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Tag: vape

  • QR Tags to Help UK’s Fake Vape Crackdown

    QR Tags to Help UK’s Fake Vape Crackdown

    The UK government is set to introduce tough new penalties for illegal vape sales, including £10,000 fines and potential prison sentences, as part of a major crackdown to be detailed in Wednesday’s (November 26) budget. All apes will soon require digital tax stamps with QR codes, giving His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and Border Force expanded powers to seize unlicensed products.

    The measures follow rapid growth in vape use and mounting concerns over black-market devices, coming alongside the Tobacco and Vapes Bill’s restrictions on advertising, flavors, and packaging. Officials say the plan will disrupt criminal networks and protect consumers from unregulated goods. Health groups, Trading Standards, and industry representatives welcomed the move, saying stricter enforcement will help reduce youth access while supporting legitimate businesses and smokers using vapes to quit.

  • EU Abstains from COP11 Vote Amid Internal Disagreements

    EU Abstains from COP11 Vote Amid Internal Disagreements

    “The European Union will not participate in a vote on a revised treaty at the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (COP11) in Geneva,” Brussels Signal reported today (November 17), highlighting deep divisions among member states over tobacco policy. Internal EU disagreements pit “progressive” countries that support stricter measures like flavor bans and plain packaging against more cautious states that advocate for harm-reduction tools and consumer choice. Attempts to reach a consensus under the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU reportedly failed, despite a proposed compromise, the article said.

    The abstention has sparked mixed reactions. Public health advocacy groups expressed concern that a weakened EU position could embolden tobacco industry tactics, while harm-reduction proponents, including the World Vapers Alliance, welcomed the outcome as preserving space for evidence-based policies. Analysts warn that overly broad restrictions could drive consumers back to combustible cigarettes or underground markets, undermining public health gains.

  • Mexico Debates Vaping Ban Amid Constitutional Reform

    Mexico Debates Vaping Ban Amid Constitutional Reform

    Mexico is moving toward a decisive stance on e-cigarettes and vaping as lawmakers prepare to define whether the industry will be regulated or banned. A recent constitutional reform, supported by most major parties, criminalizes the production, distribution, and sale of electronic cigarettes, vape devices, and unauthorized toxic substances. Movimiento Ciudadano remains the only party opposing the measure.

    The reform modifies Articles 4 and 5 of the Constitution and frames vaping alongside fentanyl misuse, prompting critics to argue that it reflects a global prohibitionist approach rather than a domestic evidence-based policy. Secondary legislation under the General Health Law will now determine the practical scope of the ban or regulation.

    Public health experts and advocacy groups, including the World Vapers’ Alliance, argue that intelligent regulation could reduce illicit trade, protect adult consumers, and generate significant tax revenue—estimated at up to MX$6.94 billion ($374.8 million) annually.

    The debate also highlights the potential for vaping technology in medical applications, such as inhaled drug delivery for conditions like asthma, migraines, and pain management, though regulatory and consumer acceptance challenges remain.

  • Czech Republic to Enforce Stricter E-Cigarette Rules

    Czech Republic to Enforce Stricter E-Cigarette Rules

    Beginning in December, the Czech Republic will implement tighter regulations on e-cigarettes, banning products containing sugar flavors or cannabinoids, with manufacturers having seven months to sell off existing stock.

    New rules also require clear labelling of nicotine content in milligrams per milliliter or micrograms per portion. Nicotine-containing products must carry warnings and a symbol indicating they are not suitable for under-18s, along with a Ministry of Health registration ID. Liquids may no longer contain mineral or vegetable oils, or fats, in addition to cannabinoids or sugar flavors.

    The regulations follow a study showing that almost 14% of the Czech population used e-cigarettes last year, with over a quarter of 15- to 24-year-olds reporting use.

  • FDA to Allocate $200M Toward Combating Illicit Vapes

    FDA to Allocate $200M Toward Combating Illicit Vapes

    As part of the continuing resolution passed by Congress and signed yesterday (November 12) by US President Donald Trump to reopen the government, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be required to allocate at least $200 million of its $712 million in user fees toward enforcing regulations on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Of this amount, $2 million will support a multi-agency task force, including the Justice Department and Homeland Security, aimed at cracking down on illegal ENDS products imported from China and other countries.

