Tag: news

Latvian Vapers Petition to Keep Flavored Vapes

Credit: Butenkov
More than 10,000 citizens have signed a petition to keep e-cigarette flavors legal in Latvia, reports the Baltic News Network. Because the initiative has received the legally required number of signatures, it is entitled to a review by Latvia’s parliament, the Saeima.
Rather than banning flavors, the petition urges Latvia’s government to crack down on illegal vape sales and educate society about healthy choices.
According to the Tobacco-Free Products Association, the vaping industry targets smokers aiming to quit cigarettes, which are believed to be far more harmful than e-cigarettes.
According to Toms Lusis, the author of the initiative, Latvian legislators’ attitudes toward vapor products are based on outdated beliefs and studies.
“The latest scientific data shows that e-cigarettes are up to 95 percent less dangerous for human health than regular cigarettes,” he said. “The use of e-cigarettes [is] supported as a way out of sorts for residents to stop using tobacco products as well as radically combat the widely spread smoking-related diseases like lung cancer.”
Lusis cautioned that by denying adults the freedom of choice when it comes to e-cigarette flavors, the state could also lose considerable revenue from excise tax on flavored e-cigarette liquids.
May 24, 2023
Misconceptions About E-Cigarettes Persist: Study

Photo: pavelkant
About half of cigarette smokers and young adult nonsmokers think that nicotine-based electronic cigarettes have the same amount or even more harmful chemicals than regular tobacco-based cigarettes, according to a Rutgers study.
Published in Addiction, the study measured perceived levels of harmful chemicals in e-cigarettes compared with cigarettes using national samples of more than 1,000 adults ages 18 and older who smoke cigarettes and 1,000-plus adults ages 18 to 29 who are nonsmokers. The study also measured associations with e-cigarette/cigarette relative harm perceptions, e-cigarette use and interest. About 20 percent of all participants believed e-cigarettes contain fewer harmful chemicals than cigarettes while about 30 percent responded that they did not know how the levels compared.
“Our results were interesting to see given that previous review reports suggest e-cigarettes expose users to fewer types and lower levels of harmful and potentially harmful chemicals than cigarettes,” said Olivia Wackowski of Rutgers Center for Tobacco Studies, an associate professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health and lead researcher of the study, in a statement. “It was also interesting to find that only about half of adult smokers who thought e-cigarettes have fewer harmful chemicals also thought e-cigarettes are less harmful to health.”
E-cigarette harm perception relative to typical cigarettes is a common question included on major national health and tobacco surveys in the United States. However, surveys of e-cigarettes typically haven’t included a question about the perceived exposure to or level of harmful chemicals in e-cigarettes relative to cigarettes.
According to the study researchers, measuring perceptions of e-cigarette and cigarette chemical exposure is important because e-cigarette communications often directly refer to chemicals in some way, which may impact perceptions about chemicals and harms from using e-cigarettes compared to cigarettes.
May 24, 2023
Innovator to Harness Artificial Intelligence for Tobacco

Ryan Selby | Photo: Poda Holdings
Generative AI Solutions Corp. intends to build a large language model (LLM) dedicated to harnessing the power of artificial intelligence for the tobacco industry. For this purpose, it has incorporated a new subsidiary called GenAI Tobacco. The company intends to launch the LLM tobacco product under the brand name Tobacco Titan.
Tobacco Titan aims to provide AI-powered information about products, marketing and regulations, along with health and safety insights. The product could also make customized recommendations, such as new flavors, brands or smoking accessories that align with the adult user’s tastes and preferences.
“I have seen the need for innovation and data collection firsthand in the tobacco industry,” said GenAI Chairman and CEO Ryan Selby, who previously was co-founder and CEO of Poda Holdings, in a statement.
“Through my various contacts at some of the largest tobacco companies in the world, along with various other industry leaders, I believe we can build Tobacco Titan into an extremely valuable global enterprise system, providing utility to individuals and businesses alike.
“Our goal is to partner with certain companies in the tobacco industry that have access to various proprietary datasets which will give Tobacco Titan a competitive advantage based on the uniqueness of the data that is not generally available on the internet. We plan on working with our partners Metachain Technologies. to facilitate the development of Tobacco Titan and will finalize our arrangement with them in the coming weeks.”
May 24, 2023
India Health Ministry Wants Crack Down on Vape Sales

