Category: Featured

  • Rachael Trimpert Schmidt Joins Chemular

    Rachael Trimpert Schmidt Joins Chemular

    Rachael Trimpert Schmidt (Photo: Chemular)

    Chemular has appointed Rachael Trimpert Schmidt as a senior consultant.

    Schmidt joins Chemular from her recent position with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as assistant director of laboratory compliance and coordination of the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) where she was responsible for establishing and coordinating all FDA tobacco regulatory laboratories in support of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

    At the CTP, Smith was responsible for developing and executing all tobacco product testing programs, including premarket application review, postmarket compliance and adverse events. In her more than 12 years at the agency, Schmidt engaged with both national and international partners to harmonize tobacco enforcement.

    Most recently, Schmidt has worked extensively as the lead regulatory science expert for the development of tobacco product standards.

    “Schmidt brings a wealth of knowledge to our team,” says Jason Carignan, chief commercial officer of Chemular, in a statement. “She’s been deeply involved with developing and implementing regulations within the tobacco industry for many years and has a sharpened ability to identify and address emerging issues. This firsthand experience will ensure that Chemular stays at the forefront of compliance initiatives and that our customers can launch and keep their products on the market. She is going to be a valuable asset to Chemular and supporting our customers through her insights and action.”

    “I am excited to join the Chemular team,” says Schmidt. “I’ve spent a large part of my career immersed in the tobacco industry, identifying issues and opportunities while shaping its policies through my work with the FDA and the Center for Tobacco Products. I look forward to taking an active role with Chemular and helping its customers pave a smooth path to compliance.”

  • Former STMA Chief Pleads Guilty to Bribery

    Former STMA Chief Pleads Guilty to Bribery

    Photo: alswart

    The former deputy chief of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, He Zehua, pled guilty to accepting bribes worth over CNY943 million ($130 million) during a trial in Liaoning province, reports China Daily. The case was publicly heard by the Dalian Intermediate People’s Court. 

    Prosecutors alleged that from 1998 to 2023, He used his various work posts in the country’s tobacco system to seek benefits for relevant people and departments in business operations, business contracting, job promotion and employment in return for monetary bribes. After leaving his work posts, prosecutors alleged, he sought profits for individuals and organizations in tobacco-related business contracting and bank solicitation for monetary bribes as well.

  • Pension Fund Supports KT&G CEO Nominee

    Pension Fund Supports KT&G CEO Nominee

    South Korea’s National Pension Fund (NPF) will vote in favor of KT&G’s CEO nominee Bang Kyung-man at the cigarette manufacturer’s upcoming shareholder meeting, reports the Yonhap News Agency.

    The NPF will also vote for former Judge Sohn Dong-hwan as a new KT&G board member.

    The NPF holds a 6.2 percent stake in KT&G. 

    The Industrial Bank of Korea, which is state-run and holds an 8 percent stake in KT&G, has opposed Bang’s nomination, citing falling profitability and dubious business practices during his board tenure. Sohn is a director candidate proposed by the Industrial Bank of Korea.

  • Warnings Don’t Violate First Amendment: Court

    Warnings Don’t Violate First Amendment: Court

    Image: zimmytws

    The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the federal requirement for cigarette packs and advertising include graphic images of the effects of smoking, including images of smoke-damaged lungs and blackened feet, does not violate the First Amendment of the Constitution, reports AP News.

    The ruling came from a three-judge panel, consisting of Jerry Smith, Jennifer Walker Elrod and James Graves, that also kept alive a tobacco industry challenge of the rule, stating that a lower court should review whether the rule was adopted in accordance with the federal Administrative Procedure Act, which governs the development of regulations.

    The panel rejected the argument from the tobacco industry that the rule violates free speech rights and that the requirement overcomes branding and messaging on packages and advertisements due to the size of the images and lettering.

    This latest ruling overturns a lower court order from a Texas federal district court, which ruled that the requirements violate the First Amendment.

    “We disagree,” Smith wrote for the 5th Circuit panel. “The warnings are both factual and uncontroversial.”

    The U.S. is among about 120 countries globally that have adopted larger graphic health warnings. Studies from other countries suggest that the image-based labels are more effective than text warnings.

  • Taiwan Group Protests THP Regulations

    Taiwan Group Protests THP Regulations

    Image: butenkow

    The Clean Air Alliance has called on the Taiwanese public to join a protest in front of the Presidential Office Building in Taipei March 22, 2024, against heated tobacco regulations that  benefit traditional cigarette manufacturers, reports The Taipei Times.

    The group states that though its been a year since the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act was amended, heated-tobacco products cannot be sold legally but 14 new types of traditional paper-wrapped cigarettes have been approved for sale.

    The alliance noted that the review standards for heated-tobacco products and traditional cigarettes are disparate and unfair toward heated-tobacco products, which benefits cigarette manufacturers.

    Police have put traffic restrictions in place in the area due to the protest.

    The protest is set to begin at 9 a.m. and end by noon.

  • Hong Kong Mulls Duty-Paid Labels

    Hong Kong Mulls Duty-Paid Labels

    Image: muh

    Hong Kong officials are considering putting designated labels on tobacco products so they can be easily identified as duty-paid, according to acting Health Minister Libby Lee, reports rthk.hk.

    Lawmakers expressed concern regarding efforts to combat illicit cigarettes following an increase in tobacco tax for the second year in a row. Lee noted that officials are looking into the feasibility of placing customs labels on duty-paid products and that progress will be reported in a few months.

    Lawmakers Johnny Ng and Peter Shiu stated that the 12 people prosecuted since 2021 for promoting tobacco products was too low a number, noting that it is common to see flyers promoting illicit tobacco products being handed out at public housing estates.

