Tag: news

  • Flonq META: Vaping Under Control

    Flonq META: Vaping Under Control

    Flonq introduces its solution to address the lack of ability to control nicotine consumption.

    Contributed

    A range of studies suggests that e-cigarettes can be an effective tool for helping conventional tobacco smokers quit. However, once individuals switch from tobacco smoking to e-cigarettes, there is no clear baseline for before and after comparison, since most users are unable to track how frequently they vape. Vape companies and manufacturers should propose solutions as part of their responsibilities. How can this be achieved? Alfabet Labs, the company behind the Flonq brand, offers its perspective on this issue.

    One of the most recent studies on the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool was conducted by the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. The report concluded that there is high-certainty evidence that nicotine e-cigarettes are more effective than other methods, such as nicotine-replacement therapy—like patches or gum.

    However, the goal after switching to e-cigarettes is to control, decrease or quit nicotine consumption. This presents a challenge, as it’s hard to accurately measure e-cigarette use to control nicotine intake. The main issue is figuring how to measure usage intensity, given the wide range of products and user behaviors.

    So what should be the basis for comparing the consumption dynamic after switching to e-cigarettes? Should industry professionals measure the number of times an e-cigarette is used per day, the number of puffs taken, or the volume of e-liquid consumed? A consensus on measurement standards has yet to be established.

    Vaping vs. cigarettes

    The Eurobarometer study, which revealed key trends in smoking behavior in the EU, clearly illustrates the issue of accurate vape measurement. According to the report, the average daily consumption of tobacco was slightly higher than 14 units.

    The data also reveals insights into e-cigarette usage. Among smokers who use e-cigarettes, the range resulted to be the following: 60 percent reported using them less than 10 times per day, 28 percent less than 20 times and approximately 11 percent over 21 times. A similar pattern was observed among ex-smokers who used e-cigarettes.

    However, what is particularly important is that nearly half of the respondents reported being unsure about their previous daily usage of e-cigarettes. This uncertainty among former smokers about their past usage highlights the need for more research in this area.

    Measuring consumption

    The Nicotine & Tobacco Research journal conducted a study asking young adults who vape to provide suggestions for improving the scientific measurement of vaping.

    Participants reported that they don’t actively monitor the number of puffs they take during a vaping session or over the course of a day. One participant remarked, “I would never count how many [puffs] I take.”

    Additionally, several respondents noted that it is challenging for them to estimate how many times they vape during the day. They also expressed uncertainty about the amount of nicotine they consume per session. One participant said: “I wish that I could measure how much I’m [vaping]. I have no idea how much nicotine I’m taking in … I’m probably taking in more than a pack [of cigarettes] a day.”

    Another respondent added, “No one can count how many times or how many hits in an hour. It’s pretty subconscious.”

    It’s clear that using vapes to quit smoking or manage nicotine dependence won’t be effective without devices that include features for monitoring consumption. Whether it tracks the number of puffs, daily usage or other patterns, the device should provide a comparison point for the user.

    Practical solutions

    The Flonq vaping brand recently introduced its solution to address the lack of controlling the nicotine consumption in the industry. The brand presented META by Flonq—an advanced pod system designed for tracking and managing nicotine use. The device features a wide range of features that respond to the market demand for consumption transparency.

    • The real-time tracking system

    The device monitors data such as the number of puffs, usage time and nicotine index level, all displayed on a single touch screen. The device collects data throughout the entire period of vape usage.

    • META Smart AI assistant

    The integrated AI assistant helps to analyze nicotine usage patterns. With built-in behavioral therapy techniques, META is designed to offer personalized guidance.

    • Nicotine index

    A key highlight of the device is the nicotine index developed by Flonq, which measures estimated nicotine saturation and determines the optimal timing for the next puff. It updates in real time, allowing users to follow a suggested plan to reduce nicotine intake or quit smoking.

    “Whether you want to vape, reduce your nicotine intake or move toward a smoke-free life, the choice is yours,” says Marlen Nazarov, Flonq’s founder and CEO. “Our company’s focus is to respect your decision to vape while encouraging mindful choices.”

    Overall, it seems that META offers consumers a straightforward and user-friendly way to track their nicotine usage—something the market needs to implement right away. This can be achieved through smart technologies such as integration with mobile apps, Bluetooth connectivity and alerts to notify users of excessive consumption. As the industry evolves and expands, these efforts will be essential in helping users manage their nicotine intake, make positive changes to their health and, what’s also important—to improve the industry’s overall image.

