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Category: Press Releases

  • New Poll: Trump Voters and Bipartisan Majority Support President Trump Introducing Real and Commonsense Vaping Reform

    Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, August 4, 2026 – The Vapor Technology Association (VTA) today released new survey data from pollster and former senior counselor to President Trump, Kellyanne Conway, revealing that all voters and President Trump’s voters overwhelmingly reject efforts to ban flavored vaping products and support dramatic, fundamental reform to the current FDA rules for vapor products.

    The nationwide survey of 1,204 registered voters, which includes an oversample of 200 2024 Trump voters, conducted June 25-29, 2026, reveals that a majority of voters are in favor of applying President Trump’s deregulatory policies to vapor products. They support the framework President Trump established in 2019 when he raised the federal purchasing age to 21 and rejected the FDA’s request to ban flavored vaping products for adults outright, thereby protecting kids aggressively and trusting adults to make their own decisions. 

    “Americans have once again made it clear where they stand when it comes to vaping policy. More than 70% of voters want the current rules for vapor products repealed and replaced with clear scientific standards. They do not support the sweeping bans and threat to personal choice that defined the last administration,” said Kellyanne Conway. “Americans inherently associate President Trump with fewer unnecessary, burdensome government regulations, and that’s part of why he’s gained a loyal following.  They expect him to apply this philosophy to the issues that hit close to home, like adult vaping. Adult Americans are clear – they want the Trump Administration to fix these broken Biden-Harris-era regulations while protecting minors.”

    Among Trump voters, 72% support repealing the current FDA approval rules and replacing them with science-based guidelines and clear standards. Additionally, 75% support requiring vapor products to meet specific scientific benchmarks and over three-quarters of voters believe that vapor products with pending FDA applications that do not target youth should remain on the market while a new approval system is implemented.

    “Kellyanne Conway’s polling proves that the American people stand with VTA in our fight for a streamlined regulatory pathway for flavored vaping products,” said Tony Abboud, Executive Director of VTA. “In 2024, vaping voters turned out in support for President Trump and his promise to save the flavored vaping industry. Clearly, Americans want the FDA to repeal Biden’s rules banning flavored vapes and fix the broken regulatory system once and for all by setting clear, scientific benchmarks that will allow American adults to choose the products they prefer. Doing so is a fundamentally America-first policy.”

    The survey results confirm that support for repealing the current FDA rule and replacing it with science-based, common-sense policy is widely popular amongst all voters and even more so with President Trump’s voters. The message from his base is unmistakable: end nonsensical regulation and replace it with standards rooted in hard science. 

    Key Findings: 

    Voters View Vape Ban as an Attack on their Freedom of Choice; Want Flavored Vape Reform that Respects their Choices and an Adult Cessation Campaign

    This issue is about protecting adults’ ability to make their own choices. Calls for banning flavored vapes are widely seen as an example of government overreach and a warning sign of what the future could look like. 

    • Nearly nine in ten voters (88%) believe adults should be trusted to make their own choices about the products they buy and use, so long as associated health risks have been disclosed. 
    • Most voters (67%) believe the federal government is too involved in telling adults what choices they should be making about their personal lives, including what they eat, drink, say, or believe. 
    • 65% of voters support FDA vaping reform, which opens the door to flavored vaping products. Support is higher with Trump voters, older men, dads, parents with teens, young adults, and black voters.
    • Two-thirds of voters (67%) agree that FDA regulations should reflect adult consumer demand for flavored vaping products while maintaining protections to prevent youth access. Support is higher for Trump voters and parents of teens (71%). 
    • Over three-quarters of voters (77%) believe that vapor products with pending FDA applications that do not target youth should remain on the market while a new approval system is implemented. 
    • 59% of voters want a public education campaign encouraging adult smokers to consider vaping or nicotine pouches as lower-risk alternatives, including Republicans (61%), Democrats (60%), and Independents (56%).

    Voters Want Regulatory Clarity, Certainty, and Science – Not Regulatory Guesswork

    All voters and Trump voters want a smarter framework that focuses on transparent, science-based criteria. Implementing a new system is viewed as leveling the playing field for smaller manufacturers. 