Credit: Dovidovich Mikhail
The Union Health Ministry in New Delhi, India on Monday issued a public notice for stricter implementation of ‘The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019’, which prohibits the production, manufacturing, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of e-cigarettes.
“The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Act, 2019 on December 5, 2019, prohibits the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement of electronic cigarettes and the like devices in the interest of public health,” the Ministry’s public notice said, according to The Print.
The Ministry’s public notice comes after finding that the norms allegedly being flouted by the producers, manufacturers, importers, sellers and distributors in selling and advertising electronic cigarettes.
“It is hereby informed to all Producers, Manufacturers, Importers, Exporters, Distributors, Advertisers, Transporters including Couriers, Social Media Websites, e-Commerce Websites, Online shopping websites, Shopkeepers/ retailers etc. not to directly or indirectly, produce or manufacture or import or export or transport or sell or distribute or store electronic cigarettes, whether as a complete product or any part thereof; and if advertise electronic cigarettes or take part in any advertisement (in print, electronic media, internet or website or social media etc.) that directly or indirectly promotes the use of electronic cigarettes.”
A 2022 survey showed that 94 percent of Indian vapers have given up e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine-delivery systems (ENDS) following their ban in 2019.
The survey, designed by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and conducted in collaboration with the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru, was disseminated online and targeted those aged 18 to 34. Most respondents were from Karnataka.
The survey also showed that over 56 percent of respondents believed there was a health risk in using ENDS products while 24 percent were unaware of any risks.
May 23, 2023
U.S. FDA Envisions Harm Reduction Approach to CBD

Credit: Sofia
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration envisions a harm reduction framework for CBD (cannabidiol, an active ingredient in cannabis that doesn’t make you high) through which consumers could make informed choices.
That’s the pathway described last week by Patrick Cournoyer, who heads the FDA’s Cannabis Product Committee, at the annual Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI) conference.
In January, the FDA announced that it would not issue long-awaited guidelines for the inclusion of CBD in food and beverages, because the agency’s existing regulatory framework was not appropriate.
The FDA’s decision came nearly five years after the federal government legalized hemp-derived CBD containing less than 0.3 percent of the psychoactive compound Delta-9 THC via the 2018 Farm Act.
Concerns over the ingestion of CBD derive from the 2018 approval of the prescription drug Epidiolex, which contains CBD for the treatment of seizures associated with two forms of epilepsy.
Studies at the time showed a significant potential risk of liver disorder and other side effects from ingesting CBD.
Cournoyer shed more light on the FDA’s January decision by calling safety concerns regarding CBD in food and beverages “important toxicological red flags that are not typical for food ingredients,” as reported by Cannabis Wire.
“What’s envisioned here is really a harm reduction framework. The existing pathways that we have for foods and supplements don’t really allow for risk or harm. If it’s shown to be harmful or we can’t really show that it won’t be harmful, then it’s not allowed to be there,” Cournoyer said.
“What we’re proposing here is a more permissive category where it is acknowledged that there’s a risk here. We can’t eliminate it, but we would view that people can make an informed choice.”
He did not provide a timeline for the development of a harm reduction framework the FDA could develop in collaboration with the U.S. Congress.
Congressional lawmakers in the U.S. have refiled a pair of bills meant to provide a pathway for the regulation of hemp derivatives like CBD as dietary supplements and food and beverage additives.
Earlier versions of the bills were filed last Congress and ultimately did not advance, but advocates and industry stakeholders feel that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recent announcement that it wouldn’t be taking steps to regulate CBD will put pressure on lawmakers to act this time around.
May 23, 2023
Malaysia Ready to Table New Tobacco Endgame Bill

Photo: hakbak
Malaysia’s Ministry of Health is ready to table the Control of Smoking Product for Public Health Bill, which includes the Generational Endgame (GEG) policy, reports the New Straits Times.
If enacted, the legislation would prohibit anyone born in 2007 or later from buying and using cigarettes or vaping products in Malaysia. A provision to ban possession of those products has been dropped from the bill on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee.
The bill also governs registration, advertising, promotion and sponsorship, packaging and sales of smoking products.
“Any violation, including selling of cigarettes to children in the GEG group will be an offence when the bill is passed,” said the health minister’s special adviser, Helmy Haja Mydin.
People in the targeted age group caught buying or using tobacco or vaper product risk fines of MYR500 and community service. The fines had been reduced from a previous proposal to avoid unduly burdening the GEG group.
According to Mydin, the order is meant to educate and show that the policy is not purely punitive.
After its enactment, the bill requires periodic reports to measure the legislation’s effectiveness in combating underage smoking.
May 23, 2023
Alaska Senate Again Sends Tobacco 21 Bill to House