  • Austin Smokers Invited to Join IQOS Wait List

    Austin Smokers Invited to Join IQOS Wait List

    Photo: momius

    Philip Morris International will hold several events in Austin, Texas, this weekend, to mark the upcoming introduction of its IQOS tobacco heating product in the United States.

    In anticipation of launch, current nicotine users who are over the age of 21 and live in designated areas of Austin will be given the opportunity to join a wait list to be among the first to try IQOS once the product becomes available.

    “We believe having a portfolio of satisfying alternatives can help traditional tobacco users switch completely and walk away from cigarettes for good,” said Stacey Kennedy, CEO of PMI in the U.S. operations “Austin is a hotbed for innovators, entrepreneurs and trailblazers. Cultural trends adopted here have a ripple effect, so it was a natural place to introduce IQOS in the U.S.”

    Austin is a hotbed for innovators, entrepreneurs and trailblazers. Cultural trends adopted here have a ripple effect, so it was a natural place to introduce IQOS in the U.S.

    Stacey Kennedy, CEO of PMI’s U.S. business

    The (re)introduction of tobacco-heating products into the U.S. has been eagerly awaited by investors and tobacco harm reduction advocates, who hope the product will help transition smokers from deadly combustible cigarettes to less-harmful heating products. Tests suggest that heating tobacco produces lower levels of harmful chemicals than burning it. IQOS has been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a modified-risk tobacco product.

    In Tobacco Reporter’s October issue, Cheryl Olson reflects on how the launch of tobacco heating products may impact the U.S. market.

    IQOS was briefly test-marketed by PMI’s former U.S. partner, Altria Group. In September 2021, the International Trade Commission determined that the product infringed patents owned by British American Tobacco and barred IQOS imports.

    PMI and BAT subsequently resolved their intellectual property dispute, clearing the way for IQOS sales in the U.S. In October 2022, PMI reclaimed the U.S. commercialization rights to IQOS, saying Altria had failed to meet certain milestones stipulated in their agreement.

     IQOS is already available in an estimated 80 countries, and since launching in Japan 10 years ago, it has helped more than 22 million people worldwide make the switch from cigarettes, according to PMI. A 2019 study by researchers at the American Cancer Society showed that cigarette sales decreased five times faster after IQOS was introduced in Japan.

    IQOS is now PMI’s top revenue earner, surpassing the company’s bestselling Marlboro cigarette brand.

    PMI’s latest integrated report shows that 38 percent of the company’s total net revenue now comes from its smoke-free business, which also includes the popular Zyn nicotine pouches .

    “For the first time in history, smoke-free products have surpassed cigarette combustibles,” PMI CEO Jacek Olczak said at the Technovation event on Oct. 9 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, according to Malaya Business Insight.

  • Elfbar and Lost Mary Create Advisory Board

    Elfbar and Lost Mary Create Advisory Board

    Image: Mariakray

    Elfbar and Lost Mary have created a board in the U.K. to provide strategic advice for the brands.

    Board members are from across relevant disciplines in the U.K. with senior-level experience, including in the national and local government, the medical profession and law enforcement.

    The newly formed advisory board also serves Heaven Gifts, the company that manages Elfbar and Lost Mary.

    “The creation of this advisory board marks a milestone in the global operations of Elfbar and Lost Mary. This aligns with our long-term commitment as the responsible market leader for the vaping sector worldwide, and our exploration of the smoking cessation role vaping products play,” said Heaven Gifts Global Vice-President Victor Xiao in a statement.

    “This board further signals our intent to address concerns around, for example, youth vaping, the environmental impact, and illicit trade. Starting in the U.K., we are looking to bring this mechanism to more global markets, particularly those in Europe.”

    Members of the advisory board include Steve Bennett, former director of investigations at the National Crime Agency; George Eustice, former member of parliament and secretary of state for the department of environment, food and rural affairs; Susie Kemp, former CEO of Swindon Borough council and deputy chief executive of Surrey county council; Lord Porter, former council leader and chair of the Local Government Association; Sairah Salim-Sartoni, a health psychologist with extensive experience in smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction; and Lord Walney, a former member of parliament and special advisor to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Business Secretary Lord Hutton.

