Tag: news

Daily Beast: BAT Backing ‘Grassroots’ Vape Group

Photo: freshidea
BAT is the driving force behind the World Vapers Alliance (WVA), a pro-vaping group presenting itself as a grassroots initiative of anti-smoking initiatives, according to the Daily Beast.
According to the investigation, BAT sought to use the WVA to organize individuals to pressure government officials, including members of the European parliament, to roll back regulations on tobacco products such as bans on flavored products, health warnings and increased taxes.
BAT went to great lengths to conceal its involvement with the World Vapers’ Alliance, according to the investigation. Yet, sources and internal documents reviewed as part of the investigation revealed that BAT “has played a central and hands-on role in orchestrating, directing and funding the World Vapers’ Alliance.”
Writing for Vaping360, Jim McDonald said BAT’s involvement with WVA was no secret among vaping advocates, “which is probably a major reason why the organization only has 20,000 individual members, despite extensive social media efforts,” he wrote.
According to McDonald, many vapers tend to mistrust and resent involvement in vaping issues by the tobacco industry, partly because companies like BAT subsidiary Reynolds American Inc. have gone out of their way to eliminate the competition posed by independent vaping businesses.
McDonald cites a 2014 RAI comment to the FDA, “essentially offering the agency a blue-print for destroying the open-system vaping industry.”
Anti-smoking groups were aghast. “Tobacco companies like British American Tobacco claim that they are changed, responsible companies working to reduce the enormous harm caused by their products. But their actions tell a different story and show that they continue to use the same deceptive tactics they have always used, including front groups, to fight public health policies and protect their sales and profits,” said Matthew L. Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, in a statement.
January 12, 2022
Cardiologist Warns Flavor Bans Will Put Lives at Risk

Photo: Tobacco Reporter archive
Restrictions on flavors in vaping products would be a drastic setback in the battle to reduce the 48,000 Canadian lives lost every year to smoking, according to a new independent study released on Jan. 11.
The review, covering more than 340 articles of evidence on e-cigarette flavorings, concludes that they are “inextricably linked” to smoking cessation and should be made more accessible and affordable to adults trying to quit.
“Well-regulated use of flavors can and should be considered as a valuable tool to help prevent disease and save the lives of adult smokers who cannot or will not quit by themselves or with other approved methods,” says report author Konstantinos Farsalinos, a cardiologist with a career devoted to tobacco harm reduction.
Farsalinos released his review at a webinar on Dec. 15, 2021.
The report, which examines the science, consumer insights, risks and regulatory considerations related to e-cigarettes, comes as Health Canada seeks to implement a ban on flavored vapes.
“We’re at a crossroads where policymakers are about to turn away from the evidence showing flavors help smokers transition to products that carry only a fraction of the risk of combustible cigarettes, thereby preventing disease and saving lives,” said Farsalinos.
“If bans were allowed, it would ultimately drive consumers to tampering, illicitly traded products, towards the black market, or back to traditional cigarettes.”
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are now the overriding method of choice for smokers who want to quit, says the report. Studies show users of flavored e-cigarettes are up to three times more successful.
The review highlights the work of David Levy, who developed the Smoking and Vaping Model, which allows researchers to calculate the life-saving potential if all adult cigarette smokers were to switch to nicotine vaping products. Applied to Canada, 130,000 deaths could be avoided between 2012 and 2052 if Canadian smokers switched to vaping. This would save 2.5 million life years.
The report points out that flavors are used to improve the efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy products, such as lozenges and gums, which feature on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines.
“Surely, if the WHO considers flavorings an essential anti-smoking tool in nicotine lozenges, the same should apply for consumer acceptance in nicotine vaping products” said Farsalinos.
“Vaping is already delivering results in Canada by helping long-term smokers who have struggled to quit to finally give up the habit. To misguidedly deny desperate smokers their best chance of quitting is needlessly putting their health at risk.”
The report recommends better access and affordability for quitting tools such as flavored vapes “through proportionate, risk-based regulation and robust monitoring.”
Concerns about underage use of vapes would be best addressed by focusing on youth access at the point of sale and the elimination of flavor descriptors clearly targeting the young, it adds.
January 11, 2022
Riot Labs Launches Carbon-Negative Disposable Vaporizer

