Turkiye leads the world in per-capita cigarette consumption, with smokers lighting up an average of 17.1 cigarettes per day, reports the Hurriyet Daily News, citing an EU Statistics Office Report.
At least one out of every four people in the total population aged 15 years and above smokes, according to the Tobacco Control Plan 2018-2023. This means that about 20 million people in Turkiye are regular smokers.
Other countries with high levels of per-capita cigarette consumption include Greece, with 15.7 cigarettes; Israel (15.5); Japan (15.5) and Austria (15.4), the report said.
The Kutsaga Tobacco Research Board announced a ban on the use of ethylene dibromide (EDB) in Zimbabwe this year, citing health and environmental concerns, reports The Sunday Mail.
“Ethylene dibromide has been a widely used method for soil fumigation on tobacco for many years,” said Kutsaga pesticide expert Chiyedza Nyamakura. “However, it is important to note that due to its highly hazardous properties and potential negative impact on human and environmental health, EDB will be phased out for use on tobacco by the end of 2024.”
Nyamakura said that farmers have access to several alternative nematicides and soil fumigation formulations. “New active ingredients are currently being evaluated so as to give growers a wide variety to select from,” she added.
The Tobacco Commission (TC) of Malawi has licensed the production of more than 248 million kg in the upcoming growing season, reports Malawi24.
To give growers that missed the December registration an opportunity to participate in the crop, the TC recently extended the deadline to Jan. 31.
TC Public Relations Officer Theophilus Chigwenembe said the commission has not encountered any major challenges affecting the first round of crop estimates survey for the 2023/2024 farming season, which started on 15th this month.
During a recent industry conference in Malawi, government representatives stressed the importance of compliance and data-driven strategies.
“We believe that high quality data management will help all stakeholders not only track and trace our tobacco but also guide minimum performance levels that are expected of tobacco leaf suppliers in areas such as sustainable agriculture, environment and human rights,” Medrina Muloza Banda, principal secretary in the ministry of agriculture, was quoted as saying by the Nyasa Times.
“Ultimately, this will make our tobacco compliant with international standards, thereby making our leaf more compliant to the global demand.”
Tony Abboud, director of the Vapor Technology Association.
When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) for Suorin and Blu PLUS+ e-cigarette products, Tony Abboud, executive director of the Vapor Technology Association (VTA), said the decision was just the latest installment of the FDA and CTP’s efforts to implement its de-facto ban on e-cigarettes in the U.S.
“The constant refrain from CTP is that e-cigarette manufacturers are not providing ‘sufficient scientific evidence’ in their PMTAs, yet CTP refused to answer the Reagan-Udall Foundation’s most fundamental criticism of CTP’s entire regulatory process: that CTP has not clearly articulated what is required to prove what is appropriate for the protection of the public health (APPH) or how it is interpreting what is APPH,” Abboud stated in a release.
He stated that the FDA has failed to objectively define the APPH standard while simultaneously using it to deny marketing authorization to critical smoking cessation and harm-reduction products, which is a “gross overreach” for any governmental institution whose mandate is to follow the science.
“Courts have found that the process has become ‘arbitrary and capricious’ in practice, with CTP leadership choosing on a case-by-case basis how the standard ought to be defined,” he stated. “Meanwhile, companies are simply trying to do the right thing by complying with and adhering to the PMTA process set forth by the FDA.”
Abboud stated that the actions of the FDA and CTP do nothing to protect public health or help Americans who smoke. “VTA once again calls on CTP to reverse course on its misguided actions and restore scientific integrity to its regulatory and decision-making process. Enough is enough,” he wrote.
Thailand’s excise department is considering whether it should implement a single tax rate or a weight-based tax for cigarettes, announced Ekniti Nitithanprapas, excise department director-general, reports Thaiger.
The current tax structure is a two-tier system with a 25 percent tax applied to cigarette packs that retail up to THB72 ($2). This structure is aimed at reducing the impact on low-income consumers. Cigarette packs that retail higher than THB72 are taxed at 42 percent. An additional flat rate tax of THB1.25 per cigarette is also applied regardless of retail price.
The current system has led to manufacturers selling cigarette packs for THB72 to avoid higher tax rates.
If a single rate is decided upon, it would fall between 25 percent and 42 percent.