  • CMSA Files Amicus Brief With SCOTUS in Triton Case

    CMSA Files Amicus Brief With SCOTUS in Triton Case

    This week, the Coalition of Manufacturers of Smoking Alternatives (CMSA), a trade coalition that represents a diverse array of members who manufacture and distribute smoking harm reduction products, filed an amicus curiae brief before the Supreme Court of the United States supporting White Lion Investments, dba as Triton Distribution, in its case against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

    In its brief, CMSA argues that FDA violated the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA) in its wholesale rejection of applications for flavored vaping products by applying a surprise and improperly adopted standard and foregoing the required notice-and-comment process. The brief emphasizes that the U.S. Congress specifically requires the FDA to undergo a transparent rulemaking process before imposing any restriction that amounts to a “tobacco product” standard.

    “Importantly, this process tasks FDA with considering the broader public health effects of any such standard, ‘such as creating demand for and increasing the use of unregulated black-market products,’ or other harmful consequences,” the CMSA states. “In its efforts to unilaterally reject flavored vapor product applications based on a new and heightened standard, FDA unlawfully sidestepped this critical regulatory check and operated outside the bounds of its authority.”

    The CMSA states that the FDA circumvented the very procedures Congress imposed to check the arbitrary or unreasonable exercise of such delegated power, and causes real harms as the FDA “misleads and whipsaws” manufacturers seeking to provide a robust set of options for consumers seeking to quit smoking,” the CMSA wrote in its brief. Further adding that “the long delays in FDA’s review of the many PMTAs (premarket tobacco product applications) it has received, coupled with the moving goal posts imposed via the review process, creates a level of uncertainty that severely deters investment and innovation in new products with harm-reduction potential.”

    Earlier this week, 13 members of Congress, including U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and U.S. Representative Andy Harris, filed an amicus brief supporting the position of Triton Distribution and CMSA. In their brief, the members of Congress write, “There is a clear lack of authority for such a ban. Congress has specifically prohibited the FDA from banning products. Despite this, the FDA imposed a categorical prohibition.”

    Also, the Global Action to End Smoking wrote in its amicus brief to SCOTUS that the FDA strayed from a “sensible, science-based harm-reduction approach, adopting an all-or-nothing stance that exalts outright cessation and all but ignores the harm-reduction strategy that Congress mandated…. [ignoring the] overwhelming scientific evidence that e-cigarettes containing flavor additives have an important role to play in moving adult smokers down the continuum of risk.”

    SCOTUS announced Dec. 2, 2024 as the date for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration v. Wages and White Lion Investments, LLC, d/b/a Triton Distribution hearing.

    Credit: Renas Child
  • NYTS Survey: U.S. Vaping Rates Hit Record Lows

    NYTS Survey: U.S. Vaping Rates Hit Record Lows

    Credit: TADA Images

    The latest tally of federal data finds that vaping rates fell from 10 percent of high school students in 2023 to 7.8 percent this year, “reaching the lowest level ever measured,” reported a team of researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    According to newly released data from the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), current tobacco product use among U.S. middle and high school students has dropped to the lowest recorded level in 25 years,

    “Reaching a 25-year low for youth tobacco product use is an extraordinary milestone for public health. However, with more than 2 million youth using tobacco products and certain groups not experiencing declines in use, our mission is far from complete,” Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, said in a news release announcing the new data.

    Rates of use of traditional cigarettes are also meager: Only 1.4 percent of middle- and high-school kids now smoke, the report found.

    “We’re headed in the right direction when it comes to reducing tobacco product use among our nation’s youth,” said Brian King, director of the US Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products. “But we can’t take our foot off the gas. Continued vigilance is needed to continue to reduce all forms of tobacco product use among youth. Addressing disparities remains an essential part of these efforts to ensure that we don’t leave anyone behind.”

    Modern oral nicotine pouches now rank as the second most popular tobacco product, with 2.4 percent of high school students using them regularly, an FDA release states.

    “Nicotine pouch sales have substantially increased nationwide since 2016,” noted the team led by CDC investigator Ahmed Jamal, and “nearly one million (890,000) students reported ever using nicotine pouches in 2024.”

    Still, the overall trends are positive, and by 2024 only 1 in every 10 middle-and high-school students was using any form of tobacco product.

