Tag: regulation

UK: ‘Hypothetical Future’ No-Flavor Vape Shop Opens

Credit: Riot Labs
Two vaping businesses joined forces in opening a vape shop that represents a “hypothetical” future store if the U.K. were to ban flavors and implement a newly proposed tax regime.
In a release, e-liquid manufacturer Riot Labs and the vape shop Right Vape opened “The Flavourless Vape Shop” in Northampton to draw attention to the implications of a looming tax rise and flavor ban proposal that Riot Labs states will have a “devastating impact on people trying to quit [combustible cigarettes].”
The group meticulously created their vision, from the signage to the interior decor, and illustrated every detail of what the “hypothetical future” would hold if the ban were in full effect to give vapers and smokers a taste of what might come.
Customers faced two choices: One side of the shop contained “less flavor, less value, and less choice.” Or they could step to the opposite side, where Right Vape would serve them at 2024 prices and allow access to current legal products that would be banned under the proposed rules, according to an emailed release.
The launch event featured a Rishi Sunak lookalike to help cut the “opening” ribbon and serve customers the proposed expensive and flavorless vapes.
“We’re committed to supporting smokers who want to quit and have already helped thousands to stop over the past 7 years,” said Ryan Michlig, owner of Right Vape shop. “The proposed vaping legislation is going to be so detrimental to everyone who wants to quit smoking. Partnering with Riot Labs to open the Flavourless Vape Shop and bring awareness to the new legislation was a no-brainer.
“We wanted to create an experience that showed what the legislation could be like in real-time and get invaluable feedback from customers about how it’ll impact them.”
A recent study conducted by One Poll and commissioned by the UKVIA found that 83 percent of surveyed vapers say flavored vapes helped them “pack in their smoking habit.”
It also found that 1 in 3 respondents (an estimated 1.5 million vapers) believe a ban on flavors would lead them back to conventional cigarettes.
“The reality of the new legislation is giving people less choice, less value and ultimately less reasons to quit smoking at all. Adults depend on flavors to support their quit-smoking journey, and this legislation is going to have a detrimental impact on smokers trying to quit,” said Ben Johnson, CEO for Riot Labs. “There are better ways to deal with youth vaping such as an enforceable licensing scheme for all retailers.”
May 31, 2024
FDA Inspections End in Fines For 10 Vape Retailers
Credit: Adobe Stock
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it is seeking civil money penalties (CMPs) from nine brick-and-mortar retailers and one online retailer for selling Elf Bar products.
The FDA previously issued warning letters to these retailers for selling unauthorized tobacco products. However, follow-up inspections revealed that the retailers had failed to correct the violations.
The agency is now seeking a CMP of $20,678 from each retailer.
“The $20,678 CMP sought from each retailer is consistent with similar CMPs sought against retailers for the sale of unauthorized Elf Bar products over the last few months, including February and April of this year,” the FDA states.
The retailers can pay the penalty, enter into a settlement agreement, request an extension to respond or request a hearing. Retailers that do not take action within 30 days after receiving a complaint risk a default order imposing the full penalty amount.
May 30, 2024
Smoking Down, Vaping Up Among Indonesian Minors

