Author: Taco Tuinstra

  • Zimbabwe Urged to Mitigate Farmers’ Losses

    Zimbabwe Urged to Mitigate Farmers’ Losses

    Photo: Taco Tuinstra

    The Tobacco Farmers Union Trust (TFUT) is calling for the localization of tobacco beneficiation to help mitigate losses caused by adverse weather conditions and soaring production costs in Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector.

    The appeal follows a 20 percent drop in production, with farmers yielding 231 million kg of tobacco during the 2023–2024 farming season, largely attributed to a drought induced by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

    Tobacco beneficiation refers to the process of adding value to raw tobacco, enhancing its quality, usability and application beyond its conventional uses. Through its Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan, the Zimbabwean government aims to elevate the economic value of tobacco, ultimately benefiting both farmers and the broader economy by creating higher value products and generating jobs within the supply chain.

    “Tobacco margins continue to dwindle due to low yields associated with low rainfall patterns and skyrocketing input costs. High earnings often reported in the public domain are mainly benefiting some merchants, contractors and related value chain actors,” said Edward Dune, deputy president of the TFUT, in an interview with NewsDay Business. According to Dune, the localization of tobacco product beneficiation is a key objective of a forthcoming tobacco transformation plan.

  • Consumer Groups Demand Seat at COP11

    Consumer Groups Demand Seat at COP11

    Photo: v-a-butenkov

    The Coalition of Asia Pacific Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) is calling on the World Health Organization to open the upcoming Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Conference of the Parties (COP11) to consumer advocacy groups, in line with human rights principles and evidence-based policymaking.

    “The WHO FCTC process must adopt a human rights approach that considers the implications across the entire life cycle of tobacco products, from growing to consumption,” said Nancy Loucas, executive coordinator of the CAPHRA. “This requires meaningful engagement of all stakeholders, including consumers, to strengthen policy formulation and implementation.”

    The CAPHRA points to a WHO Western Pacific Regional Office’s report highlighting that “a key element to creating a successful tobacco control social movement is the meaningful engagement and involvement of civil society.” The report notes civil society’s crucial role in “initiating, leading and sustaining tobacco control efforts to improve public health.”

    “Consumer groups are not constrained by bureaucracy and can hold both industry and government accountable,” Loucas added. “Our exclusion from COP11 flies in the face of the WHO’s stated principles on civil society engagement.”

    The CAPHRA is urging the FCTC Secretariat to formally invite consumer advocacy groups as observers to COP11, to create dedicated sessions for civil society input during COP11 proceedings and to establish an ongoing mechanism for consumer group consultation between COPs.

    The organization emphasizes that evidence clearly shows tobacco harm reduction strategies like vaping have helped millions quit smoking. Consumer voices are critical to ensure policies reflect real-world impacts.

    “The WHO cannot claim to take a human rights approach while silencing the very people their policies affect,” said Loucas. “It’s time to practice what they preach on civil society engagement and let consumers into COP11.”

  • Puffs with Proof

    Puffs with Proof

    Image: The Little Hut

    Why new age verification technology could help solve youth appeal

    By Chris Allen

    The use of e-cigarettes has become more prominent as a smoking cessation tool and has gained popularity among young people. This has caused governments to act, with administrations across the U.K. introducing bans on disposable vaping devices to curb their popularity. One solution is for manufacturers to ensure proper age-gating technology is in place. In this article, Chris Allen, CEO of nicotine testing and regulatory consultancy Broughton, outlines the age-gating options that are available to manufacturers and how it can help bring products to market quicker.

    As governments ban disposables, there is an increasing focus on what manufacturers and retailers can do to replace them but without treading a similar path with subsequent vaping products. The challenge of switching adult smokers presents a paradoxical situation in that any reduced-risk nicotine product must deliver sufficient nicotine to relieve cravings. However, such a delivery mechanism introduces a risk of abuse liability, i.e., the potential to addict naive nicotine users. Disposable products are an exceptional tool to replace the convenience of a pack of cigarettes and a box of matches, due to convenience. Yet, this convenience also increases the risk of abuse liability to youth.

    A shift toward reusable, pod-based systems is likely, given that, prior to disposables’ rise, these were the main consumer products to emerge as the main alternative to smoking.

    Therefore, any leading product that emerges following a disposables ban must not follow the same route as disposables when it comes to youth appeal.

    While many suggest different flavors are part of the youth appeal, there is evidence from studies, including one from the University of Bristol, published in the Journal of Harm Reduction, that a variety of flavors is one of the factors helping smokers quit, with some participants in the study suggesting that a ban on flavors could lead to those who had quit using vapes to return to combustible cigarettes. However, manufacturers may need to take steps to ensure new products do not end up in the hands of young people.