    • 71% of voters agree that the current FDA vapor rules should be repealed and replaced with science-based guidelines that set clear standards for manufacturers. 
    • More than 3 in 4 voters (77%) support reforming the current system with science-based benchmarks, such as ingredient purity standards. 
    • Over two-thirds of Trump voters (70%) celebrate the creation of a streamlined regulatory system that encourages products to be made in the United States rather than in foreign countries, like China. 
    • Over half of Trump voters (53%) agree that the FDA’s system should be affordable and allow small businesses to compete against big tobacco companies for market share. 

    Voters Don’t View Vaping as Youth Priority but Strongly Support Commonsense Restrictions that Protect Youth 

    Voters display an overwhelming preference for targeted restrictions, like access limitations, to protect youth. 

    • Vaping is the lowest voter concern (6%) when asked about the greatest threats facing young people today, with social media use (28%), mental health challenges (21%), AI replacing future job opportunities (13%), and alcohol or drug use (13%) ranking significantly higher.
    • 84% of voters, including 88% of Trump voters polled, agree that penalties for stores that sell to minors should be increased. 
    • Nearly 90% of voters (86%) support requiring strong age verification for all local and online vape purchases.  
    • 81% of Trump voters believe that vape devices designed to appeal to children, such as those with video games, phone apps, cartoon characters, or designs that look like school supplies, should be banned.
    • 80% of voters believe that marketing aimed at kids, like cartoon characters, celebrity endorsements, or branding that looks like candy, should be banned. 

    Opposition to Banning Vaping Products Falters When Voters Hear the Consequences

    Initial support for the flavored vape ban collapses after voters are presented with the impact of vapes on smoking cessation and the U.S. vaping industry’s economic impact. Such information leads to a decisive shift away from the ban. 

    • 53% of voters are more likely to oppose the ban after learning that adult cigarette smokers who used flavored vapes, including fruit, mint/menthol, and candy/dessert flavors, were significantly more likely to quit smoking than those who didn’t.
    • 51% of Trump voters are less likely to support the ban after learning that adults switching from smoking to vaping could save nearly half a million American lives every year. 
    • Nearly half of all Trump voters (46%) are more likely to oppose the ban after learning that it could threaten more than 10,000 small businesses, over 129,000 jobs in the US, and cost the US economy $33 billion. 

    Trump Voters are Supportive of Political Candidates who Back the Vaping Industry. 

    Trump voters display broad support for keeping flavored vaping products available to adults, while strictly enforcing policies to prevent youth access. 

    • Over half (54%) of Trump voters are more likely to vote for candidates who support adults’ access to vaping products while preventing children from getting access to these products. 
    • 81% of Trump voters and 74% of all voters support President Trump’s decision to raise the federal purchasing age for all tobacco and vaping products to 21.

    More information and a complete copy of the poll can be found below.

  • SA Government must enable harm reduction, not just preach abstinence

    SA Government must enable harm reduction, not just preach abstinence

    Government has a responsibility to enable harm reduction rather than just urge South Africans to stop risky behaviours, former chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health Sibongiseni Dhlomo said.

    Speaking at The Wellness Collective, a gathering focused on shifting South Africa from selling harm to promoting wellness, in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Dhlomo said harm reduction was already embedded in many of government’s health interventions, from distributing condoms and antiretroviral treatment to needle-exchange programmes for people who inject drugs.

    His comments come as Parliament prepares to begin clause-by-clause deliberations on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill after the Portfolio Committee on Health’s adoption of a motion of desirability in June, moving it into its next legislative phase.

    Dhlomo said government had a duty to reduce harm wherever possible, even when eliminating risk appeared unrealistic.

    “Government doesn’t simply tell people not to have sex. It provides condoms, antiretroviral treatment and education. That’s harm reduction.”

    He said the same principle applied to people who inject drugs, where providing clean needles and syringes helped prevent the spread of HIV and hepatitis while encouraging people to seek treatment.

    According to Dhlomo, the tobacco message should be approached no differently.

    “If someone cannot or will not stop using nicotine, should we encourage them to continue smoking cigarettes, or should we support them in switching to a less harmful alternative?” he asked.

    He said public consultation during the development of tobacco legislation had also changed policymakers’ understanding of nicotine products.

