Author: Bill Tarling

“The UK E-Cigarette Research Forum (UKECRF) is an initiative developed by Cancer Research UK in partnership with Public Health England (PHE) and the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies (UKCTAS). Among other things, it brings together genuine experts to look at research related to vaping and tobacco harm reduction. The UKECRF has looked at another overwhelming number of vape-related studies and passed comment on a select few. Its suggested reading list “does not cover every e-cigarette-related study published”.”

ARTICLE LINK:   UKECRF Research Roundup

“The passage of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act marks an important milestone in ending the war on drugs. On the House floor, numerous congressmen and women gave impassioned speeches as members urged their colleagues to vote for the bill in the name of racial justice, personal choice, public health, scientific research, and protecting youth from unregulated black markets. Ironically, these are the exact arguments that Congress is ignoring in their pursuit of flavored tobacco prohibitions. The federal prohibition of flavored tobacco products would have been disastrous for public health and criminal justice. On the public health side of the ledger, banning the most popular alternative to cigarettes in the form of flavored e-cigarettes would deter people from quitting smoking more dangerous traditional cigarettes and push many vapers back to cigarettes. E-cigarettes have been proved beyond any reasonable doubt to be safer than regular cigarettes, and the latest evidence review suggests they are more effective at helping smokers quit than traditional nicotine replacement therapy.”

ARTICLE LINK:   Congress replaces war on marijuana with a war on nicotine

“Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt tried to ban nicotine liquid imports without a prescription in the middle of the year, but after backbench pressure and a campaign by users and lobby groups the deadline was pushed back. Inside the Government, the battle continues. A leaked letter from earlier in December, signed by 28 Coalition MPs, called on Mr Hunt to delay the decision again until the whole party room has a chance to discuss it. That would mean holding off until February when parliament returns. When the TGA makes its decision by the end of this month, it won’t need to go to a vote in parliament because the regulator has the power to make the changes without legislation. If it decides to proceed with the ban, it won’t be immediate. A date is likely to be set in the first half of next year for when it’ll come into force. Border Force will then be able to seize imports as they arrive in Australia, and can impound them. The main pain comes in the form of the fine, which would be up to $220,000 for breaching the ban.”

ARTICLE LINK:   Vaping laws could be about to change, making it illegal to import nicotine fluid

“Following the recent online E-Cigarette Summit, the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) says its imperative that science and evidence replace vaping scare stories as lives are at risk. The organisation says what viewers heard contrasted starkly with what is heard about vaping in mainstream media and politics. The E-Cigarette Summit saw contributions from over 35 experts about vaping and novel nicotine products, almost all agreeing that they are key in the fight against smoking. “The science is clear: vaping is a less harmful alternative to smoking and an effective smoking cessation method. It is the responsibility of the media and policymakers to understand the subject they want to regulate so eagerly better. The lives of millions of smokers are too important to be put on the line for clickbait headlines and the pursuit of anti-vaping ideology.””

ARTICLE LINK:   WVA on the Ecig Summit

“Legally, the China National Tobacco Co. (CTNC) has a monopoly over both combustible and vapor products, but the organization has not exercised its authority to date. According to the report, that could change in the future. There are three possible scenarios, according to the market intelligence provider: “One possible scenario is that the government may allow private companies to continue operations but under close observation to ensure their products do not target non-smokers or minors. “The government could also decide to crack down on the e-cig market, which as the report explains would have a significant negative impact on the growth in sales of tobacco-alternative products in the country. A third scenario would involve the China National Tobacco Company extending its existing control over traditional cigarettes to vaping products.””

