Tag: vaping

Ghana Outlaws Vape Sales and Promotion

Ghana has banned all recreational use of vaping and e-cigarette products.
In a press release, the country’s Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) states that the “sale, advertisement and recreational use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) such as vapes and other non-nicotine tobacco products by the public” is illegal.
However, ENDS can be registered as a prescription-only medicine for the purposes of cessation therapy.
The FDA claims it has sent notice to manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, and retailers to remove all advertisements on social media, billboards and neon signs immediately and refrain from the importation of the products.
The FDA states that there “will be repercussions including sanctions” for failure to adhere to the rules.
July 9, 2023
Ninth Circuit Denies Lotus MDO Review

Entrance to United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit . Headquartered in San Francisco, California, the Ninth Circuit is by far the largest of the 13 courts of appeals. (Credit: Eric BVD)
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit on June 30 declined to review a Food and Drug Administration marketing denial order for Lotus Vaping Technologies’ flavored e-liquid products.
The FDA issued marketing denial orders for Lotus’ flavored products, finding that the petitioners’ applications lacked sufficient evidence showing that the flavored products would provide a benefit to adult users that outweighs the risks such products pose to youth.
Lotus challenged the ruling in court, but the judges held that the text of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act authorizes the FDA to require that manufacturers submit comparative health risk data, which necessarily includes comparisons of flavored e-liquids to tobacco-flavored e-liquids.
The judges also held that the FDA did not arbitrarily or capriciously deny Lotus’ applications and that any error the agency committed by failing to consider Lotus’ marketing plans was harmless.
July 8, 2023
Vaporesso Launches Products in Dubai

Vaporesso, the open system arm of the world’s largest atomization company, Smoore International, unveiled two groundbreaking products, the Vaporesso COSS and Vaporesso ECO, at the World Vape Show held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from June 21 to 23.
“We are thrilled to introduce Vaporesso COSS and Vaporesso ECO to more vapers at the show. These two revolutionary products are set to enhance the vaping experience, with their user-friendly features and eco-friendly design,” said Jimmy Hu, vice president of Vaporesso.
The COSS is being labeled as a “game-changer in the vaping industry,” according to a press release. The system addresses the pain points of existing products and offers an intuitive design that caters to the vaping habits of users.
“The product’s slogan, Convenient Operating, Smart Supplying, embodies its features. The Vaporesso COSS boasts the smallest size of vaping device and the longest battery life,” according to the release. “It also comes with an automatic liquid filling and charging feature. With Coil-oil Separation System, the Vaporesso COSS ensures a fresh taste without any leakage, and its consistent taste is a unique feature that sets it apart from other products.”
The ECO emphasizes the value of being eco-friendly, economical, and eco-self, according to the release. It is refillable and rechargeable. Along with its larger capacity, longer battery life, reduced heavy metal content, and leather paper packaging that can be reused and recycled, the ECO is more cost-saving, eco-friendly, and safer for both the environment and humans when compared to disposable products. The product’s daily usage costs are reduced by 60 percent, which makes it accessible to a wider audience.
“In addition to COSS and ECO, the company also has an IP counter featuring its highly popular XROS Series and LUXE X Series, along with a special display counter for its TARGET Series and GEN Series,” the release states.