    Indeed, in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration has placed stringent marketing restrictions to prevent youth access and exposure, including the enforcement of existing laws, prohibiting vending machines from selling the products and its youth tobacco prevention plan, which features education programs for both teenagers and for retailers. With flavored products, there is a higher burden of proof on the manufacturer that the benefit to adults who use combustible cigarettes outweighs the increased risk of youth use.

    Age-Gating

    To ensure that vapes don’t end up in the hands of young people, age verification technology has been suggested as one solution to combat this issue. There are several passive youth access prevention measures in place, such was those that prohibit the sale of vapes to minors and the prevention of marketing targeting these age groups, but the evidence suggests that this is insufficient. Within the U.S., the FDA has clearly stated that marketing and sales restrictions alone are not sufficient to mitigate the risk to youth when assessing applications for a nontobacco-flavored product.

    There is a clear need to develop active measures that ensure vaping products do not end up in young peoples’ hands. Therefore, there has been a market trend toward biometric restrictions for age verification. Retailers, for example, have been experimenting with digital identification tools, but there is scope for manufacturers to include age-gating technology in their product design.

    There is a chance that regulators, such as the FDA, will look favorably on age-gating technology being included as part of the product. Rather than waiting several years for a marketing order like with existing smoking cessation products, manufacturers who include age-gating technology may find a quicker route to market.

    Should manufacturers decide to include age-gating technology to prevent youth access, it is essential that the robustness and security of the technology is demonstrated during any regulatory submission. Additionally, it’s important not to create barriers for adult smokers, as complex procedures of device locks may see nicotine users reaching for the most accessible source of nicotine, combustible cigarettes.

    There are several ways in which a manufacturer may approach the age-gating issue. For example, one solution may be through a mobile app and user database, but manufacturers need to pay a lot of consideration to the technology infrastructure—in how any software works with the device and any third-party age verification tool.

    By working with an expert partner from the outset on product design, analytical testing, stability studies and regulatory standards, this can help bring manufacturers’ next-generation product to market quicker.

    Chris Allen is the CEO of Broughton.
  • Derailing Harm Reduction?

    Derailing Harm Reduction?

    Image: ArieStudio

    The unhelpful contribution of illicit vaping products

    By Pieter Vorster and Sudhanshu Patwardhan

    The rise of vaping as an alternative to smoking has brought the promise of significant net public health benefits but equally meaningful regulatory challenges. While legitimate vaping products can serve as a powerful harm reduction tool for adult smokers, the proliferation of illicit vaping products has introduced a plethora of problems that require careful consideration.

    This article will address the various impacts of illicit vaping products—ranging from health risks and tax revenue loss to underage use, environmental concerns and the potential for increased criminal activity. In countries where vaping products are banned, the illicit vape market has not only taken over but is also leading to a vicious cycle of vilifying an entire category of products that potentially offer a much less risky alternative to combustible tobacco users. The accompanying stigmatization and criminalization of smokers who seek safer alternatives is an affront to human rights. We will also explore the key drivers of the illicit market and potential solutions to mitigate these.

    Health Risks Associated With Illicit Vaping Products

    A key concern with illicit vaping products is the absence of regulatory oversight. Legitimate manufacturers must adhere to safety standards that ensure their products do not pose unnecessary risks to consumers. These regulations cover product composition, labeling and the disclosure of ingredients. In contrast, illicit products bypass these standards, introducing the potential for harmful substances in e-liquids, unsafe nicotine levels or faulty hardware, such as poorly constructed batteries.

    Potential health risks include:

    • Contaminated ingredients: Illicit vaping liquids may contain dangerous additives such as harmful chemicals or poorly sourced nicotine, increasing the risk of respiratory issues and other health problems.
    • Unregulated nicotine levels: Illicit products can contain nicotine concentrations far beyond legal limits, exacerbating addiction or leading to nicotine poisoning.
    • Defective devices: Poorly made or counterfeit devices may lead to malfunctions, such as battery explosions or inadequate heating mechanisms, posing physical dangers to users.

    Loss of Tax Revenue and Market Disruption

    Illicit vaping products not only pose health risks but have economic consequences as well. In jurisdictions where vaping products are subject to excise taxes or sales tax, such as in many European countries and parts of the United States, the sale of untaxed products represents a significant revenue loss for governments. These funds are often intended to support public health programs, anti-smoking initiatives or infrastructure investments. The absence of taxes on illicit products undermines these efforts and contributes to a broader sense of inequity within the market.

