Category: News This Week

Mayors Commit to Smoke-Free Future

Image: Dhaka Tribune
Mayors from Bangladesh’s municipalities met for a two-day summit with national and international tobacco control experts, where they pledged to aim for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s vision of a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040, reports the Dhaka Tribune.
The goal of the summit was to discuss implementation of tobacco control laws and local government guidelines. The country’s tobacco control law was enacted in 2005 after ratification of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The law was amended in 2013, introducing pictorial health warnings and including smokeless tobacco. It took over three years to put the law into practice, and during that time, the health ministry drafted an amendment banning vaping products, lifting the provision of designated smoking zones to prevent secondhand smoke and controlling point-of-sale advertising. The draft is pending Cabinet approval.
Tobacco use is not declining as expected, according to anti-tobacco activists. The latest data shows that 35.3 percent of adults ages 18 and older used tobacco in any form in 2017. Experts warn that if the trend continues, the tobacco-free goal will not be met.
“The key is to have strong local leadership in terms of policy development, policy implementation and mobilizing funds at the local level for the prevention of tobacco use and noncommunicable diseases,” said Tara Singh Bam, regional director of The Union Asia Pacific, who spoke at the summit. “Mechanisms need to be established that ensure mayors are held accountable for safeguarding the development and implementation of public health policies from the undue influence of unhealthy commodity industries.”
“We, the Ministry of Local Government, issued tobacco guidelines for all the municipalities and cities to assist them,” said Joint Secretary Jasim Uddin. “We have distributed these guidelines.” He noted that the mayors attending the summit are “very committed” to preventing tobacco-related diseases and deaths.
The guidelines direct the mayors to improve tobacco control law enforcement, build public awareness, allocate funds for tobacco control and limit the availability of tobacco products.
July 24, 2023
Retracted Study Links Vapes and Liver Disease

Image: shidlovski
A study linking nicotine vapes to liver disease was retracted from Gastroenterology Research after the authors failed to reply to concerns about the researchers’ methods and findings, reports Filter.
The retraction stated that “concerns have been raised regarding the article’s methodology, source data processing, including statistical analysis, and reliability of conclusions.” The study was published in June 2022.
A letter was sent to the editor raising concerns, and the authors were given time to respond but failed to do so. “As is our journal and publisher’s policy, because there was no response or rebuttal from the authors, the manuscript was retracted, and the letter to the editor was not published,” said Robert Wong, editor-in-chief of Gastroenterology Research. “Typically, if there is an author response or rebuttal, we publish both the letter to the editor and the response.”
“This is a greater problem than just one study,” said Gregory Conley, director of legislative and external affairs for the American Vapor Manufacturers Association, noting a 2020 retraction by the Journal of the American Heart Association of a study connecting vaping to heart attacks. The 2020 retraction letter to the journal was made public, but the issue with the Gastroenterology Research paper is less clear because “there is silence around why it was retracted,” said Conley.

It’s gratifying that the journal took the step to retract the paper. There’s just a lot of things going on with this study that make it seem kind of weird.
Ray Niaura, epidemiology professor at New York University’s School of Global Public Health
The 13 co-authors of the study drew from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and analyzed participants’ responses for associations between liver disease and the use of cigarettes or vaping products.
They claimed the results showed “e-cigarette users … were associated with higher odds of having liver disease compared to nonsmokers.”
“I already have a bunch of questions just off the top of my head, basically, just looking at this paper,” said who studies tobacco dependence and treatment. He said there were issues with the data, noting that the only survey question on vaping is broad, asking “Have you ever used an e-cigarette?” Questions on combustible tobacco included “Do you now smoke cigarettes?” and if someone has smoked “at least 100 cigarettes” in their life.
“That’s kind of a weak variable,” Niaura said. “What does it mean? It doesn’t mean much.”
The data also didn’t allow for analysis around timing, which means it’s not possible to tell whether liver disease was developed before or after smoking/vaping. “What’s the resolution of the information in studies like this?” Niaura asked. “It’s tricky.”
“It’s gratifying that the journal took the step to retract the paper,” he said. “There’s just a lot of things going on with this study that make it seem kind of weird.”
July 24, 2023
22nd Century Appoints John Miller Interim CEO

