Category: News This Week

Legalization requested
Philip Morris International has applied to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia to legalize its heat-not-burn tobacco products. In Australia, only nicotine in “tobacco prepared and packed for smoking” can be legally sold. Australian health minister Greg Hunt said that any vapor product would need to be approved by the TGA to be sold in the country.
Legalise Vaping Australia’s campaign director, Brian Marlow, noted that the TGA approval process would require millions of dollars to complete.
“This is a retrograde move orchestrated by our federal government and is designed to protect Big Tobacco and kill off Australia’s rapidly growing vaping industry, which is made up of small family retail businesses and highly innovative and world-leading e-liquid manufacturers,” he said.
“Australia’s 300,000 vapers and 2.6 million smokers should not be forced to access just one TGA approved nicotine vaping product owned by a multinational tobacco company, but they should have the freedom to purchase one of the many hundreds of combinations of available vaping products that suits them and helps them quit smoking,” said Marlow.
December 13, 2019
South Korea Maintains E-cigarette Advisory
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will maintain its advisory discouraging people from buying e-cigarettes until the cause of a recent spate of vaping-related illnesses has been determined, reports Yonhap News Agency.
In October, the ministry advised consumers to refrain from using flavored e-cigarettes following a series of vaping-associated deaths and hospitalizations, primarily in the U.S.
Korean health authorities recently found minute traces in e-liquids of substances suspected of causing severe lung injuries, including vitamin E acetate, which U.S. health authorities have fingered as the main culprit behind the outbreak.
E-cigarette manufacturers expressed bafflement over the ministry’s announcement, emphasizing that they did not use vitamin E acetate or other dangerous substances.
“We’re thoroughly looking into the ministry’s findings,” said a representative of Juul Labs, which launched its products in Korea in May. “We will communicate actively with ministry officials regarding their testing methods and results.”
Earlier, the ministry said it would tighten security measures on e-cigarettes and imports of liquid nicotine and crack down on the sale and promotion of illegal tobacco products.

December 13, 2019
Advisory maintained
South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will maintain its advisory discouraging people from buying e-cigarettes until the cause of a recent spate of vaping-related illnesses has been determined, reports Yonhap News Agency.
In October, the ministry advised consumers to refrain from using flavored e-cigarettes following a series of vaping-associated deaths and hospitalizations, primarily in the U.S.
Korean health authorities recently found minute traces in e-liquids of substances suspected of causing severe lung injuries, including vitamin E acetate, which U.S. health authorities have fingered as the main culprit behind the outbreak.
E-cigarette manufacturers expressed bafflement over the ministry’s announcement, emphasizing that they did not use vitamin E acetate or other dangerous substances.
“We’re thoroughly looking into the ministry’s findings,” said a representative of Juul Labs, which launched its products in Korea in May. “We will communicate actively with ministry officials regarding their testing methods and results.”
Earlier, the ministry said it would tighten security measures on e-cigarettes and imports of liquid nicotine and crack down on the sale and promotion of illegal tobacco products.