    As chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health at the time, Dhlomo said lawmakers travelled to 27 municipalities with more than 7,900 people attending, received more than 40,000 written submissions and heard presentations from 52 organisations before refining the legislation.

    “The policy we ended up with was different from where we started because we listened to the evidence and to the public,” he said.

    Dhlomo said consultations with scientists, industry and public health experts had demonstrated that policy should distinguish between combustible tobacco products and non-combustible nicotine products.

    “I was one of the people who initially viewed all nicotine products in the same way. It was only after hearing from experts that I better understood concepts such as the continuum of risk and why different products may require different regulatory approaches.”

    Keynote speaker at the event, Gauteng Health MEC Faith Mazibuko said harm reduction recognised that lasting behavioural change often happened gradually.

    “Harm reduction is about reducing preventable harm while helping people move towards healthier choices. It recognises that change does not always happen overnight, but every positive step towards better health matters.”

    She said government was already applying that approach across several public health interventions.

    “Government has applied this approach across many areas of public health, from encouraging healthier diets and responsible alcohol use to promoting safer sexual practices and protecting people from preventable diseases.

    “The message we carry is that prevention works, and every healthier choice contributes to building a healthier society.”

    Turning to tobacco, Mazibuko said the same principles applied.

    “The healthiest decision anyone can make is never to start smoking. For those who smoke, quitting completely remains the best option. However, we recognise that nicotine addiction is complex, and many people require support and guidance on their journey towards quitting.”

    “Healthcare professionals continue to encourage behavioural counselling, approved cessation medicines and other evidence-based interventions to support people who want to stop smoking. For adults who are unable to quit immediately, public health approaches must continue to focus on reducing harm while encouraging cessation.”

    Former Gauteng Health MEC and specialist gynaecologist Dr Bandile Masuku, who shared a panel with Dhlomo, said harm reduction was a concept South Africans already understood.

    “When you get into your car, you put on your seatbelt. Wearing a seatbelt doesn’t eliminate the risk of being in an accident, but it significantly reduces the risk of serious injury or death. That’s harm reduction.”

    He agreed that government should place greater emphasis on harm reduction.

    “Government also has a role to play by creating policies that encourage healthier living.”

    Buhle Binta, Head of Scientific Engagement for Sub-Saharan Africa at Philip Morris International, explained that rather than ignoring the reality that many people continue to smoke, harm reduction focused on encouraging smokers to switch completely to less harmful, non-combustible alternatives.

    “Globally, there are still more than one billion people who smoke, according to World Health Organisation estimates. In South Africa, there are around 11 million smokers. Those are people who continue to use combustible cigarettes, and we know smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable disease and death.”

    “The best choice is always to quit smoking completely. That’s the position we encourage. If you don’t smoke, don’t start.”

    “However, for adults who would otherwise continue smoking and are unwilling or unable to quit, the conversation shifts to harm reduction. The idea is to meet people where they are and help them move away from the most harmful products.”

    Binta said science should remain at the centre of policy discussions.

    “Ultimately, science should guide these conversations. The evidence must continue to be evaluated, openly debated and communicated through appropriate regulatory frameworks and public education so that adult consumers can make informed decisions.”

  • SA Parliament clears Tobacco Bill for next stage but MPs demand major overhaul on cigarette and vaping rules

    Johannesburg 24 June 2026 – After years of delays, debate and thousands of public submissions, South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Health on Wednesday voted in favor of the desirability of the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. However, several MPs made it clear their support is dependent on significant amendments, particularly around differentiating between combustible cigarettes and non-combustible nicotine products.

    Ten votes from the ANC, DA, ActionSA, EFF and MK Party supported moving the Bill forward, while the Freedom Front Plus was the only party to vote against the motion.

    While the vote allows the Bill to proceed to detailed consideration, MPs warned that its final form must address concerns raised during public hearings, including product differentiation, penalties, illicit trade, enforcement and the impact on businesses and consumers.

    Committee chairperson Faith Muthambi said the consultation process on the Bill — which she described as one of the most thoroughly consulted pieces of health legislation Parliament has endured — highlighted an important issue that could not be ignored.

    “It has become unmistakably, through the scientific submission and through our own deliberations as a committee, that not all tobacco and nicotine products carry the same risk.”

