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Category: News This Week

  • Singapore May Strengthen Laws as Drug-Laced Vapes Surge

    Singapore May Strengthen Laws as Drug-Laced Vapes Surge

    The Singapore government is considering tightening vaping laws in response to a sharp rise in cases of e-vaporizers containing controlled substances like etomidate, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Home Affairs said. In the first half of 2025, 28 cases of e-vape pods containing etomidate — nearly three times the number found in all of 2024 — were detected, raising concerns about public health and drug misuse.

    Etomidate, a regulated anesthetic, has been found illegally in vape products designed for inhalation. The ministries warned of serious side effects, including muscle spasms, seizures, confusion, and potential physical dependence.

    Vaping has been banned in Singapore since 2018, with penalties of up to S$2,000 ($1,560) for use or possession, and up to S$10,000 ($7,800) or six months in jail for sellers and importers. Authorities are now reviewing whether existing legislation provides sufficient enforcement powers and are coordinating efforts across numerous agencies. Over S$41 million ($32 million) worth of illegal vapes were seized from January 2024 to March 2025.

  • KT International Hosts Global Distributor Conference

    KT International Hosts Global Distributor Conference

    KT International SA recently hosted its KTI Distributor Conference 2025, welcoming 50 partners from over 30 countries under the theme “Growing Together.”

    The event showcased KT International’s global growth across 70 markets, featuring strategic sessions, product innovation workshops, and a tour of its state-of-the-art Plovdiv facility. Guests also enjoyed cultural highlights of the city and a gala dinner.

    As part of its ESG efforts, the company planted 50 trees to honor each participating partner. KTI said the conference reaffirmed its commitment to partnership, innovation, and building a sustainable global future with proudly Bulgarian roots.

  • The Cigar Academy to Train Dubai Duty Free

    The Cigar Academy to Train Dubai Duty Free

    The Cigar Academy has partnered with Dubai Duty Free to provide online training for its cigar retail staff, enhancing expertise in product knowledge, humidor care, pairings, and customer service. The program, supported by The Leaf Master, aims to elevate service standards in luxury travel retail.

    “This partnership supports our mission to empower cigar professionals worldwide,” said Thomas Gryson, co-founder of The Cigar Academy.

    Staff will receive certification through the academy’s digital learning platform.

  • FDA Embraces “Radical Transparency” by Publishing CRLs

    FDA Embraces “Radical Transparency” by Publishing CRLs

    On July 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published more than 200 decision letters, known as complete response letters (CRLs). The CRLs were issued in response to applications submitted to the FDA for approval of drugs or biological products between 2020 and 2024, marking a significant step in the Agency’s broader initiatives to modernize and increase transparency.

    By making the CRLs available, the public now has significantly greater insight into the FDA’s decision-making and the most common deficiencies cited that sponsors must address before their application is approved.

    “For far too long, drug developers have been playing a guessing game when navigating the FDA,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. “Drug developers and capital markets alike want predictability. So today we’re one step closer to delivering it to them, with an ultimate goal of bringing cures and meaningful treatments to patients faster.”

    “Because the FDA has historically refrained from publishing CRLs for pending applications, sponsors often misrepresent the rationale behind FDA’s decision to their stakeholders and the public,” the press release said. “According to a 2015 analysis conducted by FDA researchers, sponsors avoided mentioning 85% of the FDA’s concerns about safety and efficacy when announcing publicly that their application was not approved. Moreover, when FDA calls for a new clinical trial for safety or efficacy, that critical information is not disclosed approximately 40% of the time. Lessons learned from non-approvals are also not shared within the industry, leading companies to repeatedly make similar mistakes.”

    This initial batch of published decision letters associated with since-approved applications is now accessible to the public at openFDA. The Agency is in the process of publishing additional CRLs from its archives and is continuously exploring ways of providing the public with greater transparency into its decision-making process.

    On the surface, this all sounds like good news for companies that have spent years frustrated by FDA backlogs. What actually changes remains to be seen.

    “Commissioner Makary’s announcement raises questions about whether this effort is truly ‘radical transparency’ or just a repackaging of existing requirements,” Sarah Wicks and Michelle L. Butler wrote for FDA Law Blog. “The key difference may lie in timing and ease of access; despite the statutory requirement under FDAAA, action packages are often slow to appear on FDA’s website, especially following staffing disruptions at FDA.

    “It is currently unclear whether FDA intends to publish CRLs close in time to their issuance or for applications that are not subsequently approved. The prospect of publication of such CRLs would likely be of great concern to many applicants and of great interest to their competitors. Regardless, we will be watching to see how this radical transparency initiative unfolds.”

  • Northerner.com Offers 25% Discount to Service Members, First Responders

    Northerner.com Offers 25% Discount to Service Members, First Responders

    Northerner.com  launched a new service appreciation program in partnership with GOVX, the exclusive marketplace for military members, first responders, and government personnel, so eligible GOVX members can receive a 25% discount on all Northerner.com products as a thank-you for their service.

    “Partnering with GOVX is our way of honoring the everyday heroes who serve our communities with courage and commitment,” said James Lees, vice president of customer retention at Haypp Group, parent company of Northerner.com. “This partnership is one step in our ongoing harm reduction efforts. At Northerner.com, we stand behind those who consistently stand up for others—that’s our commitment.

    “This isn’t a limited-time deal—it’s a standing thank-you.”

    The discount can be accessed via a pop-up verification on Northerner.com and is available to over 9 million GOVX members. The promotion applies sitewide and can be combined with other offers. For more details or to sign up, visit Northerner.com or GOVX.com.

