.

    The ban will include vaping products with flavors other than tobacco and will prohibit e-liquid sold in bottles with a capacity greater than 30 mL and prefilled devices with a capacity greater than 2 mL.

    The flavor ban was announced in a draft published in April. More than 30,000 citizens of Quebec commented on the proposed ban, according to the Quebec Vaping Rights Coalition, but the health ministry reportedly didn’t make any changes to the rules in response.   

    Quebec is the largest province in Canada to pass a flavor ban. Four other provinces and territories have flavor bans in place, and one has passed a ban but has not set an effective date yet. Three other provinces restrict flavored products to adult-only stores.

  • Venezuela Officials Place Ban on All Vaping Products

    Venezuela Officials Place Ban on All Vaping Products

    Credit: Zero Photo

    Venezuela has banned all vaping products. The country’s Ministry of People’s Power for Health issued a resolution this week prohibiting the manufacture, storage, distribution, circulation, commercialization, import, export, use, consumption, advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).

    Additionally, electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNS), consumables, tanks or cartridges, refill consumable containers and other accessories are also banned, according to an emailed press release.

    Venezuela joins Argentina and Brazil in banning vaping products in South America.

    The decision comes two months after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro asked his government’s medical and scientific team to consider the ban. According to the Ministry of Health, “the measure is taken in response to the alerts promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO).”

    Alberto Gomez, community manager for Spain and Latin America for the World Vapers’ Alliance, said the ban on reduced harm products in Venezuela is a setback for public health.

    “Thousands of Venezuelans had already quit traditional tobacco thanks to vaping and had managed to improve their health,” he said. “Now they will have difficulty accessing the products, and it will be more difficult for more smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives. Venezuela should follow the example of countries like Sweden or the United Kingdom, which are on the way to eradicating smoking, not the WHO’s biased and paternalistic approach.”

    Prohibition always fails and brings unintended consequences, according to Gomez, adding that users will turn to the illicit market or return to smoking, while smokers can no longer switch to less risky products.

    “Public health will worsen, and smoking will mean higher costs for the health system. In addition, the illicit market does not control the sale to minors, the products do not pass safety and quality controls, and no taxes are paid. Prohibition does not solve anything.

    “More than 15,000 people die every year in Venezuela from tobacco-related diseases. Promoting the use of less harmful alternatives has the potential to save thousands of lives and improve public health. The Venezuelan government has an obligation to listen to those who have been able to quit smoking and improve their health thanks to vaping and establish risk-based regulation.”

  • Biden Opposed to Limiting FDA Power to Regulate Flavors

    Biden Opposed to Limiting FDA Power to Regulate Flavors

    Credit: Lux Blue

    The Biden administration has published a Statement of Administration Policy outlining its opposition to parts of a proposed funding bill that would limit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ability to ban flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes, reports Halfwheel.

    The proposed bill would prevent the FDA from receiving funding if it introduced bans on flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes or introduced rules limiting the amount of nicotine a product can have.

    The policy statement does not mention nicotine limits, although the FDA has proposed limiting nicotine.

    The Statement of Administration Policy is not binding.

    A new study has found that smokers who get help picking flavored e-cigarettes and receive supportive text messages are more likely to quit smoking.

    Last month, the FDA gave the Center for Tobacco Research at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center a $3.9 million grant to evaluate the effects of e-cigarette flavors on smoking behaviors of current adult smokers.

  • Group: Vape Laws Could Push People Back to Smoking

    Group: Vape Laws Could Push People Back to Smoking

    Vapor Voice Archive

    Illinois now has a law that bans the use of electronic cigarettes in indoor public spaces, but a consumer advocacy group warns such laws could backfire.

    Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently signed into law a measure that adds electronic smoking devices to the 2008 Smoke-Free Illinois Act, which banned smoking in most public spaces in the state.

    Elizabeth Hicks with the Consumer Choice Center says vaping should not be compared with smoking regular cigarettes, according to media reports.

    Hicks says the assault on vaping may push Illinoisans back to cigarettes, leaving taxpayers to pick up the tab.

    “Taxpayers unfortunately also suffer in addition to consumers,” said Hicks. “The annual Medicaid costs for smoking-related illnesses in Illinois is over $2 billion, which is one of the highest throughout the country.”

