Tag: Featured

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‘Harm Reduction Is Human Right’

Photo: Horst Winkler from Pixabay
The European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (ETHRA) is calling on policymakers to recognize the benefits of tobacco harm reduction in advance of World No Tobacco Day on May 31.
According to ETHRA, reduced-risk products such as e-cigarettes and snus are providing a gateway out of smoking for millions of Europeans, yet across the continent, consumer access to these products is being denied or is under threat.
Today, the organization launched a manifesto to promote appropriate regulation of innovative solutions for people who wish to continue using nicotine in far safer forms than smoking tobacco, as well as on behalf of the many smokers who may be able to quit through switching to these products in the future.
Among other things, the manifesto calls for access to harm reduction, including tobacco harm reduction, to be recognized as a human right; for consumers of safer nicotine products to be recognized as essential stakeholders in discussions of policy; and for the regulation for safer nicotine products to reflect the risks relative to the risks from smoking.
What’s more, regulators must recognize that having a wide choice of products and flavors is key to the success of safer nicotine products in enabling people to stop smoking, according to the manifesto. Regulation must consider the harm to adults when considering bans intended to protect youth, and tax policy must consider that high taxation of safer nicotine products increases rates of smoking.
Comprising 21 consumer associations in 16 European countries, the ETHRA was created to increase understanding about the benefits of “new” risk-reduced nicotine products and to promote recognition of long-term recreational use of nicotine as an incentive for smoking cessation.
May 26, 2020
UKVIA: U.K. Vape Shops Well-Positioned for Reopening

Photo: Tobacco Reporter archive
The entrepreneurial spirit displayed by vape shops during the U.K. government’s 10-week coronavirus lockdown will help them bounce back after the economy reopens, according to the U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA).
On Monday, the government announced it would allow vape shops to reopen June 15.
The UKVIA said it is “immensely proud” of vaping businesses for the responsible approach they have taken during the lockdown.
John Dunne
“The response from the industry to the challenging conditions has been both staggering and exemplary,” said John Dunne, director at UKVIA. “I know that our members that make up a large share of the vaping market have been working around the clock to provide online and home delivery services to the 3.2 million vapers across the country.
Dunne believes that the industry will be well placed to more than meet the social distancing guidance when shops reopen.
“All our retail members have still been ‘open for business’ since the lockdown begun and have introduced social distancing measures that go well beyond the government guidance,” he said. “This should give vapers confidence when going to their local stores.”
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May 26, 2020
Pyxus Reportedly in Talks About Bankruptcy

Photo: Pyxus International
Pyxus International has reportedly begun talks with creditors regarding a possible bankruptcy filing, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal.
The filing is potentially related to declining cigarette consumption and the Covid-19 pandemic following the company’s struggle to make headway in the cannabis and vapor sectors.
May 20, 2020
EU Menthol Ban Could Help Smokers Switch

Photo: VPZ
U.K. vapor industry representatives are hoping that the EU ban on menthol cigarettes that comes into force today will encourage more smokers to transition to less-hazardous vapor products.
The ban of menthol cigarettes comes from the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), banning all cigarettes and rolling tobacco with “characterizing flavor” other than traditional tobacco.
The ban originates from a range of tobacco control measures approved by the European Parliament in 2013, with revisions including mandating the banning of menthol cigarettes by 2022.
In the U.K. there are an estimated 1.3 million menthol cigarette smokers.
Research by the U.K. Vaping Industry Association, the largest trade domestic body representing the sector, shows that menthol vapor products sold by its retail and wholesale members represent an average of 16.5 percent of all sales and nearly double this number, at 30.75 percent, for manufacturers producing such products.
The data suggests that menthol cigarettes are used by up to 12.4 percent of smokers in England, while global sales in 2018 exceeded $80bn. Currently, some 14.4 percent of the adult population in England smoke and there are some 7m smokers across the UK.

Doug Mutter
“I think in normal circumstances this move could have had the potential to significantly reduce smoking rates in the U.K.,” said Doug Mutter, director of manufacturing and compliance at VPZ, a leading vapor company in the U.K.
“However, with vaping stores closed and stop smoking services shut, it remains to be seen how we can engage menthol smokers and encourage them to make the switch.
“This is the biggest change to tobacco law since plain packing was introduced.
“For the vaping industry it presents an opportunity to help smokers finally make the switch, and whilst that will be harder with stores still closed, we believe that vaping presents the best opportunity to stamp out cigarettes for good.
“VPZ has built a digital platform for advice and guidance on smokers switching to vaping for the first time as well as how to pick the best products to help them quit.
“We are expecting a growth in the number of new vapers in the U.K, so it was important to us to use our expert staff to help create a guide for menthol smokers looking to quit through vaping.
“From which device best suits your needs to what strength of nicotine is required, we have tried to cover as many questions as possible. We have even put together some starter kits covering all categories to help with any first-time decision as we appreciate the first step can be daunting, without the opportunity to visit one of our stores.
“It will be difficult for many people just now because vape stores are closed and the temptation to go back to traditional cigarettes is everywhere. We are talking about over one million people in the UK will now not have their menthol cigarettes available and we hope that they are beginning to research which stop smoking products can best help them quit.
“Our message to smokers across the country is that the best time to quit cigarettes is now.”
May 20, 2020
Trump Threatens to Permanently Defund WHO

