Vapers Digest 18th July
Monday’s News at a glance:
Joint Committee on Health Report on the Public Health Bill – Hoodwinked health committee falls for junk science – Huge Public Response on Big Shake-Up of EU Tobacco Laws – AVM Asks Federal Watchdog Agency to Investigate FDA – FEELM/SMOORE Research Project – Alexander Stafford MP – DTI supports Vape Bill – Functional MRI clarifies effects of vaping – E-cigarettes used by one in five university students in UAE – Nicotine Science and Policy Daily Digest
Joint Committee on Health Report
On the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill.
New Nicotine Alliance Ireland
We are disappointed to see the Joint Committee on Health has been gripped by a moral panic over vaping products and has chosen to ignore the fact that smoking has plummeted since e-cigarettes became popular. Instead, they are seeking to further extend the stalled tobacco control policies to include the competing vaping products. This will only serve to protect combustible cigarettes from the competition.
We have forwarded a letter from some of the top global experts on smoking and nicotine clearly setting out why this strategy is wrong. In it, they say the proposal, “is likely to do more harm than good and would be a significant setback for the country’s public health policy”.
Health committee falls for junk science
thatgotmethinkingblog
“I’m not angry as much as I’m disappointed in you” has been the most feared reaction from any Irish mammy. After the report from the Public Health Committee (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products Bill), I have to admit it was my first reaction. They didn’t even ask the main stakeholders in this bill, the users of vaping products, to give evidence. The NNA Ireland has reacted to this report, you can read that here
They felt we should put up with what they decided and be thankful they are looking out for us.
They claim the aim of this bill is “to ensure a smoke-free future for younger people growing up today and to assist smokers who wish to quit a life-long addiction” and “achieve a Tobacco Free Ireland by 2025 which would mean a reduction in smoking levels to less than 5% of the population by 2025.”
Huge Public Response on Big Shake-Up
Of EU Tobacco Laws – James Wilson
An overwhelming majority of EU citizens who responded to a European Commission initiative say they support tobacco harm reduction products.
The Commission’s “Call for Evidence” on the legislative framework for tobacco control received an unprecedented level of feedback, with consumers of alternatives to tobacco products – vaping, heated tobacco and oral nicotine pouches – making their voices heard in huge numbers.
More than 24,000 EU citizens responded to the call, launched by the Commission as part of its ongoing evaluation of what future EU tobacco laws will look like through revision of the Tobacco Products Directive.
Netherlands: the State Secretary has said that he will not revise the #vape flavour ban even if it leads to an increase in smoking. https://t.co/evNflRQPkX
— European Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (@europethra) July 18, 2022
AVM Asks Federal Watchdog Agency
To Investigate FDA – Jim McDonald
A trade group representing small vape businesses is asking the investigative arm of the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to scrutinize possible improper political influences on the FDA’s vaping product review process.
In a July 7 letter to HHS Inspector General Christi Grimm, American Vapor Manufacturers Association (AVM) President Amanda Wheeler asked the watchdog agency to “open an inquiry into improper political pressure that appears to have influenced senior leadership at the [FDA] and the extent to which such interference has corrupted FDA’s statutory obligation to properly implement its premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) review process based solely on scientific, empirically-based judgment.”
Two from Dave Cross, Planet of the Vapes:
FEELM/SMOORE Research Project
The world’s largest vape manufacture has announced it’s launched a world first real-time monitoring research project on nicotine addiction. SMOORE recognises that FEELM’s atomisation process produces a very difference product to combustible cigarettes and plan on measuring how the physical and chemical properties of vapour impact on nicotine use.
As a flagship tech brand belonging to SMOORE, FEELM is the world’s leading closed vape system solution provider. Based on the world’s leading Ceramic Coil Heating Technology, FEELM combines authentic Flavour Reproduction Technology with innovative electronics technology, bringing ultimate sensation and premium vaping experience.
Alexander Stafford MP
Rother Valley’s Conservative representative, Alexander Stafford MP has posed multiple questions about vape and other reduced harm products in Parliament. From various aspect of disposable vapes to oral nicotine pouches, he was on a mission to discover how his party is planning to address them.
Alexander Stafford asked the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate has been made of the number of facilities in the UK that safely recycle disposable electronic cigarettes.
Functional MRI clarifies effects
Of vaping vs. smoking inside the lungs – Dave Pearson
Cigarette smoke inhibits pulmonary perfusion while nicotine-delivering vapors from e-cigarettes do the opposite, actually increasing blood flow in the lungs, according to a functional MRI-based study conducted in Switzerland and published in the July print edition of Radiology.
Corresponding author Sylvia Nyilas, PhD, of Bern University Hospital and colleagues sent 44 healthy adults for unenhanced lung fMRI and functional lung tests—first to establish baseline and again to observe changes after the participants smoked or vaped according to established habit.
Regular users of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) numbered 13 of the 44, while 12 were active smokers, 9 former smokers and 10 non-users comprised a control cohort.
E-cigarettes used by one in five …
University students in UAE, study finds
Nearly a quarter of students in the UAE used an e-cigarette in the past month, a study has found. Research carried out at three universities in the country recorded higher vaping rates than other recent studies in the Emirates and elsewhere in the Gulf.
Experts have given a warning that while e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, they do pose a risk to health and could be a gateway to more hazardous tobacco smoking. Students at one private and two public universities were polled on whether and when they had used e-cigarettes.
DTI supports Vape Bill…
Says regulation is better than total ban
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has expressed support to the proposed “Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulations Act,” also known as Vape bill, saying regulating these products is still better than totally banning it in the market.
The DTI said, however, that the newly appointed secretary of the agency, Alfredo Pascual, is reviewing the department’s position on the matter since it was issued by former secretary Ramon Lopez under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte in February.
DTI on Vape Bill: Regulation is better than total ban
On this Day…2021
A look back at how things have moved on or otherwise…
The European Parliament’s role
In Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan – ETHRA
On the 3rd February 2021, the Commission published Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan with consultations on the Roadmap running from 4 Feb to 3 March 2020 and on the Report from 4 Feb to 21 May 2020.
Cancer is one of the main priorities of the European Commission in the health domain.
The European Parliament’s Special Committee on Beating Cancer (BECA) was set up in September 2020 and is comprised of 63 MEPs, 33 full members and 30 substitutes – the membership list can be found here. The aim of the committee is to examine actions the EU can take to tackle cancer and the effects it has on people’s lives. Responsibilities of the committee include: looking at actions to strengthen the approach at every key stage of the disease: prevention, diagnosis, treatment, life as a cancer survivor and palliative care.
Vape Master Settlement:
A New Blow for Vaping? – James Dunworth
In the USA, states have enjoyed decades of revenue from the sale of tobacco cigarettes. The money was supposed to repair some of the damage smoking has done. In reality, it has been largely frittered away.
The source of the revenue is the Tobacco Master Settlement. While aimed at punishing tobacco companies, the settlement actually ended up helping them.
But with cigarette sales declining, vapes are the next target, and with potentially dire consequences.
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