In October 2021, a 40 percent flat tax rate was set to be implemented but the tobacco authority and tobacco farmers opposed the move due to the potential impact of the tax rate on both parties.
The finance ministry has been tasked to study the cigarette tax structure for the medium-term and the long-term to determine a fair and appropriate single-tier tax rate.
The government of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has banned the storage, sale and use of e-cigarettes for 60 days, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan.
All deputy commissioners have been directed to impose a complete ban on the sale of e-cigarettes and vapes to those under age 21 and its sale and storage within a 50-meter radius of all educational institutions in the province.
Those caught violating these orders will face legal consequences under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
The interim ban follows a series of meetings with the Provincial Alliance for Sustainable Tobacco Control, Blue Veins and KPTCC focused on the dangers of e-cigarettes and vapes and that examined global legislative and policy practices regarding the products’ sale and storage.
“The decision has been taken in wake of alarming increase in use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and vaping devices particularly among children and youth in the province,” said an official notification by the Home and Tribal Affairs Department of Khyber Pakhtukhwa, according to the Pakistan Observer.
“This interim ban is a commendable step by the KP government, reflecting its proactive approach to public health,” said Qamar Naseem, civil society activist. “However, we must solidify this progress through comprehensive provincial legislation to ensure a permanent solution to this growing health concern.”
“This ban is a significant victory for the health and well-being of our children and youth,” said Sana Ahmad, coordinator of the Child Rights Movement KP. “It prevents easy access to addictive substances and protects our future generations from the allure of harmful vaping products.”
“We, the healthcare providers, appreciate the governor and chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for this decisive ban,” said Qazi Shahbaz, president of the Provincial Doctors Association. “It’s a step forward in the right direction, and we now urge the government to enact comprehensive legislation for a complete ban. This is not just a win for public health but a strong message that the health and safety of our citizens, especially our youth, are of paramount importance.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) to Shenzhen Youme Information Technology Co. Ltd. for two Suorin brand e-cigarette products. It also issued Fontem US, LLC MDOs for its Blu PLUS+ brand e-cigarette products.
“Thorough scientific review of tobacco products applications is a key pillar of FDA’s comprehensive regulatory approach,” said Brian King, director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). “It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that sufficient scientific evidence is included in an application to meet the necessary public health standard required by law. In these cases, such evidence was lacking.”
The companies must not market or distribute these products in the United States or they risk FDA enforcement action. The companies may submit new applications for the products that are subject to these MDOs, according to an agency press release.
The FDA denied Suorin Air refillable vaporizers in various colors and an empty refillable cartridge. The FDA stated that Suorin Air’s empty cartridges would allow consumers to fill the cartridge with an e-liquid purchased separately.
“The applications submitted by Shenzhen Youme Information Technology Co. Ltd. lacked sufficient evidence regarding abuse liability, which is the ability of a tobacco product to promote continued use and the development of addiction and dependence,” the release states.
SMOK recently had 22 products denied, including devices, pods, atomizers, and cartridges. It was the first time the agency has denied strictly hardware products from one company en mass. The products were denied because they were submitted without a specific e-liquid to be used with the devices, according to the FDA.
The denied Blu PLUS+ products include a battery and several prefilled e-liquid pods:
blu PLUS+ Battery
blu PLUS+ Carolina Bold 2.0%
blu PLUS+ Classic Tobacco 1.2%
blu PLUS+ Classic Tobacco 2.4%
blu PLUS+ Gold Leaf 1.2%
blu PLUS+ Gold Leaf 2.4%
blu PLUS+ Menthol 1.2%
blu PLUS+ Menthol 2.4%
“Among other deficiencies in their applications, Fontem US, LLC failed to include sufficient ingredient information, harmful and potentially harmful constituent (HPHC) yield quantities, and abuse liability information.,” the FDA stated. “In addition, the applicant did not provide sufficient evidence demonstrating that the flavored new products have a potential to benefit adult smokers, in terms of complete switching or significant cigarette use reduction, that would outweigh the risk to youth.
The FDA also issued MDOs for additional blu PLUS+ products not listed above. The regulatory only publicly names products that the FDA or the manufacturer has confirmed to be currently marketed to avoid the release of confidential commercial information.