22nd Century Group has appointed John Miller, who leads the tobacco business unit, as interim CEO. James A. Mish, who has served as CEO since June 2020, will continue to serve as a member of the board of directors. 22nd Century also appointed Wall Street veteran Andrew “Andy” Arno to its board of directors as an independent director.
“I have enjoyed advancing the key initiatives of 22nd Century, building an accomplished team of dedicated individuals taking this company from an R&D organization focused on plant science to a fully commercial consumer products business,” said Mish in a statement. “I am particularly proud of the work we have done to date on tobacco harm reduction while simultaneously building a competitive array of products that serve our hemp/cannabis customers. As a result, we are at an opportune juncture to enhance John Miller’s leadership role to take our VLN business to the next level.”
“I look forward to continuing to advance our mission of innovative plant technologies tied to tobacco harm reduction and new consumer focused health and wellness products,” said Miller. “VLN represents the most unique and innovative approach to harm reduction in years, providing adult smokers with a truly unique, clinically studied solution to reducing their smoking habit. Likewise, our work in the hemp/cannabis business is bringing forward new products sought by consumers while applying the consistent standards, reliable manufacturing processes and national distribution support needed for brands to effectively scale in these growing end markets.”
“On behalf of the entire board of directors, I want to thank Jim for his numerous accomplishments and dedicated service during his tenure as CEO, leading us through our FDA [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] authorization, GVB acquisition and the first 18 months of our commercial transformation,” said Nora Sullivan, chair of the board. “Remaining as a member of the board will allow him to continue lending his guidance and significant expertise in the hemp/cannabis business.”
July 24, 2023
Guidelines for Exported Vapes
Image: Tobacco Reporter archive
China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration released the Guidelines for Promoting the Building of Quality Assurance Systems for Exported Electronic Cigarette Products on July 20, according to 2Firsts, which published a translated version of the release.
The guidelines consist of 18 articles covering the following:
clarifying that enterprises are the main responsible entities for the building of quality assurance management systems for exported electronic cigarette products;
specifying the main content for the building of quality assurance management systems for exported processes, allocation of production resources, the establishment of sound systems, standardization of product packaging, traceability of logistics and transportation, and export declaration and registration requirements; and
specifying the requirements for the building of quality assurance management systems for exported electronic cigarette products.
July 21, 2023
Gunther: Truth Initiative Wants End of Nicotine

Image: luciano
The Truth Initiative’s endgame plan amounts to nicotine prohibition, according to Mark Gunther.
Writing in Filter, Gunther cites a recently released Truth Initiative report in which the organization outlines its “strategy to move toward the end of commercial tobacco and nicotine use.”
“A tobacco-free future is possible,” said Robin Koval, the president and CEO of the Truth Initiative, during an online panel discussion about the plan.
Critics fear that the organization’s focus on nicotine prevention could keep combustible cigarettes around longer, however.
“The endgame should be reducing premature deaths from tobacco, not the eradication of nicotine, which is not going to happen and is misguided policy,” said K. Michael Cummings, a veteran tobacco control expert and professor at the Medical University of South Carolina.
“Changing the objective from reducing smoking-related deaths and disease to destroying the tobacco industry and eliminating nicotine use is completely misguided,” said Alex Wodak, a physician and the director of the Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association.
In the near term, according to Gunther, the Truth Initiative wants a national ban on menthol cigarettes and cigars; a ban on flavored vaping products; sales of nicotine products restricted to adult-only stores; a reduction in the number of places selling tobacco; reduced nicotine levels in cigarettes; and improved access to smoking cessation drugs. Medium-term and long-term, the group wants to develop new quitting options; cap nicotine levels in all products; and prohibit the sale of tobacco and nicotine products completely.
In the panel discussion, Koval said that it is misleading to describe the group’s endgame strategies as prohibitionist and that the targets are manufacturers and retailers. Critics disagree with this as well, arguing that the Truth Initiative is one of the first to call on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Justice to enforce rules.
“No group has pushed harder or yelled louder for FDA and DOJ [Department of Justice] to outlaw vaping and kick in the doors of anyone perceived as disobedient,” said Alli Boughner, vice president of American Vapor Manufacturers. Boughner said the endgame plan is “totally dislocated from the real world or even basic human decency.”
Harm reduction advocates take issue especially with the Truth Initiative’s lack of distinction between harms resulting from tobacco versus harms resulting from nicotine.
“Nicotine should join the list of socially acceptable psychoactive substances like caffeine, like the moderate consumption of alcohol and, increasingly, like cannabinoids,” said Clive Bates, a harm reduction advocate. “We don’t lose our minds when young people have a drink or take coffee.”
July 21, 2023
Labstat Opens Greensboro Location