December 13, 2019
Legislation Replaces Massachusetts’ Flavor Ban
Massachusetts officials ended their emergency ban on the sale of vapor products on Dec. 11. The ban had been set to expire Dec. 24, but Governor Charlie Baker had said his administration would end the ban early in light of new legislation restricting the sale and use of flavored tobacco and vapor products.
Retailers will now be allowed to sell unflavored vapor products, which account for a small share of pre-ban sales.
A handful of states have imposed temporary bans on vapor products, but Massachusetts is the first with permanent restrictions.
The new law restricts the sale and consumption of flavored tobacco and vapor products to licensed smoking bars. The restriction extends to popular menthol cigarettes and flavored e-cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco and chewing tobacco.
Retailers will have to place vapor products behind the store’s counter, just like tobacco products.
The new law also places a 75 percent excise tax on nicotine vapor products and restricts nicotine concentrations to less than 35 milligrams per milliliter of vaping solution.
December 13, 2019
Emergency ban ended
Massachusetts officials ended their emergency ban on the sale of vapor products on Dec. 11. The ban had been set to expire Dec. 24, but Governor Charlie Baker had said his administration would end the ban early in light of new legislation restricting the sale and use of flavored tobacco and vapor products.
Retailers will now be allowed to sell unflavored vapor products, which account for a small share of pre-ban sales.
A handful of states have imposed temporary bans on vapor products, but Massachusetts is the first with permanent restrictions.
The new law restricts the sale and consumption of flavored tobacco and vapor products to licensed smoking bars. The restriction extends to popular menthol cigarettes and flavored e-cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco and chewing tobacco.
Retailers will have to place vapor products behind the store’s counter, just like tobacco products.
The new law also places a 75 percent excise tax on nicotine vapor products and restricts nicotine concentrations to less than 35 milligrams per milliliter of vaping solution.
December 13, 2019
Senate Confirms Hahn as FDA Head
Stephen Hahn
The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Stephen Hahn to lead the Food and Drug Administration, reports AP. Hahn will succeed Scott Gottlieb, who left the federal agency in April.
A specialist in treating lung cancer, Hahn most recently worked as the top medical executive at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
His appointment comes as key decisions about regulating e-cigarettes, including how to restrict underage access, remain unresolved.
More than three months ago President Donald Trump and his top health officials said they would clear the market of virtually all flavored e-cigarettes because of their appeal to children and teens. But that effort has stalled after vapor lobbyists pushed back and White House advisers told Trump the ban could cost him votes with vapers.
In his confirmation hearing last month, Hahn repeatedly sidestepped questions about the fate of the flavor ban. When lawmakers tried to pin down his preferred approach to regulating vaping, Hahn said only that he would follow the “science and evidence.”
December 13, 2019
Hahn confirmed
Stephen Hahn
The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Stephen Hahn to lead the Food and Drug Administration, reports AP. Hahn will succeed Scott Gottlieb, who left the federal agency in April.
A specialist in treating lung cancer, Hahn most recently worked as the top medical executive at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
His appointment comes as key decisions about regulating e-cigarettes, including how to restrict underage access, remain unresolved.
More than three months ago President Donald Trump and his top health officials said they would clear the market of virtually all flavored e-cigarettes because of their appeal to children and teens. But that effort has stalled after vapor lobbyists pushed back and White House advisers told Trump the ban could cost him votes with vapers.
In his confirmation hearing last month, Hahn repeatedly sidestepped questions about the fate of the flavor ban. When lawmakers tried to pin down his preferred approach to regulating vaping, Hahn said only that he would follow the “science and evidence.”
December 13, 2019
Turkey Probes Tobacco Taste Changes After Plain Packaging
Saudi Arabia has told tobacco companies to disclose the ingredients in their products following consumer reports about perceived taste changes after the introduction of plain packaging earlier this year, reports The Saudi Gazette.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the Ministry of Commerce are reportedly seeking details about tobacco materials such as leaf, rolling papers and filters. In addition, they want information about emission components and an explanation why flavors changed.
SFDA has sent samples from seven locally sold tobacco products to the Eurofins laboratory to determine whether there has been any change in the quality and flavor of tobacco used during the past two years.
SFDA and the ministry warned tobacco companies they would be punished if they are found to have manipulated their products.
December 13, 2019
Taste change investigation
Saudi Arabia has told tobacco companies to disclose the ingredients in their products following consumer reports about perceived taste changes after the introduction of plain packaging earlier this year, reports The Saudi Gazette.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the Ministry of Commerce are reportedly seeking details about tobacco materials such as leaf, rolling papers and filters. In addition, they want information about emission components and an explanation why flavors changed.
SFDA has sent samples from seven locally sold tobacco products to the Eurofins laboratory to determine whether there has been any change in the quality and flavor of tobacco used during the past two years.
SFDA and the ministry warned tobacco companies they would be punished if they are found to have manipulated their products.
December 13, 2019
Estelli Opens Factory
Cigar Box Factory Esteli (CBFE) celebrates the opening of its new 21,500-square-foot factory in Esteli, Nicaragua.
In business for more than 30 years, CBFE supplies packaging to Drew Estate, AJ Fernandez and Altadis USA, among other prominent cigar companies.
According to CBFE, the new ISO 9001-certified facility offers improved working conditions and will increase the factory’s efficiency
“We welcome our current and future clients to the new and improved factory, said CBFE General Manager Cesar Ramirez Saez. “We look forward to participate once again in the Puro Sabor Cigar Festival in January as well as hosting guided tours to our facility.”
December 12, 2019