Tag: Lost Mary

  • FDA Warns 9 More for Illegal Vape Sales

    FDA Warns 9 More for Illegal Vape Sales

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to eight online retailers and one manufacturer for selling and/or distributing unauthorized flavored, disposable e-cigarettes.

    Some of the unauthorized products cited in the warning letters are marketed under brand names for disposable products, including Geek Bar and Lost Mary, according to the FDA. Other unauthorized products cited feature the names and/or images of celebrities.

    The firms receiving these warning letters sold and/or distributed e-cigarettes in the United States that lack authorization from FDA to be legally marketed in the U.S., which is in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

    In addition to the violations mentioned in the warning letters, the firms were warned to address any violations that are the same as, or similar to, those stated in the warning letter and to promptly take necessary actions to comply with the law.

    Failure to promptly correct the violations can result in additional actions such as an injunction, seizure, and/or civil money penalty.

  • Elfbar and Lost Mary Create Advisory Board

    Elfbar and Lost Mary Create Advisory Board

    Image: Mariakray

    Elfbar and Lost Mary have created a board in the U.K. to provide strategic advice for the brands.

    Board members are from across relevant disciplines in the U.K. with senior-level experience, including in the national and local government, the medical profession and law enforcement.

    The newly formed advisory board also serves Heaven Gifts, the company that manages Elfbar and Lost Mary.

    “The creation of this advisory board marks a milestone in the global operations of Elfbar and Lost Mary. This aligns with our long-term commitment as the responsible market leader for the vaping sector worldwide, and our exploration of the smoking cessation role vaping products play,” said Heaven Gifts Global Vice-President Victor Xiao in a statement.

    “This board further signals our intent to address concerns around, for example, youth vaping, the environmental impact, and illicit trade. Starting in the U.K., we are looking to bring this mechanism to more global markets, particularly those in Europe.”

    Members of the advisory board include Steve Bennett, former director of investigations at the National Crime Agency; George Eustice, former member of parliament and secretary of state for the department of environment, food and rural affairs; Susie Kemp, former CEO of Swindon Borough council and deputy chief executive of Surrey county council; Lord Porter, former council leader and chair of the Local Government Association; Sairah Salim-Sartoni, a health psychologist with extensive experience in smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction; and Lord Walney, a former member of parliament and special advisor to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Business Secretary Lord Hutton.

  • Elf Bar Removing Some Flavors from U.K.

    Elf Bar Removing Some Flavors from U.K.

    Image: Tobacco Reporter archive

    Vaping brands Elf Bar and Lost Mary will remove dessert, candy and soft drink flavored disposable vapor products from the U.K. market, according to Vaping360.

    The brands make up more than half of the U.K.’s disposable vape sales, according to data firm NielsenIQ. They are owned by the Chinese firm Shenzhen iMiracle Technology, and it is unclear if the Chinese company will remove these flavors from other markets.

    Elf Bar has already ended U.K. sales of Bubble Gum and Cotton Candy flavors and renamed Gummy Bear “Gami,” according to the BBC.

    The decision is meant to help curb claims that the popular vapes are marketed to youth following a panic over youth vaping that has seen an uptick in the past couple years.

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak proposed changes to the vaping laws in October. There is currently a public consultation to determine what actions to take.

    “The introduction of such a regime would mitigate children’s access to vapes and make it easier for the authorities to regulate the sale of vaping devices better. Furthermore, we believe it would help combat the growing illicit vape market and drive increased rates of vape recycling,” an Elf Bar spokesman said.

    Clive Bates of The Counterfactual questioned whether the move would silence the company’s critics. “Their detractors will take it as an in-principle admission of culpability and then build outward from that principle,” he said.