Vapers Digest 18th September

Wednesday’s News at a glance:

Give the people what they want in heated products – as long as that’s not banned ~ Share your story… ~ Executive Director of Vapor Technology Association: The ‘Center for Tobacco Products created a flawed and broken PMTA process’ ~ Dutch Flavour Ban Impact ~ A Cheat Code to Quit Smoking ~ The AMA’s dangerous misinformation campaign on vaping continues ~ DOOMED TO FAIL | Colin Mendelsohn explains Australia’s new vape regulations ~ Smokers forced to drive hours to find pharmacies with nicotine pouches ~ The EU Commission is making a disastrous mistake by lumping vaping with smoking ~ European Commission Targets Vaping in New Smokefree Recommendations ~ Exclusive: EU wants to ban smoking and vaping in outdoor areas, leaked draft says ~ CTP Director Says E-Cigarette Authorizations Will Continue to ‘Increase’ ~ EXCLUSIVE (ish): “Because the WHO said so” – Commission wants to ban vaping…well…everywhere. ~ Ireland set to ban disposable vapes and flavours ~ “Equating tobacco and e-cigarettes is not helpful” says influential Member of the European Parliament ~ SOLIHULL residents who smoke are invited to ‘swap to stop’ to help them quit. ~ GA Lawmakers Welcome Increasingly Wild Testimony in Vape Registry Push

Give the people what they want in heated products – as long as that’s not banned

Freddie Dawson, Tobacco Intelligence

Brands that find a way to successfully deliver flavour while appealing to diversifying consumer desires will be best poised for success in a maturing heated tobacco market. Flavours are still a significant expectation for many consumers, according to TobaccoIntelligence surveys.

But prohibitions already coming into place in the EU and anticipated elsewhere will likely eliminate this as an attractor to convert smokers.

Share your story…

Skip Murray, Skip’s Corner

Over the last several years, there has been a movement to gather the stories of those who smoked or loved someone who did.

Those stories echo the frustration of failing to quit, the health challenges some have faced, and the heartbreak of losing someone too soon.

There is also a jubilant sharing of how good it feels to finally quit smoking, a victory that took a long time to achieve.

Executive Director of Vapor Technology Association:

The ‘Center for Tobacco Products created a flawed and broken PMTA process’

Globe Banner

Tony Abboud, executive director of the Vapor Technology Association, expressed strong disagreement with the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products’ rulings against e-cigarettes in favor of traditional tobacco products. Abboud made this statement publicly on September 10.

“Enough is enough: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products created a flawed and broken PMTA process,” said Abboud. “Today’s hearing revealed that under CTP Director Brian King’s leadership, CTP continues to approve “unsafe” cigarettes while systematically denying millions of e-cigarettes at an absurd 91:1 ratio.

Two From Dave Cross, Planet Of The Vapes

Dutch Flavour Ban Impact

A survey conducted by Dutch vaper group ACVODA has detailed the repercussions of the online sales and flavour ban in the Netherlands and how it has backfired. The findings highlight how vapers simply switched to making orders on websites located in nearby countries where flavoured products are still legally available.

A Cheat Code to Quit Smoking

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) says it is “excited” to share its new Prevention Policy Research report. The document details the use and appeal of disposable e-cigarettes from research conducted by the Scottish Centre for Social Research and commissioned by the CRUK Social and Behavioural Research Team.

The AMA’s dangerous misinformation campaign on vaping continues

Dr. Colin Mendelsohn, Tobacco Treatment

THE TASMANIAN BRANCH OF THE AMA (Australian Medical Association) issued a media release yesterday criticising an opinion piece by Senator Tammy Tyrrell on vaping. The AMA’s response reveals a striking level of ignorance and bias about vaping, perpetuating myths that contradict the existing body of scientific evidence. Let’s take a closer look at some of the AMA’s most misguided claims.

DOOMED TO FAIL | Colin Mendelsohn explains Australia’s new vape regulations

Global Forum on Nicotine

New legislation in Australia means that vapes can only be bought in pharmacies, with e-liquid only available in three flavours. What are the likely consequences of this, in a country where the black market for vaping products is already booming?

https://youtu.be/VC0CdstfNAo?si=CJrV9gBji-mJPJXR

Smokers forced to drive hours to find pharmacies with nicotine pouches

Canadians trying to quit smoking using nicotine pouches are facing new challenges as recent changes to federal rules mean these products can now only be sold in pharmacies. This new rule makes it hard for many people to get nicotine pouches, especially those far from major cities.