    Moreover, the price difference between legal and illicit products distorts the market. Legitimate operators who comply with taxation and regulatory requirements face unfair competition from cheaper illicit products. The lower price points of these illegal products not only make them more accessible but also undermine the efforts of legal businesses to compete, leading to the potential loss of jobs and investment in the legitimate sector.

    Underage Use and Accessibility

    One of the most troubling aspects of illicit vaping products is their role in enabling underage access and use. In most countries, the sale of vaping products to minors is strictly prohibited, and legitimate sellers are typically required to adhere to age verification processes. However, illicit products bypass these restrictions. Without regulated sales channels, these products can be more easily acquired by underage consumers, contributing to a rise in youth vaping.

    Factors contributing to underage use include:

    • Lower prices: The affordability of illicit products makes them more accessible to those who are underage and often more price-sensitive.
    • Unregulated sales channels: Without the oversight that governs legitimate sales, underage individuals can purchase these products through informal networks or online marketplaces with little to no age verification.

    The availability of illicit products for underage users creates a broader public health challenge. While the long-term effects of nicotine on developing brains remain debated, concerns about early nicotine exposure, potential addiction and its impact on cognitive function continue to drive public health discourse and have been key to the Food and Drug Administration’s highly restrictive premarket tobacco product application process in the United States.

    Elsewhere, the rise in underage vaping, fueled by the availability of illicit products, has prompted calls for stricter regulation of the legitimate market. In the U.K., for example, concerns about underage use have led to proposals for more stringent controls on all vaping products, which could inadvertently restrict access for adult smokers who use vaping as a tool for tobacco harm reduction.

    Environmental Concerns

    The environmental impact of illicit vaping products is another significant issue. Many of these products, particularly disposable vapes, are not designed with recyclability in mind. Since illicit manufacturers often prioritize cost savings over environmental considerations, their products are less likely to comply with proper waste disposal or recycling guidelines.

    Environmental risks include:

    • Disposable vapes: Many illicit, disposable vapes are discarded improperly, contributing to plastic waste and electronic waste.
    • Recycling challenges: Legal products are often part of recycling schemes or are designed with recoverable materials, but illicit products do not follow these environmental protocols.

    A lack of proper disposal mechanisms for illicit products not only exacerbates broader environmental challenges such as electronic waste and plastic pollution but also fuels calls for stricter regulation, or bans, of legal products.

    Criminal Violence and the Illicit Market

    In addition to the public health and economic consequences, the illicit vaping market has the potential to fuel criminal activity, particularly organized crime. The sale of untaxed and unregulated products can provide a significant revenue stream for criminal organizations, which, in turn, may lead to increased violence. Australia, which has imposed a de facto ban on vapes through its prescription model, has seen rising concerns about criminal violence linked to the illegal trade in vaping products. As the illicit market grows, so does the likelihood of violence between rival groups vying for control of the black market.

    Illicit Vaping—A Bipolar Problem?

    Growth in the illicit vaping market is being driven by a combination of factors. Peculiarly, the two bookends of the regulatory spectrum pose the highest risk: overly restrictive or prohibitive at one end and notification with poor enforcement at the other. It is easy to understand why prohibition or overly restrictive frameworks can be conducive for illicit products in the market—decades of prohibition experiments on alcohol, drugs and even chewing gums have shown how that can skew market economics in favor of bad actors.

    Regulations that are perceived as overly restrictive can push consumers and sellers toward the black market. In countries like Australia and the United States, where vaping regulations are particularly stringent, the high cost of compliance, limited access to legal products and high taxes can drive demand for illicit alternatives. These overly restrictive policies, while intended to protect public health, may inadvertently encourage consumers to seek out cheaper, unregulated options that bypass legal requirements.

    In the U.S., where only a limited number of products have been granted marketing authorization by the FDA (none of which are disposable), disposable vapes are estimated to account for close to 60 percent of national unit sales in tracked sales channels.

    Australia is another widely reported example of rampant sales of illicit vapes in response to a draconian regulatory framework, and the list does not end there. India and Thailand, among others where sales of vaping products are banned, have seen significant black markets emerge.

    At the other end are countries where there is no requirement for authorization per se and a basic notification process is considered adequate. Indeed, it may seem counterintuitive that harm reduction goals could be helped by the introduction of barriers to product launches and rapid innovation. However, an overly simplified notification process has the potential to put excessive responsibility on enforcement agencies in the marketplace. For example, in jurisdictions where a vaping product/SKU can be launched following a simple notification process of contents and related risk assessments, the potential exists for unscrupulous manufacturers and distributors to introduce products containing illegal additives or higher-than-allowed nicotine levels in a seemingly legal way. The EU Tobacco Products Directive and its transposition into local regulations in EU and ex-EU countries such as the U.K. creates such a situation. In the U.K., the U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) believes that 40 percent to 60 percent of disposable vapes sold in the U.K. are likely illicit.

