Tag: Featured

Stories featured at the top of tobaccoreporter.com

FDA Extends Comment Period for Information on EVALI

Couleur | Pixabay
In response to requests from the public, FDA is extending the comment period for a request for information (RFI) seeking data and information related to the use of vaping products that are associated with lung injuries.
The RFI, initially published in the Federal Register on Feb. 18, responds to direction from Congress to gather additional information that could help identify and evaluate additional steps that could be taken by the agency to “address the recent pulmonary illnesses reported to be associated with the use of e-cigarettes and vaping products.”
April 13, 2020
India: Production Stoppages Drive Up Cigarette Prices

Photo: Taco Tuinstra
Since the lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, the black market price of cigarettes has risen by 50 percent to 100 percent as production has ceased in many places.
A 10-pack of Gold Flake Kings costs between INR250 and INR300 ($3.28 and $3.93), whereas it would normally cost INR165, according to local reports.
“The situation is bad. All paanwallas have shut shop in the city. A few grocery stores are keeping stock, but they sell it only to those they know and that too at a premium,” Piyush Gupta of Delhi was quoted as saying.
The price of cigarettes rose in phases, according to Chirag Gudipaty of Bengaluru. “In the first week of the lockdown, cigarette packs used to be sold for MRP. By the second week, they were attracting a 20 percent premium. Now, the premium is anywhere between 30 [percent] to 100 percent depending on how well you knew your retailer before,” he said.
Experts recommend that those who have been abstaining from smoking during the lockdown use the opportunity quit for good.
April 13, 2020
Tobacco Sales Soar Even as Authorities Urge Quitting

Photo: Šárka Jonášová | Pixabay
Tobacco sales worldwide are rising amid the outbreak of the coronavirus, reports Euro Weekly News.
Experts say it’s unlikely more people are picking up smoking and more likely that current smokers are stocking up on supplies in preparation for even longer lockdowns.
In some places, such as Spain, authorities have declared tobacco an essential business, aiding in the availability and sales of the products. The biggest tobacco producers have seen huge sales in the first quarter of 2020; Marlboro has a brand value of €30.5 billion ($33.3 billion) so far and L&M has a brand value of €5.5 billion.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that smokers and vapers are more at risk of contracting Covid-19 and suffering from complications of the illness. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that those with asthma and other respiratory issues are at a higher risk of complications from Covid-19, and smokers are more likely to exhibit asthma and other respiratory issues. Because of this, the WHO and other public health officials recommend that smokers take this opportunity to quit smoking for good.
April 13, 2020
BAT Sues PMI Over IQOS Technology

Photo: Philip Morris International
British American Tobacco (BAT) has sued Philip Morris International (PMI) in the United States and Germany for patent infringement, reports Reuters.
The lawsuits focus on the heating blade technology used in PMI’s IQOS heat-not-burn device, which BAT claims is an earlier version of the technology currently being used in its Glo tobacco heating devices.
BAT filed two patent infringement claims in the United States against Philip Morris, one through the International Trade Commission (ITC) and one in the Virginia federal court, seeking remedies for damages caused and an injunction on importing the product.
“If we win we may be able to get an ITC exclusion order blocking the importation of IQOS into the U.S. by Philip Morris unless they agree to take a license to our patents,” BAT spokesman Will Hill told Reuters.
PMI, which started selling IQOS in the United States last year, vowed it would vigorously defend itself against the legal actions.
April 10, 2020
Principal Engineer Leaves Juul
Cole Hatton, who was Juul Lab’s principal engineer, left the company on Apr. 6.
Hatton, who was one of the company’s first employees, was named on the patent for the Juul device as a co-inventor, along with the company’s co-founders, Adam Bowen and James Monsees.
The personnel changes come amid structural changes at the company that began in December 2018 when tobacco giant Altria Group paid $12.8 billion for a third of the company.
April 10, 2020
Nicotine Gum Market Poised for Growth

The nicotine gum market is set to grow by $522 million between 2019 and 2023 with a CAGR of more than 5 percent during that period, according to a new report published by Technavio.
Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable and pessimistic) considering the impact of Covid-19.
British American Tobacco, GlaxoSmithKline, ITC Limited, Johnson & Johnson Services and Novartis are some of the major market participants.
April 10, 2020
PMI Continues to Support Employees in Pandemic

