Category: Other Tobacco Products

  • Reporting harm reduction

    Reporting harm reduction

    British American Tobacco yesterday published its 2018 Harm Reduction Focus Report, which looks at the company’s strategy of ‘transforming tobacco’ by seeking to provide consumers with satisfying, reduced-risk alternatives to smoking.
    ‘This new report highlights BAT’s continued commitment to contributing to tobacco harm reduction,’ the company said in a note posted on its website. ‘It demonstrates how the company has made tremendous progress in its long-held ambition to provide consumers with less risky tobacco and nicotine choices. Adult consumers are offered a much broader range of alternatives than ever before, including vapor products, tobacco heating products and oral tobacco and nicotine products in 28 countries globally.’
    BAT said the report focused also on how the company was maximising the potential of its products to contribute to harm reduction by continuously investing in innovation, building reliable evidence backed by robust science, and driving responsible growth of the industry through collaborative efforts.
    “At BAT, we’re committed to transforming tobacco by providing consumers with satisfying alternatives to smoking,” chief executive Nicandro Durante was quoted as saying. “Without the right products, tobacco harm reduction will never be a reality, which is why our approach is centred on developing an outstanding product portfolio.
    “But these products can only meet their potential if the right regulatory and market conditions are in place.  Stakeholders from across government, industry and public health need to continue to work together to create an environment for tobacco harm reduction to be successful.
    “As I come to the end of my eight-year tenure as CEO of this fantastic company I am immensely proud of the progress we have made with regards to harm reduction. But this is just the beginning of BAT’s mission to transform tobacco.”
    The report highlights are said to include:

    • Expert viewpoints from BAT’s senior leadership in which Durante comments on BAT’s progress in its commitment to harm reduction under his leadership, and in which scientific and R&D director Dr. David O’Reilly writes about the transformation of the tobacco industry and what it means for BAT.
    • An expert stakeholder viewpoint from Dr. Saul Shiffman, a professor of clinical and health psychology, who has been conducting behavioral research on nicotine and tobacco for 45 years.
    • Information on BAT’s diverse range of potentially reduced-risk products (PRRPs) – from vapor products and tobacco heating products, to oral tobacco and nicotine products – that are now available in 28 countries.
    • An overview of the scientific assessment framework BAT has developed to assess the reduced-risk potential of its products.
    • A reference to the growing body of independent evidence that demonstrates the reduced risk of emerging tobacco and nicotine alternatives to smoking.
    • The importance of effective regulation, including product quality, and safety standards.
    • BAT’s continued commitment to tobacco harm reduction – how it will continue to invest in seeking to develop less risky alternatives to cigarettes, provide sound science behind its products, engage with regulators to raise awareness about the potential benefits of PRRPs, and responsibly market its products to adult consumers looking for potentially less risky alternatives.
  • FDA committee meeting set

    FDA committee meeting set

    A committee that advises the US Food and Drug Administration is to meet to discuss an amendment to Swedish Match North America’s (SMNA) modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) applications for eight General Snus products, and an MRTP application submitted by US Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC) for its Copenhagen Snuff Fine Cut tobacco product.
    In a note issued through its Center for Tobacco Products, the FDA said it had issued a Federal Register notice announcing a meeting of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) scheduled for February 6-7 at the FDA White Oak campus.
    The committee is due to discuss scientific issues related to SMNA’s amendment – made public in October – to its MRTP applications for eight General Snus products. It is due to discuss also the MRTP application submitted by USSTC for its Copenhagen Snuff Fine Cut tobacco product, which is currently under scientific review by FDA.
    ‘The Tobacco Control Act defines an MRTP as any tobacco product sold or distributed for use to reduce harm or the risk of tobacco-related disease associated with commercially marketed tobacco products,’ the FDA said in its note. ‘MRTP information may communicate to consumers that the product is less harmful or presents a lower risk of tobacco-related disease than other commercially marketed tobacco products, reduces exposure to a substance, or does not contain or is free of a substance.
    ‘During this upcoming meeting, representatives from Altria (parent company to USSTC) and FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products’ Office of Science will present information about the company’s MRTP application currently under FDA scientific review.
    ‘In addition, TPSAC members will hear presentations from SMNA and FDA about that company’s recent amendment to their MRTP applications for eight General Snus smokeless tobacco products, which FDA previously acted on in December 2016.
    ‘TPSAC members may then discuss available scientific evidence related to issues and questions posed by FDA about the USSTC application and SMNA amendment. During this discussion, TPSAC voting members may vote on specific issues and questions or other topics arising during the committee’s discussion.’