    A lack of adequate resources for law enforcement agencies also contributes to the persistence of the illicit market. Without sufficient funding and personnel to investigate and crack down on illegal operators, the illicit trade in vaping products continues to thrive. The combination of an unregulated supply chain and weak enforcement allows illicit products to enter the market relatively unchecked.

    Potential Solutions

    Addressing the issue of illicit vaping products requires a multifaceted approach involving both regulatory reform and enhanced enforcement mechanisms. Some potential solutions include regulatory reform, strengthened law enforcement and public awareness campaigns.

    Regulatory Reform

    Governments must strike a balance between protecting public health and ensuring that regulations do not drive consumers to the black market. By adopting a regulatory framework that allows adult consumers to access legal vaping products while maintaining appropriate safety and quality standards, policymakers can reduce the demand for illicit alternatives. This could involve:

    • Harmonizing regulations: standardizing regulations across jurisdictions to prevent regulatory discrepancies that fuel the illicit trade.
    • Moderate taxation: implementing reasonable excise taxes that do not create a significant price disparity between legal and illicit products.
    • Allowing legal access to adult smokers: Providing adult smokers with accessible, affordable and satisfactory regulated alternatives will discourage the use of unregulated products.

    Strengthening Law Enforcement

    To effectively combat the illicit market, governments must provide law enforcement agencies with the necessary resources to investigate and shut down illegal operators. This could include:

    • Increased funding for investigations: allocating more resources to law enforcement agencies to crack down on illicit vaping supply chains.
    • International cooperation: As the illicit trade often involves cross-border networks, international cooperation between customs and law enforcement agencies can play a vital role in curbing the flow of illegal products.
    • Licensing and tougher penalties: In the U.K., the UKVIA has proposed a mandatory licensing framework for vape retailers and distributors, with fines of up to £10,000 ($13,038) for retailers and £100,000 for distributors. The scheme aims to generate additional funding for enforcement, estimated at £50 million annually.

    Public Awareness Campaigns

    Educating the public about the risks associated with illicit vaping products can help reduce demand. Public awareness campaigns can inform consumers about the health risks, potential legal consequences and environmental harms linked to using unregulated products.

    By addressing the root causes of the illicit vaping market and implementing effective solutions, governments can safeguard public health, protect revenue streams and ensure that vaping products remain accessible to adult consumers seeking harm reduction.

    Sudhanshu Patwardhan is a medical doctor, nicotine expert and health tech entrepreneur from India, based in the U.K. He works on projects around the world to reduce harm from tobacco, especially among the most disadvantaged tobacco user populations.
    Pieter Vorster is a harm reduction expert with a long career as a financial analyst reporting on tobacco industry stocks.
  • Catania to Host Conference on Harm Reduction

    Catania to Host Conference on Harm Reduction

    Image: CoEHAR

    The Center of Excellence for the acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) will host its national conference on Oct. 30 at the University of Catania, Italy.

    The 2024 edition will host 25 speakers from prestigious research centers and international universities, including the Moffitt Cancer Center, Dartmouth College, George Washington University and the Milken Institute School of Public Health.

    “Scientific research on harm reduction strategies has reached a critical turning point, where information about new frontiers represented by modified-risk devices can no longer be ignored,” said CoEHAR founder Riccardo Polosa in a statement.

    “This year’s gathering with our colleagues from the harm reduction scientific community will allow us to capture the current state of research, providing even more important answers on the health benefits that modified-risk devices can bring to dental health, vision and diabetes management. There will also be a focus on new technologies and the application of artificial intelligence systems in smoking cessation therapies.”

    The full program can be downloaded here.

  • Macedonian Growers Demand Higher Prices

    Macedonian Growers Demand Higher Prices

    Photo: Taco Tuinstra

    Tobacco growers in North Macedonia are meeting Minister of Agriculture Cvetan Tripunoski today to discuss leaf prices, reports Sloboden Pecat. A meeting with buyers is scheduled for Nov. 4.

    “We are not satisfied with the current price, which is at last year’s level, i.e., MKD375 [$6.58] for the first, MKD300 for the second and MKD260 for the third-class purchased tobacco,” said Kiro Risteski, president of the Union of Tobacco Growers Associations of Macedonia.

