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Category: Top News

  • FDA Menthol Cigs and Flavored Cigars Plans on Track

    FDA Menthol Cigs and Flavored Cigars Plans on Track

    Photo: Yulia Usikava

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is on track to propose rules prohibiting menthol as a characterizing flavor in cigarettes and prohibiting all characterizing flavors (including menthol) in cigars by spring.

    The FDA’s actions “are an important opportunity to achieve significant, meaningful public health gains and advance health equity,” said FDA Center for Tobacco Products Director Mitch Zeller in a statement. “For far too long, specific populations have been targeted and disproportionately impacted by tobacco use, especially when it comes to characterizing flavors that entice them to start and keep smoking.”

    In April 2021, the FDA announced its commitment to advancing these two tobacco product standards. Then in November, attorneys for the FDA appeared in court as anti-tobacco groups accused the agency of failing to implement a ban on menthol cigarettes.

    The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) cautioned that banning menthol in cigarettes and all characterizing flavors in cigars would boost black market sales.

    “Menthol makes up more than 37 percent of the tobacco market,” Lyle Beckwith, NACS senior vice president of government relations, said in an article published on the association’s website. “That demand will not go away due to a ban. NACS is on record opposing menthol bans as we believe illicit vendors will quickly source and begin selling foreign and counterfeit menthol cigarettes. Illicit vendors do not verify age, do not collect and remit taxes, and they sell other illegal products beyond just menthol cigarettes.”

    In the convenience retailing channel, cigarettes contributed 27.79 percent of in-store sales in 2020, according to the NACS State of the Industry Report of 2020 Data. Other tobacco products, a category which includes cigars, accounted for 6.9 percent of in-store sales in 2020.

    After reviewing and considering comments to its proposed rules, the FDA could then proceed to issue final product standards, which would become enforceable once in effect.

  • Philippine Vaping Bill Heads to President’s Desk

    Philippine Vaping Bill Heads to President’s Desk

    Photo: Oleksii

    The Philippine House of Representatives and Senate have ratified a vaping bill that critics describe as too industry-friendly. The legislation will now be forwarded to President Rodrigo Duterte for his signature.

    Among other provisions, the bill transfers regulatory powers from the Food and Drug Administration to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and lowers the legal purchase and consumption age for vapor products from 21 to 18. The DTI is also in charge of setting technical standards for the safety, consistency and quality of these smoking alternatives.

    Philippine College of Physicians (COP) President Maricar Blanco-Limpin said he was particularly concerned about the lower vaping age. “We have been telling all the legislators that making these more available at a younger age is making these e-cigarettes and heated-tobacco products more available to all, including the nonsmokers,” she told CNN Philippines.

    Blanco-Limpin said vape products could lead to health concerns and the “mandate to protect the health of the country falls under the FDA, not the DTI.”

    If the president signs the measure, Blanco-Limpin said the COP would consider all actions, including bringing the issue to the Supreme Court.

  • Cote d’Ivoire Mandates Plain Tobacco Packs

    Cote d’Ivoire Mandates Plain Tobacco Packs

    Photo: alexlmx

    Cote d’Ivoire has become the first country in Africa to require plain packaging on tobacco products, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK).

    Pioneered in Australia, plain packaging legislation requires that cigarettes be sold in generic, uniform packaging free of colorful branding or designs. When implemented in concert with smoke-free public places, restrictions on tobacco advertising, increased tobacco taxes and warning labels on tobacco products, plain packaging is a powerful public health tool, according to anti-smoking activists.

    To reduce the appeal of tobacco products, more than 20 countries have adopted plain packaging as part of a suite of tobacco control measures aimed at driving down smoking rates and preventing young people from starting to smoke.

    In 2015, Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced the creation of the Anti-Tobacco Trade Litigation Fund, which provides on-request support to low-income and middle-income countries that have been sued by tobacco companies opposed to plain packaging laws.

    “The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids congratulates Cote d’Ivoire on bringing plain packaging to Africa where strong action is needed to prevent a tobacco epidemic—and stands ready to support this life-saving public health measure,” wrote Bintou Camara Biyeki, director of Africa programs at the CTFK.

  • Illegal Cigarette Factory Dismantled in Slovenia

    Illegal Cigarette Factory Dismantled in Slovenia

    Photo: Europol

    French and Slovenian authorities have dismantled a cigarette factory in Slovenia that was supplying millions of counterfeit cigarettes to France, according to Europol.

