Category: Featured

  • Vapes Among Top Quitting Aides

    Vapes Among Top Quitting Aides

    Photo: Vadzim

    E-cigarettes are among the Top-3 most effective tools to stop smoking, according to a new review of evidence by a team of scientists. The other strategies are Varenicline, a prescription drug sold under brand names such as Chantix and Champix, and Cytisine, a plant-based compound sold as an over-the-counter natural health product in Canada and throughout central Europe and eastern Europe, and available under prescription in the United Kingdom.

    These tools for quitting work best when combined with behavioral support, such as counseling, according to the authors. Bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) are also effective, especially NRT patches combined with fast-acting forms like gum.

    “For behavioral support, evidence is strongest for counseling and for programs that reward people for stopping smoking,” said senior author Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, assistant professor of health policy and management in the UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences, in a statement.

    Published Sept. 4 in the journal Addiction, the review was conducted by the non-profit Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group (CTAG)

    CTAG’s summary outlines the key findings from 14 Cochrane reviews that CTAG published between 2021 and 2023.

    The latest Cochrane review of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation concluded that there was high‐certainty evidence that e-cigarettes with nicotine increase quit rates compared with NRT, and moderate‐certainty evidence that they increase quit rates compared with e-cigarettes without nicotine.

    The 2023 Cochrane review of pharmacological and e-cigarette interventions for smoking cessation included all drugs licensed as treatments for smoking cessation anywhere in the world, as well as e-cigarettes with or without nicotine. The review included 319 studies (157,179 participants). The most effective interventions were nicotine e‐cigarettes, varenicline and cytisine, all of which had high-certainty evidence, closely followed by combination NRT. 

  • Retailers Urged to Prioritize Training

    Retailers Urged to Prioritize Training

    Photo: auremar

    The U.S. We Card program is encouraging retailers to make employee training a top priority in promoting responsible retailing of age restricted products.

    In addition to educating staff, retailers should update in-store signage, gauge employee performance through “mystery shopping,” and compare their store practices against We Card’s Guide to Best Practices, according to the organization.

    “There are lots of changes in laws, regulations and age restricted products sold at retail,” said We Card President Doug Anderson in a statement. “In September, we kick off Awareness Month with a focus on elements that help reduce underage access: effective employee training that ensures retail employees are trained-and-confident and ready to deny underage purchase attempts of tobacco, vaping and nicotine pouch products.”

    To ensure compliance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspects up to 9,000 stores per month. Simultaneously, state government authorities also measure retailers’ compliance with state youth access laws.

    “Keeping tobacco, vaping products, nicotine pouches and all age-restricted products out of the hands of everyone under 21 years old is our top priority,” said Lyle Beckwith, senior vice president of government relations for the National Association of Convenience Stores and a We Card founding board member.

    “A well-trained staff helps stores establish a reputation as a responsible retailer in their communities.”

  • Organigram Closes Second BAT Tranche

    Organigram Closes Second BAT Tranche

    Photo: krishnadasekm

    Organigram Holdings closed the second of three tranches of a CAD124.56 million ($92.2 million) equity investment by British American Tobacco’s BT DE Investments subsidiary.

    Pursuant to the second tranche closing, the investor acquired 4,429,740 common shares and 8,463,435 Class A preferred shares at a price of CAD3.22 per share for gross proceeds of $30.82 million. The remaining 12,893,175 shares subscribed for are due to be issued at the per share price in the final tranche on or around Feb. 28, 2025.

    “With two tranches of the Jupiter pool now funded, combined with our strong balance sheet and targeted investment strategy, Organigram is well on its way to executing on its ambitious growth plan focusing on international, technological and product expansion,” said Organigram CEP Paolo De Luca in a statement.

    “Our inaugural Jupiter investment in Open Book Extracts marked our second investment in the U.S. market, and our first international investment in Sanity Group represents a significant first step in our ambitions to grow our footprint in the fast-growing German market,” he added.

  • Accorto Joins Institute for Novel Nicotine

    Accorto Joins Institute for Novel Nicotine

    Accorto Regulatory Solutions has joined the Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN), an organization dedicated to advancing tobacco harm reduction through supporting the research and development of non-vaporized tobacco alternatives for adult smokers. The GINN also promotes compliance standards, focusing on youth access prevention, responsible marketing and product quality.

    Accorto Chief Scientific Officer Vince Angelico will join the GINN’s science and standards committee, which helps shape regulatory recommendations for the industry.

    “Becoming a member of GINN is a pivotal move in our ongoing commitment to advancing public health through robust, evidence-based regulation,” said Accorto Regulatory Solutions CEO Tom Beaudet in a statement. “GINN’s dedication to upholding industry integrity and prioritizing consumer safety mirrors our own values. We are eager to collaborate with fellow members to drive impactful progress in the tobacco harm reduction space.”