Photo: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to permanently end U.S. funding of the World Health Organization (WHO) amid accusations that the agency allowed China to cover up the coronavirus outbreak in the early stages.
Trump stated that the WHO must “actually demonstrate independence from China” and “commit to substantive improvements within the next 30 days,” but Chinese officials claimed that Trump was trying to shift the blame for his administration’s “incompetent response” to the pandemic, according to the Washington Post.
The threat to end WHO funding came after Trump stated that he has been taking hydroxychloroquine as a preventative for Covid-19. Experts have continuously urged people not to take this drug outside of hospitals or clinical trials as it can cause heart problems and other side effects, including death, and has not been proven to help prevent Covid-19 infections. The drug is usually used to treat lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and malaria.
May 19, 2020
PMI Probed for Heating Element Patent Breach

Photo: R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has opened a probe into vapor products imported by cigarette giant Philip Morris USA (PM) after R.J. Reynolds complained that PM’s tobacco-heating system infringes Reynolds’ patents, according to a report by Law360.
The investigation will determine whether the IQOS tobacco vaporizers marketed by Philip Morris and parent company Altria use tobacco-heating systems and sticks that violate patents for R.J. Reynolds’ Vuse vaping system. R.J. Reynolds seeks cease-and-desist orders barring imports of the allegedly infringing products.
The patents describe a device that heats tobacco held in a removable cartridge to 350 degrees when vapors containing nicotine are released without producing smoke, according to R.J. Reynolds’ April 9 complaint to the ITC.
R.J. Reynolds, which is owned by British American Tobacco, said Philip Morris has sold the alleged copycat IQOS system in the U.S. since October 2019 and has imported the product from manufacturers in Italy, Switzerland and Malaysia for years to use in clinical testing.
“We believe the allegations are without merit, and we are fully prepared to defend ourselves,” Philip Morris spokesman Corey Henry told Law360 in a statement Wednesday, noting the company has spent $7 billion developing its smoke-free tobacco products over the past two decades.
R.J. Reynolds filed a suit accusing Altria and Phillip Morris of six counts of trademark infringement in Virginia federal court the same day R.J. Reynolds filed its ITC petition. In that case, the company seeks treble damages and court declarations that Altria and Philip Morris have infringed its intellectual property.

Photo: PMI
May 18, 2020
Covid-19 Vaccine Ready for Human Trials, Says BAT

Photo: Pete Linforth | PixaBay
British American Tobacco (BAT) said on Friday is ready to test its potential Covid-19 vaccine using proteins from tobacco leaves on humans, after it generated a positive immune response in pre-clinical trials, reports Reuters.
Once it gets approval from the U.S. Food and Drug administration (FDA) for the vaccine, the company plans to start testing on humans.
In April BAT announced it was developing a Covid-19 vaccine from tobacco leaves and could produce 1 million to 3 million doses per week if it got the support of government agencies and the right manufacturers.
Multiple companies from a variety of sectors have been racing to develop a vaccine for Covid-19, with some of the vaccines already in human trials. Experts have suggested that a Covid-19 vaccine could take 12-18 months to develop.
On Friday, BAT said it had submitted a pre-investigative new drug application to the FDA and that the agency had acknowledged the submission. BAT said it was also talking with other government agencies around the world about the vaccine.
The company said it has committed funds to conduct clinical trials, which it expects to start as early as late June. BAT has reportedly also invested in additional equipment to boost capacity.
May 15, 2020
Ireland: Call for Outdoor Vaping Ban as Pubs Reopen

Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) has called for a smoking ban in outdoor pub areas.
As businesses begin opening back up in Ireland and social distancing policies are put into place to keep the coronavirus from spreading further, the RCPI has stated that outdoor areas of pubs should be nonsmoking areas to prevent secondhand smoke exposure.
“Des Cox, chair of the policy group on tobacco at RCPI, has sent a letter to Minister Simon Harris at the Department of Health calling for this proposal to be implemented as part of the country’s reopening strategy,” wrote the Limerick Post.
“Customers who are seated in the outdoor areas of bars should not be exposed to secondhand smoke,” Cox said. “If bar staff are providing table service to all customers—including customers seated in the outdoor areas—they too will be exposed to secondhand smoke.”
May 13, 2020
Trade Commission to Probe Altria and PMI

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will investigate Altria and Philip Morris after a complaint was filed by R.J. Reynolds. The ITC will look into certain tobacco heating elements and components.
The ITC has not made a decision on the case but has said it will make its “final determination … at the earliest practicable time.”
May 13, 2020
Tax Free World Association Cancels Duty-Free Conference
The Tax Free World Association (TFWA) has canceled the 2020 TFWA World Exhibition and Conference scheduled for Sept. 27 to Oct. 2 due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
The TFWA board and management committee took into account the continuing uncertainty surrounding the travel and health situation as well as the worldwide fall in industry activity.
“By agreeing significant reductions to space rental fees, making changes to the format and working with our partners in Cannes to reduce the cost of taking part in the event, we did what we could to attempt to ensure the TFWA World Exhibition and Conference could take place,” said Alain Maingreaud, TFWA president.
“Since making those changes, we have monitored the situation daily and been in constant contact with our members and partners. The way in which the situation has developed with the economic impact of the crisis becoming increasingly serious amid continuing uncertainty over restrictions on travel has forced us to review our plans.
“The management committee was unanimous in its decision to cancel the 2020 edition and in its desire for the association’s events to play a central role in the industry’s recovery from 2021.
“The cancellation of TFWA World Exhibition and Conference will have a significant impact on the association’s finances, but thanks to the sound management of our resources up to now, we have been able to build reserves to help us cope with difficult periods such as this.
“We remain determined to do all we can to help our industry emerge from its most difficult period, keep our members and partners informed and help coordinate our industry’s response to the current crisis.”
May 12, 2020