Vapers Digest 15th March

Monday’s News at a glance:

Response to Government’s TRPR Consultation – Banning Sweeteners In Vapes Would Be ‘catastrophic’ – Need For More Robust Campaign For Tobacco Harm Reduction In Sub-Saharan Africa – Officials who act as conduits for foreign vested interest groups should be fired – Alternative Product Harm Perception – RightOn is Way Off – American Harm Reduction Attacks Spiked Tobacco Use – Catastrophic End To The Sweet Life – PACT Act Pushing Many Vape Shops to Close – Nicotine Science and Policy Daily Digest

Government’s TRPR Consultation

UKVIA

Former Health Minister backs sweeping recommendations on improving public health and boosting the economy

The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has unveiled a landmark package of recommendations to Government, aimed at maximising the public health benefits of vaping and bolstering ambitions for a ‘Smokefree 2030’. The document, A Blueprint for Better Regulation, urges Government to use its post-Brexit independence to become a world leader in harm reduction.

The UK’s Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) are currently being reviewed, with a crucial consultation due to close on 19th March. The resulting decisions made by Government are set to shape public health and smoking cessation policy for years to come

Banning Sweeteners In Vapes

Would Be ‘catastrophic’ – VAPO

The largest Kiwi-owned vape company, VAPO, believes the Ministry of Health’s proposal to ban sweeteners in e-liquids will cause ‘catastrophic disruption’ for those Kiwis relying on them to successfully transition from smoking to much less harmful and less expensive vaping.

As well as mass migration back to cigarettes, VAPO fears the move will wipe out New Zealand’s local, independent vape industry and hundreds of jobs.

VAPO and Alt New Zealand co-owners, Jonathan Devery and Ben Pryor, are now calling on Health Minister Andrew Little, Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall, and Small Business Minister Stuart Nash to closely assess the final vaping regulations for their health and economic impacts when they come back to Cabinet for authorisation by the end of June.

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Need For More Robust Campaign

For Tobacco Harm Reduction In Sub-Saharan Africa

Infectious diseases account for the greatest burden of mortality and morbidity in SSA, however, the incidence and prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the region is also on a steady rise. Smoking is an important and a leading cause of preventable mortality due to NCDs as it contributes to a significant number of non-communicable diseases in human. The United Nation ‘Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 states that “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being”. It could be said that high income countries are well on their way to achieving this as the number of smokers in the developed world is on a steady decline.

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Officials who act as conduits

For foreign vested interest groups should be fired

MANILA, Philippines — Government officials who serve as conduits for foreign vested interest groups trying to influence local policies should be fired, Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo A. Garbin Jr. said in a statement issued on Sunday.

“While I commend foreign private institutions that support government initiatives, I condemn moves to hijack government policy decisions,” Garbin said.

Garbin issued the statement in reaction to reports that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received grants Bloomberg Philanthropies and The Union — two lobby groups that promote the banning of  vapor products and heated tobacco products (HTPs) low- and middle-income countries.

Four from Dave Cross, Planet of the Vapes:

Alternative Product Harm Perception

A University of Pennsylvania team has looked at the perceptions of harm and beliefs about alternative reduced risk nicotine products. Adults were recruited online to express their opinions about vape products, snus, and heated tobacco devices. The paper was published as an example of an American snus education mailshot came to light, showing the country has actually got something correct when it comes to harm reduction.

While the choice of categorisation is unfortunate, the authors of the paper(1) do acknowledge, “There is a growing recognition among tobacco control experts that tobacco products pose different levels of risk which exist along a ‘continuum of risk’. Snus (a low nitrosamine type of moist snuff), and e-cigarettes pose significantly fewer health risks to individual users compared to cigarettes.”

RightOn is Way Off

Canadian independent advocacy group RightOnCanada was created to push for human rights to be considered as key components of Canadian legislation. Once focussed on asbestos and lead-containing paint, the body has turned its focus to fight against tobacco harm reduction products – denying the human rights of smokers to choose reduced harm in the process. It recently issued a letter attacking the independent Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW).