Image: Riot Labs
E-liquids producer Riot Labs claims to have launched the world’s first carbon negative disposable vaporizer, QBAR.
Available in U.K. stores and online from Jan. 11, the compact device is Riot Lab’s first disposable product. The product will be available in several U.K.-manufactured flavors and three nicotine strengths. Each device offers 550 puffs—equivalent of 30 cigarettes—before requiring disposal.
“The launch of QBAR, our first venture into disposables, and our new brand campaign, is all geared up to changing the status quo on smoking cessation, and continue to deliver on our mission to help people quit smoking,” said Ben Johnson, who founded Riot Labs in 2016.
QBAR is made from three elements that are all 100 percent recyclable. The outer casing is made from PLA plastic cornstarch, which is decomposable, but will be recycled into clothing, vinyl records and material for 3D printing. The 420 MAH A battery will be being reused in future devices and other electronic devices. The mouthpiece, which contains the liquid, will be incinerated power going into the national grid
Riot Labs is also launching a Riot Recycle program to make it simple for stores and customers to recycle their devices, of. Consumers can drop their QBARs off at Riot Recycling Bins in specialist stores for dismantling and recycling.
Ambitiously aiming for Zero Waste, Riot Labs also plans to work with stores to track how much waste each has saved so they can continue to optimize and find ways to achieve further reductions.
“From day one, it’s been our mission to help people quit smoking for good, through creating products that are better for people, and better for the planet,” said Johnson.
“Everywhere you look, companies are making efforts to be greener but that isn’t happening fast enough in the vape sector. We’re proud to lead the way with the first carbon negative disposable device—with its unique benefits we believe it will make a big impact on people’s smoking cessation journeys.”
January 11, 2022
Alaska’s 75% Wholesale Tax Would Harm Health
A new proposal that would introduce a 75 percent wholesale tax on vapor products in Alaska could make switching from combustible tobacco products very expensive for smokers. If enacted, HB 110 (SB 45) would tax nicotine vapor products (including components) at a rate comparable to the rate on other tobacco products and cigarettes.
Credit: Eyegelb
Such a steep tax would markedly increase vapor products retail prices, which could limit the number of smokers that switch, according to Ulrik Boesen of the Tax Foundation. “While excise taxes on both cigarettes and vapor products can be a legitimate way to recoup some societal costs associated with nicotine consumption, it is hard to justify equal tax treatment between vapor products and combustible tobacco,” Boesen writes. “Worse than the disproportionate tax rate is the substitution that is likely to result in increased smoking as a result of the tax—a net negative for public health in Alaska. One recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that increasing taxes on vapor products would increase the number of smokers.”
Boesen recommends that lawmakers avoid price-based taxes. He says that for states seeking to recoup some societal costs associated with combustible cigarette consumption, taxes should be based on the e-liquid quantity. “Whether a device is expensive or cheap really does not matter for any harm resulting from use,” he writes. “For vapor products, the obvious choice is taxing the liquid by volume (that is, per ml). Such a design would actually target the harmful behavior and avoids taxing devices and components.”
In a statement accompanying the legislation, the bill sponsor, Rep. Sara Hannan (D), mentions youth use as the main reason for introducing the bill. While youth use of any nicotine product is a major issue, there has been marked improvements in tackling youth use in the last few years. In her statement, Rep. Hannan refers to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data from 2018 where 21 percent of high schoolers reported vaping at least once in the last 30 days. In newer data from 2021, 11 percent reported use at least once in the past 30 days, and only 3 percent reported daily use.
January 11, 2022
Study: 9 of 10 Filipinos Support Proposed Vape Bill
A consumer study shows that 9 out of 10 smokers in the Philippines support the enactment of the proposed vaping bill. The study’s respondants believe that the government should enact policies to encourage adult smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives to cigarettes while also ensuring these products are not used by minors.
Credit: Carsten Reisinger
The Senate and House of Representatives approved in 2021 their respective versions of the measure, according to the Manila Times. The House of Representatives on May 25, 2021 approved its own version of the measure — House Bill (HB) 9007 or the “Non-Combustible Nicotine Delivery Systems Regulation Act.”
SB 2239 and HB 9007 will be reconciled by a bicameral conference committee and ratified by the two chambers when sessions resume after the holidays. The reconciled bill will then be submitted to the President for his approval and signature. If Duterte signs the bill into law, the Vaporized Nicotine Products Bill will regulate e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs) and other vaporized nicotine products while ensuring that they contribute to government revenues.
The study was conducted by Acorn Marketing and Research Consultants and commissioned by consumer advocacy group Vapers PH in August 2021. Acorn is the largest independent Asian research network with offices in 11 Asian countries including the Philippines. The survey had a sample size of 2,000 legal-age smokers. Results of the survey showed that 90 percent of the respondents believe that the government should come up with new ways to reduce the harm caused by smoking cigarettes.
Intended to help adult smokers quit cigarettes, the bill has strong measures intended to protect minors from accessing and consuming the device.
January 9, 2022
Malaysia Postpones Start of Controversial E-Liquid Tax