  • Scholarships on offer

    Scholarships on offer

    Knowledge•Action•Change (KAC), the organization behind the Global Nicotine Forum (GNF) held annually in Poland, has launched its 2nd Global Scholarship program focused on tobacco harm reduction.
    The program is said to be aimed at building research capacity in the field of tobacco harm reduction; developing and promoting the evidence base; raising awareness of research and its implications for public health policy; enabling consumers to make more informed personal health choices; and improving the implementation and understanding of tobacco harm reduction.
    In a note posted on its website, KAC said that recent years had seen advances in the scientific understanding of products used for tobacco harm reduction, including laboratory-based and clinical studies of their effects and safety, behavioural studies of how and why they are used in different populations and contexts, epidemiological studies into patterns of use, and the relationship between the use of these products and changes in tobacco smoking. ‘There is an increasing understanding of the range of appropriate and effective evidence-based regulation and standards for harm reduction products, and of harm reduction strategies and policies,’ the note said.
    ‘However, on a global basis scientific capacity for research on tobacco harm reduction and related products is not evenly distributed, and there is considerable variation in the use of evidence to establish effective and appropriate public health policies.
    ‘In addition, despite there being strong evidence for the effectiveness of a tobacco harm reduction approach, public understanding of the evidence base and its implications for both policy and personal health choices is limited.
    ‘This scholarship program aims to redress this imbalance. We expect proposals to be modest but achievable: they will be assessed for their potential significance in advancing the field.’
    KAC said it wanted people to learn from GFN and to have the opportunity to implement this learning in their home countries.
    ‘There will be 20 scholarships for the year, with funds available to support agreed projects up to the value of $10,000.
    ‘The scholarships are a K•A•C initiative funded by a grant from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW).
    ‘The programme was independently designed by and is run by K•A•C.
    ‘Some projects may be included in future versions of the KAC publication The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction.’
    The 2018 report, No Fire, No Smoke: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction, is due to be launched in the UK at the House of Commons on December 18.

  • Snus ban stands

    Snus ban stands

    As had been expected, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has upheld an EU ban on Swedish snus.
    Swedish snus is banned in all EU countries except Sweden.
    The ECJ’s ruling came in response to a challenge brought by Swedish Match (SM) against the validity of the snus ban under EU law. The challenge was originally brought in the UK and was referred by the High Court there to the ECJ.
    In a note posted on its website on November 22, SM said that the ECJ had published its judgment ‘concerning the prohibition to sell Swedish snus to other European Union member states’. ‘The court rules that Swedish snus will continue to be excluded from the EU’s internal market,’ it said.
    ‘In its judgement the court states that EU legislature has broad discretion within the area at issue and that this implies that judicial review is limited. These limitations apply both to measures decided by the EU legislature and to the basic facts on which these measures have been based. Based on such limited review the court does not find that the ban on snus is manifestly inappropriate.
    ‘The judgment of the ECJ cannot be appealed which leaves a future removal of the ban essentially a political issue.’
    The use of snus is far safer than smoking cigarettes, and snus does not come with the environmentally-damaging filters that cigarettes include. And snus has proved to be an acceptable alternative for many smokers.

