Category: News This Week

Warning Against ‘Mimic Menthols’

Photo: Esser
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should choose the wording of its intended ban on menthol cigarettes carefully to prevent the emergence of substitute products, according to Maciej Goniewicz, a professor of oncology at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center’s department of health behavior.
A study carried out by Roswell Park revealed that several nonmenthol cigarette brands introduced in California after that state banned flavored cigarettes in December 2022 contain synthetic chemicals to mimic menthol’s cooling effects.
“Synthetic cooling chemicals that may cause sensations similar to menthol have been reported recently in various tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches,” said Goniewicz, who contributed to the research, in a statement. “This is the first study to discover that synthetic cooling chemicals were added to conventional cigarettes marketed after the implementation of statewide menthol restrictions.”
The researchers measured the content of menthol and 15 other cooling chemicals in the new non-menthol cigarettes sold in California and compared those concentrations to similar products with “menthol” labels available in New York State, where menthol cigarettes are not banned.
Among other things, they found that two non-menthol brands marketed to appeal to menthol smokers were available only in California, which according to the researchers suggests that these products are new to the market and marketed to fill the sales void created by the ban on menthol cigarettes.
With the exception of one variety, menthol was not detected in any cigarettes sold in California. However, while WS-3, a synthetic cooling chemical, was not found in any cigarettes sold in New York, the agent was detected in four types of cigarettes in California that included package descriptions implying a cooling effect.
The study results led Goniewicz to conclude that the wording the FDA uses in its regulation will be important. “Otherwise, if the law says simply, ‘You cannot use menthol,’ the manufacturers may do exactly what we found in California—they will use menthol substitutes, and the product will remain on the market,” he said.
August 10, 2023
Court Tosses Premium Cigar Regulations
Photo: Olena
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has vacated the Food and Drug Administration’s deeming regulations for premium cigars, reports Halfwheel.
As a result, the deeming regulations introduced by the agency in 2016 do not apply to cigars that meets all of the following criteria:
It is wrapped in whole tobacco leaf
It contains 100 percent leaf tobacco binder
It contains at least 50 percent long filler tobacco
It is handmade or hand rolled
It has no filter, nontobacco tip or nontobacco mouthpiece
It does not have a characterizing flavor other than tobacco
It contains only tobacco, water and vegetable gum with no other ingredients or additives
It weighs less than 6 pounds per 1,000 units.
The lawsuit was filed by the Cigar Association of America, the Cigar Rights of America (CRA) and the Premium Cigar Association.
The case focused in part on the rulemaking process, which requires the FDA to inform the public about upcoming regulation and solicit feedback on those proposed rules.
Contrary to the FDA’s assertion when it announced its finalized rules in 2016, the agency received feedback, according to Judge Amit P. Mehta. Specifically, the CRA in a comment to the proposed rules cited a finding from an FDA-funded study indicating that cigar smokers do not have higher “all-cause” mortality rates than nonsmokers.
According to Halfwheel, the cigar industry is likely to ask the FDA to reimburse the user fees it has paid the agency, which the publication estimates at about $100 million per year for both premium and non-premium cigars.
The FDA still has the option to deem premium cigars as regulated tobacco products, but it must complete the process that it failed to complete properly from 2014 to 2016.
August 9, 2023
Vaping Could Save U.K. Half A Billion Pounds

Image: Tobacco Reporter archive
The U.K. National Health Service (NHS) could save over GBP500 million ($636.9 million) annually if half of England’s adult smokers switch to vaping, according to a Brunel University London report.
“If smokers transitioned to RRPs [reduced-risk products], it would significantly reduce the pressure on the NHS and free up much-needed hospital resources for other treatments,” said Francesco Moscone, professor and business economics expert at Brunel University London and study author. “Under a 50 percent conversion scenario, with half of smokers turning to RRPs, the NHS would save an estimated [GBP]518 million in an average year. If the conversion rate was just 10 percent, the NHS would save [GBP]103 million.”
“We are delighted that this new research from Brunel University London reinforces the findings of our own economic impact report,” said John Dunne, director general of the U.K. Vaping Industry Association, in a statement. “The potential savings to the NHS from smokers switching to vaping are enormous, and at a time when the NHS is desperately crying out for more funding and government budgets are squeezed so tightly, this is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.
“I sincerely hope that these two reports will give the government more impetus to really push the positive impacts that vaping has for the health of our nation and the finances of our country.
“Only last week, ASH [Action on Smoking and Health] revealed shocking data, which showed that four in 10 smokers wrongly believe vaping is as or more harmful than smoking—up from one in five in 2019.
“Misinformation in the mainstream media about the relative health risks of smoking and vaping was one of the reasons given for this increasing lack of knowledge, and unless the government acts to educate smokers about the real risks, then lives will continue to be needlessly lost.”
“Cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the five main disease categories caused by smoking cigarettes. Such illnesses put significant burdens on the NHS, which we know is already under increasing pressure,” said Moscone. “Although the long-term effects of RRPs are still unknown, we know from previous research that alternatives to traditional cigarettes result in a 90 percent reduction in the exposure to chemicals that are major contributors to health risks.”
The study was published in the British Journal of Healthcare Management.
August 9, 2023
KT&G Releases 2022 Integrated Report

