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  • Vietnam Smoking Ban Takes Effect in August

    Vietnam Smoking Ban Takes Effect in August

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    The Vietnam Ministry of Health recently issued Circular No. 11/2023/TT-BYT, which regulates areas where smoking is not allowed, according to Vietnam+.

    The circular takes effect Aug. 1, 2023. 

    According to the circular, smoking will be completely prohibited indoors and on premises at healthcare facilities, educational institutions, facilities providing care and entertainment services for children, facilities or areas with a high risk of fire or explosion, in automobiles, on aircrafts and on metro lines.

    Smoking is prohibited indoors at workplaces of state administrative agencies, state-run units, businesses, political organizations, socio-political organizations, social organizations, socio-vocational organizations and other units as well as food service establishments, entertainment facilities, railway stations, wharves, bus stations, religious facilities and places of worship, convention centers, commercial centers, markets, theatres, cultural houses, cinemas, circuses, clubs, sports halls, stadiums, community houses and common areas of apartment buildings and other public places.

    Smoking will be prohibited indoors but may be allowed in separate areas at hotels, motels, guest houses, resorts, other tourist accommodations, on public transport including ships and trains, in bars, karaoke parlors and dance halls and in isolation areas at airports.

  • AJK to Require Track-and-Trace System

    AJK to Require Track-and-Trace System

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    The Central Board of Revenue for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has instructed all cigarette manufacturers in the state to implement the latest track-and-trace system by Aug. 1, reports Dawn.

    “All cigarette manufacturing units in the territory must ensure installation of the latest manual/automatic applicators, including tax stickers/stamps, on the pattern of Pakistan in consultation with the relevant legally authorized license holder company, by Aug. 1, 2023, or else the clearance of their products will be halted followed by initiation of legal action, including closure under rules of the units concerned,” said a spokesperson.

    AJK cigarette manufacturers and representatives of the AJK Inland Revenue Department signed agreements on April 14 regarding installation of the track-and-trace system. On May 31, a team from the Federal Board of Revenue’s Directorate General of Digital Initiatives physically visited all cigarette units in AJK along with the legally authorized license holder firm.

    Those caught without the correct track-and-trace requirements will face legal action.

  • MPs Want Liquid Nicotine on Poisons List

    MPs Want Liquid Nicotine on Poisons List

    Image: Ezume Images

    Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) in Malaysia are amplifying calls for the reintroduction of liquid nicotine into the Poisons Act 1952.

    Kuala Langat MP Ahmad Yunus Hairi, who heads Perikatan Nasional’s health portfolio, said the absence of regulations on vape has led to a proliferation in the number of teens using e-cigarettes or vaping products.

    “By excluding liquid nicotine from the Poisons Act, we have inadvertently created loopholes that undermine our efforts to combat the use of vaping among our youth.

    “I hope liquid nicotine can be reinstated into the Poisons Act, given the Health Minister’s authority over the matter, so that, at the very least, before we proceed with the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023, we can have some control over these e-cigarette devices,” Ahmad Yunus said in his debate on the Health White Paper tabled in Parliament, reports CodeBlue.

    Both the Malaysian Medical Association and the Malaysian Pharmacists Society have previously urged the government to bring liquid nicotine back under the control of the Poisons Act 1952, particularly in light of the uncertain status of the tobacco bill.

    The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill, which regulates tobacco and vape products, remains in limbo after it was referred to the Health parliamentary special select committee—chaired by former Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad—immediately after first reading in Malaysia’s lower house of Parliament.

    This means that vapes and e-cigarettes will remain legally available for sale to minors aged under 18 for at least another four months until the lower house meets in October.

  • Second Circuit Appeals Court Rules for FDA

    Second Circuit Appeals Court Rules for FDA

    Credit: Andrey Popov

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration acted reasonably in denying vapor maker Magellan Technology’s request for a marketing order for its flavored vaping products, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled May 16.

    The court upheld the FDA’s finding that Magellan failed to show the product would provide a benefit to adult users that would outweigh the risks to youth.