July 3, 2023
FEELM Wins 7 Times at MENA Vape Awards

The closed-system solution provider for the world’s largest atomization company, Smoore, captured seven prestigious awards at the Vapouround Mena Vape Awards 2023 held during World Vape Show Dubai.
FEELM, a subsidiary of Smoore, earned high praise at the vent and was crowned Best Manufacturer and Industry Leader beating out a roster of international competition.
Speaking after the ceremony, Rex Zhang, assistant president of FEELM said it was an honor to be recognized as a main player in the industry.
“This is especially exciting considering FEELM also walked away a winner at the Vapouround Global Awards in the UK earlier this year,” he said. “We pour huge amounts of time, effort and resources into optimizing our brand to be the best it can be and developing new technologies that can level up the vape category as a whole – these awards act as proof that we are very much on the right track.”
As well as celebrating its own successes at the Dubai event, FEELM also saw some of its clients take to the winner’s podium. Vape brands PYRO, Aroma King and DEJA VOO – which use FEELM technology in their products – won Best Newcomer, Industry Leader and Best Disposable respectively.
Adding to the list of accolades for brands using FEELM technology, RELX garnered the Best Brand award and also received recognition for its WAKA device securing the runner-up position for Best Newcomer.
“Congratulations to both of these companies. It’s great to see exceptional brands, who are doing exceptional things, get the recognition they deserve,” said Zhang.
The Vapouround MENA Awards coincides with the World Vape Show (WVS) in Dubai, which is one of the biggest expos in the industry calendar.
FEELM used this year’s WVS event as an opportunity to showcase its latest technological developments such as FEELM Max, Topower and Power Alpha.
June 27, 2023
Topower Brings More Puffs and Better Battery

A new disposable vape battery solution was showcased during the World Vape Show Dubai, held from June 21-23.
The pioneering power technology developed by FEELM, a subsidiary of the world’s largest atomization technology company Smoore, is intended for markets that allow higher puff counts and has been designed to increase the endurance of single-use devices.
When compared to mainstream batteries, the new Topower offers 30 percent more capacity with the battery size remaining unchanged and can deliver over 6,000 puffs without needing to be recharged.
Topower also provides a constant power output that reduces the loss of taste caused by voltage drop.
FEELM says the new innovation also boasts the “longest shelf life in the industry,” according to a press release, promising just 1 percent power attenuation over six months and 3 percent over a year – which the brand says is 1/10th the level seen in traditional batteries.
“This is our new battery technology customized for higher puff disposable vape, with large puff vaping without charging, ultimate-low discharge, ultimate-high energy density,” said Rex Zhang assistant president of FEELM. “The end goal for our industry is to create a smoke-free future and unburden adults from the harms of deadly cigarettes – technology is going to play a leading role in achieving this.”
Zhang said the no-charge element of Topower was beneficial not just for brands, but for consumers as well. He said the battery solution eradicates the need for additional charging cables, which eliminates the necessity for internal charging devices and consequently saves on production costs.
He also said consumers would no longer need to “worry about when and where they could next plug their disposable, which can reduce user anxieties and create a more convenient vaping experience,” according to the release.
Topower has been incorporated into two solutions – FEELM Max’s ceramic coil disposable solution and Power Alpha‘s mesh coil solution.
FEELM Max and Power Alpha have already been extensively commercialized and have achieved considerable success in multiple countries.
June 26, 2023
Smoore Introduces Power Alpha to Dubai

Credit: Smoore
The world’s leading global atomization technology company, Smoore, premiered its new disposable solution, Power Alpha, at the World Vape Show 2023 in Dubai (June 21st – 23rd).
Power Alpha debuted at the TPE 2023 in Las Vegas, where it garnered widespread attention and praise for its unprecedented features and advanced technology. This time in Dubai, Power Alpha again overwhelmed company leaders, distributors, and dealers in the vaping industry with its four transformative features: no charge, no burn, no fade, and convenience of use.
Power Alpha is a charge-free solution for large-puff disposable devices that solve issues disposable vape users face, including short battery life, charging inconvenience, and fading flavor and a burning taste after recharging, according to a press release.
“These unique features of Power Alpha have fueled the market success of some major players in the vaping industry in North America, as it allows these companies to receive a flood of positive consumer feedback,” the release states.
What makes Power Alpha a game changer are two patented technologies – a Topower battery and a Corex atomizer.
Common charge-free vapes usually offer 2500~3000 puffs with a battery capacity of 950 mAh. But disposables employing Topower deliver twice as many puffs and have a large capacity of 2000 mAh, with the battery sizes remaining almost unchanged.
The large 2000 mAh capacity supports an uninterrupted 6000-puff vaping experience means consumers do not need to recharge and look for their charging cables midway through the vaping. In addition, this battery technology also ensures stable output throughout its life.
Corex atomizer technology takes the vaping experience to a whole new level with its upgraded mesh coil. Eco-Mesh, which is eco-processed and pollution-free, brings a consistent and mouthful taste due to the 200 percent increase in the precision of the mesh structure and the 50 percent faster heating speed.
Corex’s patented cotton design increases the e-liquid conductivity by 15.8 percent and improves the e-liquid absorption by 23.5 percent, making the atomization more powerful and efficient.
Another notable design is the F1 airflow, which brings consumers a clean vaping experience by improving the smoothness by 30 percent and eliminating the condensation by 100 percent.
Power Alpha, a groundbreaking solution developed by Smoore over the past two years, not only retains the convenience of non-rechargeable disposables but also increases the number of puffs to 6000, which offers an exceptionally cost-effective option to consumers.
June 23, 2023
Max Ceramic Coil and Topower Show in Dubai