RightOn Canada’s Kathleen Ruff has been prolific recently on the subject of vaping and tobacco harm reduction. She has amassed a number of international signatures to a letter(1) demanding that the American Public Health Association (APHA) abides by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

American Harm Reduction Attacks

The American demonisation of vaping and harm reduction strategies has led to a spike in tobacco use during the Covid-19 pandemic. This is highlighted by an acceptance in San Francisco that its policy of banning ecig sales will directly lead to a rise in smoking as cigarettes will continue to remain on sale. Claims of restricting access to vape products to protect children appears to be a hollow act.

“Pandemic-related anxiety, boredom, and irregular routines were cited as major drivers of increased nicotine and tobacco use during the initial COVID-19 shutdown,” states a press release from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

Catastrophic End To The Sweet Life

The largest New Zealand-owned vape company, VAPO, believes the Ministry of Health’s proposal to ban sweeteners in e-liquids will cause “catastrophic disruption” for those Kiwis relying on them to successfully transition from smoking to much less harmful and less expensive vaping.

As well as mass migration back to cigarettes, VAPO fears the move will wipe out New Zealand’s local, independent vape industry and hundreds of jobs.

VAPO(1) and Alt New Zealand co-owners, Jonathan Devery and Ben Pryor, are now calling on Health Minister Andrew Little, Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall, and Small Business Minister Stuart Nash to closely assess the final vaping regulations for their health and economic impacts when they come back to Cabinet for authorisation by the end of June.

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PACT Pushing Many Vape Shops to Close

Vapor Voice

The Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act (PACT) and the shipping problems it created has forced many companies to end all US online sales and many others have been forced out of business. Chris Innes, owner of Elevated Vaping in Houston, Texas, announced that he would closing his shop due to the PACT Act and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) stringent premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) requirements.

The Vape Spot in Los Angeles also announced they would be closing their store due to the PACT Act after 8 years helping smokers make the switch. Securience, parent to DuraSmoke, announced a merger with VapinDirect in order to stay in business. Logic will end all online sales on March 16. White Cloud Electronic Cigarettes said it would end all online US sales on March 26. Vapewild and Vistavape also announced that they would be closing up shop.

What’s The Real Reason Why The USPS Won’t Ship Vaping Products?

U.S. Mail Ban

Forcing Vape Shops Out of Business – Tobacco Reporter

The Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act (PACT) has forced many companies to discontinue U.S. online sales and even cease operations altogether. Among the most recent vape shops to announce the end of their business are Elevated Vaping in Houston, Texas, and the Vape Spot in Los Angeles, California.

Earlier, Securience, parent to DuraSmoke, announced a merger with VapinDirect to stay in business. Logic will end all online sales on March 16. White Cloud Electronic Cigarettes said it would end all online U.S. sales on March 26. Vapewild and Vistavape too announced that they would be closing shop.

Vaping Demystified

Yorkshire Cancer Research

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On this Day…2020

A look back at how things have moved on or otherwise…

Vaping and Coronavirus:

What We Know and What We Don’t – Jim McDonald

On March 8, as the American coronavirus story took over American TV screens and front pages, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio took the stage to speak to city residents about the virus and the disease it causes, called COVID-19.

The people that are especially at risk, said the mayor, are those with lung disease, heart disease, cancer, compromised immune systems, or diabetes. Those conditions, he said, place people infected with coronavirus “in danger of a very bad medical outcome.”

De Blasio then said that “we do know that smoking and vaping makes it easier for the disease to have more negative impact on a person’s body. It’s not the same as a pre-existing condition, but it is an important factor in the equation as well.”

Does Vaping Increase Your Risk

Of Getting Coronavirus? – Guy Bentley

Some politicians claim it does but “we have zero evidence on how e-cigarette use affects coronavirus infectivity and disease progression.”

With governments and public health authorities scrambling to mount an effective response to the global pandemic of COVID-19, a few politicians have seen fit to use the crisis to demonize e-cigarettes.

On Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio claimed, “If you are a smoker or a vaper that does make you more vulnerable.”

He added, “If you are a smoker or a vaper this is a very good time to stop that habit and we will help you.”

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