  • New approach needed

    New approach needed

    The New Nicotine Alliance (NNA) is calling for a new approach by the UK’s public health bodies toward vaping and the consumption of other safer nicotine products.
    The NNA, which is a charity concerned with improving public health through a greater understanding of risk-reduced nicotine products and their uses, said in a press note issued today that warring factions in public health were contributing to the confusion and mistrust surrounding effective alternatives to smoking.
    ‘If the public’s health is to be properly served by state-funded organizations, accurate and impartial information is key,’ it said.
    ‘Misperceptions are harmful, breed intolerance, and are exacerbated by bans and restrictions on proven safer products.
    ‘If public health advocates wish to see further reductions in smoking, public health needs to come together and win over hearts and minds.’
    The NNA’s call for a new approach toward safer nicotine products will be reiterated today by its chair, Sarah Jakes (pictured), who is speaking at the E-Cigarette Summit at the Royal Society.
    The NNA is concerned that the public has been bombarded with ‘less-than-honest propaganda from ideologically-motivated sources on products which carry a reduced risk, and which have contributed to the lowest smoking prevalence rates in the UK’s history’.
    “The public need to be able to trust that the information given to us by public health authorities is accurate and complete,” Jakes was due to tell the Summit.
    “[T]he vast majority of the public are not scientists, so they go with what they perceive to be a trustworthy source of information. But who can you trust when the authorities and experts are so divided?”
    Jakes will highlight the ‘febrile’ political debate currently taking place in the US, where, she says, truth about vaping has been abandoned in favor of moral posturing that serves no positive purpose for US smokers. She will urge campaigners to settle their ideological differences for the benefit of those they are tasked to help.
    “The vast majority of vapers don’t advocate, or even identify as vapers,” she will say. “They are simply people getting on with their lives who also happen to vape. This silent majority are mothers, fathers, grandparents, brothers and sisters with ordinary and extraordinary lives to lead but our humanity is often obscured from view when the label of ‘vaper’ is applied.
    “As long as the apparent controversy continues, the public will trust only what they see with their own eyes, and what they see is bans, restrictions, warning labels and something that looks like smoking.
    “Misperceptions are harmful in more ways than one. They breed intolerance, which supports restrictive policy, which in turn creates more misperceptions and more intolerance. Is it any wonder that many smokers don’t see the point of switching?”
    The NNA makes the point that smokers and vapers are not merely numbers in a dataset, or a trend on a graph. They are ‘real people and should not be pawns in a political power game between different factions of the public health community’. A new, more sympathetic approach was required.
    “We must never lose sight of the fact that behind every data point is a real person with strengths and weaknesses, desires and ambitions, and that every life is precious,” Jakes will say.

  • It's time to talk

    It's time to talk

    The website for the sixth Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN) is now online.
    The conference will be held at the Marriott Hotel, Warsaw, Poland, on 13-15 June 2019.
    The conference, whose theme is, It’s time to talk about nicotine, is due to include plenary sessions, symposia, panel discussions, poster presentations, and satellite sessions.
    The program committee is inviting abstracts for oral presentations, deadline February 10, and posters, deadline March 31. Abstracts should be submitted online.
    The committee will use selected abstracts to construct themed sessions over the coming months. Authors will be informed if their abstracts have been accepted before the posting of the near-final program by April 22.
    The organisers are making available up to three scholarships for early-career researchers who are chosen to make oral presentations.
    Once again, the International Symposium on Nicotine Technology (ISoNTech) will run alongside GFN18.

  • Smoking at record low in US

    Smoking at record low in US

    Cigarette smoking has reached the lowest level ‘ever recorded’ among US adults, according to new data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute (NCI).
    That left about 47 million (one in five) US adults using ‘tobacco’ products last year, products that were said to include a variety of smoked, smokeless, and electronic tobacco products.
    ‘An estimated 14 percent of US adults (34 million) were current (“every day” or “some day”) cigarette smokers in 2017 – down from 15.5 in 2016 – a 67 percent decline since 1965,’ a CDC press note said. [It wasn’t clear why some figures were given to one place of decimals while others were not.]
    ‘A particularly notable decline occurred among young adults between 2016 and 2017: about 10 percent of young adults aged 18 to 24 years smoked cigarettes in 2017, down from 13 percent in 2016.’
    “This new all-time low in cigarette smoking among US adults is a tremendous public health accomplishment – and it demonstrates the importance of continued proven strategies to reduce smoking,” said CDC director Robert Redfield.
    “Despite this progress, work remains to reduce the harmful health effects of tobacco use.”
    Information contained in the 2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), published in yesterday’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, described how the range of tobacco products used by US adults included ‘cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, hookah/water pipes/pipes, and smokeless tobacco’. The survey has been used to assess cigarette smoking among US adults since 1965, but surveillance of other tobacco products began more recently
    ‘In 2017, cigarettes were the most commonly used product (14 percent) among US adults, followed by cigars, cigarillos, or filtered little cigars (3.8 percent); e-cigarettes (2.8 percent); smokeless tobacco (2.1 percent); and pipes, water pipes, or hookahs (1 percent),’ the note said.
    ‘Of the 47 million adults who currently use any tobacco products, about nine million (19 percent) reported use of two or more tobacco products. The most common tobacco product combinations were cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
    The note then goes on to describe how tobacco-product usage varies within ‘subgroups’ and to quote NCI director Norman E. Sharpless, MD, as saying the persistent disparities in adult smoking prevalence described in the report emphasized the need for further research to accelerate reductions in tobacco use among all US citizens.
    Meanwhile, FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, was quoted as saying that the continued drop in adult smoking rates to historic lows was encouraging and that the FDA was committed to accelerating declines in smoking and shifting the trajectory of tobacco-related disease and death through its comprehensive approach to tobacco and nicotine regulation. “We’ve taken new steps to ultimately render combustible cigarettes minimally or non-addictive and to advance a framework to encourage innovation of potentially less harmful products such as e-cigarettes for adults who still seek access to nicotine, as well as support the development of novel nicotine replacement drug therapies,” he said.
    “At the same time we’re also working to protect kids from the dangers of tobacco product use, including e-cigarettes.”