    The FDA is also required to update its 2020 ENDS enforcement guidance within one year to include flavored disposable vapes and clarify the definition of disposable ENDS products. In addition, the law updates the Imports and Exports section of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to include tobacco products, strengthening the FDA’s authority to regulate their import alongside food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics.

    The agency must provide semi-annual reports to Congress on efforts to remove illegal ENDS products from the market, with the first report due within 180 days of enactment (November 12). The FDA is also expected to submit a report detailing its work to educate retailers on which products are legally allowed for sale.

  • Dutch Hospitals Tracking ER Nicotine Cases Today

    Dutch Hospitals Tracking ER Nicotine Cases Today

    Today (November 13), hospitals across the Netherlands are recording the number of patients arriving at emergency rooms with medical problems linked to smoking, vaping, and/or snus, in a nationwide effort to measure nicotine’s impact on emergency care, NOS reports. The initiative, led by Dr. Nicole Kraaijvanger of Leiden University Medical Center, aims to provide concrete data on how nicotine use contributes to acute medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and chronic bronchitis.

    The results of the study, supported by medical associations and prevention groups, are expected to guide future smoking and vaping policies in the Netherlands.

  • OTP Driving Q3 Growth for U.S. Convenience Retailers

    OTP Driving Q3 Growth for U.S. Convenience Retailers

    Other tobacco products (OTP) continued to deliver strong performance for major U.S. convenience-store operators in the third quarter of 2025, according to earnings reports from Arko Corp., Murphy USA, and CrossAmerica Partners.

    According to CSP, Arko Corp. CEO Arie Kotler reported OTP sales up 16% year over year, with same-store sales rising 6.6% and category margins improving by more than 300 basis points, driven by store redesigns and enhanced promotions. CrossAmerica Partners also cited OTP as a key contributor to its higher merchandise gross margin, which grew by about 100 basis points. Meanwhile, Murphy USA highlighted strong gains in traditional smokeless and nicotine pouch sales. CEO Andrew Clyde said total merchandise margins rose 11.3%, while COO Mindy West noted nicotine pouch volumes surged 45%, jumping to 120% of prior-year levels in October through aggressive promotions.

  • Yocan Launches Kodo Star with Full Display Technology

    Yocan Launches Kodo Star with Full Display Technology

    Today (November 13), Yocan unveiled the Kodo Star, a compact 400mAh battery device featuring the company’s new Galaxy Full Display system, which the company says is the first of its kind in a pocket-sized vape. The device offers real-time voltage, session, and battery monitoring, with adjustable voltage from 1.8V to 4.2V, a 10-second smart preheat mode, and auto shutoff safety features. Measuring 57×23×18.5mm, the Kodo Star supports Type-C fast charging (0.8 hours) and 510 cartridges.

    Available in five colors—black, white, pink, purple, and blue—the Kodo Star “targets style-conscious, on-the-go users seeking performance, portability, and precision control.”

  • Vietnam Moves to Ban E-Cigarettes and Heated Tobacco

    Vietnam Moves to Ban E-Cigarettes and Heated Tobacco

    Vietnam’s Ministry of Health proposed adding e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to the list of prohibited business activities in the draft amended Law on Investment, aligning with National Assembly Resolution No. 173/2024/QH15, which bans production, trade, import, storage, transport, and use of these products from 2025.

    National Assembly Deputy Lê Hoàng Anh said that leaving e-cigarettes unregulated would expose youth to highly addictive nicotine products and provide a cover for criminals to smuggle narcotics. He emphasized the health risks, citing evidence that the devices contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals, and noted that teenagers using e-cigarettes are more likely to transition to conventional smoking.

    Anh urged lawmakers to include the prohibition in Article 6 of the Investment Law, framing it as a matter of public health and national responsibility.

  • Malaysian Teens Recruited by Syndicate to Sell Vapes

    Malaysian Teens Recruited by Syndicate to Sell Vapes

    Authorities and parents in Malaysia are being warned about unscrupulous syndicates recruiting teenagers to sell vapes at schools for lucrative commissions, reported China Press. Students are allegedly being hired as “runners,” and then encouraged to get their peers addicted so they can sell them devices. One independent Chinese school reportedly took action against a student caught selling vapes on campus, and staff “members were shocked when a syndicate member boldly called the school board pleading for leniency on behalf of the student.” Educational sources urged parents to monitor their children closely.