Tag: news

  • Alaska’s Senate President Reintroduces Vape Tax Bill

    Alaska’s Senate President Reintroduces Vape Tax Bill

    Credit: Casimiro

    Last year, Alaska’s Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed his first bill in office, S.B. 45, which would have increased the minimum age to purchase tobacco products from 19 to 21 years old, bringing it in line with the federal Tobacco 21 standard that was passed in late 2019.

    Dunleavy didn’t state whether he supported the minimum purchasing age increase, but the bill would have also introduced a tax of 35 percent of the wholesale price on vaping and e-cigarette products and new taxes were not on the governor’s agenda.

    “There were many conversations about what an appropriate level to tax would be, but ultimately a tax increase on the people of Alaska is not something I can support,” Dunleavy wrote in his veto letter to Senate President Peter Micciche.

    The sponsor of SB 45 has now introduced a new bill that would do much of the same as the 2022 bill, writes Charlie Minato with Halfwheel. 

    Alaska Sen. Gary Stevens, has introduced SB 89 alongside Micciche, which would change a number of laws regarding the sale of tobacco and vaping products in Alaska, including:

    • Increasing the minimum age to purchase tobacco, nicotine or vaping products from 19- to 21-year-olds.
    • Introducing fines of up to $300 for anyone under the age of 21 years olds caught in possession of tobacco, nicotine or vaping products.
    • Banning the internet sale of tobacco, nicotine and vaping products except under certain conditions.
    • Introducing a tax on vaping products of 25 percent of the wholesale price.

    Regarding the internet sales ban, there is an exception made if the sale is “by a retailer who sells primarily cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, products containing tobacco, electronic smoking products, or products containing nicotine and who restricts access to the premises to only those individuals who are 21 years of age or older.”

    There are some exceptions. For example, certain vaping products sold at military facilities would not be subject to the new tax on vapor products. That said, the bill also contains language that could make it illegal for a person to ship tobacco products to someone else in Alaska.

    The bill’s text seems to indicate that at least one of the parties involved in the shipment—the shipper or the recipient—likely needs to have a tobacco license or meet other special circumstances, if not, the shipment would be deemed illegal.

  • Lawmakers in the Netherlands Want ‘Boring’ Vapes

    Lawmakers in the Netherlands Want ‘Boring’ Vapes

    Dutch parliamentarians want e-cigarettes and other vaping products to have a boring and uniform appearance.

    According to the D66, which will submit the proposal in parliament today, the new rules will make vaping less attractive to teenagers. A majority in parliament supports the plan, RTL Nieuws reports.

    “Young people now think it’s cool to have such an accessory with glitter while vaping is extremely unhealthy,” D66 parliamentarian Jeanet van der Laan told the broadcaster. “The vapes resemble a lip gloss or a marker. They are often colorful, and there are vapes full of glitter. Parents often have no idea exactly what the young people are carrying. Super worrying.”

    There are even e-cigarettes in circulations that look like airpods, Van der Laan said. “That makes it look like a glamor accessory, while it is just smoking and therefore harmful to health. And young people are tempted by all those frills to start smoking.”

    “E-cigarettes should look as neutral and uniform as possible. Preferably they should resemble regular cigarettes. Or else just white or black. Because it’s just smoking,” the D66 MP said. She believes a more boring appearance will make vaping less attractive to young people.

    The Tweede Kamer, the lower house of the Dutch parliament, is discussing smoking on Wednesday. The D66 will submit its proposal during that debate. It seems to have majority support, according to RTL.

    The Netherlands previously banned flavored e-liquids for vaping products.

  • Altria Asks FTC to Drop Juul Acquisition Lawsuit

    Altria Asks FTC to Drop Juul Acquisition Lawsuit

    Altria Group has asked the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to drop its 2020 challenge of the company’s 2018 acquisition of a 35 percent share in Juul Labs, reports Reuters. On March 3, the tobacco giant announced it had exchanged its stake for a license to Juul’s heated tobacco intellectual property rights.

    In its legal challenge, the FTC contends that the tobacco giant’s $12.8 billion investment in Juul violates antitrust law because the company acquired the position rather than continuing to compete against Juul in the market for closed-system e-cigarettes.

    In February 2022, an administrative law judge dismissed the FTC claims, finding that the evidence failed to sustain the alleged violations.

    The next step would have been for the full commission to decide whether to accept that decision and dismiss the FTC case.