Photo: Taco Tuinstra
Smoking is down but vaping is up among Indonesian minors, reports The Jakarta Globe, citing a recent health survey.
According to the Indonesian Health Survey (SKI), the prevalence of smoking among 10-18-year-olds decreased to 7.4 percent in 2023, down from 9.1 percent recorded in the 2018 Basic Health Research.
However, the figure is still higher than the 7.2 percent prevalence in 2013 and the 5.4 percent target set in the 2015-2019 National Medium-Term Development Plan, noted Eva Susanti, director of non-communicable disease prevention and control at the Health Ministry during a World No Tobacco Day media briefing in Jakarta on May 29.
Minors’ use of e-cigarettes, meanwhile, increased from 0.06 percent in 2018 to 0.13 percent in 2023.
The Health Ministry is intensifying efforts to prevent children from smoking or vaping. This includes banning the consumption of tobacco and e-cigarettes by children and pregnant women, prohibiting tobacco advertising on social media, and outlawing the sale of single cigarettes.
May 29, 2024
Philippines: New Vape Rules to Begin in June
Credit: Adobe Photo
The new Vape Law in the Philippines will take effect on June 1. The new rules also apply to all next-generation tobacco products, including heat-not-burn and e-cigarettes. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will require all vape products to be registered with the agency on that date, an official said on Tuesday.
At a forum organized by the Bantay Konsumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3) in Makati, DTI Undersecretary Amanda Nograles said the “importation and manufacturing of vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products and novel tobacco products must now undergo the DTI certification process.”
This means that products must have the Philippine Standard (PS) mark and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker first before they can be sold on the market.
Nograles said at least 3 companies have already applied for registration, and they urge others to begin the process since the registration may take some time. She clarified that there will be a 6-month transition period to allow all firms to comply.
“We will allow them to sell all the existing inventory. On January 5, 2025, we will do market clearing. There should be no vape products without a PS license and ICC [sticker],” Nograles said, adding that the agency will continue to monitor shops to ensure that no minors will be allowed to buy vape products. They will also check if the vape has marijuana oil.
May 29, 2024
Isle of Man Sets 18 as Age to Purchase Vape Products
Credit: Markuk97
The Isle of Man has banned the sale of vaping products to anyone aged 18 and under.
The new rules, which bring the island into line with laws introduced in the UK in 2016, also makes it illegal for a person over the age of 18 to buy a minor any vaping product.
Further measures that will ban the public display or advertising of vaping products in any place on the island where under-18s are admitted will apply from September, according to media reports.
Cabinet Office Minister Kate Lord-Brennan said the measures were “an important move for the current and future health of young people.”
May 27, 2024
Cook Islands Bans Vapes, Smoking Age Raised to 21

Credit: Fadlanbolang
The Cook Islands is set to ban imitation tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, and will raise the smoking age from 18 to 21.
Importing and distributing imitation tobacco products could result in a NZD$100,000 ($61,000) fine or up to three months in prison for an individual.
While businesses caught doing the same face a $1,000,000 fine, additionally, non-compliant businesses will incur a daily penalty of $100,000 for each day the violation continues.
The Tobacco Control Amendment Bill 2024 passed its third reading in Parliament last week, with most members of parliament supporting it, according to media reports.
Visitors over 21 will be exempt from the new rules and can bring one imitation tobacco device containing up to 30 milliliters of liquid.
Other restrictions include the prohibition of displaying tobacco products for sale and the ban on smoking in public places, with limited exceptions.
Businesses selling tobacco products will also need a license to do so.
Nick Dun, the manager of South Seas, a store in Rarotonga that sells e-cigarette products, said he thought vaping provided a better alternative to tobacco products.
“It means some people will unfortunately fall back into tobacco smoking, which may be harder to give up in the future and will impact them financially,” Dun said.
He said his business felt there was a need for alternatives to tobacco products.
“For a lot of people, they believed that they actually felt better, and when they started vaping [they] didn’t want to go back to tobacco smoking.
“For a percentage of our customers, vaping was basically them trying to give up smoking and kind of the stepping stone to giving up.”
May 22, 2024
PMTA Filed for Njoy ACE 2.0 With Age Verification