  • KT&G Launches ESSE in Germany, Marking Major European Expansion

    KT&G Launches ESSE in Germany, Marking Major European Expansion

    KT&G has officially launched its flagship ESSE superslim cigarette brand in Germany, signaling the start of a full-scale European expansion for the South Korean company. Partnering with German distributor Hauser, the company introduced ESSE Blue and ESSE Red in key cities including Berlin, Dortmund, and Munich.

    “ESSE has already been recognized as a competitive, stylish product in many countries, and has grown to become the global No. 1 superslim brand,” a KT&G spokesperson said. “We will continue to expand our influence in Germany based on the distinguished features of our product.”

    First launched in 1996, ESSE has grown to reach around 90 global markets, with major success in the Middle East, Russia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. In 2024, the brand sold 430 billion sticks globally, claiming one-third of the global superslim segment.

  • 22nd Century Advances FDA Renewal for VLN

    22nd Century Advances FDA Renewal for VLN

    22nd Century Group, Inc. announced that it is proceeding with the Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) renewal process for VLN, its flagship line of reduced-nicotine content cigarettes.

    First authorized by the FDA in December 2021, VLN remains the only combustible cigarette with MRTP designation, permitted to market key reduced-harm claims such as “95% less nicotine” and “Helps you smoke less.” The renewal, due in December 2026, comes as the company expands its VLN portfolio through partnerships and patented low-nicotine plant varieties.

    “Our MRTP authorization for VLN cigarettes stands apart as one of the most unique and innovative tools in the tobacco industry, leading the fight in Tobacco Harm Reduction to reduce the health harms of smoking,” said Larry Firestone, Chief Executive Officer of 22nd Century Group. “Our VLN cigarette is the only product that meets the FDA’s guideline for low nicotine based on its proposed low-nicotine mandate issued in January 2025.

    “While the FDA’s mandate has not yet become a final ruling, we expect that the FDA will fully support our MRTP renewal for VLN.”

  • Dutch Authorities Seize Record Illegal Flavored Vapes

    Dutch Authorities Seize Record Illegal Flavored Vapes

    Dutch product safety authority NVWA and customs officials confiscated 80,000 illegal vapes in a record seizure at a storage facility near Schiphol Airport, marking the country’s largest bust of its kind to date.

    The Chinese-made vapes, flavored with now-banned ingredients like watermelon and kiwi, violate the Netherlands’ 2024 ban on flavored vaping products. The total estimated market value is in the hundreds of thousands of euros, and officials believe the products were intended for domestic distribution.

    This marks the second major seizure from the same importer. In May, authorities intercepted 70,000 vape refills containing similar illegal flavorings. While no fines can be issued because the products were confiscated before reaching consumers, the importer must cover the cost of destroying the vapes, the NVWA confirmed.

    The bust comes amid a broader crackdown led by junior health minister Vincent Karremans, who in May launched an anti-vaping campaign targeting youth vaping, sales of illegal products, and health risks.

  • Fewer Closures Than Expected After Dutch Supermarket Tobacco Sales Ban

    Fewer Closures Than Expected After Dutch Supermarket Tobacco Sales Ban

    More than a year after the Dutch government banned tobacco sales in supermarkets, the feared wave of small supermarket closures has proven less severe than anticipated, according to a new report by Dutch news organization NOS.

    While concerns were raised about the survival of village supermarkets—especially in towns with under 5,000 residents where tobacco sales made up a substantial portion of revenue—only 27 closures occurred among the 542 supermarkets, market researcher Locatus found.

    “That’s better than I expected,” supermarket expert Laurens Sloot said. “The business model of small supermarkets was already under pressure before the tobacco ban. They often have less than 1% profit margin on their annual turnover.”

    Larger supermarkets, by contrast, saw just a few percent decline in turnover due to the ban. However, the loss of tobacco foot traffic has hurt village stores more, as smokers may now choose to shop entirely in nearby cities. Retail analyst Peter ter Hark noted that the ban compounds existing challenges like rising labor costs, automation expenses, and shrinking profit margins. He and Sloot both warned that the trend of small supermarket closures will likely continue, with 15% of stores expected to close in the next decade.

  • Makary Updates First 100 Days Leading FDA

    Makary Updates First 100 Days Leading FDA

    FDA Commissioner Marty Makary issued a statement today (July 10) to update the work that has been accomplished in his first 100 days leading the organization and create a roadmap for future objectives.

    “The FDA regulates products that account for 20% of all U.S. consumer spending, and our work impacts the lives of every American,” he said. “Over the past 100 days, we’ve launched dozens of key initiatives across the full range of the FDA’s purview to help make food healthier for children and families, accelerate meaningful cures and treatments, and modernize the agency with transparency, gold-standard science, and common sense.”

    The statement then listed dozens of bullet points highlighting the work being done, the majority of which focused on pharmaceuticals and food manufacturing. Under the heading “Administration – Gold-Standard Science & Common Sense,” Makary said the FDA was protecting American consumers by combating illegal vapes. “In collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, seized nearly $34 million worth of illegal, youth-appealing e-cigarette products originating in China,” it said.

    Makary also pointed to the FDA’s implementation of AI to assist all departments in reviewing products, of particular interest to the nicotine industry that has dealt with years of little to no movement regarding vapes and alternative products.

    “Completed a successful first AI-assisted scientific review pilot, demonstrating that internal AI tools can greatly reduce the time reviewers spend on mundane tasks or non-productive busywork,” the statement said. “Launched Elsa, a generative AI tool designed to help all FDA employees – from scientific reviewers to investigators – work more efficiently. Elsa is just an initial step in the FDA’s larger plans to integrate AI into agency processes.”

    “I’m excited by what the talented FDA team have been able to achieve in 100 days by embracing gold-standard science, radical transparency, and common sense,” Makary said. “This is just the beginning. We’ll continue to introduce initiatives to modernize the agency.”

    Read the entire press release here.