    The Illinois Department of Public Health noted that e-cigarettes can cause lung damage and addiction to nicotine. The law goes into effect January 2024.

  • Juul Labs Working to Raise $1 Billion in Funding

    Juul Labs Working to Raise $1 Billion in Funding

    Credit: Jet City Image

    Juul Labs is seeking to raise about $1 billion, reports Bloomberg News

    The e-cigarette manufacturer, which had about $800 million in revenue in 2022, is reportedly working with Jefferies Financial Group for the fundraising.

    In July, the company said it was exploring options including financing alternatives, to protect its business and help refinance an existing loan, as it dealt with lawsuits related to the marketing of its e-cigarettes.

    In November 2022, Juul secured a cash infusion to keep the company in business while it appeals the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s marketing denial order related to its vapor products.

    A pioneer in the vaping business, Juul Labs has gone from dominating the U.S. e-cigarette market to fighting for its survival in a relatively short time.

    Following its initial success, the company quickly came under regulatory scrutiny over its marketing practices. Critics blame Juul Labs for contributing to an “epidemic” of underage vaping.

  • Manila Rolls Out Red Carpet for Heated Tobacco Makers

    Manila Rolls Out Red Carpet for Heated Tobacco Makers

    Photo: PMI

    The Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is urging tobacco companies to manufacture their heated tobacco products in the country, citing surging domestic demand and export opportunities, according to the Philippine News Agency.

    During the International Tobacco Agriculture Summit in Taguig City on Aug. 2, DTI Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said while local demand for cigarettes is expected to decline from 49.61 billion sticks in 2022 to 39.06 billion sticks in 2027, sales of HTPs are poised to increase significantly during that period.

    He cited a Euromonitor predicting HTP retail sales of HTPs to surge by 511 percent to 4.06 billion sticks in 2027.

    Rodolfo said HTP producers would benefit the Philippines’ free trade agreements with regional markets. “HTPs, if manufactured in the Philippines, can be imported in ASEAN (except Vietnam), Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong at zero percent tariff duty,” he was quoted as saying.

    In 2022, the top destinations for Philippine tobacco products included South Korea at $102.2 million, Thailand ($98.29 million) and Myanmar at $49.4 million.

    According to Rodolfo, Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco aims to build a PHP9-billion factory in Tanauan, Batangas, for the production of IQOS devices.

  • New BAT Boss Calls for ‘Better’ Vaping Rules

    New BAT Boss Calls for ‘Better’ Vaping Rules

    Tadeu Marroco says issues such as youth use continue as many countries adopt a tougher stance on vaping products.

    The newly appointed head of British American Tobacco has expressed a desire for governments to apply more “better regulations” towards vaping products and other tobacco alternatives, as the public debate over them is growing in intensity and becoming an issue for the industry.

    Tadeu Marroco told the Financial Times that the FTSE 100-listed owner of Lucky Strike and Dunhill was “very keen” to work with regulators to address problems such as vaping’s use among teenagers and its environmental impact.

    “We need to have better regulations. We cannot ignore the benefit of migrating smokers out of cigarettes, but being unregulated, we have issues related to youth access and the environment,” Marroco said.

    “The problem is that this is a phenomenon that has grown so fast and the regulators are always catching up. But there are clearly opportunities for us to improve the level playing field.”

    Since Marroco took the helm in May of this year, there has been an increased push around the globe to restrict flavored e-cigarettes, due in part to advice from anti-nicotine groups and World Health Organization. India, Thailand, and Argentina have all implemented full bans on all forms of vaping products.

    NHS guidelines in the UK suggest vapes can help people stop smoking although they also state that the activity “is not completely risk-free”. The government said in April it would offer 1 million smokers vape starter kits. Selling vapes to under-18s is illegal.

  • Hemp Farmers Sue Maryland for License ‘Monopoly’

    Hemp Farmers Sue Maryland for License ‘Monopoly’

    Credit: H Ko

    As Maryland’s recreational cannabis industry grows, a group of hemp entrepreneurs are challenging the state and its marijuana regulators in court.

    The Maryland Hemp Coalition joined forces with several other hemp growers and retailers to sue Governor Wes Moore, the Maryland Cannabis Administration, and the Maryland Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission, according to media reports.

    Nevin Youngan, an attorney representing the hemp industry in the suit, stated that his clients “had been lawfully selling these products for years” and were now being told that they could not do so without first procuring a license—despite there being “nearly insurmountable obstacles” in their way.