Image: Tobacco Reporter archive
Labstat has opened a new laboratory in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.
“The expansion of our network into the U.S. significantly benefits our customers,” said Michael Bond, Labstat president, in a statement. “It allows us to provide our premium services to a larger client base, ensuring faster turnaround times, simplified logistics and exceptional scientific support locally. With our new Greensboro lab, customers can look forward to receiving our consistent, high-quality services in a more efficient and convenient manner.”
The Greensboro laboratory will commence operations in fall 2023. As the lab’s capabilities evolve, it will handle an increasing variety of testing projects and formats.
“We’re committed to best-in-class technical expertise and service for our customers within their region,” said Amanda Bosse, CEO of Certified Group. “Our network expansion in the U.S. amplifies Labstat’s global footprint and, at the same time, opens new opportunities for our team to help advance scientific progress in this industry.”
Labstat provides testing and research services to the tobacco, nicotine, cannabis and hemp industries.
July 21, 2023
CTP Invites Input on Strategic Plan

Credit: Monticello
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) will hold a virtual listening session on Aug. 22 to give the public an opportunity to comment on its five-year plan it developed to advance its mission.
Part of its response to the Reagan-Udall Foundation evaluation, the CTP plan includes five proposed goal areas that are interconnected with the themes of health equity, science, transparency and stakeholder engagement.
The proposed goals and the questions that the CTP would like commenters to address are on the agency’s virtual listening session event page.
Following receipt and consideration of public input, the CTP intends to publish its strategic plan by the end of 2023.
After introductions, the center will begin the listening session with an overview of the process used to develop the CTP’s strategic plan. Registered speakers will then have approximately four minutes each to verbally share their comments on any topics related to the strategic plan.
Request to verbally provide open public comment must be submitted by Aug. 14 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
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.
July 21, 2023
Dollar Shortage Delays Payments

Image: Tobacco Reporter archive
Tanzanian tobacco farmers are receiving delayed payments due to a shortage of U.S. dollars, reports BNN.
Stanley Mnozya, director general of the Tanzania Tobacco Board, acknowledged that the shortage of U.S. dollars has made paying farmers difficult. Higher than anticipated tobacco production surpassing market demand has exacerbated the situation.
To address the situation, Hussein Bashe, minister for agriculture, held a meeting involving farmers, tobacco buyers and banks. The minister said farmers’ payments will be finalized by the end of July. The government is making efforts to ensure the funds are available in U.S. dollars.
Alliance One Tobacco Tanzania Limited (AOTTL), however, has successfully paid more than $71.9 million to over 12,000 contracted tobacco growers this season. AOTTL made direct payments of $1.72 million as crop cess to various districts and aims to expedite payments to contracted farmers, surpassing the required 14-day payment period set by law.
Delayed payments are causing financial difficulties and affecting farmers’ preparations for the upcoming season.
July 20, 2023
Call for Proposals to Help Doctors With THR