    “I’m glad also to report that the committee has endorsed the need for differentiation and I’m pleased that the Department of Health, through its responses to public comments in March 2026, has also officially accepted the differentiation as a guiding principle,” she said.

    Muthambi explained the Bill in its current form treated combustible and non-combustible products through the same regulatory approach, but this would now be addressed during a clause-by-clause process.

    “We have now learned it is not the best approach for our public,” she said.

    She said South Africa had an opportunity to create a regulatory framework based on evidence and proportionality.

    “No country on this continent has yet built a tobacco nicotine framework that is generally risk proportionate, evidence-based in the future to prove. Then our country can be the first and the world is watching on how we do it,” she said.

    The committee conducted hearings in 27 municipalities across all nine provinces, with almost 7,900 people attending, 1,113 oral submissions being made and about 40,000 written submissions received.

    With the desirability motion approved, the Bill now moves to clause-by-clause deliberations where MPs will consider amendments before the committee finalizes its report and sends it to the National Assembly for further debate.

    Muthambi said the responsibility now rested with the committee to ensure the final legislation was workable.

    “Now the Bill is in our court. It’s our responsibility that whatever we regulate on, facilitated with the clause by clause process, will be able to then make sure that this Bill is enforceable at the end of the day and make sure that it achieves the desired outcome,” she said.

    ActionSA’s Kgosi Letlape also supported the motion, saying regulation must recognize harm reduction principles.

    “We see the need for truthful communication based on science and not morality and foster greater education to promote informed decision-making.”

    Letlape warned against treating all products the same, saying: “We should reject the notion that harm is harm, a concept that dismisses the responsibility to reduce harm reduction when it cannot be completely eliminated.”

    The DA raised concerns about several provisions, including what it described as the “arbitrary grouping” of products with different risk profiles.

    “The issues that are of concern are the arbitrary grouping of nicotine-based and non-nicotine-based products as these have very different health risks, and therefore we need to apply our minds how we are going to separate these two products from each other,” said MP Michele Clarke.

    The party also raised concerns around illicit trade, plain packaging, advertising restrictions, penalties and proposed smoking bans.

    The EFF supported the Bill but echoed calls for a science-based approach.

    “The Bill must explicitly distinguish between combustible and non-combustible products. Not all tobacco and nicotine products carry the same risk profile,” EFF MP Naledi Chirwa-Mpungose said.

    She said regulation should not follow a one-size-fits-all approach.

    “Parliament must ensure that regulation is guided by evidence and not by a one-size-fits-all approach,” she said.

    MK Party’s Moshome Motubatse supported moving forward with the Bill but emphasized that significant amendments were required.

    “The question before us today is not whether tobacco and nicotine products should be regulated. There is broad consensus that regulation is necessary to protect public health, reduce youth access, and ensure accountability within the industry. The question is whether Parliament should proceed with legislation and improve it through a legislative process. On that question, the answer is yes,” he said.

    In its current form Bill seeks to tighten regulations on smoking and vaping by banning indoor smoking and vaping in public spaces, enforcing plain packaging with graphic health warnings, removing all retail product displays, and prohibiting advertising, sponsorships, and promotion of tobacco and e-cigarette products.

    It also restricts sales through vending machines, including at certain private spaces where children or non-smokers are present, while treating vaping products the same as traditional cigarettes. Proposed penalties include lengthy jail terms.

  • Tobacco distributors: after the debut in Catania, Vendix continues its journey at T2000 on Tour

    Tobacco distributors: after the debut in Catania, Vendix continues its journey at T2000 on Tour

    with the stage in Rome (6-7 June)

    The company, part of the FAS International group, will bring to the capital the latest generation of machines for the tobacco sector,

    focusing on touchscreens and retail tech technologies

    CEO Andrea Montanari: “Solutions designed to encourage purchases after closing time”

    Savignano sul Rubicone (FC), 25 May 2026 – After the official debut at T2000 in Tour di Catania, Vendix continues its path of accreditation and consolidation in the tobacco vending machine market by participating in the Rome stage of the Exhibition of products and services for tobacconists, scheduled for Friday 6 and Saturday 7 June in the spaces of the Nuova Fiera di Roma.