    The agency found Magellan’s evidence—four nonclinical studies—was insufficient to establish that the flavored pods would be more effective than tobacco-flavored electronic nicotine-delivery systems in helping smokers switch to e-cigarettes to stop smoking altogether, according to Bloomberg Law.

    The manufacturer of Hyde and Juno brand e-cigarettes sued the FDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, claiming the agencies violated the Administrative Procedure Act.

    New York-based Magellan Technology accused the agencies of refusing to review the company’s premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) for 12 products, a process that cost the company $1 million. Magellan claims the FDA “arbitrarily” and “capriciously” rejected the applications.

    “Magellan had already spent over $1 million on the PMTAs at the time the RTA [refuse-to-accept] order [was] issued and plans to spend over $10 million on the PMTAs in total,” the suit states.

    Texas-based retailer Vapor Train 2 is also a plaintiff in the suit. The companies asked a Texas federal court to temporarily stay the RTA order that the FDA issued to Magellan, according to the lawsuit filed Thursday.

    The companies are expected to appeal the ruling. Magellan could now seek an en banc review of the case (a rehearing by the full 2nd Circuit) or could appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States. 

  • Justice Groups Push Back Against Flavor Ban

    Justice Groups Push Back Against Flavor Ban

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    A coalition of more than 50 criminal justice reform groups sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden warning that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s proposed ban on flavored tobacco products will lead to overpolicing in communities of color, according to The Hill.

    Prohibition-style policies, like the one proposed, “have serious racial justice implications,” wrote the organizations, which include Blacks in Law Enforcement, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Latino Officers Association and the Sentencing Project.

    “Banning the legal sale of menthol cigarettes through licensed businesses will lead—and, in fact, has already led in some states—to illegal, unlicensed distribution in communities of color while triggering criminal laws in all 50 states, increasing the incidence of negative interactions with police and ultimately increasing incarceration rates,” the letter said. “There are far better solutions for reducing menthol cigarette use than criminalizing these products and turning this issue over to the police.”

    The aim of the flavor ban is not only to make smoking less attractive but also to advance health equity, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra

    “FDA has the power to provide smokers with less harmful options and information to help accelerate reductions in smoking,” the coalition wrote in its letter. “Rushing forward with a total ban without these alternatives in place contradicts everything we know—and everything the administration has been saying in other spheres—about why harm reduction works and criminalization doesn’t.” The coalition urged the FDA to reconsider the ban and find solutions opposed to criminalization.

  • Panacea to Distribute Fume in Britain

    Panacea to Distribute Fume in Britain

    Image: Panacea Life Sciences Holdings

    Panacea Life Sciences Holdings signed an exclusive licensing and distribution agreement with QR Joy to distribute Fume disposable vape devices across the U.K.

    “The Panacea distribution division is thrilled to be distributing the Fume product line throughout the U.K. as we see a tremendous opportunity to expand our strategy and diversification into the natural plant-based markets,” said Leslie Buttorff, Panacea CEO and founder, in a statement. “Partnering with such a popular brand like Fume enables us to open new markets while driving revenue and shareholder value for our investment community.”

  • David Paton Joins Philter

    David Paton Joins Philter

    David Paton

    David Paton, the former head of global open innovation at BAT, has joined Philter as the company’s chief innovation officer. Paton became a member of the Philter science and strategic advisory board in September 2022.

    As the company’s chief innovation officer, he will play a key role working with the company’s co-founder and CTO, John Grimm, to advance the company’s next-generation technologies. During his time at BAT, Paton served in several senior innovation roles, including head of product development for tobacco-heating products, head of global discovery and head of global open innovation. Paton has extensive experience in product strategy, product development and new-to-world innovations gained from his career at BAT and previously Kimberly-Clark.

    “From the moment I saw the latest technological developments at Philter, I immediately recognized how the company will materially change the way consumers smoke and vape, making it less risky for everyone,” said Paton in a statement. “Philter has undoubtedly created game-changing technology that will change the cannabis and nicotine consumption landscape.”

    “We were very excited when David Paton joined our science and strategic advisory board and thrilled that he will be joining Philter as the company’s chief innovations officer. His role will be key to shoring up more of our IP and helping the company reach its innovation goals. David will also support product development to launch the industry’s first vaping/smoking device for organic substrates with Philter patented filtration to eradicate secondhand smoke,” said Christos Nicolaidis, Philter CEO.