    Lee’s responded that it is difficult to enforce because officers cannot prosecute someone for holding flyers. She noted, however, that tobacco control officers remove around 50 websites monthly that sell illicit products, but they sometimes run into enforcement problems as well.

    “When it comes to overseas websites, we also have difficulty closing these websites or taking enforcement actions,” said Lee. “However, we’ll set up enforcement efforts … and publicity.”

  • Canada to Crack Down on Pouches

    Canada to Crack Down on Pouches

    Image: Imperial Tobacco Canada

    Canada Health Minister Mark Holland promised to crack down on nicotine pouches, issuing a warning to tobacco companies that he claimed are marketing the products to children, according to City News Everywhere.

    “I would say to the tobacco companies that continue to look for ways to use loopholes to addict people to their products, get away, stay the hell away from our kids,” Holland said during a press conference.

    He accused Imperial Tobacco of using a loophole to get its oral nicotine pouch, Zonnic, approved by Health Canada, branding the product as a quit-smoking aid. Health Canada’s approval did not include a minimum age limit. Holland claims that this product is now being used to hook another generation on nicotine products.

    Imperial denied claims of using a loophole to gain approval; the company stated it simply applied to Health Canada and received approval.

    Holland plans to restrict access to Zonnic as well as restrict flavors and marketing.

    “To me, it is absolutely essential that we see these products move behind the counter,” Holland said.

    “Whatever dark corner the tobacco industry crawls and creeps into to go after our children, wherever they go, whatever loophole they think they can find, they will meet me like an iron wall,” he said.

    “To single out Zonnic for practices that are widespread across the industry is not only unfair but also smacks of hypocrisy, suggesting an anti-tobacco company bias rather than a genuine concern for public health,” said Eric Gagnon, vice president of regulatory affairs at Imperial Tobacco Canada.

    Gagnon noted that Imperial Tobacco Canada is open to discussing Holland’s proposed restrictions, but he believes that they should apply to all stop-smoking products, including nicotine gum. He also noted that the company has moved to place Zonnic behind counters, despite not being required to do so, but he feels that flavors are helpful to those trying to quit smoking and that Zonnic should be available everywhere that cigarettes are sold.

    Health Canada issued a consumer safety alert the same day as the health minister’s press conference regarding Zonnic: “They should not be used recreationally, by nonsmokers, by people under the age of 18 or by others at risk of nicotine’s toxic effects.”

    Tobacco control advocates have applauded the health minister’s plans. “We’re thrilled that Minister Holland is taking steps to stop this cycle and protect youth,” said Doug Roth, chief executive of Heart and Stroke, which Holland worked for between 2011 and 2015.

  • Taiwan to Increase Size of Health Warnings

    Taiwan to Increase Size of Health Warnings

    Image: Andrii

    In Taiwan, graphic health warnings will soon have to cover at least 50 percent of cigarette packages, an increase from the current requirement of 35 percent, according to the Health Promotion Administration (HPA), reports Focus Taiwan.

    The new rules take effect Friday, March 22, 2024, following the expiration of a one-year transition period.

    Manufacturers caught violating the rules will face fines up to NTD5 million ($156,629), and those caught selling improperly labeled products will face fines up to NTD50,000.

    According to HPA Director General Wu Chao-chun, 122 countries and territories require graphic health warnings covering at least half of packaging, exceeding the World Health Organization recommendation of at least 30 percent.

    The HPA has sent officials around Taiwan to promote the upcoming policy, making sure that those affected are aware of the changes, according to Lo Su-ying, head of the HPA’s Tobacco Control Division.

  • Cigarette Manufacturing to Increase

    Cigarette Manufacturing to Increase

    Image: www.akolosov.art

    A cigarette manufacturing plant is under construction in Zimbabwe, with the expectation that it will increase manufacturing capacity by 50 percent, reports The Herald.

    “(The) Cabinet would like to report that the value of local tobacco purchased has increased from $650 million in 2022 to $897 million in 2023,” said Jenfan Muswere, minister of information, publicity and broadcasting services. “Out of this amount, tobacco purchases using local financing were $61.4 million in 2022 and $73.2 million in 2023. For the 2024 tobacco marketing season, the recorded intentions for local financing amount to $81 million.”

    “There are opportunities to increase the level of value addition and beneficiation of tobacco into cut rag and production of cigarettes, from 2 percent of total tobacco produced to 30 percent,” said Muswere. “Currently, seven cigarette manufacturers operate in Zimbabwe, with a combined production capacity of around 5 billion cigarette sticks per annum.

    “An additional cigarette manufacturing plant is under construction, with a current production of 1.6 billion sticks per year. The plant will increase capacity by 50 percent in the first half of 2024.”

  • Organizations Urge Biden to Ban Menthols

    Organizations Urge Biden to Ban Menthols

    Image: Margarita

    A total of 123 civil rights, public health, medical, faith, youth-serving and other organizations placed a full-page ad in The Washington Post and issued a joint statement urging the Biden administration to issue final rules this month to prohibit cigarettes and flavored cigars to meet a deadline the administration set in December, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

    The ad and joint statement underscore the support across the nation for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s proposed rules to eliminate menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, including from organizations representing populations that have been targeted by the tobacco industry and disproportionately harmed by these products.

    “President Biden, we stand united,” the ad reads. “Act now to eliminate menthol cigarettes.”

    “These rules are supported by overwhelming scientific evidence, they will have enormous benefits for our nation’s health and they are critical to achieving top priorities of the Biden administration, especially the president’s Cancer Moonshot and the administration’s commitment to promoting health equity,” the joint statement reads.

    “We were deeply disappointed in December when the administration delayed issuing these long-overdue rules. As tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, killing nearly half a million Americans every year, any further delay in issuing the final rules will result in needless disease, suffering and deaths. The administration must stand up to the tobacco industry and act now to save lives.”