Category: Featured

  • Coal to Tackle Cost and Deforestation in Zim

    Coal to Tackle Cost and Deforestation in Zim

    Photo: Michal

    Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Industry & Marketing Board (TIMB), Kutsaga research station and Hwange Colliery Co. have jointly developed a special coal facility to help reduce tobacco farmers’ production costs and address deforestation concerns, reports the Zimbabwe Independent.  

    The facility will benefit TIMB-registered growers with active grower numbers. TIMB said negotiations were underway with transporters to ensure that the coal is delivered to farmers on time and at affordable rates.

    “The high cost of tobacco production is one of the main challenges bedeviling tobacco farmers in Zimbabwe,” TIMB spokesperson Chelesani Tsarwe told NewsDay Farming, referring to the prices of production inputs, energy and other farming necessities.

    The coal facility, she said, will help tobacco farmers realize significant savings in the curing process.

     Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association president George Seremwe welcomed the arrangement. “The outcry has been us tobacco farmers through our associations, lobbying and advocating reduction on the cost of production and they started sort of goal rolling by engaging different suppliers in this case, Hwange Colliery Co. to come up with cheaper modalities, better way of cushioning the farmer in the form of reduction on the cost of production,” he said. “We are very happy and pleased to hear such an initiative happening.”

    More than 70 percent of Zimbabwe’s  tobacco crop is cured using unsustainable wood, with deforestation increasing, according to Zimbabwe Tobacco Association CEO Rodney Ambrose.

    “While the industry embarks on reforestation programs, more efficient curing systems and alternate sustainable curing fuels, stop-gap measures need to be put in place in order to ensure that we maintain our production levels and protect the livelihoods of thousands of farmers,” he said.

     “One of the measures is coal, and to reduce the cost of purchasing and delivering the product to farmers.”

     Zimbabwe achieved a record crop of 296 million kg of tobacco for the 2022-2023 season, earning nearly $1 billion from leaf sales.

     This year’s sales volumes put Zimbabwe on track to achieve its target of 300 million kg by 2025, as formulated in the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan, ahead of schedule.

  • Researchers Identify Flavors Used to Quit

    Researchers Identify Flavors Used to Quit

    The most interesting data is that when a smoker decides to quit smoking using modified-risk electronic tools, they gravitate toward flavors different from tobacco.

    Konstantinos Farsalinos, co-author

    A recent survey revealed that the most utilized flavors to quit smoking in the U.S. are those of fruit, baked goods and chocolate.

    A team of European researchers affiliated with the Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR), the University of West Attica and the University of Patras conducted an online survey on a sample of about 70,000 adult vapers in the U.S. The study focused on comparing flavor use between current-smoking vapers (dual use) and former-smoking vapers and on specifically examining patterns of flavor use among former-smoking vapers at the time of quitting smoking.

    Graph: CoEHAR

    “This is the largest survey ever conducted on the use of electronic cigarettes in terms of sample size,” said study author Konstantinos Farsalinos in a statement. “The most interesting data is that when a smoker decides to quit smoking using modified-risk electronic tools, they gravitate toward flavors different from tobacco, with a clear preference for fruit, dessert and chocolate flavors. We can deduce, therefore, that these specific flavors are more useful for those who want to quit or avoid relapses.”

    When it comes to regulating vape flavors, Riccardo Polosa, founder of the CoEHAR, urged lawmakers to strike a balance between the need to protect young people and the desire to help adult smokers quit.

  • TACJA launches nicotine pouches in Europe

    TACJA launches nicotine pouches in Europe

    TACJA has launched nicotine pouches in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Sweden.

    The products offer eight flavors in two taste series—Mellow and Frozen—and nicotine concentrations of 20 mg/g, 18 mg/g and 12 mg/g. According to TACJA, the products contain pharmaceutical-grade ingredients and comply with the European Union Good Manufacturing Practice.

    “We are thrilled to introduce TACJA, offering a diverse range of flavors and a delightful sensory presence,” said Charles An of TACJA in a statement. “Our nicotine pouches are designed to provide users with moments of quality and unconstraint,” he added.

  • Call for Applications to THR Scholarship

    Call for Applications to THR Scholarship

    Photo: zimmytws

    Knowledge Action Change (KAC) is inviting students to apply for its tobacco harm reduction scholarship program (THRSP). 

    Successful candidates will receive a 12-month bespoke mentoring program to undertake a tobacco harm reduction-related project of their own design plus $12,000 in financial support. New scholars are also invited to the Global Forum on Nicotine in Warsaw, Poland, where they will learn more about tobacco harm reduction and meet leading figures from the field.