FEELM, the subsidiary of the world’s largest atomization technology company, Smoore, exhibited two innovations that have been developed to “raise product performance” across the disposable vape category during an industry event in Dubai.
The FEELM Max’s ceramic coil and Topower battery technology were created as part of a targeted effort to ‘level up the single-use sector’ and enhance consumer experience, according to a press release.
The pioneering advancements both earned attention from the industry and are already appearing in devices from globally recognized brands.
FEELM says each was designed to address a “pain point” of the industry.
FEELM Max’s ceramic coil has done away with super-absorbent cotton to reduce the amount of e-liquid that goes to waste and increase the puff count of TRPR- and TPD-compliant 2ml disposables in the UK by as much as 30 percent – a rise from 600 to at least 800 puffs.
It also reduces impurities by 78 percent during the heating process, produces air particles that are 55 percent smaller than mainstream solutions and uses a “constant power engine” that provides a vapor consistency of 95 percent and a 35 percent improvement in taste consistency.
The second notable innovation is FEELM’s Topower battery technology. This breakthrough increases the endurance of large e-liquid capacity vapes and can provide over 6,000 puffs without needing to recharge, which allows consumers to get rid of the hassle of charging.
Further, the compact power solution – which offers 30 percent more capacity – delivers a consistent output which FEELM says will counter the common issue of flavor reduction caused by voltage drop.
Topower also promises a longer shelf life, with 1 percent power attenuation over six months and 3 percent power attenuation over a year. This advancement effectively avoids the burning taste and assures a strong consistency of flavor.
Speaking on the developments, Rex Zhang, assistant president at FEELM, said the company prides itself on being the brand behind the brands and its technology has become to vaping what Intel Core processors are to laptops.
“We aim to elevate the disposable category to a whole new level through innovation– our ceramic coils and Topower battery solution represent two significant successes on this front,” he said, adding that technology will be a “critical metric” on which to measure the winners and losers of the industry moving forward. “The vape category is fuelled by the desire to help adult smokers switch away from cigarettes – but it is built on innovation.”

