Tag: news

Vietnam Mulls Ban on Next-Generation Products

Photo: Michele
Vietnam’s health ministry has proposed a ban on next-generation tobacco products (NGPs), reports VN Express International. the country’s current law on tobacco harm prevention lacks provisions for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
According to Tran Thi Trang, deputy head of the Ministry of Health’s legislation department, a trial allowing the distribution of NGPs revealed potential negative impacts, including on youth behavior.
The percentage of people using e-cigarettes in Vietnam increased to 3.6 percent from 0.2 percent during 2015-2020, according to the health ministry.
With 15.6 million smokers, Vietnam ranks 15th in the world in terms of combustible cigarette users, the Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry of Information and Communications said. People in Vietnam spend an estimated at VND49trillion ($2 billion) per year.
November 24, 2022
China Set to Restrict Most E-cigarette Shipments

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China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) plans to limit the number of vapor products a person can carry on them, reports The Global Times.
According to a notice published Nov. 23, a person can possess a maximum of six “smoking devices,” 90 e-cigarette cartridges and 180mL of e-liquid.
On the same day, the STMA and the State Post Bureau jointly announced restrictions on the delivery of vapor products. Each shipment may contain a maximum of two “sets,” six cartridges and 12mL of e-liquid.
Each recipient is allowed to accept delivery of no more than one shipment of vapor products per day.
In April, China’s tobacco regulator approved mandatory national standards for e-cigarettes that came into effect in October.
November 23, 2022
FDA Warns 5 Companies for Marketing CBD Edibles
Credit: Simone
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today posted warning letters to five companies for illegally selling products containing cannabidiol (CBD).
These companies are accused of selling products containing CBD that the FDA states some people may confuse for traditional foods or beverages that do not contain CBD. This could result in unintentional consumption or overconsumption of CBD.
“CBD-containing products in forms that are appealing to children, such as gummies, hard candies and cookies, are especially concerning,” the FDA stated in a release.
Warning letters were sent to the following companies:

11-11-11 Brands

Naturally Infused LLC

Newhere Inc dba CBDFX

Infusionz LLC

CBD American Shaman, LLC
The FDA has not found adequate information showing how much CBD can be consumed, and for how long, before causing harm, according to the agency.
“This is particularly true for vulnerable populations like children and those who are pregnant. People should be aware of the potential risks associated with the use of CBD products,” the agency states.
The warning letters also outline additional violations of the Food, Drug & Cosmetics Act, including that several of the companies are illegally selling unapproved CBD products that claim to cure, mitigate, treat or prevent various diseases, and adding CBD to animal foods, such as pet treats.
“The FDA has requested responses from the companies within 15 working days stating how they will address the issues described in the warning letters or providing their reasoning and supporting information as to why they think the products are not in violation of the law,” the agency wrote. “Failure to adequately address the violations promptly may result in legal action, including product seizure and/or injunction.”
November 22, 2022
Philip Morris International Launches Bonds by IQOS

Photo: Tobias Arhelger
Philip Morris International has launched its latest heat-not-burn tobacco-heating system, Bonds by IQOS, along with its compatible tobacco sticks, Blends, in a pilot market in the Philippines. The company intends to further commercialize the product during the remainder of 2022 and next year.
Equipped with bladeless resistive external heating technology, Bond emits 95 percent less harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes, according to PMI.
“Bonds by IQOS represents another step forward in our ambition to replace cigarettes with innovative, science-based, smoke-free alternatives,” said PMI CEO Jacek Olczak in a statement.
“We know that no single smoke-free product will appeal to all adult smokers. Providing a range of alternatives to continued smoking—with a variety of taste, technology, usage and price options—is imperative and helps us to address a range of preferences as diverse as adult smokers themselves—ultimately encouraging them to leave cigarettes behind.
“Bonds by IQOS provides an opportunity to address consumer acquisition barriers for this segment, most notably up-front device costs and authentic tobacco taste satisfaction—providing further options of innovative smoke-free options to help ensure they do not go back to cigarettes. Through continuous innovation, we want to ensure that all adult smokers who would otherwise continue smoking switch and abandon cigarettes.”
According to PMI, Bonds by IQOS is designed to be used only with Blends tobacco sticks to deliver a variety of tobacco tastes. At the time of launch, Blends tobacco sticks will be available in five different flavors, including classic, menthol and aromatic. When fully charged, Bonds by IQOS delivers up to 20 uses, including three consecutive experiences. Bonds by IQOS comes in four different colors.
November 22, 2022
Smoore Subsidiary FEELM Recognized at UKVIA Event