    Applications for the 2024–2025 program close on Nov. 30, with 25 places available. On completion of the first scholarship, graduates of the THRSP potentially have access to up to a further three years of funded support from KAC through the one-year enhanced scholarship program and the two-year Kevin Molloy fellowship.

    Potential scholars must complete a short online course and quiz about tobacco harm reduction at the applications portal before submitting their project ideas.

    They can apply by following this link.

  • Stinchfield honored as ‘senior-level leader’

    Stinchfield honored as ‘senior-level leader’

    Photo: USTC

    Cheryl Stinchfield, regional account manager at Premier Manufacturing, was recognized as a senior-level leader at the U.S. National Association of Convenience Stores’ annual convention, U.S. Tobacco Cooperative announced on its website.

    Organized by Convenience Store News, the Top Women in Convenience program honors individuals across retailer, distributor and supplier businesses for outstanding contributions to their companies and the industry at large.

    The 10th class of Top Women in Convenience included 86 established and emerging female leaders in the convenience store industry. The honorees were selected from a pool of nominees based on their innovative corporate initiatives, extraordinary financial and strategic accomplishments, astute problem-solving acumen, exceptional performance, mentorship work and selfless charitable participation, along with other attributes that go above and beyond the call of duty.

    At the award ceremony of more than 450-plus people, Stinchfield was accompanied by Oscar House, Russ Mancuso, Steve Lucas, Mark Schueller and Irene Stinchfield.

  • RJR Complaint Could Wreck Vaping Industry

    RJR Complaint Could Wreck Vaping Industry

    The implications could be far-reaching. Reynolds American Inc. (RAI)  has filed a U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) complaint charging multiple manufacturers, distributors and retailers of several popular disposable vaping devices with unfair importation. It is one of several recent actions Reynolds has made to remove its competitor’s vaping products from store shelves.

    Reynolds is asking the ITC to investigate and issue an exclusion order preventing further U.S. imports of disposable vaping products. Several legal scholars have told Tobacco Reporter that if the ITC agrees with Reynolds, all flavored disposable vaping devices without marketing authorization could be stopped at the border and prevented from entering the U.S. market.

    Reynolds wants the ITC to issue a permanent “cease and desist order” prohibiting any businesses from selling illegal vaping products. The move would push nearly the entire vaping industry underground, with the exception of products owned by major tobacco companies such as Reynolds that have received marketing orders from the FDA.

    Several businesses were named specifically as “peddlers of illegal disposable vapes” in the Reynolds complaint, including the “manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers” of Breeze, Elf Bar, Esco Bar, Hyde, Puff Bar, and R&M disposable vapes.

    Also named are several well-known U.S. wholesale and retailers of disposable vapes, including Element Vape, Flawless Vape, Magellan Technology, Mi-One Brands, Price Point Distributors, and Vape Sourcing.

    The ITC complaint accuses what amounts to the manufacturers of all unauthorized vaping products of importing “illegal disposable vapes” in violation of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930. Specifically, Reynolds claims the named businesses either falsely advertised that their products are authorized for sale by the U.S. government, failed to comply with federal laws imposing registration and reporting requirements and limitations on sales, or violated customs laws and regulations.

    “As a result of the relentless influx of illegal vapor products flowing through U.S. borders, Reynolds American Inc. subsidiaries R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. have filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission against more than 30 companies involved in illegally importing unregulated, youth appealing flavored disposable vapor products,” RAI wrote in a statement. “Many of the manufacturers of these disposable vapor devices intentionally and systematically market to youth, selling products with dessert and candy flavors and featuring cartoon characters.

    “These illegal disposable vapor devices, which have unknown ingredients and bypass regulations, are jeopardizing public health by refusing to adhere to the laws that regulate the sale of tobacco products. The complaint requests that the ITC institute an investigation into unfair acts in the importation and sale of these Chinese-manufactured, youth appealing flavored disposable vapor devices into the United States.”

    Reynolds owns the Vuse vaping brand, including the Vuse Alto. Last week, the FDA issued a marketing denial order, ordering Alto menthol refill pods off the market. The Alto device and tobacco-flavored pods are still under review by the agency. Two older Vuse vapes, the Solo and Vibe models (and their tobacco-flavored refills) are among the 23 products currently authorized by the FDA. The marketing denial order was subsequently stayed by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

    In its ITC complaint, Reynolds states it has the capacity to fill any void in the market if the illegal products were removed. “Reynolds has the capacity to replace any increase in demand if the Accused Products were excluded from importation,” the complaint states. “Reynolds is willing to meet any increased demand and can do so in a commercially reasonable time, given that it already supplies the industry with significant quantities of ENDS products, as well as oral tobacco and nicotine products.”