  • New York City Seizes 1,200 Pounds of Illicit Vapes

    New York City Seizes 1,200 Pounds of Illicit Vapes

    Credit: NYC.gov

    New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda, NYPD Interim Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon, and DCWP Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga proudly announced the successful removal of more than 1,200 pounds of illegal vaping products from the city, which are now on their way to being destroyed.

    The products — all seized through the Adams administration’s “Operation Padlock to Protect” — contain batteries and other hazardous materials that must be disposed of safely. The products are being sent to the NYPD’s long-term DNA evidence destruction vendor, ENP Environmental, in Grafton, Ohio, according to a press release.

    As a result of the operation, the city has seized more than $80 million in illegal products, which have been taking up a massive amount of space across NYPD’s network of evidence warehouses. Mayor Adams, today, joined members of the New York City Sherriff’s Joint Compliance Task Force — made up of the Sheriff’s Office, the NYPD, and DCWP — to participate in NYPD’s standard evidence destruction process of loading illegal substances and products to be sent to destruction in an environmentally responsible way.

    Upon seizure, untaxed and illegally sold tobacco and vape products are subject to forfeiture and ultimately may be destroyed by the city. In August, Adams and the task force destroyed more than four tons, or 576 bags, of seized illegal cannabis products as part of the NYPD’s standard evidence destruction process of incinerating illegal substances and products.

    “Today, we say goodbye and good riddance to products that endanger our children and undermine our quality of life,” said Adams. “From the moment we were given the additional authority we needed from the state to weed out illegal cannabis operators, our administration took swift action. Through our successful ‘Operation Padlock to Protect’ initiative, we have already shut down more than 1,200 unlicensed smoke shops, confiscated an estimated $80 million worth of illegal products, and seized thousands of illegal vapes.

    “This is a major example of the significant results we are achieving in improving New Yorkers’ quality of life and builds on the gains we’ve made in keeping communities safe. Last month alone saw a decrease in homicides, robberies, burglaries, grand larcenies, transit crime, and car theft, but we know there is still more to do. Our administration will continue to focus on our mission of making New York City a safer, more affordable city, and today’s announcement is another example of just that.”

  • Amazon to Pay $400,000 to Vermont for Vape Sales

    Amazon to Pay $400,000 to Vermont for Vape Sales

    Credit: Sundry Photography

    Amazon will pay Vermont $400,000 and improve its vetting practices to settle claims that it failed to stop online vendors from selling e-cigarettes, Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark announced Wednesday.

    An investigation by the attorney general’s office found that third-party sellers had been hawking tobacco products, especially vapes, to Vermonters on Amazon over the past few years.

    That practice violates a Vermont law, which prohibits the online sale of tobacco products to anyone other than a licensed dealer. Amazon also prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes, and has a variety of safeguards in place to prevent such sales, according to the settlement, according to media reports.

    But even so, “between July 2019 and September 2024, certain e-cigarettes were purchased from third-party sellers in Amazon’s store and shipped to Vermont consumers,” the settlement reads.

    After being informed of the infractions by Vermont’s attorney general, Amazon made unspecified improvements to its oversight practices, the settlement said.

    In addition to the payment, each year for the next four years Amazon will also create a list of vendors that have sold tobacco products to Vermont — the “Vermont Evasive Seller List” — and provide the list to the attorney general if needed.

  • Taxpayer Group Files Amicus Brief in Triton Case

    Taxpayer Group Files Amicus Brief in Triton Case

    Image: hafakot

    The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) submitted an amicus curiae brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the Wages and White Lion Investments case, challenging the Food and Drug Administration’s regulation of e-cigarettes under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA). The TPA argues that the FDA’s actions have been arbitrary, capricious and detrimental to public health.

    The brief contends that the TCA’s standard for determining what is “appropriate for the protection of the public health” is unconstitutionally vague, providing insufficient guidance to regulated entities and delegating excessive authority to the FDA. This vagueness has led to unpredictable enforcement, adversely affecting both taxpayers and adults who smoke and are seeking safer alternatives to conventional cigarettes.