Smoore’s atomization technology platform, FEELM, won an award for innovation and was commended for its sustainability initiatives during the U.K. Vaping Industry Association’s (UKVIA) industry forum on Nov. 18.
The Best Innovation in the Vaping Industry award recognizes FEELM’s breakthrough technologies, including its ceramic coil disposable pod solution, FEELM Max.
Among other improvements, FEELM Max offers more puffs than other coil technologies with the same e-liquid volume. Its constant output control and flavor lock technologies ensure a high degree of flavor consistency while preventing dry burning. FEELM also established multiple laboratories to help clients comply with stringent industry regulations, including those issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The UKVIA Sustainable Vaping commendation recognized FEELM’s accomplishments in sustainable advanced technologies, responsible marketing and environmental stewardship. In 2019, FEELM created a groundbreaking environmentally friendly disposable electronic atomization device, for example. This year, FEELM developed an environmentally friendly zero nicotine e-atomization device.
Recently, the company committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and its automated factory has adopted an energy management system to decrease carbon emissions while increasing energy efficiency.
“We are delighted to have won the innovation award and been commended in the sustainability category, and we are honored by the recognition the UKVIA has given us,” said FEELM Europe Division Director Echo Liu.
“A number of leading vaping brands are driven by FEELM, and our vaping devices loaded with our atomizer technology are now being exported to over 50 countries and regions.
“FEELM can only realize its corporate vision—’atomization makes life better’—by being sustainable and creating value for society. Every day we move a step closer to this goal by creating sustainable advanced technologies and products, using responsible marketing, and embracing a greener future.”
November 21, 2022
EU Poll Finds Support for Smoke-Free Technologies

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Smoke-free technologies should complement the EU’s existing tobacco control measures, according to participants in a survey commissioned by Philip Morris International, according to Eureporter.
Carried out Nov. 10-15 by Povaddo and presented in Brussels on Nov. 17, the poll surveyed 13,000 adults spread over 13 European countries.
Among the participants, 73 percent said that industries should be incentivized to develop innovative products that are better for consumers and the environment. Sixty-nine percent said interested adult smokers should be encouraged to switch to scientifically substantiated, smoke-free alternatives by taxing these products at rates that are lower than cigarettes but high enough to deter youth and nonsmokers. Additionally, six in ten respondents agreed that government endorsement of innovative tobacco products would have a positive impact on smokers.
“We know the potential to do better for adult smokers exists, as several member states have carried out similar policy approaches in, among others, energy, cars and alcohol,” said PMI Senior Vice President for External Affairs Grégoire Verdeaux during the presentation of the survey results.
“Pragmatic policies have the power to improve people’s lives, incentivizing companies to innovate for the better and provide equitable access to technological advances, especially in a time of economic instability.”
Povaddo Research President William Stewart said he hoped the results would encourage EU and national authorities to assess the results of current policies and consider other approaches, including “sensible regulation and taxation, while creating an environment that fosters innovations.”
November 21, 2022
Calls for Australia to Adopt Plain Package for Vapes