    The ITC has not yet made a decision on the complaint that was filed on Oct. 13.

  • HTPs: EU Rulemaking Challenged in Court

    HTPs: EU Rulemaking Challenged in Court

    Photo: nmann77

    The European Commission will face a legal challenge over its attempt to restrict the sale of heated tobacco products (HTPs).

    On Nov. 3, 2022, the European Union published a directive banning flavored HTPs throughout the union. The ban, which covers all flavors except tobacco, officially took effect Nov. 23, 2022. EU member states were given until July 23, 2023, to transpose the rule into national legislation.

    When the Ireland did so, it was challenged in the Irish High Court by PJ Carroll & Co. and Nicoventures Trading. The nicotine companies argued that the European Commission had exceeded the powers delegated to it under tobacco products legislation approved by the European Council and the European Parliament. According to them, the Commission made its decision based on political grounds rather than legal grounds.

    In his judgment, Irish High Court Justice Cian Ferriter noted that the Commission had effectively prohibited “a category of tobacco product which was new on the market, which had not been in existence at the time of the enactment of the Tobacco Products Directive in 2014 and which had not been the subject of separate policy and health assessments…”.

    “It is at least arguable that this involved a political choice which was only open to the EU legislature and not to the Commission,” Ferriter said.

    According to Eureporter, the Dublin court will now refer the case to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

    The nicotine companies and the Irish High Court are not the first to raise concerns about regulatory overreach. When the Commission adopted its directive in 2022, four EU member states objected that the directive involved “essential elements reserved for the European legislators.”

  • 22nd Century Launches Public Offering

    22nd Century Launches Public Offering

    22nd Century Group is offering 10 million shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase up to 20 million shares of common stock at a combined public offering price of $0.525 per share and accompanying warrants.

    The warrants have an exercise price of $0.525 per share, are immediately exercisable and will expire five years following the date of issuance. The offering is expected to close on or about Oct. 19, 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

    In an announcement, 22nd Century Group said it expects the offering to generate approximately $5.25 million before deducting placement agent’s fees and other offering expenses. The company expects to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes.

  • Cannabis And Nicotine Vape Markets Diverging

    Cannabis And Nicotine Vape Markets Diverging

    Photo: Seth Michael

    The cannabis vaping and tobacco vaping industries in the U.S. are on contrasting paths, largely shaped by regulatory dynamics, according to an article published by Bloomberg. While tobacco vaping faces increased restrictions on nicotine levels, flavored products and youth usage, the cannabis vape sector benefits from limited regulation, making it a significant player in the marijuana market.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ban on flavored vape products in particular has been detrimental to the nicotine vape sector, impacting prominent brands like Vuse Alto, which was recently the subject of an  FDA marketing denial order.

    In comparison, cannabis vapes are growing rapidly, with an estimated $6.8 billion in sales for the year. These numbers might underestimate the market due to the influence of illicit cannabis sales, which are hard to track. However, as cannabis legalization progresses state by state, questions arise about when this sector might face more regulations.

    Some suppliers to the nicotine vape business see substantial potential in the cannabis sector, as the U.S. vape parts market alone is estimated to be a $700 million opportunity. Meanwhile, the rise of disposable vapes also poses a challenge, as concerns about waste and youth appeal lead to potential regulatory hurdles.

  • Researcher To Study Policies and Health Disparities

    Researcher To Study Policies and Health Disparities

    Photo: Virginia Tech

    Roberta Freitas-Lemos of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech university has received $680,000 award from the National Cancer Institute to study the interplay of tobacco policies and health disparities.

    While taxes are widely used to reduce tobacco use, they can also exacerbate socioeconomic disparities. Freitas-Lemos is testing a tax proposal designed to reduce tobacco dependence and tobacco-related disparities in cigarette smokers from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. 

    She plans to develop a new tax proposal based on the abuse liability of tobacco products and investigate its effects on purchase behavior using the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace, a tool developed at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. Her proposal uses an abuse liability assessment model, which predicts the likelihood of tobacco addiction or harmful use.

    Freitas-Lemos will recruit a diverse group of tobacco users who will use an experimental account to purchase tobacco and replacement therapy products through the marketplace. By adjusting the product mix and pricing, scientists can better predict purchase behavior. 

    “My long-term research goal is to become an independent researcher investigating the differential impact of policies on tobacco initiation, use and cessation among individuals who experience tobacco-related cancer disparities,” Freitas-Lemos said in a statement.

    Freitas-Lemos studied psychology at the Pontifical Catholic University in Sao Paulo, Brazil, before earning a doctorate from the University of Brasilia. She joined the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute as postdoctoral fellow in 2019.