The EU Commission is making a disastrous mistake by lumping vaping with smoking

World Vapers’ Alliance

The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) expresses grave concern over the EU Commission’s recommendation to include vaping in smoke-free environments. This would effectively equate vaping to smoking and ban it in places where smoking is prohibited.

Michael Landl, Director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, said:
“The Commission is making a disastrous mistake by lumping vaping with smoking. This sends a dangerous message to millions of smokers who need vaping to quit. This falsely equates vaping with smoking, misleading millions into believing vaping is just as harmful when it’s actually 95% less harmful.

European Commission Targets Vaping in New Smokefree Recommendations

If the European Commission has its way, European Union member states will treat public vaping the same as smoking and restrict it almost exclusively to private residences. According to the EU’s executive arm, the use of vapes and heated tobacco products (HTPs) poses risks of “significant respiratory and cardiovascular problems.”

Related: Exclusive: EU wants to ban smoking and vaping in outdoor areas, leaked draft says

Click to visit Danish Vapers Association

CTP Director Says E-Cigarette Authorizations Will Continue to ‘Increase’

Diane Adam, Convenience Store Products (CSP)

The Food and Drug Administration has authorized 34 e-cigarette products and devices to date, and that number is going to “continue to increase,” the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) Director Brian King said in a session Sept. 13 at CSP’s Tobacco Plus Forum in Schaumburg, Illinois. Of the 34 e-cigarette products and devices, 11 of them were authorized by the FDA in the past few months, King said.

Three From Clearing The Air

EXCLUSIVE (ish): “Because the WHO said so” –

Commission wants to ban vaping…well…everywhere.

Alastair Cohen

Clearing the Air has now seen the full version of the EU Commission’s smoke free environments recommendation after Euronews got the initial scoop, but before the document was made public, expected tomorrow morning.

Ireland set to ban disposable vapes and flavours

Ali Anderson

The Irish government has moved to ban disposable vapes and most flavours. Cabinet approval was given earlier this week to draft laws tabled by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly. Under the proposed new laws, which are expected to be approved, the sale, manufacture or import of single-use or disposable vapes will be illegal in Ireland.

“Equating tobacco and e-cigarettes is not helpful”

says influential Member of the European Parliament

Alastair Cohen

The European Commission’s attempt to convince member countries to ban vaping in almost all public places – as reported by Clearing the Air yesterday – has been slammed by a leading Member of the European Parliament as “not helpful”. Dr. Peter Liese, the health policy spokesperson for the largest group in the European Parliament (the centre-right EPP Group) and a practicing doctor, made clear his opposition to the Commission’s plans.

SOLIHULL residents who smoke are invited to ‘swap to stop’ to help them quit.

Solihull Observer

The Swap to Stop programme aims to cut smoking rates by providing free vape kits for adult smokers, alongside behavioural support sessions. The scheme aims to provide almost 1 in 5 smokers across England with a free four-week vape starter kit.

GA Lawmakers Welcome Increasingly Wild Testimony in Vape Registry Push

Jimmy Iakovos, Filter

On September 17, the Georgia House committee studying the “youth vaping epidemic” holds its third and final meeting as it pushes for the creation of a statewide vape registry. Earlier in 2024, the legislature adjourned before the Senate had considered House Bill 1260, AKA the Georgia Nicotine Vapor Products Directory Act. Had it passed, the bill would have created a registry for vape products that had pre-market tobacco product applications (PMTA) either approved or under consideration by the Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers would add their product to the registry voluntarily.

On this Day…2023

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

Disposable vapes ban …

‘Would cost lives by making it harder for smokers to quit’ – Joe Davies

A BAN on disposable vapes to stop kids getting hooked would cost lives by making it harder for smokers to quit, campaigners have claimed.

Is US teen nicotine use increasing?

Charles A. Gardner

Almost everyone in America is now firmly convinced that nicotine vapes (“e-cigarettes”) have created a “whole new generation addicted to nicotine.” Click-bait media helpfully reminds the public almost daily. Is it true?

Visit Nicotine Science & Policy for more News from around the World