    Through this collaboration, Accorto Regulatory Solutions aims to contribute to the development of comprehensive, science-driven regulations that will enhance public health outcomes and promote responsible industry practices. Additionally, Accorto says it is dedicated to helping GINN members with novel, science-backed reduced-risk products fortify their regulatory applications, enabling these products to reach the market.

    “Accorto Regulatory Solutions joining GINN marks a significant step forward in our shared mission to advance tobacco harm reduction through evidence-based regulation,” said GINN Director Shem Baldeosingh. “Accorto’s deep expertise in regulatory compliance and their commitment to public health align perfectly with GINN’s core values. We are particularly excited about Dr. Vince Angelico’s involvement in our science and standards committee, as it will further enhance our ability to develop comprehensive, science-driven regulatory frameworks that support the safe and responsible marketing of reduced-risk nicotine products.”

  • Study: HTPs Increase Likelihood of Quitting

    Study: HTPs Increase Likelihood of Quitting

    Photo: Nikita

    Switching to heated tobacco products (HTPs) can significantly increase the likelihood of smokers quitting smoking entirely, reports the Inquirer, citing a study conducted by South Korean researchers.

    Conducted by experts at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, the study also found no evidence to support concerns that HTPs serve as a gateway to smoking.

    Using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the researchers observed that 99.4 percent of HTP users either switched from traditional cigarettes or are dual users, with only 0.6 percent being new smokers.

    Anton Israel, president of the Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines, said the Korean study demonstrates how technology can mitigate the risks associated with nicotine consumption. “Nicotine isn’t the problem,” he was quoted as saying. “It’s the way it’s delivered through combustion. Smoke-free products like HTPs eliminate the harm from smoke.”

    The Korean study, which surveyed 4,514 adults, also concluded that adolescents are more likely to start smoking with traditional cigarettes rather than HTPs. Among the study’s participants, 2,356 were nonsmokers, 1,316 were traditional cigarette smokers, and 842 were HTP users. 

    Heated tobacco products accounted for 12 percent of South Korean tobacco sales in 2021, up from 2.2 percent in 2017.  

  • Supreme Court Urged to Overturn Triton Ruling

    Supreme Court Urged to Overturn Triton Ruling

    Image: hafakot

    A group of congressional lawmakers urged the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn a lower court ruling that blocked federal regulators from rejecting certain e-cigarette products, reports, reports Courthouse News.

    They argued that the move could hinder government efforts to keep illegal vaping products off store shelves.

    The Supreme Court is set to tackle the FDA’s power to regulate vape sales altogether this term, in FDA v. Wages and White Lion Investments, LLC. The forthcoming case challenges a January ruling from the Fifth Circuit, which found that the FDA overstepped its authority when it rejected marketing applications from two manufacturers looking to sell flavored liquids for e-cigarettes.

    In an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court Sept. 2, the group of legislators—led by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and New Jersey Representative Frank Pallone—argued that the FDA’s decision to reject these marketing applications was “carefully” reasoned.

    “Guided by Congress’ chief directive—to deny such authorization unless a product under review would be ‘appropriate for the protection of the public health’ … FDA has been appropriately mindful of children and teenagers, the most vulnerable pool of nontobacco users,” the lawmakers wrote.

    They contended that judicial oversight of the agency’s authority had been “generally consistent” until the Fifth Circuit’s ruling and had not impeded it from accomplishing its regulatory responsibilities.

    The legislatures told the high court that allowing the lower court’s ruling to stand would not only force the FDA to waste resources reevaluating the rejected marketing applications but could also invite other manufacturers previously rejected by the FDA to relitigate their own marketing requests.

    “While those applications are once again pending FDA review, the tobacco products they cover would continue to be sold, despite the law’s clear pre-market authorization regime,” the lawmakers said. That provides a “powerful financial incentive” for manufacturers to reapply for FDA approval, even if they know the agency will ultimately deny their applications.

    A group of health organizations has filed a separate amicus brief, making similar arguments, in the case.

  • Dominican Republic to Build Tobacco School

    Dominican Republic to Build Tobacco School

    Photo: Tobacco Reporter archive

    The National Institute for Technical and Professional Training of the Dominican Republic will establish a school to meet the growing demand for skilled labor in the tobacco sector.

    Set up in collaboration with the Association of Cigar Producers of the Dominican Republic (ProCigar), the facility will be located in Tamboril, Santiago, a key area for tobacco production. The facility aims to provide formal training and certification for workers, many of whom have previously gained skills through informal means.