    During the latest legislative session, lawmakers put into place regulations governing recreational marijuana in Maryland, including limits on the allowable THC concentration in hemp-derived products Products such as Delta-8 could only be sold without a recreational marijuana license as well as details about how to obtain said licenses.

    Attempts during the legislative session were made to create a carveout for the hemp industry to allow businesses to continue selling their products. Another amendment floated during session including creating new testing and regulation for hemp products; both plans failed to be included in the final law passed by lawmakers.

    Without a recreational marijuana license, hemp-business owners were forced to close their doors on July 1.

  • Vaporesso Scores With 4 London Design Awards

    Vaporesso Scores With 4 London Design Awards

    Vaporesso has received recognition at this year’s London Design Awards with four products being awarded for their exceptional design. Vaporesso is the open system subsidiary of Smoore Technology.

    The London Design Awards is an international competition that recognizes exceptional designs and outstanding creative projects worldwide, celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of the international design community.

    The four products from Vaporesso – the COSS, ECO NANO, LUXE XR, and XROS 3 NANO – have “showcased the brand’s formidable innovative prowess and have also been recognized with awards from many organizations,” a press release states.

    “Winning these awards is a testament to the creativity, skill, and dedication of our team,” said Jimmy Hu, vice president of Vaporesso. “We are thrilled to have our efforts recognized on such a prestigious global platform. It validates our commitment to delivering innovative, high-quality products that enhance the vaping experience for our customers.”

    The London Design Awards, held annually, applauds outstanding design achievements across various creative sectors. It acknowledges exemplary projects, products, and professionals who demonstrate innovation, creativity, and excellence within their respective industries.

    Meanwhile, the London Design Awards not only honors design excellence but also fosters creativity, encourages innovation, and facilitates collaborations between designers and design-driven businesses.

    The awards have grown in stature and popularity since their inception, attracting a wide range of participants from various design fields.

  • Turning Point Releases Second-Quarter Results

    Turning Point Releases Second-Quarter Results

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    Turning Point Brands (TPB) announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023.

    Total consolidated net sales increased 2.6 percent to $105.6 million compared to the second quarter of 2022. Zig-Zag Products net sales increased by 1.1 percent. Stoker’s Products net sales increased by 7.3 percent. Creative Distribution Solutions net sales decreased by 1.3 percent. Gross profit increased 2 percent to $52.5 million, and net income increased 83 percent to $9.9 million. Adjusted net income increased 8.4 percent to $15.3 million.

    “Our second-quarter results demonstrated continued progress against our plan,” said TPB President and CEO Graham Purdy in a statement. “The Zig-Zag segment grew double-digits sequentially from the first quarter as trade inventory normalized. Stoker’s had another solid quarter of performance led by double-digit growth in Stoker’s MST [moist smokeless tobacco]. We opportunistically purchased another $15.1 million in aggregate principal amount of our convertible notes during the second quarter while maintaining a strong cash balance. Given our solid first-half performance, we are raising our guidance for the full year.”

    For the second quarter, Zig-Zag Products net sales increased 1.1 percent to $46.7 million. TPB’s Canadian and other smoking accessories businesses saw strong growth during the quarter, which was partially offset by declines in the U.S. rolling papers and wraps businesses.

    For the quarter, the Zig-Zag Products segment gross profit was steady at $26.4 million. Gross margin declined 60 basis points to 56.6 percent, driven primarily by product mix.

    “Our e-commerce business had another quarter of double-digit growth as we continue to build our omnichannel presence,” said Purdy. “We remain encouraged by our prospects with secular cannabis consumption growth trends driving demand for our products.”

    For the second quarter, Stoker’s Products net sales increased 7.3 percent to $36.1 million. Double-digit growth of MST offset a decline in loose-leaf chewing tobacco. For the second quarter, total Stoker’s Products segment volume increased 0.7 percent while price/mix increased 6.6 percent.

    For the quarter, the Stoker’s Products segment gross profit increased 10.4 percent to $20 million. Gross margin expanded 160 basis points to 55.4 percent due to MST pricing gains.

    “Stoker’s continues to benefit from strong market share gains in both the MST and loose-leaf chewing tobacco categories as its value proposition continues to resonate with consumers,” continued Purdy.