Photo: Philip Morris International
Philip Morris International (PMI) has established a set of guiding principles that outline the company’s commitment to its employees’ job security and peace of mind throughout the global pandemic period. These principles encompass three key areas: employment stability, financial stability and special recognition awards.
“PMI will continue to contribute to the global response to this pandemic in every way we can. First and foremost, we will continue to support our employees and their families and protect their safety and health. Nothing matters more,” said Andre Calantzopoulos, CEO of PMI. “Thanks to our employees across the world, working in factories, in the field, offices, laboratories or remotely at home, our business continues to operate as normally as possible under these unprecedented circumstances.”
These guiding principles became effective as of March 16, 2020—when PMI directed most office-based employees to work from home—and will remain until the company determines that the crisis has passed or has sufficiently subsided.
Under employment stability, the company states that it will not terminate the employment of any PMI employee during this crisis period, unless for cause, and the company has also put on hold any restructuring plans.
Under financial stability, PMI states it will continue to provide regular compensation to all employees, irrespective of their ability to perform fully their professional duties during this period.
Under special recognition awards, PMI states that employees who need to be physically present at their usual work locations (in factories, in warehouses, in the field or in offices), as and where permitted by local regulations, will be given special recognition awards during this crisis period. PMI will continue taking all necessary safety measures to protect those employees who are working at such locations.
PMI’s commitment to its employees is part of the company’s broader support for communities impacted by the Covid-19 crisis across the world.
To date, PMI has pledged in excess of $24 million to support actions against the pandemic.
April 9, 2020
Zimbabwe: Stakeholders to Discuss Tobacco Season

Photo: Taco Tuinstra
Tobacco stakeholders will have an emergency meeting to discuss the opening of the tobacco market in Zimbabwe after initial proposed guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19 were rejected.
The proposed opening date is April 22.
Zimbabwe is currently under a 21-day lockdown due to Covid-19, which has set back preparations for the tobacco selling season. Plans need to be approved to prevent crowding on the tobacco selling floors that would aid in the spread of Covid-19, and computer systems may need to be adjusted to allow for growers to be a part of the process virtually—transparency is important to avoid tobacco being lost to middlemen. Precautions such as those implemented in Malawi would be necessary.
The Ministry of Agriculture will decide whether it is plausible to open the market on April 22.
Tobacco is one of Zimbabwe’s largest foreign currency earners.
April 9, 2020
Turning Point and Standard Diversified Announce Merger

Photo: Alexas Fotos
Turning Point Brands (TPB) and Standard Diversified Inc. (SDI) have entered into a definitive agreement under which SDI will be merged into a wholly owned subsidiary of TPB in a tax-free downstream merger in a transaction first announced by the companies in November 2019.
Under the terms of the agreement, the holders of SDI’s Class A common stock and SDI’s Class B common stock will receive in the aggregate, in return for their SDI common stock, TPB voting common stock at a ratio of 0.97 of a share of TPB common stock for each share of TPB common stock held by SDI.
SDI has divested, or will prior to the merger divest, its assets of SDI other than its TPB common stock and has agreed that its net liabilities at closing will not exceed $25,000.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the SDI common stock and the receipt of any applicable regulatory approvals. The board of directors of SDI has recommended that its stockholders vote in favor of the transaction. The companies expect the transaction to close in the summer of 2020.
April 9, 2020
Avail Donates More Than 5,000 Masks to Medical Efforts

James Xu
Avail Vapor has donated more than 5,000 masks to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to help medical professionals on the front lines of the coronavirus battle protect themselves.
The idea came to light a few months ago when Avail employees heard about the shortage of masks in China when Covid-19 initially struck. Avail works closely with many Chinese suppliers, and Avail employees wanted to support these suppliers in their time of need.
Employees from around the U.S. gathered masks to donate; as a result, Avail shipped thousands of masks to its overseas partners. Now that the United States is experiencing a shortage in masks, those same Chinese colleagues have returned the generosity and shipped thousands of masks to Avail headquarters for employees and health care workers.
“To be successful, our business has always been highly collaborative with global partners,” said James Xu, CEO and chairman of Avail, and a Chinese American. “To see our employees proactively answer a need for their Chinese counterparts was special. Now we are so grateful to our Chinese friends for helping us defend our citizens in this pandemic.”
In addition, Avail has implemented new programs to help its customers during this unprecedented time. Since March 18, 2020, Avail customers who are burdened with a financial impact from Covid-19, as well as those in the medical community or who are first responders, have been eligible for a one-time purchase of select e-liquids for a penny ($0.01 transactional fee plus applicable taxes). Avail is also offering call-ahead and curbside pickup at all retail locations, as the health, safety and well-being of its staff and customers is paramount.
Avail employs more than 350 people across the U.S. The company has committed to compensate staff for work time lost due to Covid-19 or influenza. In addition, if employees need further financial assistance, they can apply through the Xu Fund, a special employee assistance fund dedicated to supporting Avail staff in the event of personal and family hardships. CEO and Chairman Xu donates 100 percent of his salary to support the fund. Since 2018, the Xu Fund has helped 90 Avail employees.
April 8, 2020