    Initiated in October 2020, the investigation focused on an organized crime group involved in the illicit production and distribution of cigarettes. After two successful actions in France in April and May 2021 targeting the criminals involved in the distribution of these counterfeit cigarettes, the Slovenian authorities started a mirror investigation aimed at arresting the suspects responsible for the production of these illegal products.

    On Jan. 25, more than 100 officers from the Slovenian National Police Force and Financial Administration simultaneously raided 11 sites, including industrial premises and private residences. They were assisted in the field by officers from the French Gendarmerie as well as French magistrates from the Bordeaux Interregional Specialized Court and Europol officers. 

    This action uncovered several production sites established in warehouses located in remote areas of Slovenia. In total, more than 26 tons of tobacco were seized in Slovenia as well as 29 million filters, several cigarette-making machines and 10 tons of printed papers for packaging. The seized equipment was capable of producing cigarettes with a value of €13 million on the French market.

    Leaders of the criminal network were arrested in Croatia and Slovenia. They will be handed over to the judicial authorities in Bordeaux.

    In November 2021, the Slovenian Financial Administration seized an additional 12 tons of cut tobacco.

  • FDA Looking for New CTP Director

    FDA Looking for New CTP Director

    Photo: BreizhAtao

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now accepting applications for the position of director of the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). The current director, Mitch Zeller, plans to retire in April.

    The CTP director is responsible for planning, managing, directing and coordinating major tobacco program objectives to implement the Tobacco Control Act and related regulations.

    This senior-level FDA position advises the FDA commissioner, senior FDA officials and others on all matters involving tobacco product regulation that have an impact on policy development and execution and long-range program goals. The director develops and executes the strategies for compliance outreach, enforcement, regulations and guidance formulation, science-based application review and other product regulation activities.

    The individual selected for this position will represent the agency and establish/maintain relationships in meetings and conferences with top level FDA and Health and Human Services officials, national industry representatives, members of Congress, and counterparts from federal, state, local and foreign governments.

    Candidates must complete their applications by 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 25, 2022.

  • New Technology to Help Reduce Dependency

    New Technology to Help Reduce Dependency

    Photo: pavelkant

    VapeAway has developed a technology designed to help reduce vaping dependency. According to the company, the VapeAway filter attaches to an existing e-cigarette pod, automatically working to remove toxins found in e-cigarettes with minimal impact on the quality of the vaping experience.

    The patented VapeAway filter is said to stop nicotine before it enters the body by gradually reducing nicotine intake in levels, beginning at 25 percent and increasing to a 75 percent reduction over the course of nine weeks, thus reprogramming the brain to decrease cravings and reduce dependency.

    “Every e-cigarette, regardless of its type, flavor or contents, contains dangerous chemical toxins,” says Ike Sutton, the founder of VapeAway. “VapeAway offers the first patented filter that removes those toxins. Until now, those who were dependent on nicotine have been directed to nicotine patches or gum as their recovery solution, both of which use nicotine to satisfy cravings and with that comes a laundry list of warnings and side effects.

    “VapeAway’s patented technology does the opposite and does not administer a drug to help people quit a drug. Our filters stop the nicotine directly at the source and reduce the intake of harmful chemicals while users continue to vape, all the while ultimately helping people quit in the long term if they choose to do so.”

    VapeAway says its Vapor Freeze 2.0 technology consists of a proprietary blend of military grade, nontoxic fibers that freeze potentially harmful toxic chemicals on contact, protecting vapers and others around them from unwanted chemicals and toxins entering their lungs.

    The technology has been tested to ensure it meets VapeAway’s stated use cases and it effectively and consistently performs to achieve the stated impact for its users. Preliminary tests were conducted by Enthalpy Laboratories.

    According to SGS North America, the VapeAway filter is 100 percent nontoxic.

  • UKVIA Anticipates Busy Year for Vaping

    UKVIA Anticipates Busy Year for Vaping

    The U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) anticipates a busy year for the sector, the industry group noted at the publication of its 2021 annual report.  

    Among other activities, the association looks forward to launching its first Economic Impact Report, which will be used to highlight the vaping industry’s significant contribution to the British economy and support engagement with policymakers and the media.

    The UKVIA also plans to roll out of a levelling-up campaign designed to achieve recognition for the important role that vaping plays in reducing health inequalities across the U.K.