    However, Altria recently exited its investment and previously terminated a non-compete agreement with Juul that the FTC opposed.

    “There is nothing left of the transaction to be challenged. Altria and JLI respectfully ask the Commission to dismiss this matter as moot,” Altria Group and Juul Labs wrote in a filing to the FTC.

  • Malaysia Lawmakers Urged to Reassess ‘Endgame’ Bill

    Malaysia Lawmakers Urged to Reassess ‘Endgame’ Bill

    The Malaysian Society for Harm Reduction (MSHR) has called on the Malaysian government to reassess the generational endgame (GEG) measure regarding vaping, reports the New Straits Times.

    Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, MSHR chairman, stated that many smokers are using vaping to quit smoking cigarettes and that the GEG could be counterproductive as it positions vaping as equally harmful as smoking.

    “While vaping has health risks, we cannot ignore scientific evidence that vaping is at least 95 percent less harmful than smoking,” said Puteh. “Several reputable public health organizations have made that estimate and endorsed by multiple developed countries. In addition, vape is also recognized as an effective tool to reduce smoking hazards and rates.”

    The MSHR has suggested that vaping be regulated and training be provided to vendors on proper ways to switch to nicotine-replacement therapies and vapor products. It also suggests forming an independent committee driven by science and evidence to conduct in-depth research on vapor products.

    “If we look at the decline in the smoking rates in countries with higher vaping rates, it speeds up as the vaping rate increase[s],” said Puteh.

    “Legislative process for the new bill will take a lengthy time,” she said. “In addition, a bill should only be tabled with detailed discussion and studies on the proposed GEG measure that the previous minister proposed.

    “Given this, we believe the government should take immediate steps to regulate vape products using existing laws to speed up regulations on the products to protect consumers from prohibited ingredients by introducing standards on the product as well as prohibiting access by minors.”

  • U.K. Chancellor Rejects Single-Use Vape Levy

    U.K. Chancellor Rejects Single-Use Vape Levy

    Photo: marcin jucha

    U.K. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has rejected calls from health officials to introduce a new levy on single use vapes in the government budget due to be presented on March 15, reports the news outlet I.

    The Department of Health and Social Care has been pushing for the new tax to crack down on underage vaping. The proposals are expected to be included in the government’s response to the Khan Review on smoking, but treasury sources told I that the new levy will not be included in the March 15 budget.

    “Department of Health officials are keen, but it’s not going to happen,” a source told I.

    Anti-smoking activists too have been urging the government to start taxing disposable vapes. “Increasing the tax on single use disposable vapes in the March budget would be easy to do and by making them less affordable could reduce both child vaping and the vast quantities of single use vapes being thrown into landfill,” AHC CEO Deborah Arnott was quoted as saying.

    “Adult smokers find vaping useful in helping them quit, and that’s something we support. However, in the light of the recent increase in child vaping, government action is urgently needed to tighten regulation and increase enforcement,” Arnott added.

    U.K. ministers are reportedly contemplating a range of measures to discourage underage vaping. Among the plans under consideration are a ban on candy-flavored vaping liquids and a crackdown on colorful marketing that could appeal to youth.

    Britain bans sales of vapes to anyone below the age of 18, but national surveys have shown an increasing trend of 11-17 year olds using the devices, with health leaders blaming the rise on the marketing and flavors associated with them.

  • U.S. FDA Webinar Outlines Warning Letter Response

    U.S. FDA Webinar Outlines Warning Letter Response

    Credit: Marcus Krauss

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has posted a new webinar to help manufacturers and vape shop owners respond to warning letters from the agency’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP).

    The webinar outlines the appropriate items for a response to a warning letter, which should be received by FDA within 15 business days. The webinar also includes an explanation of proper documentation concerning corrective actions that entities have taken.

    In the webinar, participants will learn about:

    • Preparation for a response to CTP
    • Important items to include in a response
    • Additional compliance resources
  • Italy Readies to Outlaw Vaping in Most Public Places

    Italy Readies to Outlaw Vaping in Most Public Places

    Italy is readying to toughen the rules for electronic cigarettes. Vaping products are now not allowed to smoke in public places, and smoking near children and pregnant women will be punished.

    Fines will be issued by law enforcement officers and rules also minimize the advertising of electronic cigarettes and remove smoking areas at airports, according to the Blitz.

    British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he will help combat the illegal migration of vaping products across the English Channel.