    The company based in Savignano sul Rubicone (FC), specialized in the production of customized vending machines for the pharmacy and tobacco sectors, was founded in 2025 as a newco generated by Microhard and FAS International, a company based in Schio (Vicenza) among the main players in the vending and retail tech market.

    After the Sicilian debut, the presence in Rome represents a new step in the commercial development path ofVendix, which in the capital will present its range of latest generation vending machines with touchscreens, variable in number of selections (from 18 to 80) and capacity (from 300 packages to 1,400), equipped with armored structure and vandal-proof components and available indoors and outdoors, with both wall and floor installation.

    Vendix solutions are designed to offer an intuitive and immediate shopping experience: touch interfaces and guided paths accompany the user quickly and easily during every phase of selection and payment. At the same time, solid structures and reliable components guarantee 24-hour service continuity and maximum operational safety even in high-traffic contexts.

    Thanks to retail tech technologies, Vendix’s models allow, in fact, the continuous sale of tobacco and other products, integrated payments both cashless and cash, integrated management of services such as bills and deadlines of the Public Administration, digital games and scratch cards, as well as the remote management of parameters and updates to check performance, flows and status of the machines in real time and without the need to physically go to the site, optimizing assortment and strategies. Remote monitoring features allow managers to operate easily and always have distributors under control.

    Vendix vending machines are aimed at tobacconists who want to expand sales opportunities beyond opening hours without sacrificing control, safety and quality of service. Behind Vendix’s offer there is a service-centric model that shifts the focus from the product to the solution, from the machine to the technological platform. Each phase, from installation to technical assistance through a network of qualified partners, up to the analysis of sales data, is designed to offer full control of operations, in relation to the context and needs of each store.

    “Today the tobacconist is much more than a point of sale: it is a garrison of services, a daily reference for the territory, an activity that must respond to customers who are increasingly accustomed to speed, digitization and continuous accessibility,” says Andrea Montanari, CEO of Vendix. Our solutions allow customers to buy easily, quickly and digitally even when the store is closed, intercepting new consumption opportunities and increasing turnover. A modern experience, in line with new shopping habits, which enhances the image of the tobacconist and makes it even more competitive. From installation to technical assistance through a network of qualified partners, up to the analysis of sales data, each phase is designed to offer full control of operations».

  • Nicotine salts and modern product performance~ How formulation choices influence delivery in vape and pouch products ~

    Nicotine salts and modern product performance~ How formulation choices influence delivery in vape and pouch products ~

    Nicotine formulation plays a decisive role in how vaping and oral nicotine products perform, how they feel to the user and how they are assessed by regulators. The growing use of nicotine salts, rather than freebase nicotine, reflects a shift toward formulations that deliver nicotine more efficiently while addressing issues of harshness, stability and user acceptability. Here, Paul Hardman, managing consultant at nicotine testing and regulatory consultancy Broughton, explains why nicotine salts have become central to modern product development.

    In vaping products, nicotine salts are primarily used to moderate the irritation associated with freebase nicotine. Protonating nicotine reduces its volatility, which limits nicotine loss from aerosol droplets before inhalation. This alters where absorption takes place, with less uptake in the mouth and upper airways and greater absorption in the lungs. Delivery at the alveoli, where surface area is high and blood is well oxygenated, supports faster systemic uptake and more rapid onset of effect.

    This mechanism allows nicotine salt vapour products to achieve pharmacokinetic profiles that are closer to those of combustible cigarettes than formulations based on freebase nicotine. While overall exposure still depends on factors such as nicotine concentration and device aerosol output, the resulting delivery profile can feel more familiar to adult smokers seeking alternatives to smoking.

    In oral nicotine pouches, the formulation challenge is different. Freebase nicotine can cause irritation when held against oral tissue, an effect that salts may reduce. At the same time, protonated nicotine crosses biological membranes less readily. This creates scope for formulators to control release characteristics through buffering systems and other formulation strategies, balancing comfort with effective nicotine delivery.

    Nicotine salts also introduce formulation and testing considerations. Lower pH values can increase the likelihood of interaction between e-liquids and device components, particularly metals. Under certain conditions, metal ions may leach into the product, with implications for flavour, stability and safety. Excessively acidic formulations may also irritate mucous membranes.