Credit: Yossarian6
Last week, the Alaska Senate voted 14-6 in favor of S.B. 89, a bill that would change the state’s minimum age to purchase and possess vaping and other tobacco products from 19 to 21 years old.
If approved, the bill would align Alaska’s state law with the federal standard.
The bill also would impose a statewide tax of 25 percent on e-cigarettes. A similar bill was vetoed by Gov. Dun Mike Dunleavy last fall.
The 25 percent statewide tax would add to Alaska municipal nicotine taxes already in place, such as Juneau, which currently taxes 45 percent, or $3 a pack, on the wholesale price of tobacco products, according to City and Borough of Juneau Finance Director Jeff Rogers.
The action would also allow local law enforcement to enforce the federal Tobacco 21 standard and ensure the state doesn’t lose out on grants and other funds it can receive for having its tobacco laws in line with the federal standard, reports Charlie Minato with Halfwheel.
S.B. 89 would make it illegal for anyone to sell or give tobacco or vaping products to anyone under the age of 21 years old. Those caught selling or giving tobacco or vaping products to someone under the age of 21 would be subject to a fine of at least $300.
The bill would also introduce fines for those under the age of 21 years old caught possessing tobacco or vaping products. They would be subject to a fine of no more than $150 and could be subject to a tobacco education program.
In December 2019, President Donald Trump signed a large federal spending bill that also included a provision increasing the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 years old at the federal level.
While the federal law already exists, its enforcement is restricted to those who sell tobacco products and not the consumers. The vast majority of U.S. states have updated their laws to make them consistent with the federal standard.
S.B. 89 now moves onto the Alaska House of Representatives.
Last year, Alaska’s governor vetoed a Tobacco 21 bill because it included a 35 percent tax increase on vaping products.
May 23, 2023
CTP Hires Its First Senior Advisor for Health Equity
Charlene Le Fauve (Credit: NIH)
The tobacco and nicotine product regulatory arm of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has hired a senior advisor for health equity for the first time. The Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) announced Charlene Le Fauve will fill the role.
“Beginning today, she will join CTP’s Senior Leadership Team within the Office of the Center Director,” a release states. “Dr. Le Fauve is a behavioral scientist and addiction researcher with 25 years of federal work experience related to health equity and health disparities research. She has dedicated her career to advancing health equity and the health of underserved and underrepresented populations through research and research workforce development.”
Most recently, Le Fauve served as the senior advisor to the Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In this role, she educated national audiences about NIH’s role in scientific workforce diversity and health equity research, according to the release.
Prior to her NIH role, Le Fauve held various leadership roles, such as the deputy director of Disparities Research and Global Mental Health at the National Institutes of Mental Health and the senior policy coordinator and lead for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Team at the Department of Health and Human Services.
“Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) are core values of CTP, and efforts are underway to ensure that the full scope of the Center’s work is reflective of these principles. In this new position, which is the first of its kind for any Center at FDA, Dr. Le Fauve will work with all of CTP’s Offices to ensure health equity is integrated into the Center’s programmatic plans and priorities,” the release states, “She also will serve as CTP’s primary representative in a variety of activities that promote and facilitate the reduction of tobacco-related health disparities, including during external meetings, conferences, and presentations.”
May 22, 2023
Ispire Technology Banks $24 Million in 3Q 2023
Ispire Technology Inc. released its financial results for the third quarter of the fiscal year 2023 ended March 31. The China-based company reported revenue of $24.1 million, an increase of 26.9 percent compared to $19.0 million in Q3 2022.
Q3 FY 2023 Financial Highlights

Regarding its revenue increase to $24.1 million, tobacco vaping products contributed $16.5 million and cannabis vaping products contributed $7.6 million to revenue during the third quarter of 2023;
Gross profit increased 51.9% to $4.5 million as compared to $3.0 million in the same period of 2022;
Gross margin increased to 18.7% as compared to 15.7% in the same period of 2022.
Total operating expenses increased 106.2% to $8.0 million as compared to $3.9 million in the same period of 2022; and
Net loss of $3.1 million as compared to net loss of $1.0 million in the same period of 2022.
“We are very pleased with our financial results during our third quarter. Revenue growth was a robust 26.9 percent while gross profit grew 51.9 percent due to a favorable product mix and the realization of economies of scale on higher sales volume,” said Michael Wang, Ispire CFO. “We look forward to a strong finish to the fiscal year with a projected sequential revenue increase for cannabis vaping products of between 58% and 98% during our fourth quarter.”
Liquidity and capital resources: As of March 31, 2023, Ispire had $24.0 million in cash and cash equivalents and $5.2 million in working capital, according to a press release.
Initial public offering: In April 2023, Ispire completed its initial public offering, selling 3.1 million shares of common stock at $7.00 per share, including the overallotment option.
The stock began trading on NASDAQ on April 4, 2023. The offering generated gross proceeds of approximately $21.7 million, with net proceeds of $18.5 million after deducting expenses and underwriting discounts.
May 22, 2023
Fuma Fire Launches ‘Fire’ Vape Brand in Costa Rica

Credit: Fuma Fire
Hollywood, California-based Fuma Fire has launched its new “Fire” brand vaping products in Costa Rica.
“We’re excited to say that FIRE has received all necessary approvals from the Ministry of Health and the University of Costa Rica, making it the first exclusive vape brand designed specifically for the Costa Rican market,” a company press release states. “With its exceptional quality and undeniable appeal, FIRE is set to become a staple of the Costa Rican vaping scene.”
The Fire 2-in-1 vape is the only approved vape on the market that has been approved by the Ministry of Health and the University of Costa Rica.
“At Fire, we believe in igniting the senses and delivering a truly unforgettable vaping experience,” the release states. “Our vapes are crafted with care to provide you with the very best in flavor and quality, and we’re confident that you’ll love every single puff.”
May 22, 2023