    According to ProCigar President Litto Gómez, training is key in maintaining the international competitiveness and quality of Dominican tobacco products. Investing in skilled labor, he noted, not only supports the industry’s efficiency but also contributes to the economic development of local communities.

    The tobacco industry in Santiago employs more than 110,000 people and generated over $400 million in the first four months of the year, according to the Ministry of Industry.

  • BAT to Host 2024 CORESTA Congress

    BAT to Host 2024 CORESTA Congress

    The UK-based company will host the 2024 CORESTA Congress in Edinburgh, UK, from 13 – 17 Oct.

    • The Congress will bring together leading scientists, tobacco and related product experts, and regulators from over 165 member organizations to focus on the theme of “Advancing Tobacco Harm Reduction through Scientific Collaboration.”
    • Participants will share, discuss, and collaborate on tobacco and related product
      science.

    BAT has volunteered to host the upcoming Cooperation Centre for Scientific Research Relative
    to Tobacco (CORESTA) Congress 2024, set to take place from 13 – 17 October at the Edinburgh
    International Convention Centre, UK.

    This year’s congress will bring together over 165 member organizations, from over 30 countries
    and non-members, including companies, research institutes, laboratories, associations, and
    regulatory bodies under the theme of “Advancing Tobacco Harm Reduction through Scientific
    Collaboration”.

    Formed in 1956, CORESTA is committed to exploring the latest scientific research to facilitate
    positive change in the tobacco industry. This year’s iteration continues this ambition, specifically
    seeking to advance the knowledge and understanding of the science related to Tobacco Harm
    Reduction (THR) among its membership and attendees.

    To achieve this goal, leading scientists from across the world will attend and present their work, bringing their expertise in a diverse range of disciplines to allow participants to explore all aspects of THR. Thanks to the collaborative work of the most experienced scientists in their field, CORESTA has gained international recognition.

    With increasing regulatory requirements, CORESTA’s scientific work and outputs have become a worldwide reference point for tobacco policymaking and support the development of testing standards, such as ISO Standards.

    As host, BAT looks forward to facilitating the conversations necessary to grasp the public health opportunity presented by THR to significantly reduce the risks for the estimated 1bn consumers who smoke and address misperceptions of alternative tobacco and nicotine products with the potential to reduce risks compared to cigarettes.

    To learn more about the event and request an invitation, visit the official congress website: www.corestacongress2024.com. Registration is open until Sept. 20, 2024.

  • Fire Damages Universal Facility in Dominican

    Fire Damages Universal Facility in Dominican

    Image: sharafmaksumov

    A fire broke out Sept. 2 at Inetab-Kaubeck, Universal Corp.’s leaf-sorting and sales facility in Moca, Dominican Republic.

    In a letter sent to Universal clients obtained by Halfwheel, Inetab-Kaubeck Managing Director Philipp Schumacher said that there was “a material loss of tobacco and one part of the warehouse affected.”

    The letter states that staff were not on-site at the time of the fire, and no lives were lost. It does not list the cause of the fire.

    Video of the fire showed a large warehouse that appeared to still have tobacco in it, but images shared with Halfwheel show a mostly empty building with remnants of tobacco on the floor and tables as well as char marks around the walls and standing water on the floor. 

    In a subsequent video, Henderson Ventura of Tabacalera William Ventura and ADV & McKay Cigars Co. said that it is one of eight buildings at Inetab-Kaubeck and one that focused on Connecticut broadleaf and Pennsylvania tobaccos.

    “We thank all emergency services present and [e]specially the fire departments from Moca and multiple other locations in the Cibao area for their assistance to the fire,” said Schumacher. “Thanks to their tireless efforts, it was controlled swiftly.”

  • Tobacco Reporter Recognized

    Tobacco Reporter Recognized

    Tobacco Reporter was recognized for editorial excellence in the Trade, Association, and Business Publications International’s most recent Tabbie competition.

    The magazine received a bronze award in the Editor’s Column category for its “Developing Supplemental Value Chains” editor’s memo and an honorable mention in the Feature Article category for its “Broadening the Base” piece. Both articles deal with Malawi’s attempts to diversify its economy beyond tobacco.

    Created two decades ago, the annual Tabbie Awards program celebrates journalists worldwide who cover their industries with passion, skill and creativity. The Tabbie Awards stands out from other similar programs in its distinctive global reach, with local, regional, national and international English-language publications in all countries encouraged to participate.

    It’s not the first time that Tobacco Reporter’s work has been recognized in the Tabbie competition. Previous awards include gold, silver and bronze trophies for feature writing, along with honorable mentions in various categories.