RLX Technology presented its “Corporate Social Responsibility Report.” The report outlines the firm’s annual progress in fulfilling various corporate social responsibilities, including rural revitalization, product-related responsibility, corporate governance, environmental responsibility and employee responsibility.
According to the report, as of 2023, RLX has invested a total of CNY44.3 million ($6.2 million) in areas such as biodiversity conservation and rural revitalization. By the end of April 2023, RLX had effectively generated approximately 120,000 employment opportunities along the supply chain and accumulated research and development investments totaling CNY800 million.
Navigating the delicate balance between compliance and innovation is the most crucial challenge for RLX, according to a company press release. In pursuit of a first-class user experience, the company says it not only strictly adheres to regulatory requirements by developing products in line with national standards to ensure quality and safety but is also comprehensively upgrading its research and development system. This involves establishing eight major laboratory matrices and rigorous factory quality control to enhance product innovation. The report reveals that as of April 2023, RLX has applied for nearly 900 patents globally.
From child-proof locks to anti-dry burn functions, each of the eight laboratories plays a specific role in developing products that meet both regulatory requirements and user-experience expectations. The Innovation Lab, for example, focuses on material purification and flavor perception, significantly reducing the risk of alterations to product taste and flavor. The Quality and Safety Lab conducts tests such as drop and negative pressure tests to ensure product stability in extreme environments. This lab has received accreditation from China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment.
Since outlining its “1+4” scientific research path in 2020, RLX has initiated nearly 50 research projects to fill the gaps in the field of vape science. The report highlights several breakthrough achievements from the past year. In November 2022, the first domestic clinical study on electronic cigarettes initiated by RLX was published in the medical SCI journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research. By the end of April 2023, RLX had conducted 17 collaborative research projects, publishing 11 research papers in authoritative journals.
“From 2022 to 2023, whether in the Chinese e-cigarette industry or at RLX Technology, it has been an extremely important period. We wholeheartedly respond to policies and actively address various changes, not only fulfilling strict compliance and providing reassuring products as ‘required actions’ but also contributing our modest efforts in ‘voluntary actions’ such as wildlife protection and rural revitalization to enhance social well-being,” said Kate Wang, founder and CEO of RLX.
Quality Importers Trading Co. (QI) has rejoined the Cigar Association of America (CAA) after over a decade absence.
CAA President David Ozgo stated, “Quality Importers Trading Co. is one of the world’s leading suppliers of the highest quality cigar accessories and accoutrement to the cigar trade. It is an honor and a privilege to be able [to] represent them as we advance sound public policies for the cigar sector in Washington, D.C., and the states.”
Founded 24 years ago by Mike Giordano and based in Weston, Florida, USA, Quality Importers Trading Co. is a B2B product innovator, importer, distributor and representative to a network of manufacturers across the world, specializing in the areas of wooden ware, plastic injection molding, metal stamping and product packaging. QI’s core distribution businesses reside in cigar storage and packaging, home organization and warehouse packaging supplies.
“Quality Importers products are used by premium cigar smokers worldwide, and it is important to us to continue to actively support the premium cigar industry,” said QI President and Chief Operating Officer Alex Goldman said. “I have worked with the CAA on and off since 1998 and have always valued the professionalism and level of support the organization provides. I am proud that QI has joined CAA as a supporting member and look forward to deepening our ties with the association and its member companies.”
CAA is the leading national trade association representing manufacturers, distributors, importers, suppliers and all channels of retailers in the cigar industry and traces its roots back to the 1890s.
Mozambique exported tobacco worth $49.4 million in the first nine months of 2023, a quarter less than in the previous year, reports Club Mozambique, citing central bank figures.
According to the Bank of Mozambique, tobacco exports in the first three quarters of 2022 amounted to $66.4 million.
Mozambique has the world’s eighth largest tobacco growing area, according to the World Health Organization. With tobacco cultivated over 91,469 hectares, Mozambique is third largest grower in the African region after Zimbabwe (112,770 hectares) and Malawi (100,962).
Brazil, by comparison, cultivates, 357,230 hectares.
“In addition, the applicant did not provide sufficient evidence demonstrating that the flavored new products have a potential to benefit adult smokers, in terms of complete switching or significant cigarette use reduction, that would outweigh the risk to youth.
RLX Technology presented its “