    Acid selection therefore matters. Different salts vary in thermal stability and degradation behaviour, while some acids can influence flavour profiles. These factors shape stability study design, impurity profiling and analytical method development.

    Formulation decisions can also affect regulatory classification in some jurisdictions, influencing whether products fall under consumer or medicinal frameworks. Understanding how nicotine salts interact with devices, formulations and regulatory expectations is essential for developing products that perform consistently and withstand scrutiny throughout their lifecycle.

    Working with a trusted compliance partner can provide valuable support throughout product development, helping teams navigate the practical and regulatory implications of nicotine salt formulation. This can include selection and validation of appropriate salt systems, development and validation of analytical methods, and the design of stability and impurity studies aligned with regulatory expectations.

    This ensures the product has the requisite support for PMTA, MAA, TRPR, and consumer product pathways, ensuring robust data and informed decisions are made at every stage, with the relevant information included in your submission files. To find out more about nicotine salts and formulation approaches in nicotine products, visit Broughton’s website.

  • Toxicology beyond the laboratory

    Toxicology beyond the laboratory

    ~ Separating scientific risk assessment from consumer perception ~

    Ingredient scanning apps, social media commentary and retail marketing claims have brought chemical safety under more scrutiny than ever, with everyday consumers now encountering toxicological language when choosing products. As simplified narratives circulate quickly, confusion has emerged between the identification of hazardous properties and the assessment of real-world risk. Here, Dean Hatt, Senior Toxicology Consultant and Toxicology Manager at Broughton, a contract research organisation specialising in analytical testing, toxicology and regulatory consultancy examines several misconceptions shaping public debate around product safety.

    Consumer-facing ingredient-scanning apps that interpret toxicity and hazard data now reach large, and often young, audiences, with Yuka alone having 55 million active users and toxicology content attracting hundreds of millions of views on platforms such as TikTok. These tools present results in formats that resemble regulatory judgement, using simple scores or colour codes that suggest definitive safety conclusions.

    However, the simplicity of these tools can be misleading. Safety is not determined by looking at individual ingredients in isolation – or even their concentration – but by understanding how a finished product behaves as a whole. In reality, risk assessment is a structured scientific process that considers multiple factors together: how ingredients interact within a formulation, how the product is used, how often it is used, and how the body is exposed to it. Two products containing the same ingredient at similar levels can present very different risk profiles depending on these variables.

    In regulated markets such as the UK and EU, safety is therefore assessed based on the complete product and its intended use, not a simplified view of individual components. This process draws on a weight of evidence, including study design, data quality and real-world exposure scenarios, to reach a balanced and scientifically robust conclusion.

    Hazard does not equal risk

    In toxicology, hazard identification represents an early step in a broader scientific process. A substance may possess hazardous properties under certain conditions yet pose minimal or no risk from the route of exposure or at realistic exposure levels. It isn’t as simple as providing a universal list of things that can and cannot go into products, so working with a partner who understands the nuances is key in product development.

    Expert toxicological assessments determine how much exposure occurs, how often it occurs, the route of exposure and how the body responds under those conditions, resulting in a subjective assessment of risk.

    Therefore we must be wary of the oversimplification of toxicology on ingredient-scanning tools and simplified scoring systems that compress analysis from reaction-based voting. A toxicological review can be initiated as a RAG (red, amber, green) system to aid in product development but must be followed by a comprehensive review that incorporates dose, context and margin of safety. This principle underpins international regulatory frameworks such as the EU’s REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, which requires chemicals to be assessed in relation to their intended uses and exposure scenarios.

    Removal is not always safer

    Public pressure to remove ingredients perceived as undesirable has increased. Research shows the UK free-from foods sector continuing to outpace the wider market as manufacturers innovate to meet growing demand for products free of allergens and certain additives.

    Yet reformulation is not automatically synonymous with improved safety. Substitutes are likely to have less extensive and reliable toxicological datasets or unknown impurity profiles. Altering a formulation can change absorption, metabolism or cumulative exposure patterns in ways that are not intuitive. Removing a flagged ingredient without structured evaluation may simply exchange a well-characterised substance for one that is less understood, and therefore potentially more hazardous.

