Vaping Digest June 12th
Wednesday’s News at a glance:
Health Ministry proposes to ban electronic smoking devices by classifying them as ‘drugs’ ~ FDA finalizes guidance for premarket tobacco product applications for electronic nicotine delivery systems ~ American idiots ~ Smoke-Free Ontario Act to Keep Vapes Hidden at Cannabis Stores ~ Adolescents Ecig Addiction ~ McNeill on Vape Regulation ~ UKECRF on Dual Use Study ~ There is no legal basis for a ban on snus ~ The Luddite Attitude of San Francisco Supervisors on Vaping is Anti-Science and Regressive ~ Ban vaping in public places? Dame Sally needs a wake-up call ~ ~ Six ways to patronise people giving up smoking ~
Health Ministry proposes to ban electronic smoking devices by classifying them as ‘drugs’
Press Trust of India, Business Standard
Going tough on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), including e-cigarettes, the health ministry has proposed to classify such alternative smoking devices as “drugs” under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, in a bid to ban their manufacture, sale, distribution and import.
According to official sources, the proposal has been approved by the Drug Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), the government’s top advisory body on technical matters related to medicines in the country.
FDA finalizes guidance for premarket tobacco product applications for electronic nicotine delivery systems as part of commitment to continuing a strong oversight of e-cigarettes
Food and Drug Administration
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalized its guidance for manufacturers submitting new tobacco product applications through the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway for electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), such as e-cigarettes or “vapes,” and the liquid nicotine and nicotine-containing e-liquids used with such products, as part of the agency’s continued commitment to its oversight of tobacco products.
American idiots
Christopher Snowdon, Velvet Glove, Iron Fist
I haven’t written about vaping in the USA for a while because the debate over there is so incredibly stupid that it’s senseless to try to intervene.
Take this, for example. Anti-smoking groups want to raise the age at which people can buy tobacco to 21 because, well, they like bans. The tobacco industry says that is in favour of this policy. That has discombobulated the tobakko kontrol movement because they put the infantile ‘scream test’ at the heart of their dogma (ie. “the louder tobacco companies scream, the more impact we know a measure will have”).
Smoke-Free Ontario Act to Keep Vapes Hidden at Cannabis Stores
Jesse B. Staniforth, Leafly
If you’re a non-smoker who values your lungs, there’s a lot to like about the Smoke Free Ontario Act.
But then there are the parts of it that don’t make any sense at all, and included in one of those is the law that says if you sell a vaping device, you may neither show it to customers before they buy it, nor let them handle it.
2019 Global Forum on Nicotine Conference in Warsaw sold out! 20% increase in registrations from 2018! 70 countries represented! Slow but inexorable triumph of tobacco harm reduction over abstinence @ATHRA_AU
— Alex Wodak (@AlexWodak) June 12, 2019
On my way to #gfn2019. Flight announcement just said “no smoking, no vaping and no smokeless tobacco.” No smokeless. Huh? When will this insanity end?
— Charles A. Gardner, PhD (@ChaunceyGardner) June 11, 2019
Three from Dave Cross, Planet Of The Vapes
Adolescents Ecig Addiction
Researchers at the Stanford University and the University of California San Francisco looked at measuring addiction levels in teens who use vape devices. The researchers believe their work “will aid clinicians and researchers in documenting exposure and identifying those adolescents at greatest risk for becoming addicted.” The UK E-Cigarette Research Forum (UKECRF) critically appraised the paper and found it wanting.
McNeill on Vape Regulation
Professor Ann McNeill has written to the Journal of Health Inequalities about the importance of balancing the risks and benefits of e-cigarettes through regulations. The Professor of Tobacco Addiction and lead of the Nicotine Research Group argues that leaving the tobacco cigarette the least regulated nicotine product just perpetuates the tobacco epidemic.
UKECRF on Dual Use Study
Researchers at the Centre for Tobacco Research and Intervention of Wisconsin and the Centre for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California San Francisco looked at dual use. They say, “the majority of dual users transitioned to exclusive smoking”, but The UK E-Cigarette Research Forum (UKECRF) highlighted shortcomings in their work.
There is no legal basis for a ban on snus
Staff, Usures
The ban on oral tobacco snus, as enacted by the Federal Council in the Tobacco Ordinance, lacks a legal basis. This was decided by the Federal Supreme Court and the complaint from a trading company for tobacco products was approved.
The Luddite Attitude of San Francisco Supervisors on Vaping is Anti-Science and Regressive
Lindsay Mark Lewis, Progressive Policy
2020 will mark the 100-year anniversary of alcohol Prohibition in the United States – a flawed experiment that lasted for 13 years before being repealed.
The city of San Francisco is about to ignore the lessons of this disastrous experiment, and vote to ban all sales and access to vaping products. But unlike Prohibition, which banned all alcohol, San Francisco’s effort isn’t banning all tobacco products. Rather, the City will continue to allow access to the most harmful use of tobacco, combustible cigarettes.
It’s a very odd message to send: please use carcinogen-laden products that will kill you faster, but by all means, DON’T touch a product that will improve your health and the health of those around you.
Ban vaping in public places? Dame Sally needs a wake-up call
Simon Clark, Taking Liberties
England’s Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies was in the news a few days ago.
Discussing e-cigarettes she told the Commons science and technology committee that vaping was “clearly much safer than tobacco smoking” and “If they help people stop … I’d encourage [smokers] to use them.”
Bizarrely however she added that vaping should be restricted to people’s homes and gardens because she personally didn’t like having to breathe in “white clouds” of e-cigarette vapour.
Six ways to patronise people giving up smoking
Staff, The Daily Mash
ARE you an interfering sod who’s never seriously smoked who nonetheless offers advice to anyone trying to give up? Try these words of wisdom.
On this Day…2017
A look back at how things have moved on or otherwise….
Pariahs, predators or players?
The tobacco industry and the end of smoking
Clive Bates, The Counterfactual
Given the confusion, anxiety and indignation that surrounds the role of the tobacco industry in tobacco harm reduction, I thought it would be interesting to imagine how a tobacco company chief executive might be thinking about vapour, heat-not-burn or other low risk products. Here’s my best shot – perhaps erring on the side of optimism. Feel free to imagine differently in the comments, especially if you are actually in the industry (you are welcome to post anonymously) or are unconvinced.
Poll shows TPD failure
While global fight over vape laws continues
Fergus Mason, Vaping Post
The EU’s controversial Tobacco Products Directive has had no effect on smoking rates, according to the latest data – but it may be deterring people from switching to vaping. Meanwhile a new US study shows that anti-vaping laws lead to higher smoking rates among pregnant women…
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