  • Tobacco Outranks Electric Vehicles on ESG

    Tobacco Outranks Electric Vehicles on ESG

    Photo: uflypro

    Tobacco companies perform better in environmental, social and governance (ESG) rankings than manufacturers of electric vehicles, reports The Washington Free Beacon.

    Earlier this month, S&P Global raised eyebrows when it gave Tesla, the world’s largest manufacturer of electric cars, a lower ESG score than Philip Morris International.

    Tesla earned just 37 points on the 100-point scale compared with PMI’s 84.

    It’s not the first time that tobacco companies have outranked companies with greener reputations. Sustainalytics, a widely used ESG ratings tool, gives Tesla a worse score than Altria Group. And the London Stock Exchange gives BAT an ESG score of 94—the third highest of any company on the exchange’s top share index—while Tesla earns a middling 65.

    The strong ESG performance of tobacco companies is due in part to their emphasis on inclusion and social justice. Altria, for example, has gone out of its way to emphasize the diversity of its corporate board and the breadth of its social justice initiatives. Tesla, by contrast, has resisted that bandwagon, going so far as to fire its top LGBT diversity officer last year.

    Imperial Brands touts its trainings on “microaggressions” and a board that is 40 percent women. PMI and BAT promote their scores on Bloomberg’s Gender Equality Index.

    Critics contend that tobacco companies’ ESG scores mask the negative impact of their activities, which they say include pollution from filters and nondegradable e-cigarettes along with the soil erosion and deforestation associated with tobacco growing.

  • Brexit Boosted Illicit Trade Conditions

    Brexit Boosted Illicit Trade Conditions

    Photo: J

    The United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union has increased the risk of illegal tobacco trade, reports Wales Online, citing a new report by Public Health Wales (PHW).

    For starters, Brexit had reduced the U.K.’s access to EU databases for identifying criminals and illicit activity across Europe, potentially reducing its ability to detect and prevent illicit trade. And while being outside the EU allows the U.K. to implement additional checks at its borders, this advantage could be undermined by the government’s proposed freeports in Wales. Featuring fewer checks and regulations, these facilities are designed to boost international trade but can also be exploited by criminals, according to PHW.

    In addition, international trade agreements currently under negotiation have the potential to create new supply routes and opportunities for criminal exploitation, according to the report. Brexit also has the potential to shape the demand for illicit tobacco by increasing risk of unemployment in sectors highly exposed to trade and poorer mental health due to uncertainty. Stress and poverty are associated with higher rates of smoking.

    “To effectively reduce the illicit trade of alcohol, tobacco and drugs in the U.K. and Wales and benefit population health and well-being, strategies will need to reduce both the supply and demand of these goods, and this will mean taking account of the potential impact of Brexit on both factors,” said Louisa Petchey, senior policy specialist at the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre at Public Health Wales.

    “This includes understanding its impact on supply chains, border controls and law enforcement cooperation. It also means responding to the ways in which Brexit may have negatively impacted on health and well-being in Wales to decrease demand for these goods in the first place.”

  • Putin Signs Tobacco Law

    Putin Signs Tobacco Law

    Photo: sezerozger

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new tobacco law, reports Interfax.

    The legislation requires the licensing of production, tobacco imports, nicotine-containing products and raw materials. It also compels manufacturers to register their machinery and mothball any unused equipment.

    While the law does not require retailers to obtain licenses, it bans the retail sale of tobacco products and nicotine-containing products not in consumer packaging and imposes restrictions on the movement of products.

    Titled “On the State Regulation of Production and Turnover of Tobacco Products, Nicotine-Containing Products and Raw Materials for Their Production,” the law is modeled on Russia’s regulatory framework for the tobacco industry. Observers expect Russia to extend the Federal Service for Alcohol Market Regulation’s remit to include tobacco and nicotine-containing products.

    Prepared by the Ministry of Finance, the legislation passed the State Duma on June 1 and the Federation Council on June 7. The law will come into force on Sept. 1, 2023, and the articles introducing licensing will take effect March 1, 2024.