Image: KT&G
KT&G has published its 2022 Integrated Report: An ESG Overview, encompassing sustainability management strategies and performance.
The publication has three key sections: the Strategic Report, outlining the group’s novel vision; the ESG Report, detailing performance across various ESG domains; and the ESG Factbook, displaying the global information disclosure index and quantitative accomplishments.
Introduced within the Strategic Report of this publication, KT&G provides insights into its 2027 New Vision, combining prospective growth strategies with environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles. Moving forward, the company aims to channel its strengths into mobilizing business structure innovation, fostering sustainability alongside the spread of important ventures like next-generation products and health-functional foods.
KT&G says it has made significant progress toward achieving its ESG objectives. Among other things, the company has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 7.5 percent over a two-year period, even as it stepped up production at its Korean and international sites. KT&G aims to increase its use of renewable energy sources by more than 18 percent, mainly through the installation of solar power systems.
On the social front, KT&G helped address challenges through its Sangsang Planet and Sangsangmadang initiatives.
Recognizing sustainability as intrinsically tied to corporate value, “KT&G has boarded a fresh vision, seamlessly weaving it into our widespread growth strategy,” said KT&G CEO Baek Bok-in in a statement. “Imposing the strengths of our growing ventures, we will rise as an outstanding global enterprise, targeting over 50 percent of our sales from international markets within the upcoming five years.”
August 9, 2023
Registration Open for CTP Listening Session

Credit: Postmodern Studio
Registration is open for the virtual listening session on the development of the Center for Tobacco Products’ (CTP) five-year strategic plan, which will take place on Aug. 22 beginning at 10 a.m. EDT.
The virtual listening session is an opportunity to verbally provide open public comment on the development of the new strategic plan, including proposed strategic goals. After introductions, the center will begin the listening session with an overview of the process used to develop the CTP’s strategic plan, including proposed goal areas. Registered speakers will then have approximately four minutes each to verbally share their comments on any topics related to the strategic plan. Submit a request to verbally provide open public comment by Aug. 14 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
Registration also includes a “listen-only” option for those who want to attend the session but do not request to speak. Listen-only registration slots are unlimited, but registration is required. There is no deadline to register for listen-only slots.
In addition to this listening session, the public can submit electronic or written comments to the Federal Register notice. Electronic comments must be submitted, and written comments must be postmarked, by Aug. 29.
August 8, 2023
Malawi Earns $282.63 Million From Tobacco

Photo: Taco Tuinstra
Malawi earned $282.62 million after selling more than 120 kg of tobacco during the 2023 tobacco marketing season, which ended Aug. 4, 2023, reports Malawi24.
According to Tobacco Commission Public Relations Officer Telephorus Chigwenembe, the average price this year was $2.35 per kg.
“It was even more exciting towards the end of the season when buyers offered record prices,” said Chigwenembe.
He went on to say that there were no serious market disruptions as was the case in the past.
Registration and licensing of farmers for the 2023/2024 growing season continues at Tobacco Commission offices in Mzuzu, Kasungu, Lilongwe and Limbe.
The Commission has encouraged farmers to grow more tobacco than they did in the 2022-2023 season.
August 8, 2023
Venezuela Bans E-Cigs

Image: natanaelginting
The Venezuela Ministry of Health has banned e-cigarettes in the country, according to The Limited Times. The ban includes production, distribution, marketing and use of “vapers” and similar products.
The ban considers that “health is a fundamental right” and the “obligation of the state, which will guarantee it in the context of the right to life,” promoting and developing “policies aimed at raising the quality of life, collective well-being and access to services.”
“All people, in general and without distinction, have the right to health protection, and the duty to actively participate in its promotion and defense and to observe the sanitation measures established by law,” said Nicolas Maduro’s government.
E-cigarettes and similar products “contain potentially toxic and harmful substances to health, increase the risk of heart disease, lung disorders, among other pathologies,” according to the Ministry of Health.
August 7, 2023
Misperceptions Persist

