Category: News This Week

Vape Group Calls for Stakeholder Input

Image: Vlad | Adobe Stock
The Bangladesh Electronic Nicotine-Delivery System Traders Association (BENDSTA) called on authorities to consult with all stakeholders before making any policy decisions on vaping, reports The Business Standard.
During a press conference in Dhaka on Tuesday, the organization also called for excluding vaping and other electronic nicotine-delivery system products from the proposed amendment of the Smoking and Tobacco Products Control Act 2005, according to a press release.
The BENDSTA fears that a ban on vaping will jeopardize the prime minister’s vision of making the country tobacco-free by 2040.
Many former smokers who successfully quit smoking cigarettes using vaping devices might resort back to smoking traditional cigarettes again if vaping gets banned in the country, the organization warned.
Not only will this increase the number of smokers in the country, but the government will also lose the opportunity to balance its health and revenue agenda from an emerging sector, BENDSTA speakers said.
BENDSTA President Masud Uz Zaman criticized the country’s health authorities for not including the association as relevant stakeholders in the process of developing such a crucial policy framework.
“If any amendment is proposed regarding vaping, we are definitely an important stakeholder. It is unreasonable to not take our opinion and completely exclude us from the lawmaking process. Despite sending letters to the Ministry of Health repeatedly, they have refrained to sit with us to discuss the issue,” Zaman said.
Zaman stressed that these tobacco harm reduction products should be made legal and regulated sensibly to achieve the prime minister’s vision of a tobacco-free nation.
The proposed amendments called for a total ban on vaping products.
January 19, 2023
FDA Launches Online Vaping Resource Center

Image: Tobacco Reporter archive
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has launched the Vaping Prevention and Education Resource Center, which provides free science-based, standards-mapped materials that teachers can use to help their students understand the risks associated with vaping and nicotine addiction. The Center for Tobacco Products also developed free materials for parents and teens.
Teachers will find lesson plans, interactive tools, infographics and videos with tobacco facts and tips about how to teach teens about the dangers of vaping.
Parents will find fact sheets, videos and resources to help them understand and recognize vapes, talk with their children and keep the conversation going over time.
According to the FDA, students will find real-life stories and relatable content to help them understand vaping, nicotine addiction, common myths about vapes and how to say no to vaping.
The resource center will be continuously updated, according to the FDA.
January 19, 2023
PMI Inaugurates HEETS Factory in Indonesia

Photo: Arkadiusz Fajer
Philip Morris International’s Indonesian subsidiary, Sampoerna, inaugurated a factory for the production of IQOS HEETS consumables in Karawang, West Java, on Jan. 12, reports The Jakarta Post.
The facility, which started operations in the fourth quarter of 2022, represents an investment of more than $186 million.
The new HEETS factory, which will serve customers in Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region, fits with the government’s policy to encourage investment and increase the export of finished products. Speaking at the inauguration, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the investment will encourage innovation and create value in other sectors, such as retail, agriculture and R&D.
According to PMI, the Indonesian plant is the company’s seventh factory for innovative smoke-free products worldwide and its first in Southeast Asia.
During the inauguration, Sampoerna President Director Vassilis Gkatzelis conveyed his appreciation to the Indonesian government for the conducive investment climate as well as the government’s commitment to maintaining national economic stability.
“As a company that has been operating for almost 110 years, we aim to continue to contribute to the national economy through continuous investment as well as the economic impact on the national tobacco industry supply chain and ecosystem,” he said.
Vassilis also noted PMI’s considerable investment in smoking alternatives. The company, he said, has invested more than $9 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free tobacco products.
IQOS debuted in Indonesia through limited market testing in 2019 and is available in Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar and Bandung, among other cities.
January 18, 2023
Video Attracts Ire of THR Advocates
Tobacco harm reduction activists have criticized a Johns Hopkins School of Public Health video calling for “common language” in tobacco control.
The video features Johanna Cohen, Bloomberg professor of disease prevention and director of the school’s Institute for Global Tobacco Control.
“With the introduction and marketing of new nicotine products, it’s not only the marketplace that has diversified,” Cohen says in the video. “The number of terms used to describe these products has expanded significantly as well. Often with word choice that serves tobacco industry interests.
“Accuracy and consistency are extremely important because language can shape our thinking, including setting boundaries for discourse and policy options.”
The video, however, did not go over well with some vapers; one comment on the video states, “If we accept Joanna Cohen’s language, then we—People Who Use Safer Nicotine to avoid toxic forms of tobacco—would be accepting the language of our oppressors. What she does not seem to understand is that this is not a battle between tobacco control and evil industry. There are real human beings involved, with lived experience. Cohen clearly has zero empathy for us.”