ARTICLE LINK:   China: E-Cigarette Market Could See More Oversight

“On Wednesday, the Riigikogu passed a law amendment exempting e-cigarette liquids from excise duty until the end of 2022. Tarmo Kruusimäe, chairman of the Riigikogu’s smoke-free Estonia support group, said that this amendment will help save the health of the Estonian people. The amendments will take effect on April 1, 2021. “From June 1, 2018, an extremely high excise duty on e-cigarette liquids came into force in Estonia, as a result of which the black market and cross-border trade flourished. By suspending the collection of excise duties for two years, we are giving traders the opportunity to lower the prices of e-liquid products,” Kruusimäe said. According to him, a break in excise duty payment provides an opportunity to change the habits of consumers by redirecting them back to legal, laboratory-tested products.”

ARTICLE LINK:   Amendment to exempt e-cigarette liquids from excise duty passed

“An effort to ban flavored tobacco and vape products in Kansas City failed a City Council committee vote Wednesday. Councilwomen Melissa Robinson and Ryana Parks-Shaw, who championed the legislation, said it was an issue of both public health and racial reconciliation. But Robinson and Parks-Shaw were the only members of the Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee to support the legislation on Wednesday. Parks-Shaw, 5th District, made a motion to send the legislation to the full council without an endorsement by the committee, but even that fell short on a 4-2 vote. Another partial federal ban last year restricted flavored vape products, but again exempted menthol and some forms of vapes. The legislation, which the committee has considered on and off throughout the fall, would have closed gaps in previous flavored tobacco bans.”

ARTICLE LINK:  Kansas City officials try to ban flavored tobacco, fall short

California’s controversial ban on flavored e-cigarettes will not take effect on Jan. 1, 2021. According to a report by Halfwheel, the Superior Court for the County of Sacramento has approved an agreement that postpones the enforcement date at least until the signatures are verified for a ballot measure proposal that seeks to repeal the law. If the verified signature threshold is not met, the law would take effect once the Secretary of State has verified the process is complete. If the signatures are verified the flavor ban would be suspended until at least December 2022. To get on the ballot, those in support of the referendum needed to get 623,212 verified signatures from California voters. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Aug. 28, the California law prohibits the sale of all flavored tobacco and vapor products, including those with menthol flavor. The legislation does not make it illegal for someone to purchase, possess or use flavored tobacco or vapor products, however.”

ARTICLE LINK: California Flavor Ban Postponed

“A survey of GPs has revealed some falsely believe one of the greatest health risks from smoking is nicotine. This belief could influence health advice to smokers when considering whether to recommend the use of alternative nicotine products. Nicotine is the addictive component of tobacco smoke, but unlike some other constituents of tobacco smoke, it is not carcinogenic (cancer-causing) and according to the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) ‘medicinal nicotine is a very safe drug.’ Switching to alternative nicotine products such as nicotine gums and electronic cigarettes can, therefore, help many smokers quit smoking or cut down, thereby reducing exposure to tobacco smoke and the associated harm. The survey findings show that a substantial proportion of GPs (40%) believe nicotine to be the first or second riskiest component of cigarettes, incorrectly identifying it as more harmful than smoke. Many (44% UK, 56% Sweden) also wrongly believe that nicotine in tobacco products is associated with cancer”

ARTICLE LINK:

‘GPs falsley believe nicotine most harmful cigarette ingredient’

“On December 9, 2020, the Tennessee Department of Revenue issued its Notice #20-21, on the subject of the State of Tennessee’s excise tax on other tobacco products or “OTP”. The Department will not apply the tobacco tax to these non-tobacco products without statutory clarification on what is considered a tobacco substitute. The Notice then goes on to clarify the Department’s analysis with respect to several specific tobacco and non-tobacco segments: With respect to “e-cigarettes and vape devices,” which the Notice defines as products that “transform a liquid into its gaseous form, allowing the user to inhale and ingest the vapor,” and where “the liquid that is vaporized does not contain tobacco,” such products are not subject to the tobacco tax because these products do not contain tobacco. The Department’s action strikes us as an example of good governance, where an agency correctly acknowledges the limitations of its enforcement authority and provides the business community with clear and actionable guidance.”

ARTICLE LINK:

Tennessee Department of Revenue Clarifies that ENDS and Tobacco Substitutes Are Not Subject to OTP Tax