Credit: Kristina Blokhin
Njoy, a subsidiary of Altria, submitted a supplemental premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the commercialization and marketing of its ACE 2.0 device.
The new device includes access restriction technology designed to prevent underage use. This is achieved through Bluetooth connectivity, which authenticates the user before unlocking the device. The company has also re-submitted PMTAs for blueberry- and watermelon-flavored pod products, which are exclusively compatible with the Njoy ACE 2.0 device.
“Altria’s Vision is to responsibly lead the transition of adult smokers to a smoke-free future. We’re excited to build on our existing FDA-authorized products,” said Shannon Leistra, president & CEO of Njoy. “Njoy ACE 2.0 includes critical technology features to prevent underage access to flavored Njoy products while also responsibly providing flavored options for adult smokers and vapers.”
The Njoy ACE is the only pod-based vaping product currently with marketing authorization from the FDA. In the first quarter of 2024, Njoy announced it had broadened distribution to over 80,000 stores and expects to expand to approximately 100,000 stores by year-end.
Njoy also continued the roll-out of the brand’s first retail trade program, which is designed to help achieve optimal retail visibility and product fixture space, according to a press release.
“Given the widespread illicit flavored e-vapor marketplace, this product offers the FDA a sound solution for balancing the known risk to youth with an opportunity to offer adults legal, regulated choices,” said Paige Magness, senior vice president of Regulatory Affairs of Altria Client Services. “We hope the FDA prioritizes the review and authorization of this application given its interest in device access restriction technologies to reduce youth access.”
Njoy had previously received marketing denial orders for its blueberry (2.4% and 5% nicotine strengths) and watermelon (2.4% and 5% nicotine strengths) pods, noting that “…Rather, for flavored Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS), only the most stringent mitigation measures – specifically device access restrictions – have such mitigation potential.”
Njoy stated that it believes these applications sufficiently address the FDA’s concerns regarding underage use by incorporating device age and identity-based access restriction and demonstrating that these restrictions are effective at preventing underage access in virtually all cases. Currently, the FDA has not authorized the marketing of any non-tobacco-flavored vaping product.
May 20, 2024
Judge Allows Ohio Cities to Enact Local Flavor Laws
Credit: Promesa Art Studio
A judge in Ohio has ruled that the state law that prohibits cities from banning flavored tobacco is unconstitutional.
Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Mark Serrott’s Friday ruling allows bans in Columbus and other cities to stay in effect.
Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said in a statement that he applauded the decision, according to media reports.
He said, “While we know this may not be the end of the fight, this decision is a significant win for both the city of Columbus and for the health and safety of children and families.”
Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati and 11 other cities sued the state back in April.
The state can appeal the ruling.
May 20, 2024
Costa Rica to Ban Synthetic Nicotine Products

Credit: Adobe Stock
Costa Rican authorities have announced their intent to prohibit vaping, e-cigarette and other tobacco products containing synthetic nicotine in the country.
A proposed resolution will prohibit the “sale, use, commercialization, advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of vaping liquids containing synthetic nicotine and cannabinoids,” the Ministry of Health wrote in a statement.
It will also affect products that “have incorporated cannabinoid-type liquids” because they “represent a health risk,” according to the statement.
The provision will be in effect while the government prepares to reform the law regulating next-generation tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems.
The National Anti-Tobacco Network (Renata) reacted positively to the decision in a statement, highlighting that it “applauds” the government for the new regulation.
“Costa Rica could be on the verge of experiencing a next epidemic of vaping patients,” they argued.
Retailers call the proposal an “injustice,” said Michael Araya, owner of the La Pegona chain of smokers’ stores, according to a media report.
“I’m totally frustrated,” he said. “A lot of people are going to be out of work; continuing in a smoke shop without selling smoking products doesn’t make sense, a very hard blow to all the investment,” Araya added.
May 16, 2024
Age Rising to 21 to Purchase Vape, Tobacco in Ireland
Image: FM2 | Adobe Stock
New legislation is due to come before the Cabinet in Ireland, raising the legal age to buy tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21.
The Minister of Health, Stephen Donnelly, is due to seek Cabinet approval this week for the legislation to increase the legal age by three years, according to media.
While less young people in Ireland are smoking cigarettes, the numbers seem to have plateaued in recent years. The hope iraising rising the age from 18 to 21 will deter younger from smokingo smoke cigarettvapingd vapes, lowering numbers once again.
Minister Donnelly announced his intention to introduce this legislation back in March.
“Really, it’s a measure aimed at people who are 15, 16, 17 years of age that with a smoking age at 18, they find it relatively easy to buy cigarettes…but that if you move to 21 it makes it much more difficult,” he said.
A ban on the sale of tobacco and vape products from vending machines is also set to be introduced.
Further legislation is planned to ban disposable vapes and address issues related to the flavors and bright colors of vape packaging.
May 13, 2024