June 22, 2023
Vaping Up in U.K. Prisons

Image: Tobacco Reporter archive
Vaping has surged in U.K. prisons since a smoking ban went into effect in 2017 (in England and Wales), according to Filter.
In the 2021–2022 financial year, prisoners spent close to £8 million on vapor products. Prisoners have access to vapes as well as nicotine-replacement therapy.
While the surge in vaping has been positive in terms of harm reduction, the abrupt change has had its challenges. With the prohibition of smoking in prisons came illicit cigarettes and trading/selling other personal property, including meals, in order to obtain cigarettes.
The Howard League for Penal Reform “has supported making prisons smoke-free in principle, given the health risks to both prisoners and staff,” said Andrew Neilson, director of campaigns. “But we’ve always been concerned that the ban was implemented responsibly and that prisoners were given the proper support and resources to move away from smoking.”
Neilson cited a general lack of provisions to support mental and physical health, including lack of access to fresh air. “Prisons are still struggling to deliver these kinds of open regimes after the pandemic effectively locked prisons down and saw people kept in their cells 23 hours a day.”
The smoking ban raises questions, according to Andy West, who teaches philosophy in prisons, when a prison cell is someone’s residence and when “people still want to smoke” and “prisons seem to stoke addictions.” He said that illicit cigarettes are “more dangerous” and “Prohibition always creates a bigger monster than the one it kills.”
Despite this, the number of prisoners who have turned to vaping and stuck with it is promising. “The fact that many people have access to vaping products is welcome news from a tobacco harm reduction perspective,” said Debbie Robson, senior lecturer in tobacco harm reduction at King’s College London. “Great progress has been made in creating a smoke-free prison estate despite doubting it was achievable given the high smoking rates in prison settings.”
Robson speaks with formerly incarcerated individuals while conducting research, and many have expressed that their first vaping experiences were in prison, and “some have stayed smoke-free ever since.”
“As a nurse, that makes me question why a prison setting may be the first time someone has the opportunity to use a vape,” she said. Outside the prison system, “health and social care practitioners can do more to raise awareness and reduce barriers to vaping in groups where smoking prevalence is high,” she said.
June 2, 2023
McKinney Hires Fearon as Chief Scientific Officer

McKinney Regulatory Science Advisors stated today that it has appointed Ian Fearon as its new Chief Scientific Officer.
Fearon will play a pivotal role in enhancing the regulatory science consulting firm’s capabilities and expanding its range of services to clients, according to a press release.
“Fearon brings over 15 years of invaluable experience in the field of Tobacco Harm Reduction, with a specific focus on clinical and behavioral studies of these products,” the release states. “His deep understanding of regulatory submissions in the United States and Europe will enable McKinney Regulatory Science Advisors to provide unparalleled support and guidance to clients navigating the complex regulatory landscape.”
Prior to joining McKinney, Fearon held key leadership positions at several industry organizations such as senior director of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs EMEA at Juul Labs, where he helped advance the scientific understanding of tobacco and nicotine products and supported the company’s premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Fearon also served as the director of Tobacco Research at Celerion, where he contributed to the development of clinical evidence to support regulatory filings, and as principal scientist and head of Clinical Research at British American Tobacco.
Fearon has published more than 60 papers, including more than 20 on tobacco/nicotine product assessment, which generated more than 3,200 citations, according to the release.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ian as our Chief Scientific Officer,” said company CEO Willie McKinney. “His extensive experience and deep knowledge of tobacco and nicotine science and worldwide regulations make him an invaluable asset to our team. With Ian’s guidance, we will continue to provide exceptional scientific and regulatory consulting services to our clients, facilitating their success in bringing innovative consumer products to market.”
As the Chief Scientific Officer at McKinney Regulatory Science Advisors, Fearon will oversee the company’s scientific operations, lead strategic initiatives, and drive innovation in the regulatory science domain, according to the release.
May 31, 2023
Vaping to be Banned for Those Under 18

Image: Tobacco Reporter archive
Ireland will ban vaping for those under the age of 18, effective July, reports the Irish Times.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will bring a memo to the Cabinet this week outlining the full legislation. The new law is expected to be enacted before the lower house of Parliament’s summer recess in mid-July.
The legislation includes restrictions on the types of retailers allowed to sell vapes or nicotine-inhaling products as well as measures to curb advertising of nicotine-inhaling products near schools and other locations frequented by kids and young adults.
Donnelly is expected to tell the Cabinet that there is “clear evidence” that nicotine exposure in young people has long-term effects on brain development, referencing recently published surveys of Irish school-aged kids. The surveys, including the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey from 2018 and the European Schools Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs survey from 2019, showed that 9 percent of 12-year-olds to 17-year-olds and 15.5 percent of 15-year-olds and 16-year-olds used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days. Donnelly is also expected to reference a Health Research Board review that found that kids who vaped were five times more likely to begin smoking.
The government is expected to prioritize passage of the bill through the Oireachtas to allow for full debate and discussion before sending the legislation to President Michael D. Higgins for his signature.
May 30, 2023