  • NGP portfolio heating up

    NGP portfolio heating up

    Imperial Brands’ volume shipments of cigarettes and other tobacco products calculated as ‘stick equivalents’ (SE) during the 12 months to the end of September, at 255.5 billion, were down by 3.6 percent on those of the 12 months to the end of September 2017, 265.2 billion.
    Within that overall volume, US-market volume was down by five percent to 22.1 billion.
    In announcing its preliminary results for the year to the end of September, the company said that while its volume was down by 3.6 percent, it had outperformed industry volumes across its footprint.
    It had achieved share growth in many of its priority markets, while its Growth Brand share had risen by 0.7 of a percentage point.
    And it had enjoyed strong performances from ‘tobacco Specialist Brands: Backwoods, Kool, Rizla, Skruf and Premium Cigars’.
    An improved price/mix had delivered tobacco net revenue growth of 0.9 percent.
    Meanwhile, Imperial said it was delivering strong growth in next generation products focused on smoker conversion.
    It was delivering a satisfying, safer experience with a trusted brand, blu, supported by leading-edge science
    And it had a strong innovation pipeline focused on reduced risk products in the categories of vapor, heated tobacco and oral nicotine.
    Pulze, the company’s first heated tobacco product, was planned to be launched in early 2019.
    Tobacco and NGP (next generation products) net revenue was down by 0.3 percent, from £7,757 million to £7,730 million; tobacco and NGP adjusted operating profit was down by 1.1 percent, from £3,595 million to £3,557 million; distribution adjusted operating profit was increased by 17.3 percent from £181 million to £212 million; total adjusted operating profit was increased by 0.1 percent from £3,761 million to £3,766 million; and adjusted earnings per share were up by 1.9 percent from 267.0p to 272.2p.
    ‘FY18 was a successful year of delivery against our strategy and I’m pleased with the progress we are making in creating something better for the world’s smokers,’ said chief executive, Alison Cooper.
    ‘In NGP our main focus is on transitioning smokers to blu, a significantly less harmful alternative to cigarettes.
    ‘NGP also offers additive opportunities for our shareholders and the success of the international rollout of my blu has put us in a strong position to further invest and accelerate sales growth in FY19.
    ‘In tobacco we focus on providing smokers with an evolving portfolio of high-quality brands.
    ‘Following our additional brand investment in tobacco over the past two years, we have increased Growth Brand volume, share and revenue in our priority markets.
    ‘Our financial delivery was strong, with revenue and earnings growth, high cash generation and a further dividend increase of 10 percent.
    ‘Capital discipline remains central to all our activities, providing funds for investment and enhancing returns.
    ‘We have the strategy, assets and capabilities to realise the significant opportunities presented by a changing environment and to generate growing returns for our shareholders.’

  • Inclusive report promised

    Inclusive report promised

    The EU Commission has said that it will take into account all relevant information as it prepares for the submission in 2021 of its implementation report on the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD).
    It was responding to an Irish member of the EU Parliament who had asked if the Commission would be taking account the contents of a UK parliamentary report and a letter signed by four academics – both of which had come out in favor of vaping – when the Commission produced its implementation report on the TPD.
    In a preamble to his questions, Luke Ming Flanagan asked, with reference to the Commission’s statement that it continuously monitored developments, whether it was aware of the recent all-party UK House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report that was published on August 17 and that came out strongly in favor of vaping.
    He asked also; was the Commission aware of the submission to the World Health Organization of a letter signed by four top academics, again outlining, in great detail, the case in favor of vaping.
    And he asked if the Commission could confirm that it would now take those reports into consideration in the implementation report it was required to submit in 2021, in line with Article 28(1) of the directive.
    In reply the Commission said it had taken note of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report on E-cigarettes and was aware of the letter sent to the WHO by Dr. Abrams, Mr. Bates, Dr. Niaura and Mr. Sweanor on September 3, 2018.
    ‘The Commission will take all relevant reports and information into consideration for the upcoming implementation report that the Commission is required to submit in 2021, in line with Article 28(1) of the Tobacco Products Directive,’ it replied.