Image: Tobacco Reporter archive
A large portion of smokers have misperceptions about vaping, thinking it is just as harmful or more harmful than smoking, according to the most recent Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) survey data.
The data shows that “among the 1.8 million smokers who are yet to try vaping, 43 percent believe e-cigarettes are as harmful or more than smoking, up from 27 percent in 2019.” It also shows that “among the 2.9 million smokers who have tried vaping but stopped, 44 percent believe vaping is as harmful or more than smoking, up from 25 percent in 2019.”
Due to the large proportion of misperception, ASH feels that its swap to stop program is “threatened by growing concerns among smokers that vaping is as or more risky than smoking.”
“The government has backed a vaping strategy as its path to reduce rates of smoking, but this approach will be undermined if smokers don’t try vapes due to safety fears or stop vaping too soon and revert to smoking. The government must act quickly to improve public understanding that vaping poses a fraction of the risk of smoking,” said Hazel Cheeseman, deputy chief executive of ASH.
Groups such as the Independent European Vape Alliance (IEVA) and the U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) support ASH’s stance on government action.
“It is abundantly clear that the lack of knowledge amongst smokers about the relative risks about smoking and vaping is a public health issue that the government can no longer ignore,” said John Dunne, UKVIA director general. “The ASH report highlights that misleading and inaccurate stories and headlines about vaping in the mainstream media plays a huge part in this knowledge gap, which is preventing smokers’ switch to a much less harmful alternative to cigarettes.
“The public needs to know that the scare stories regularly reported in the mainstream media are simply not true, and we urgently need an antidote to this highly damaging misinformation.
“The industry is not permitted to make health claims about the relative harms of smoking and vaping, but keeping the public in the dark about this means hundreds of smokers continue to needlessly die in the U.K. every day because they don’t have the information they need to switch.
“We must be allowed to set the record straight, and the government should launch a nationwide public information campaign so that the relative risks of smoking and vaping are accurately communicated.”
Ann McNeill, professor at King’s College London and author of a government-commissioned review on the harms from vaping, according to Talking Retail, commented: “Anxiety over youth vaping is obscuring the fact that switching from smoking to vaping will be much better for an individual’s health. It is wrong to say we have no idea what the future risks from vaping will be.
“On the contrary, levels of exposure to cancer-causing and other toxicants are drastically lower in people who vape compared with those who smoke, which indicates that any risks to health are likely to be a fraction of those posed by smoking.
“We must not be complacent about youth vaping, and further regulation is needed, but so, too, is work to ensure many more adults stop smoking, and vaping is an effective means of doing that.”
August 7, 2023
New Rules for Vape Supplier Imports

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The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in the Philippines said it will require importers of raw materials for vaping products to seek special clearances to release their shipments.
The agency cited the need to impose order on an industry with many emerging players, according to media reports.
“For vape products, we are going to require them to (apply for) the authority to release imported goods for raw materials,” BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said. “We are thinking of ways to regulate because there are so many vape products now. The production of vape products is a backyard industry, so we’re thinking of ways to regulate it.”
In its latest revenue memorandum circular, the BIR announced that it is now requiring importers or manufacturers of raw materials and equipment used to make heated-tobacco products and vapor products to apply for an authority to release imported goods.
“The raw materials specially used for the manufacture of heated-tobacco products and vapor products shall include but are not limited to propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, organic sweetener, artificial flavoring and nicotine,” the circular states.
Devices used for the manufacture of these products will also include but are not limited to mechanical or electric heating elements/atomizers, circuits, cartridges, reservoirs, pods, tanks, mods and mouthpieces.
Apart from the authority to release imported goods, importers and manufacturers must also apply for a permit to operate. Lumagui said that the BIR is working on addressing the shortfall from excise tax collections, which is mainly due to illicit tobacco.
“We’re targeting to minimize that 20 percent (shortfall). Within the year, we can cut that by more than half … ultimately, I want to make sure to fully resolve that shortfall,” he said.
August 7, 2023
Six-Month Revenue Up at Vector

Photo: crizzystudio
Vector Group reported consolidated revenues of $699.8 million in the first six months of 2023, up 0.1 percent compared to the prior year period. Tobacco segment revenues increased 2.4 percent to $699.8 million. The company’s tobacco segment wholesale and retail market share increased to 5.5 percent and 5.8 percent from 5.3 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively, in the prior year period. Operating income was down 12 percent to $145.9 million. Vector’s tobacco segment operating income was $153.7 million, down 7.4 percent compared to the prior year period.
“Vector Group performed well in the first half of 2023 as we continued to benefit from the gradual transition of our Montego brand strategy,” said Vector Group President and CEO Howard M. Lorber, in a statement. “In the second half of 2023, we remain focused on optimizing long-term profit by effectively managing our volume, pricing and market share to generate long-term value for our stockholders.”
August 7, 2023