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Anti-vape advocates are calling for e-cigarette packaging to be under the same rules as tobacco packing, including warnings that include the dangers involved with using the product.
In December 2012, Australia became the first country to require tobacco companies to sell their products in drab olive-brown boxes stripped of branding but featuring large pictures of smoking-related diseases.
Tobacco companies challenged the move in various courts, saying it not only breached trademark laws and intellectual property rights but would also boost black market sales. Libertarians characterized plain packaging as a “nanny state” measure.
Now, 20 countries, including the U.K., Turkey, France, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ukraine, have brought in their own versions of plain packaging legislation.
Mal Washer, told 6PR Mornings that what worked best in the past was by making smoking anti-social.
“You looked like a half wit if you smoked, and that did more than any medical advice as people tend to ignore that but vaping has now become a big problem,”
“The biggest thing in my opinion is making vaping anti-social and to make people realize this product is dangerous.”
November 21, 2022
Vape Battery Catches Fire on Air France Flight
Credit: Luke Wunderlich
A passenger was seriously injured on an Air France flight when an e-cigarette caught fire mid-flight, authorities said.
France’s aviation authority, the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety, said on Thursday it had opened an investigation into an incident on board a November 2 Air France flight from Malaga, Spain to Paris, France, according to Insider.
The bureau said one person had been seriously injured after an e-cigarette caused a lithium battery fire as the plane was coming in to land. Cabin crew was able to extinguish the fire using a “dedicated kit.”
Authorities are investigating the incident.
E-cigarettes are allowed on flights by both European and U.S. authorities as long as they are kept in carry-on luggage.
November 19, 2022
Latest Cochrane Review: Vaping Helps to Quit Smoking
Credit: Martin Budenbender
The latest Cochrane Review on e-cigarettes provides compelling evidence that quitting combustibles is easier with e-cigarettes. An update to the international independent think tank’s ongoing review, the latest research includes 17 additional studies that conclude that smoking cessation works significantly better with e-cigarettes than with other nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products.
“Electronic cigarettes have generated a lot of misunderstanding in both the public health community and the popular press since their introduction over a decade ago,” lead author Jamie Hartmann-Boyce said. “For the first time, this has given us high-certainty evidence that e-cigarettes are even more effective at helping people to quit smoking than traditional nicotine replacement therapies, like patches or gums.”
The total Cochrane analysis of e-cigarettes now includes 78 studies with over 22,000 participants. The body of evidence overwhelmingly supports the current updates findings.
The just-released Cochrane review also indicates that e-cigarettes containing nicotine are more effective than e-cigarettes without nicotine or smoking cessation without aids containing nicotine. However, there is less data for these comparisons, which is why the authors rate the reliability of the evidence as only moderate.
Co-author Nicola Lindson, from the University of Oxford and managing editor of the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group, said that while not risk-free, e-cigarettes containing nicotine only pose a fraction of the risk of smoking.
“However, due to the lack of data on possible harmful effects from long-term use of nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes, i.e. over a period of more than two years, questions remain about the long-term effects,” Lindson said.
According to the authors, the study’s key messages include:

Nicotine e-cigarettes can help people to stop smoking for at least six months. Evidence shows they work better than nicotine replacement therapy, and probably better than e-cigarettes without nicotine.

E-cigarettes may work better than no support, or behavioral support alone, and they may not be associated with serious unwanted effects.

However, more evidence is needed, particularly about the effects of newer types of e-cigarettes that have better nicotine delivery than older types of e-cigarettes, as better nicotine delivery might help more people quit smoking.
As far back as 2016, the Cochrane Review has found e-cigarettes were more likely to help smokers quit than nicotine patches or gum, but the available body of evidence at that time was slimmer.
“This comprehensive evidence review confirms, once again, that nicotine e-cigarettes help smokers to quit smoking; and that these products are more effective than medically licensed nicotine replacement therapies,” said John Britton, emeritus professor of Epidemiology, University of Nottingham, commenting on the study. “All smokers should therefore try vaping as a means to end their dependency on smoking tobacco.”
November 18, 2022
Video: TGA Boss Admits Issues With Australian Rule
The head of the Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has acknowledged shortcomings in the country’s vaping regulations, according to tobacco harm reduction activist Colin Mendelsohn.
Writing on his website, Mendelsohn says TGA boss John Skerrit “has finally admitted the disastrous and predictable failure of Australia’s vaping regulations,” which among other things require vapers to obtain a doctor’s prescription to buy nicotine-containing e-cigarettes
During questioning in Australia’s Senate, Skerrit acknowledged not only that there has been a dramatic increase in youth vaping, but also that large numbers of low-quality products are entering the country and are being sold on the black market, according to Mendelsohn.
In addition, Skerrit noted that only 1,353 out of 130,000 registered doctors have applied to be authorized e-cigarette prescribers and less than 10 percent of adult vapers have a prescription for nicotine.
According to Mendelsohn, Skerritt had previously promised a review of the regulations, which were introduced on Oct. 1, 2021, at three, six and 12 months. Instead, he wrote, the TGA and government had a secret meeting of unnamed vaping experts.
Mendelsohn said it is likely that further restrictions and enforcement will be recommended by “the experts” to double down on their de facto prohibition. “This will only lead to greatly reduced legal vaping and more deaths from smoking,” he wrote.
November 18, 2022