Vapers Digest 21st October

Monday’s News at a glance:

Environmental Compliance – Tax on quitting smoking? – UK’s vape tax hike plan is misstep in fight against smoking – Poland to add vape tax by end of year – New regulations for pharmacy vape sales are a resounding failure – Just 1 per cent of pharmacies stock vapes – Interview with Richard Pruen – Youth vaping at lowest level in decade – SABS publishes new vaping products standard – IQOS USA: Launch Tracker – Elfbar & Lost Mary form Advisory Board

Environmental Compliance

Dave Cross, Planet of the Vapes

The UK Vaping Industry Association puts environmental compliance at the fore with the return of sustainable vaping week for its second year. Launched at the end of last week, in line with International E-Waste Day, the week-long initiative was originally created to help reduce the impact of vaping on the environment by educating businesses on their WEEE responsibilities and providing consumers with information on the dos’ and don’ts of recycling their vapes.

As part of the campaign, the UKVIA organised a webinar entitled ‘Responding to the Changing Vape Waste Landscape’, which featured a panel of expert speakers from the waste management sector and vape supply chain.

Tax on quitting smoking?

thatgotmethinkingblog

The Irish Government have announced that they are going to impose a tax of 50 cent per millilitre on all e-juice, the highest rate so far by any EU member state. The minister presented this as adding €1.23 to the cost of “the most popular products“, disposables, but as they also announced the banning of disposables this is misleading. Its actual effect is to add an increase of over €5 on every 10 ml bottle of vape liquid. This will apply to all liquid whether it contains nicotine or not.

In an unprecedented move they put this on the TRIS notification with a standstill of 1 day. TRIS, the Technical Regulation Information System for the EU, normally has a standstill period of 3 months from the date of notification.

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UK’s vape tax hike plan

Is misstep in fight against smoking – Smoke Free Sweden

A plan to hike the tax on vapes in the UK risks undermining the country’s efforts to reduce smoking rates and would increase tobacco-related death and disease, according to leading international health experts.

The UK chancellor is reportedly considering the tax increase in the state budget this month. But harm reduction specialists say any rise could drive smokers back to far more dangerous cigarettes.

Dr. Delon Human, leader of Smoke Free Sweden, says: “Vapes are proven to be 95% less harmful than combustible cigarettes and are helping millions of smokers worldwide transition to a safer option.

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Poland to add vape tax by end of year

Ali Anderson

The Polish government has unveiled plans to extend the country’s excise tax to vapes and tobacco heating devices. The legislation is to be adopted by the Council of Ministers in the fourth quarter of 2024. In late September, the planned draft bill was added to the government’s legislative agenda for this year.

Polish officials believe that, under current rules, vapes are priced in a manner that favours them over traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes. The proposed changes are designed to increase their price to bring them more in line.

New regulations for pharmacy vape sales

Are a resounding failure – Colin Mendelsohn

A NATIONWIDE SURVEY OF PHARMACIES has revealed that the new regulations intended to make low-nicotine vapes (≤20mg/mL nicotine) available without a prescription (as Schedule 3 medicines) have been largely ineffective.

Just 6 more (2%) indicated they would order them upon request, underscoring widespread non-participation despite repeated assurances from the Health Minister.

The survey was conducted in metropolitan and rural areas across all Australian states and territories during the first two weeks of October, following the introduction of the new regulations on 1 October 2024.

Dr Colin Mendelsohn on pharmacies not selling vapes – Perth Live

Just 1 per cent of pharmacies stock vapes

Angira Bharadwaj – Daily Telegraph

Just 1 per cent of Australian pharmacists are stocking government-approved vapes for walk-in customers, in a concerning sign that people are still relying on the black market for e-cigarettes — despite the Albanese government moving to regulate the industry.

A nationwide survey of 305 pharmacies has found that just four were stocking the legislated S3 vapes, while another six had them available for order upon request. (Alternative Link)

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Interview with Richard Pruen

On the Links Between ADHD and Nicotine

October is ADHD Awareness Month. While the neurodevelopmental disorder has made its way into the public consciousness more than ever, it’s still frequently misunderstood.

Being diagnosed and getting treatment for ADHD can change people’s lives by improving their focus, organisation, and self-control. However, much of the medication used to treat the disorder can be quite harsh, leading to unwanted side effects for some, such as insomnia, loss of appetite, increased anxiety, and mood swings.

Youth vaping at lowest level in decade…

Why restrict it for adults – Phil Kiver

I don’t smoke and I don’t vape, yet I like the idea that I retain that freedom. Vaping is the use of e-cigarettes that mirror smoking tobacco cigarettes while using a battery to create an aerosol vapor of flavors and nicotine. With all the progress being made to reduce underage vaping, why then is the government trying to restrict the use of vapes for consenting adults?\

The Food & Drug Administration(FDA) announced on September 5, 2024, “half a million fewer U.S. youth reported current use of e-cigarettes in 2024 compared to 2023, according to new data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) released today in conjunction of the FDA and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

SABS publishes new products standard

To enhance consumer safety

In a move set to elevate consumer safety within the vaping industry, the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has officially published its long-anticipated standard for vaping products.

This marks a significant milestone for both manufacturers and consumers alike, according to Asanda Gcoyi, CEO of the Vapour Products Association of South Africa (VPASA).

IQOS USA: Launch Tracker

Philip Morris International (PMI) kicked off the launch of IQOS in Austin, Texas with The IQOS Experience event in partnership with Rolling Stones and featuring special musical performances. In order to win a ticket to the event, adult smokers should join to the IQOS Circle by registering at the IQOS website. They also need to confirm their phone number (via a confirmation code) and sign up to the mailing list. Ticket owners can bring along one legal age (21+) guest. PMI encourages ticket owners to tell their friends to join the IQOS Circle.

Elfbar & Lost Mary form Advisory Board

Global vaping industry leaders ELFBAR and LOST MARY today announced the formation of an advisory board in the UK to provide strategic advice for the brands.

Board members are from across relevant disciplines in the UK with senior-level experience, including in the national and local government, the medical profession and law enforcement. Members will have a remit to advise both brands on key aspects of their work and operations.

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On this Day…2023

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

70,000 American Vapers Attest

That sweeter Ecig flavours help to quit – CoEHAR

The question of which flavors can help smokers quit represents a central issue in the scientific and political debate on nicotine-releasing electronic devices. In many cases, widespread commercialization is hindered by the fear that these devices may serve as an incentive for young people to try e-cigarettes and, consequently, initiate them to traditional smoking. To date, the availability of flavors on the market, which were over 7,700 according to a 2014 analysis, raises questions about the behavioral patterns of smokers approaching electronic cigarettes.

An assessment that could provide additional decision-making tools for policymakers, especially to avoid excessive concern directed at specific population groups, which could reduce the chances of success for those struggling to quit smoking.

Effect of unguided e-cigarette provision

On uptake, use, and smoking cessation among adults who smoke in the USA

Riccardo Polosa, Pasquale Caponnetto

The large, randomized, quasi-naturalistic study by Carpenter et al. [1] holds significant importance. Not only does it support the notion that e-cigarettes may contribute to cigarette reduction or cessation, as demonstrated in numerous other publications [2], but it does so in a real-world context.

A key finding of this research is that smokers spontaneously ceased smoking even when they had no intention of quitting. This finding aligns with earlier work that revealed accidental cessation and complete substitution of cigarettes with e-cigarettes among smokers who initially expressed no desire to quit [3]. Importantly, these participants received no encouragement, motivation, or rewards for their smoking cessation efforts during the trial [3].

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