    “On Monday, we have a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Cvetan Tripunoski. We think that we will find good cooperation, and on Nov. 4, we will have a meeting with the buyers. Our goal is to achieve a higher price for tobacco, to maintain production, to keep young people working in tobacco, because according to statistics, the average age of tobacco producers is over 50 years old,” said Risteski.

    Tobacco growers in North Macedonia expect to bring about 17 million kg of good-quality tobacco to market this season. Buyers, however, had signed contracts with farmers for 26 million kg.

    The market opens following a mixed growing season. Too much moisture at the start of the production process delayed planting. Subsequent drought boosted quality but reduced yield. Rains toward the end of the production season again boosted volume. Growers planted more than 13,000 hectares this year.

    This year, 10 licensed companies will be buying tobacco.

  • Taiwan Worried About ‘Zombie Vapes’

    Taiwan Worried About ‘Zombie Vapes’

    Image: Pavelkant

    Taiwan authorities are concerned about the growing popularity of “zombie vapes,” e-cigarettes containing etomidate, reports The Taipei Times.

    According to health experts, etomidate is a type of central nervous system depressant that can induce anesthesia. Abusing etomidate could lead to irritability, disorganized behavior, tremors, twitching or even death, explained Lin Yi-ching, a pediatrician at Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital.

    From July to October, authorities seized 14,128 zombie vape cartridges, along with e-liquid and powders that could be made into more than 1.83 million cartridges worth about NTD4.6 billion ($143.33 million).

    While etomidate is listed as a Category 3 narcotic, a review committee will consider whether to upgrade the drug to Category 2, Ministry of Justice Department of Prosecutorial Affairs Director-General Kuo Yung-fa said.

    Overall e-cigarette use among junior high school students in Taiwan increased from 1.9 percent in 2017 to 3.9 percent in 2021, a HPA survey reported by Taiwan News showed. Among senior high school students, the rate rose from 3.4 percent to 8.8 percent during the same period.

    Taiwan outlawed vapes in 2023, with violators risking fines of up to NTD10,000.

  • TIMB Joins GlobalG.A.P.

    TIMB Joins GlobalG.A.P.

    Photo: Taco Tuinstra

    Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has joined GLOBALG.A.P. to help tobacco farmers diversify their operations, reports The Sunday Mail. As part of the government’s Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan, the agency aims to ensure that 30 percent of tobacco farmers’ income comes from alternative crops by 2025.

    GLOBALG.A.P. is an international membership network designed to promote sustainable and safe agricultural practices across the food supply chain.

    Members include producers, retailers, food service companies and other stakeholders who align with the organization’s vision of responsible farming. The community offers opportunities for members to collaborate on setting and refining standards for food safety, sustainability and animal welfare.

    Through the GLOBALG.A.P. Academy, the TIMB has trained certified trainers to build farmers’ capacity in meeting international market standards.

    Additionally, the TIMB now offers GLOBALG.A.P consultancy services to exporting farmers. The agency is also working to develop markets for alternative crops such as sweet potatoes and butternut.

  • Nepali Lawmaker Uncovers Privatization ‘Plot’

    Nepali Lawmaker Uncovers Privatization ‘Plot’

    Scandalously scheming (Photo: Taco Tuinstra)

    A Nepali lawmaker has uncovered “a plot” to privatize the Janakpur Cigarette Factory, reports The Rising Nepal.

    Bimalendra Nidhi, a senior leader of the Nepali Congress party, said that while government officials had informed him that they were in the process of renewing the company’s license, he had heard rumors that the factory was in fact being prepared for privatization.

    Nidhi reminded reporters that the Janakpur Cigarette Factory is the property of Madhes Province and that his party would protest any plans for privatization because it would contravene the principle of federalism.

  • Pakistan Announces New Crackdown on Illicit Trade

    Pakistan Announces New Crackdown on Illicit Trade

    Photo courtesy of Syed Rashid Ali

    Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will significantly step up its crackdown on illicit cigarette sales, starting in January, reports the Associated Press of Pakistan. The government agency plans to hire additional enforcement personnel to support its efforts.

    According to the FBR’s projections, tackling illicit sales could generate between PKR200 billion and PKR250 billion in additional revenue annually, from PKR300 billion to more than PKR500 billion.

    The Action to Counter Illicit Trade (ACT) Alliance welcomed the FBR’s announcement, adding that collaboration across government agencies, provincial authorities and law enforcement was essential in achieving Pakistan’s economic goals.

    “We call on all stakeholders to support FBR’s efforts, reinforcing measures that strengthen tax compliance and encourage economic integrity,” ACT Alliance National Convenor Mubahsir Akram said.

    Seventy percent of cigarettes sold in Pakistan currently evade taxation.