    Toxicology does not end at launch

    Post-marketing toxicology has become increasingly important as public concern evolves. Online discussion and consumer perception often shifts faster than formal review cycles, creating pressure to respond quickly.  Barcode-scanning ingredient apps illustrate the dynamic. As their scores circulate widely on social media, brands have reformulated products to avoid using flagged additives, even where those substances remain permitted by regulators in their real-world use.

    Clearly, when an app’s outputs are treated as final judgements rather than starting points for inquiry, they risk amplifying fear in places where evidence indicates low risk, while weakening trust in regulatory science more broadly. Therefore, clear public guidance is essential to ensuring health decisions remain grounded in scientific evidence.

    For more information on toxicology, risk assessment and how evidence-based toxicology supports product safety and regulatory compliance, visit Broughton’s toxicology services page.

  • Eight in ten adult smokers back risk-based tobacco regulation amid South Africa’s policy debate

    Eight in ten adult smokers back risk-based tobacco regulation amid South Africa’s policy debate

    Survey shows scientific evidence and local sentiment align: accurate information, proportionate regulation and access to scientifically substantiated smoke-free alternatives could accelerate South Africa’s progress away from cigarettes

    As South Africa debates new tobacco control legislation, new research by independent firm Povaddo shows that many smokers believe regulation should evolve with scientific evidence to better support adult smokers who do not quit altogether to move away from cigarettes.

    The findings form part of a broader multi-country survey conducted across several markets, revealing a consistent global trend: adult smokers are more likely to consider switching away from cigarettes when they have access to accurate information, and affordable alternatives supported by proportionate, risk-based regulation.

    An international survey commissioned by Philip Morris International (PMI) and conducted by independent research agency Povaddo in multiple countries including key markets in Europe, Latin America and Asia reveals that a majority of adult smokers across these regions share similar views mainly that innovation in smoke-free alternatives, combined with supportive policy frameworks, can accelerate declines in cigarette use. Moreover, respondents across the countries surveyed believe progress happens faster when governments, public health authorities and industry collaborate.

    The survey of adult smokers in South Africa found that eight in ten support risk-based regulation, where less harmful nicotine alternatives are regulated differently from cigarettes. Respondents believe this approach could accelerate progress in reducing smoking.

    The study highlights a clear message emerging from the research: many believe tobacco control policies should evolve alongside scientific evidence and provide adult smokers with accurate information about less harmful alternatives.

    Despite decades of tobacco control efforts, smoking remains a significant public health challenge in South Africa.

    The research suggests that 71% of smokers plan to continue smoking, while only 15% say they are interested in switching to smoke-free alternatives in the current regulatory environment.

    With an estimated 9.7 million smokers in South Africa, this suggests around 6.9 million people may continue smoking cigarettes unless policies better support switching for adults who would otherwise smoke.

    The research indicates that policy reform could significantly change this trajectory. In a  regulatory environment where adult smokers have accurate, science-based information on smoke-free alternatives and these products are regulated differently to cigarettes, the number of smokers willing to switch could more than double, potentially enabling up to 3.3 million South Africans to move away from cigarettes.

    This aligns with trends observed in several international markets, including Japan, where enabling regulatory environments have supported higher switching rates and accelerated declines in cigarette consumption, reinforcing the role policy can play in shaping public health outcomes.

    The study also identifies significant awareness gaps around smoke-free alternatives among South African smokers.

    Nearly 44% of smokers are unfamiliar with e-cigarettes, 65% are unfamiliar with heated tobacco products, and 70% are unfamiliar with nicotine pouches, suggesting many smokers lack basic information about smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes.

    Nearly 44% of smokers are unfamiliar with e-cigarettes, 65% are unfamiliar with heated tobacco products, and 70% are unfamiliar with nicotine pouches, highlighting low awareness of smoke-free alternatives among South African smokers. Therefore, the survey suggests that smokers don’t understand that SFPs are potentially much less harmful than cigarettes.

    Cigarette smoke contains more than 6,000 chemicals, around 100 of which are classified by public health authorities as harmful or potentially harmful. These substances are created through the combustion of tobacco – the burning process that is the primary cause of smoking‑related diseases. Nicotine itself, while addictive and not risk‑free, is not the main driver of these diseases. This crucial distinction is often poorly understood, reinforcing widespread misperceptions about the relative risks of smoke‑free alternatives.