Photo: Holger
The government of Malaysia has postponed implementation of a new tax on e-liquids following complaints from vapor companies and consumers, according to The Malaysia Reserve.
The proposal called for a duty of MYR1.20 ($0.29) per ml of vape liquid or gel, which could have more than doubled the retail prices of bottles for open-systems.
“We are not surprised by this deferment, considering the blowback from vape industry players and consumers over the high duty rate,” said CGS-CIMB Securities analyst Kamarul Anwar.
Vapor companies said the tax would make e-cigarettes more expensive than tobacco cigarettes and force the industry to compete with much-less expensive black market products.
“The tax rates implemented should be made with proportional risks of the product benefits to the hardcore smoking community,” Malaysian Vape Industry Advocacy President Rizani Zakaria told The New Straits Times in October.
The proposal also ran into opposition from medical groups. “The taxation levels for tobacco harm reduction products in Malaysia must remain risk-proportionate, benchmarked against high-risk products such as cigarettes,” Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia president Steven Chow said in a statement last November.
Malaysia currently prohibits nicotine sales for non-medical purposes. Earlier this year, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin informed the World Health Organization that the country would legalize and regulate vaping products to prevent youth access.
January 7, 2022
PHD Marketing Settles VPR Brands IP Dispute for $85,000

Illustration: VPR Brands
PHD Marketing has agreed to pay VPR Brands $85,000 to settle an intellectual property dispute. As part of the deal, VPR Brands has granted PHD a nonexclusive, non-assignable license to practice the invention set forth in the patent.
This U.S. patent includes claims covering electronic cigarette products containing an electric airflow sensor, including a sensor comprised of a diaphragm microphone. The sensor turns the battery on and off, and covers most auto-draw, e-cigarettes, cigalikes, pod devices and vaporizers using an airflow sensor rather than a button.
VPR previously filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California alleging patent infringement of U.S. Patent by PHD.
“I want to once again thank our legal team at SRIPLAW for their hard work and diligence in settling this matter,” said VPR CEO Brands Kevin Frija in a statement. “It is a Win-Win for All parties when a dispute can be settled ahead of trial.”
Previously, HQDTECH USA and Nepa 2 Wholesale agreed to pay more than $275,000 to VPR Brands for infringing on the same patent.
January 7, 2022
Vape Startup Said to Spread Falsehoods to Promote Product
Respira Technologies is likely using a website to spread misinformation about vaping in order to promote its own product. Jim McDonald of Vaping360 reports that a website promoted by Respira contains false allegations that a scientist commissioned by Public Health England (PHE) and an author of the “vaping is 95 percent safer” than combustible cigarettes study had financial ties to the tobacco industry.
The California-based company with plans to pursue drug approval for an inhaled nebulizer-style nicotine replacement therapy product has also engaged in a smear campaign suggesting Juul Labs and other vaping product manufacturers may be responsible for causing some of the “EVALI” lung injury cases, and has encouraged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to adopt standards that would prevent most consumer vapor products from being authorized for sale, according to McDonald.
Respira links its own website to a site called “Vaping Fact Checker” that attempts to tie nicotine vaping to the 2019 “EVALI” lung injury outbreak. A page on the site titled “EVALI Linked Products” shows Juul, SMOK and Suorin products and implies that they have caused or could cause “EVALI.”
Under the heading “Myth Busting,” the Vaping Fact Checker website also claims that “one of the authors” of Public Health England’s 2015 e-cigarette evidence review has “financial ties” to tobacco company Philip Morris International.
British tobacco harm reduction advocate Clive Bates, who has followed and been part of the debate over the 2015 PHE report, is director of Counterfactual Consulting and a former director of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) in the UK, said that it appears the author of the Vaping Fact Checker claim has (either misinformation or disinformation) confused the PHE review with a separate paper authored by a group of experts led by drug researcher David Nutt.
“It is both offensive and preposterous to claim that the experts undertaking Public Health England’s evidence reviews were somehow compromised by tobacco industry interests,” Bates told Vaping360. “They are all scientists of the highest standing with no conflicts of interest.”
January 6, 2022
IQOS Iluma Prime Debuts in Switzerland Duty Free