“This is a bit rich coming from the people who call e-cigarettes ‘tobacco products’ and use the term e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury to describe an illness that has nothing to do with e-cigarettes.
Chris Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics, Institute of Economic Affairs
Chris Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs, also criticized the video. “This is a bit rich coming from the people who call e-cigarettes ‘tobacco products’ and use the term e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury to describe an illness that has nothing to do with e-cigarettes,” he said.
In the video, Cohen recommends “using ordinary, precise terms without additional adjectives” with the goal of “establish[ing] a common language.”
“What’s regrettable,” writes Alex Norcia on Filter, “is that there is an important conversation to be had about terminology in the tobacco and nicotine field, but the video, from an institution funded by anti-vaping billionaire Michael Bloomberg, misses that opportunity.”
“When it comes to language and terminology, it seems to me that people in public health get overly preoccupied with what incumbent tobacco companies are doing, when their actual focus should be on consumers and people who actually use these products,” said Danielle Jones, the president of the board of CASAA.
“Using the language of the people using the products, which is typically the terminology most well known, should be their focus in order to facilitate clear communication and not confuse people. For instance, not knowing the established terminology when writing survey questions for people who vape can lead to erroneous results if the respondents misunderstand what the researchers are asking,” Jones said.
Another viewer commented, “WE use these devices. WE define the terms. You need to stop talking and start listening.”
January 18, 2023
22nd and Core-Mark and Eby-Brown Partner

Photo: 22nd Century Group
22nd Century Group has established new distribution partnerships with Core-Mark International and Eby-Brown Company, two of the largest convenience store (c-store) distributors in the United States.
“22nd Century’s new partnership agreements with two of the largest, most respected convenience store distributors in the United States make possible the launch of VLN cigarettes in virtually every key U.S. market we are targeting in our state-by-state, region-by-region rollout strategy,” said John Miller, president of tobacco products for 22nd Century Group, in a statement. “We are proactively working with highly recognized retail chains that want to add VLN to their cigarette sets, many of which are already customers of Core-Mark and/or Eby-Brown, thus streamlining the rollout process.”
The new partnerships provide nationwide distribution capabilities for VLN via 31 Core-Mark and Eby-Brown warehouses. Additionally, 22nd Century will attend 11 regional trade shows sponsored by the distributors in 2023, providing 22nd Century with the opportunity to introduce VLN to thousands of Core-Mark’s and Eby-Brown’s independent retail and chain store operators.
“Approximately 70 percent of the estimated 39 million adult U.S. smokers want to stop smoking, though only a tiny fraction are able to quit each year,” explained James A. Mish, CEO of 22nd Century Group. “22nd Century’s proprietary reduced-nicotine tobacco technology has enabled us to develop a truly revolutionary VLN product designed to help smokers smoke less. The c-store channel is the largest point of purchase for cigarette products, and we look forward to partnering with Core-Mark, Eby-Brown and other distributor partners to continue placing our reduced-nicotine content cigarettes in a growing number of stores.”
January 18, 2023
Kenya Proposes Higher Tobacco Stamp Duties

Image: alexlmx
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) wants to increase the stamp duty on combustible cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and other nicotine-delivery devices to KES5 ($0.04) from KES2.8, reports The Star.
The agency has invited the public to give its views on the proposal by Feb. 3.
The move to appears to be in response to President William Ruto’s directive to the KRA to double its revenue collection from KES2.1 trillion to more than KES4 trillion.
Last November, the president said increasing revenue collection would help the country ease its debt burden.
“I need help with our debt situation. I have agreed with KRA that as a country, we must move from KES2.1 trillion to between KES4 [trillion to KES]5 trillion,” he said.
According to Ruto, countries in the middle-income category typically raise 20 percent to 25 percent of their GDP from taxes. By comparison, Kenya raises only 14 percent of its GDP in that manner.
January 17, 2023
Mexico Tightens Tobacco Laws

Image: sezerozger | Adobe Stock
Mexico has banned smoking in public places, reports Mexico News Daily.
The country has also prohibited the advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products, which means that cigarettes cannot be displayed inside shops. E-cigarettes and heated-tobacco products are also facing tighter new restrictions, particularly indoors, as per BBC. Last year, Mexico banned the import, sale and distribution of vaping and heated-tobacco products.
Several other Latin American countries have also passed legislation to create smoke-free public spaces. Last year, for example, Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo also signed legislation banning the sale of vapor products in his country.
However, Mexico’s legislation is considered to be the most wide-ranging in the Americas.
Critics have cautioned against unintended consequences. Given the prevalence of corruption in Mexico, they fear that some police officers will use the smoking ban as a pretext for demanding bribes.
January 17, 2023
22nd Welcomes New Menthol Timeline
Image: nanzeeba
22nd Century Group is poised to greatly benefit from the recent advancement of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s proposed ban on menthol as a flavoring agent in combustible cigarettes to final rule status, the company wrote in statement published on its website today.
“The most recent updates to the Biden administration’s Unified Agenda on Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions include major advancements in the FDA’s proposed tobacco harm reduction policies in 2023,” said John Miller, president of tobacco products for 22nd Century Group. “Advancement of FDA’s proposed menthol ban could position VLN Menthol King as the only combustible menthol tobacco cigarette on the market, providing a critical off-ramp to the estimated more than 15 million menthol smokers in the U.S.”
Menthol cigarettes account for an estimated $26 billion in retail sales. Menthol is also known to enhance nicotine’s addictive effects, making it more difficult to quit, and a disproportionate amount of menthol smokers are members of minority groups, particularly African Americans, 22nd Century wrote on its website.
“FDA’s proposed menthol policy specifically contemplates exempting certain products from the ban, such as our MRTP authorized VLN cigarettes, providing a critical off-ramp opportunity for adult menthol smokers,” stated John Pritchard, vice president of regulatory science for 22nd Century Group. “Without an off-ramp product, both research and real-world experience show the vast majority of menthol smokers would simply transition to traditional combusted cigarettes. 22nd Century’s MRTP authorization documents how VLN products can help people to smoke less, leading to a true reduction in smoking in line with FDA’s important public health goals.”