  • ZYN factory going up

    ZYN factory going up

    Swedish Match’s snus shipments in Scandinavia during the three months to the end of September, at 66.6 million cans, were increased by about eight percent on those of the three months to the end of September 2017, 61.7 million cans.
    During the same periods, shipments of moist snuff in the US were down by about six percent to 31.7 million cans, while shipments of snus and nicotine pouches outside Scandinavia were increased by 97 percent to 6.9 million cans.
    Swedish Match’s share of the Swedish snus market was down by 2.2 percentage points to 63.2 percent, while its share of Norway’s snus market was down by 1.1 percentage points to 51.0 percent.
    The company’s US cigar shipments during the three months to the end of September, at 427 million pieces, were increased by about five percent on those of the three months to the end of September 2017, 405 million pieces.
    During the same periods, the company’s chewing tobacco shipments, excluding contract-manufacturing volumes, fell by about seven percent to about 1,526,000 pounds.
    Swedish Match reported that, in local currencies, sales increased by 10 percent for the third quarter, while reported sales increased by 16 percent to SEK3,388 million.
    Also in local currencies, operating profit from product segments (excluding other operations and larger one-time items) increased by 13 percent, while reported operating profit from product segments increased by 19 percent to SEK1,317 million.
    Operating profit amounted to SEK1,305 million, while profit after tax amounted to SEK959 million.
    Earnings per share increased by 32 percent to SEK5.55.
    In presenting Swedish Match’s three-month and nine-month results, CEO Lars Dahlgren (pictured) said that the company had delivered another quarter of very strong financial results. Sales and operating profit in local currencies had increased for the two largest product segments, snus and moist snuff, and Other tobacco products, while the Lights product segment had had a relatively stable year-on-year performance.
    ‘Snus and moist snuff product segment sales grew by 12 percent and operating profit increased by 17 percent in local currencies, with strength coming from both our Scandinavian snus business and our snus and nicotine pouches outside Scandinavia,’ he said.
    ‘Both the Swedish and Norwegian snus market grew at a robust pace compared to the prior year. In particular, we noted an acceleration of category volume growth in Sweden. Intense competitive activity and product innovations within the premium segment have been positive for the development of the snus category. We also believe that the exceptionally warm summer contributed to higher snus consumption this year.
    ‘The changeover to plain packaging in Norway has gone smoothly, but it is still early to assess if there will be any longer-term category implications.
    We estimate that total Scandinavian snus market growth, measured on a volume basis, was close to seven percent during the quarter. On balance we are relatively pleased with the performance of our more recent product introductions in the Scandinavian snus market, but overall our portfolios have lagged category growth in both Sweden and Norway during the quarter. Despite the loss in market share, we estimate that the underlying (excluding V2 Tobacco and Gotlandssnus) volume growth for our Scandinavian snus business reached four percent, a strong growth rate relative to historical levels.
    ‘For international snus and nicotine pouches, we have now for two consecutive quarters reported positive operating results, stemming from strong volume growth for ZYN, improved pricing, and reduced marketing spending for US snus.
    ‘With the acquisitions of V2 Tobacco, and more recently Gotlandssnus, we have expanded our portfolio to include a range of unique snus products that not only provide growth opportunities in Scandinavia, but also present an ability to expand our international snus portfolio. In September, we introduced V2’s Thunder Xtreme, a range of strong snus products in the US.
    ‘Construction efforts directed towards our new ZYN production facility in Owensboro, Kentucky, continue according to plan.
    ‘Other tobacco products (cigars and chewing tobacco) had another good quarter, with sales and profit growth in cigars more than offsetting declines in sales and profits for our US chewing tobacco business in local currencies.
    Cigar shipment growth continued to be driven by our rolled leaf assortment despite the price increase taken earlier in the year.
    ‘Given the rapid growth within the rolled leaf segment, we are facing increasing challenges in securing certain tobacco supplies but we have implemented measures that we expect will improve the situation during the first half of 2019.
    ‘The acquisitions of V2 Tobacco and Oliver Twist (with their chew bags and tobacco bits) delivered positive contributions to both sales and operating profit…’