    Italy’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini was outraged by the new law, saying that it was thanks to electronic cigarettes that he quit smoking.

  • Another Elfbar Brand Pulled From Some U.K. Shelves

    Another Elfbar Brand Pulled From Some U.K. Shelves

    Another Elfbar brand is being pulled from U.K. store shelves after finding the products surpass the legal limit for e-liquid volumes.

    Tests on samples of a Double Apple flavor Lost Mary brand vape found them to have an average of 3.6ml of nicotine liquid.

    Sainsbury’s and Asda have now reportedly confirmed that they are banning the product following the findings, according to the U.K. mirror.

    It comes just weeks after an investigation discovered the watermelon-flavored Elf Bar 600 product had at least 50 percent over the legal limit for nicotine e-liquid.

    According to UK law, the amount of nicotine liquid in a vape is legally limited to 2ml with a maximum nicotine strength of 2 percent.

    Elf Bar, which launched in 2021, sells around 2.5 million disposable 600s in the UK every week.

  • Atria Agrees to Aquire NJOY Holdings for $2.75 Billion

    Atria Agrees to Aquire NJOY Holdings for $2.75 Billion

    NJOY Ace

    Altria Group has entered into an agreement to acquire NJOY Holdings for approximately $2.75 billion in cash. The transaction terms include an additional $500 million in cash payments that are contingent upon regulatory outcomes with respect to certain NJOY products.

    “We believe we can responsibly accelerate U.S. adult smoker and competitive adult vaper adoption of NJOY Ace in ways that NJOY could not as a standalone company,” said Altria CEO Billy Gifford in a statement. “We believe the strengths of our commercial resources can benefit adult tobacco consumers and expand competition. We are also excited to welcome NJOY’s talented employees to Altria at closing.”

    “As a result of this transaction, Altria’s enhanced smoke-free portfolio will include full global ownership of products and technologies across the three largest smoke-free categories and a joint venture with JT Group for the U.S. commercialization of heated tobacco stick products.”

    “We are excited to add NJOY’s e-vapor intellectual property as a new platform that we believe we can build on to help more adult smokers transition to smoke-free alternatives,” said Olivier Houpert, Altria’s new chief innovation and product officer.

    Altria will hold a conference call at 9 a.m. Eastern Time on March 6, 2023. Access to the live webcast is available at. A replay of the webcast and a transcript will be available on the same website following the event.

    In 2022, the U.S. vapor category comprised nearly 14 million U.S. adult tobacco consumers, including 9.5 million exclusive adult vapers, according to Altria. The segment generated approximately $7 billion in U.S. retail sales and represented approximately 15 percent of total estimated equivalized U.S. tobacco volumes and more than 50 percent of total estimated equivalized smoke-free tobacco volumes.

    To date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the marketing of 23 vapor products and devices. In 2022, NJOY received marketing granted orders for the NJOY Ace device, along with several tobacco-flavored pods. The regulatory agency is still reviewing NJOY’s premarket tobacco product applications for several NJOY menthol-flavored e-vapor products.

    Altria said it had multiple sources of funding for the deal, including cash from a $2.7 billion agreement with Philip Morris International last year for the IQOS Tobacco Heating System.

    The NJOY deal follows an announcement by Altria that it would exchange its entire minority investment in embattled Juul Labs for a nonexclusive global license for certain of Juul’s heated tobacco intellectual property.

  • Nebraska Lawmakers Propose 20% Tax on Vapes

    Nebraska Lawmakers Propose 20% Tax on Vapes

    Credit: Niro World

    Nebraska lawmakers have proposed Legislative Bill 584 would impose an excise tax of 5 cents per milliliter of consumable vaping material, though the senator said she is working on an amendment that would make the tax a percentage of the sales price, perhaps 20 percent.

    State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward, who called it “hooey” that vaping was safer than smoking cigarettes, despite several scientific studies stating otherwise, proposed the bill in to protect children from the dangers of vaping.

    Nebraska is one of 20 states that do not, as of Jan. 1, impose an excise tax on vaping products, according to the Urban Institute, according to Nebraska Public Radio.

    Hughes said all other products containing nicotine must pay an excise tax. Nebraska, for instance, imposes a 64-cent per pack excise tax on cigarettes.

    Earlier this year, Nebraska lawmakers proposed a law that would limit localities in how they regulate electronic smoking devices.