Image: Tobacco Reporter archive
The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW) has issued a call for proposals to further analyze the findings of its Sermo survey on doctors and propose programs that would help improve doctors’ fluency about smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction (THR), according to a press release.
The FSFW funded research carried out in 2022 by Sermo, an independent platform and leader in actionable healthcare professional insights that surveyed more than 15,000 doctors online in 11 countries, including China, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. A significant majority of the surveyed doctors mistakenly attributed the negative health effects of smoking to nicotine.
An average of 87 percent of doctors agreed, at least moderately, that helping patients quit smoking is a priority; however, 74 percent mistakenly believe nicotine causes a range of illnesses, including lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The misperception about nicotine could account for an average of 55 percent of the doctors recommending over-the-counter nicotine-replacement therapies to help patients reduce or quit smoking.
“It is imperative that doctors get the proper training to learn the facts about nicotine and tobacco harm reduction options that can help their smoking patients quit,” said Muhammad Ahmed, director of health and science research at the FSFW. “With more than 7 million smokers dying annually from smoking-related diseases worldwide, many lives can be saved if doctors become more knowledgeable about the cessation tools available.”
“Patients look to doctors for trusted health advice,” said Jed Rose, president and CEO of Rose Research Center and co-inventor of the nicotine patch. “Therefore, it is vital that doctors provide accurate, current advice to smokers about the health risks of smoking cigarettes compared to using products that deliver nicotine without combustion.”
The survey on doctors showed that 74 percent of doctors on average at least moderately agree that nicotine causes lung, bladder and head/neck/gastric cancer; in the United States, this figure is 70 percent; in Germany, this figure is 78 percent; in China, this figure is 86 percent; in Japan, this figure is 85 percent; 78 percent of doctors on average at least moderately agree that atherosclerosis is caused by nicotine; and 76 percent of doctors on average at least moderately agree that COPD is caused by nicotine.
On average, 81 percent of the physicians surveyed are at least moderately interested in training focused on smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction.
The survey also found that while doctors’ conversations with patients who smoke focus on the health benefits of cutting down or quitting (73 percent on average globally) and the health risks of continuing (73 percent on average globally), a comparatively small number of physicians—just over half (56 percent on average globally) on average—recommend cutting down on the amount of smokable tobacco products, and less than half of doctors (48 percent on average globally) help patients develop a plan to quit.
Researchers interested in submitting a proposal to further analyze these findings should contact support@smokefreeworld.org.
July 20, 2023
Less Smoking Affects Childhood Services

Image: Seventyfour
The decline in California smoking rates is affecting the state’s early childhood services, reports the San Francisco Chronicle.
First 5 California, the state’s early childhood services, are mostly funded by cigarette and other tobacco product taxes. In 1998, voters passed Proposition 10, which levied a tobacco tax and dedicated the money to programs that would help families with young children. It was not meant to be a permanent solution for funding, however. First 5 programs around the state are trimming budgets and cutting back programs now that the funding is decreasing.
Last year, Californians passed Proposition 31, which banned the sale of flavored tobacco products.
“We all expect revenues to go down, the question is what will be the magnitude,” said Michael Ong, chair of the state’s Tobacco Education and Research Oversight Committee.
First 5 cuts differ among counties—some counties rely more heavily on tobacco tax funds than others, and each county has made cuts in ways they see fit, for example, cutting programs supporting foster children and dental health and support for family shelters.
The group funds a broad number of programs in partnership with nonprofits, local hospitals, clinics and county health and education offices. Some of the programs they fund include children’s mobile immunization clinics, dental services, developmental screenings, family case management, parenting classes and home visits from a nurse for first-time mothers. Programs vary by county.
First 5 expects to receive about 30 percent less funding from tobacco taxes by 2026 compared to 2021. Projections for this year’s budget had First 5 receiving about $348 million from tobacco taxes. After the flavor ban was passed, the new budget had the organization receiving about $310 million, and by 2026, projections show a decrease to $280 million.
From 1999 to 2000, the organization received $690 million from tobacco taxes.
Statewide, tobacco taxes account for 73 percent of First 5’s annual budget, but this varies by county—First 5 distributes funds based on an equation that takes into account birth rate.
Ong stated that ideally, the group would source funding from elsewhere. “But that’s a pretty tall order for county governments,” he said.
July 20, 2023