    Furthermore, the TPA criticizes the FDA for failing to recognize the significant benefits of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool, as acknowledged by leading health organizations such as Public Health England. According to the TPA, the TCA is clear on the need for the FDA to consider the impact of e-cigarettes on smoking cessation, yet the agency has abjectly failed to undertake this analysis. The TPA highlights the FDA’s stringent regulatory approach and high denial rates for new e-cigarette products, which the group says stifle market diversity and limit consumer choice, particularly harming adults who smoke and who might benefit from less harmful alternatives.

    The TPA also notes the FDA’s disregard for market realities and consumer preferences, particularly the benefits of open-system e-cigarettes that allow for customization and have been shown to be more effective for quitting smoking.

    The TPA urges the Supreme Court to uphold the 5th Circuit’s decision, affirming that the FDA’s regulatory approach under the TCA is arbitrary and capricious and violates due process. The TPA calls for a regulatory framework that adequately considers the benefits of e-cigarettes and gives regulated parties fair notice of how their products will be evaluated.

  • Philippines Urged to Regulate Flavors in Nicotine

    Philippines Urged to Regulate Flavors in Nicotine

    Photo: Borgwaldt Flavors

    Researchers urged the Philippine government to regulate flavored tobacco and mandate plain packaging, citing the country’s obligation as a signatory to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, reports The Manila Times.

    “Historically, tobacco companies have used flavoring agents to enhance the appeal of tobacco consumption, encourage initiation and experimentation of tobacco use, and sustain tobacco use,” researchers of the Ateneo de Manila University were quoted as saying. 

    “However, the Philippines currently does not regulate flavored tobacco products, despite the increasing market shares of flavored tobacco products and novel technologies, such as crushable capsules.”

    In a recent study of 106 cigarette and cigar products, only 62 turned out to have flavor descriptors.

  • U.S. States Fail to Harness Vaping’s Potential: Report

    U.S. States Fail to Harness Vaping’s Potential: Report

    Photo: pavelkant

    The Consumer Choice Center has released its second U.S. State Vaping Index, which looks at 50 states plus the District of Columbia. It reveals that only three states, including Alaska, North Dakota and Tennessee, received an A+ in the study for an evidence-based approach to vaping policy.  

    This rating means these states are in a position to harness the enormous potential of vaping as a harm-reduction tool while still letting consumers choose for themselves. Other states that perform well are Arizona, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. 

    By contrast, 12 states have overwhelmingly embraced restrictive policies on vapers and vaping, including Utah (0 points), California (second to last at 5 points), Vermont (10 points), Oregon, New York, New Jersey, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Illinois, Hawaii, D.C. and Colorado (all at 15 points). The number of low scores has doubled since the 2020 edition of the Vaping Index. 

    “Vaping saves lives,” said Emil Panzaru, research director for the Consumer Choice Center. “If every smoker in the United States switched to vaping over 10 years, you’d have 6.6 million fewer premature deaths in the U.S.

    “Unfortunately, policymakers across America do not recognize that vaping is a valid harm-reduction substitute for traditional combustible tobacco products. Vapes are often mistakenly referred to as tobacco products, and in turn, targeted with draconian flavor bans, taxed higher than cigarettes, subject to registries meant to gatekeep the products, and faced with bans on online sales.

    “These policies deter consumers from switching away from the more dangerous habit of smoking and fuel black markets for vape products. The end result is a patchwork of state laws at odds with the most up-to-date public health practices from around the world.”

    The purpose of the U.S. Vaping Index is to inform consumers about vaping policies in their area and highlight the need for more informed and level-headed lawmaking. The Consumer Choice Center weighed five factors in the index:

    1) Whether the state considers vapes to be tobacco products;

    2) State-level vaping flavor restrictions;

    3) Requirements for state registries (which mirror the FDA-approved database);

    4) Additional excise taxes on vaping; and

    5) The presence or absence of online sales bans.

    “Let’s set the empirical record straight,” said Panzaru. “The best available research by authorities such as Public Health England recognizes that vaping is 95 percent safer than combustible tobacco for users. Evidence in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that vaping is twice as effective at smoking cessation than any nicotine tablet, patch or spray at helping people quit smoking. 

    “What’s more, a review of 15 different studies found little evidence of a supposed gateway effect leading teens down the path from vaping to smoking or hard substances.”

    “Rather than embracing policies that ignore the evidence and do not work, state authorities should commit to studying and learning from the example of Sweden, the first country to become smoke-free in Europe thanks to the research-driven recognition of vapes as harm-reduction tools,” Panzaru concluded.