    Among smokers not interested in alternatives, 43% cite health risk concerns, often linked to misinformation, while 28% say alternatives are too expensive.

    The research indicates that smokers are open to considering alternatives if the right conditions are in place.

    More than 80% of smokers say affordability and accessibility are key factors when considering smoke-free products.

    Specifically:

    • 82% say alternatives should be cheaper than cigarettes
    • 82% want them to be easily available in stores
    • 80% want product information at the point of sale
    • 78% want risk-reduction information to help them make informed choices

    These findings suggest that providing accurate information and improving access to science-based alternatives could play an important role in helping adults who would otherwise continue smoking, transition away from cigarettes.

    The research also highlights concerns among smokers about the potential unintended consequences of overly restrictive policies.

    Around three-quarters of respondents believe strict bans on smoke-free alternatives could push smokers toward cheaper illicit tobacco or nicotine products instead.

    Respondents also indicated that a regulatory approach recognising differences in risk between products could help reduce smoking while limiting the growth of illicit markets.

    Taken together, the findings point to a clear opportunity for South Africa: a modernised, evidence-based regulatory framework that differentiates between products, expands access to scientifically substantiated smoke-free alternatives, and prioritises accurate information could significantly accelerate the decline of cigarette use amongst adults who would otherwise smoke.

    Sensible regulation is needed – regulation that recognises the role scientifically substantiated smoke-free alternatives can play in helping adult smokers who would otherwise smoke to move away from cigarettes, while maintaining strong protections for youth and non-smokers.

    ends

    About the study

    The findings are based on a survey conducted by independent research firm Povaddo between 28 March and 10 April 2025 among adult smokers in South Africa, examining perceptions of tobacco regulation, smoke-free alternatives and willingness to switch away from cigarettes.

  • Cyprus Contracts to Clean Up Cigarette Butts

    Cyprus Contracts to Clean Up Cigarette Butts

    Cyprus approved a six-year license for CPC Rethink Filters Ltd. to operate a collective system for managing cigarette filter waste, under new 2024 regulations targeting environmental impacts from tobacco products. The authorization, granted by the Agriculture Ministry, designates the company as the body responsible for handling the collection and disposal of cigarette butts, one of the “most common forms of litter affecting urban areas, beaches, and marine ecosystems.”

    The initiative includes plans to roll out dedicated collection infrastructure in collaboration with local authorities and to conduct public awareness campaigns promoting responsible disposal practices, as part of broader efforts to reduce pollution linked to tobacco product waste.

  • 22nd Century Expands Low-Nicotine Research with NC State

    22nd Century Expands Low-Nicotine Research with NC State

    22nd Century Group entered a testing services agreement with North Carolina State University to validate new low-nicotine tobacco varieties designed to improve yield and leaf quality while maintaining reduced nicotine levels, the company said. The research will evaluate genetic traits, crop performance, and commercial scalability as the company looks to strengthen its supply chain.

    The initiative builds on 22nd Century’s proprietary reduced-nicotine platform, which underpins its FDA-authorized VLN cigarette products. The company said the collaboration is aimed at supporting long-term production efficiency and aligning with evolving regulatory focus on nicotine reduction.

  • IKETech Wins Honors at Global Age Assurance Awards

    IKETech Wins Honors at Global Age Assurance Awards

    IKETech LLC was recognized at the 2026 Age Assurance Industry Awards, taking home “Privacy-Centric Age Assurance Solution of the Year” and receiving a “Highly Commended” distinction for innovation. The awards, presented at the Global Age Assurance Standards Summit in Manchester, U.K., were judged by an independent panel of experts across technology, policy, and youth protection, highlighting growing attention on solutions aimed at preventing underage access to restricted products.

    IKETech is an AI-driven compliance infrastructure company formed as a joint venture between Ispire Technology, Berify, and Chemular. The company focuses on developing systems that combine identity verification with device-level controls to enable real-time age assurance, particularly for regulated categories such as nicotine products. Its platform is designed to support regulatory compliance while maintaining privacy standards, as governments increase scrutiny of age-restricted sales and distribution channels.