Advancement of FDA’s proposed menthol ban could position VLN Menthol King as the only combustible menthol tobacco cigarette on the market.
John Miller, president of tobacco products, 22nd Century Group
The Unified Agenda also indicates that the FDA intends to advance its transformative reduced nicotine content standards later in 2023, which seeks to limit the nicotine levels in all cigarettes to a level considered “minimally or non-addictive.” Both of these standards are considered game changers for public health and could be extremely favorable for 22nd Century Group due to VLN’s 95 percent reduced nicotine content.
22nd Century has been expanding sales of VLN cigarettes across five states with anchor partners including Circle K and Smoker Friendly. Following the company’s stated growth strategy to expand to 12-15 states during 2023, 22nd Century is actively engaged with multiple industry leading distribution partners and retail store chains wanting to introduce VLN products to adult smokers in both existing and new markets.
“The proactive and forward-thinking policies of the FDA have the power to reduce the harms of smoking and save millions of lives,” said Miller. “22nd Century Group continues to fully support these policies, and VLN^® reduced nicotine content products demonstrate that these programs are 100 percent achievable.”
22nd Century Group’s VLN brand cigarettes are the only combustible cigarettes that the FDA has authorized as modified risk tobacco products. The company’s VLN King and VLN Menthol King brands contain 95 percent less nicotine than traditional addictive cigarettes.
A final decision on the menthol ban is expected in August 2023.
January 17, 2023
Counterfeit Tobacco Seized in France

Photo: Europol
French authorities seized more than 100 tons of illegal tobacco-related products worth €17 million ($18.43 million) during a raid on Jan. 12.
According to Europol, the confiscated materials included 19.4 million cigarettes and 15 tons of cut tobacco along with 50 tons of packaging materials, such as paper, filters and labels, as well as 18 tons of waste from the cigarette production process.
Officers also seized vehicles, factory machinery and electronic equipment. The seized tobacco and counterfeit products were destroyed.
During the raid, which involved more than 60 officers from the French National Gendarmerie, police arrested nine suspects, most of them Moldovan nationals. The gendarmes discovered a quasi-industrial setup for the production of counterfeit cigarettes in large quantities. They discovered three separate zones in the targeted factory.
One of the zones was dedicated to the processing of raw tobacco to produce boxes of cigarettes labeled as well-known brands sold on the legal market. Another zone was dedicated to the storage of large boxes of counterfeit cigarettes. The third zone was used as a living area for the workers with some 15 beds, a kitchen and a living room. This allowed the workers to live at the factory, completely cut off from the outside world.
Europol facilitated the information exchange and provided specialized analytical support. On the action day, Europol supported the French authorities by cross-checking operational information against Europol’s databases in real-time and providing leads to investigators in the field.
In 2020, Europol created the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre to increase synergies between economic and financial investigations and to strengthen its ability to support law enforcement authorities in effectively combating major criminal threats.
January 17, 2023
Reynolds Vapor Denied New Trial in Vuse Case

Photo: md3d
R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. was denied a new trial in its Vuse Alto intellectual property dispute with Altria Group, according to Bloomberg Law.
In September, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina awarded Altria Client Services more than $95 million after finding that Reynolds Vapor Co.’s Vuse Alto e-vapor product infringed three Altria patents.
Following its loss, Reynolds Vapor Co. requested a new trial, stating that “Altria’s improper injection of inflammatory evidence regarding patent infringement allegations against Reynolds in other cases denied Reynolds a fair trial.”
Judge N. Carlton Tilley Jr. disagreed. “That the jury did not agree with” Reynolds “does not mean the trial was unfair,” he wrote in an opinion issued Jan. 12 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.
Tilley also denied Reynolds’ motion to reduce the damages jurors awarded to Altria Client Services in their Sept. 7 verdict.
“This was a fair trial,” Altria said in a statement. “There is no basis for another trial, and we are pleased that the jury correctly found that Reynolds Vapor has infringed a number of our patents.”
At issue in this case were three patents awarded to Altria Client Services by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office based on filings dating back to April 2015. The jury found that Reynolds Vapor violated Altria’s patents covering the pod assembly used in Vuse Alto.
January 17, 2023