Photo: Taco Tuinstra
Philip Morris International has launched the new IQOS Iluma Prime in Switzerland duty free, according to DFNI Frontier.
The announcement follows the market launch of IQOS Iluma in Japan in 2021.
The IQOS Iluma Prime is PMI’s first tobacco-heating system to introduce induction-heating technology, which utilizes no blade and requires no cleaning.
“Our objective is a world without cigarettes, a world where cigarettes are replaced by smoke-free alternatives that are a better choice than continued smoking,” said PMI CEO Jacek Olczak. “We have launched several generations of our IQOS heated-tobacco system, expanding our portfolio to offer constantly improved, science-backed solutions that take advantage of advancements in technology and address pain points heard from consumers.
“This commitment to continuous innovation plays a significant role in our ambition to deliver a smoke-free future. The launch of IQOS Iluma, our most innovative device yet, gives adult smokers another better choice and represents an important leap forward in our efforts to accelerate the end of smoking.”
“IQOS Iluma is our most innovative offering to date and the new flagship in our portfolio of science-backed, smoke-free products. Its breakthrough induction-heating technology heats tobacco from within, without burning, so there’s no smoke, no ash and, like previous IQOS devices, it emits, on average, 95 percent lower levels of harmful chemicals compared with cigarettes,” said Michele Cattoni, vice president of heated-tobacco platforms at PMI.
“However, unlike our previous tobacco-heating systems, IQOS Iluma has no blade. That means no tobacco residue or cleaning—ever. With this, and other product features, we aim to address consumer pain points that may have hindered some adult smokers from beginning or maintaining their journey away from cigarettes in the past.”
January 6, 2022
Inquiry Shows Extent of Illicit Vapor Market in Liverpool
An inquiry into the extent of the illicit vaping and e-cigarette products market has revealed the scale of Liverpool, England’s growing black market. City council trading standards officers found large numbers of retailers in the city selling illegal vaping products.
Credit: SYCprod
Vaping devices are highly regulated by the government to control the amount of nicotine available and have to be approved by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA), according to a story in Liverpool’s Echo newspaper. The devices should contain no more than 2 percent nicotine or hold more than two millilitres of liquid, equivalent to 600 puffs or a packet of cigarettes.
However, in a recent test purchasing exercise across the city to check on compliance, officers were able to buy illegal products at 74 retailers – some containing up to 3,500 puffs, almost six times above the legal limit. Now council is offering the retail trade the opportunity to contact Trading Standards for advice on their products with the proviso that compliance visits will be carried out in the New Year and any illegal products still on sale will be seized.
The council have also been receiving a large number of complaints over the sale of these products to children and is asking parents with information and evidence to contact them. Councilor Abdul Qadir, cabinet member for Neighborhoods, said: “E-cigarettes and vaping products are seen by many people as a way of giving up smoking.”
January 5, 2022