    In addition, the group intends to build on the launch this year of the UKVIA’s healthcare campaign, which has included the development of a dedicated online advice hub for healthcare professionals and patients with smoking conditions.

    This year will also witness the conclusion of the review of the U.K. Tobacco and Related Products Regulations, which will shape the future of the industry for years to come, according to the UKVIA.

    Coinciding with the UKVIA’s annual vaping industry forum, planned for June 2022, the group is planning a new awards event to recognize the high standards within the industry.

  • Cerulean Debuts Snus Test Station

    Cerulean Debuts Snus Test Station

    Photo: Cerulean

    Cerulean has launched Orion, the world’s first automated test station for snus.

    The Orion can handle oral pouches of all commercially available size formats, including mini, large, maxi and slim.

    The instrument measures pouch weight, length, width, end seam width, longitudinal seam overlap width and pouch tensile strength. According to Cerulean, the Orion requires only a few minutes to configure and perform the test. The instrument is equipped with an intuitive user interface that provides key information, graphical representation of process capability and stores the data in a network accessible SQL database. A powerful vision system takes images of both sides of every pouch that are used to measure the pouch dimensions, seams width and longitudinal seam position.

    The Orion test station reduces the number of operators per line and provides fast, consistent and repeatable users’ independent testing process with real time visualization of the test results, configurable report generators and readily available connectivity to LIMS and MES systems.

    According to Cerulean, the Orion saves operator time and improves quality through independent, fast, consistent and repeatable testing of pouches. With a real time visualization of test results and configurable report generation, the Cerulean test station guarantees that the production process is always in control.

  • Lil Inducted Into Korea Brand Hall of Fame

    Lil Inducted Into Korea Brand Hall of Fame

    Photo: KT&G

    KT&G’s Lil heat-not-burn device has been named as an excellent e-cigarette brand in the Korea Brand Hall of Fame for the fourth consecutive year.

    Supervised by South Korea’s Industrial Policy Research Institute, the Korea Brand Hall of Fame is an annual award event that selects the brands most loved by consumers.

    Launched in 2017, Lil has been well received by the consumers, who bought more than 1 million units in the first year.

    After this initial success, KT&G released line extensions, such as Lil Plus, Lil Mini, Lil Hybrid and Lil Solid. By 2021, the cumulative sales of Lil exceeded 4 million units in Korea alone.

    Lil performed well internationally too. In January 2020, KT&G signed a supply contract with Philip Morris International for overseas marketing and sales of Lil, which subsequently secured a bridgehead for expansion in the global cigarette market.

    KT&G started selling Lil in Russia, Ukraine and Japan in 2020 followed by product launches in Central Asia and Europe. In November 2021, KT&G launched Lil in Guatemala. Today, KT&G exports Lil to 23 counties.

    “We built the brand Lil on the identity of ‘practical minimalism’ together with systematic technological innovation,” said Lim Wang-seop, head of KT&G’s next-generation product business unit, in a statement. “We’ll make the brand recognized by the world consumers through developing the products that meet their needs and tastes.”

  • Promotions at Keller and Heckman

    Promotions at Keller and Heckman

    Neelam Gill and Eric Gu (Photos: Keller and Heckman)

    Keller and Heckman, a law firm specializing in the tobacco and vaping industries, has promoted Neelam Gill to counsel and Eric Gu to senior regulatory counselor.

    A resident in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office, Gill practices in the area of food and drug law and tobacco and e-vapor law. In her tobacco and e-vapor practice, she advises tobacco, e-cigarette and e-liquid manufacturers, distributors, retailers, suppliers and trade associations on FDA, state and global regulatory compliance issues.

    In the food and drug arena, she assists clients with a variety of FDA regulatory matters and labeling issues. Gill advises clients on preparation of FDA submissions, including premarket tobacco product applications, substantial equivalence reports, tobacco product master files and quality issues pertaining to the entire tobacco and nicotine product lifecycle.

    A resident in Keller & Heckman’s Shanghai office, Gu practices in the area of food and food packaging law. He counsels clients on food labeling, food ingredients and food packaging compliance matters. In addition, he counsels clients on regulatory issues with respect to other products, including cosmetics, drug/drug excipients, tobacco and e-cigarettes and other consumer products.

    Gu frequently assists clients in obtaining important premarket approvals and permits, including approvals of new food packaging substances, the food production license and the drug excipient registration. Gu’s regulatory experience extends to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Southeast Asia, the European Union and the United States.