Author: Bill Tarling

“New York’s ban on flavored e-cigarettes went into effect today, and the state also ended the sale of all tobacco products in pharmacies. The Empire State was set to be the first state to ban flavored e-cigarettes last fall, but a state appeals court temporarily blocked it after the vaping industry sued to block the ban. WENY reports New York also became the second state to prohibit the sale of tobacco products, including e-cigs, in all pharmacies on Monday. Any pharmacy caught selling tobacco products will face a fine of up to $100 per item.”

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NY begins ban on flavored e-cigarettes, ends sale of all tobacco products in pharmacies

“Former Canadian Health Minister Rona Ambrose has joined Juul Labs Inc.’s board of directors, the company said on Friday, as the e-cigarette company tries to reset its relationship with global regulators. Ambrose is a well-known former politician who has held numerous roles in government, including interim leader of Canada’s Conservative Party. Ambrose’s appointment is the latest step in Juul’s bid to change its image from disruptive tech startup to responsible smoking alternative. Juul must submit an application for U.S. authorization of its products by Sept. 9. Canadian regulators are weighing tighter regulations amid a spike of teen vaping.”

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Juul adds former Canadian health minister Rona Ambrose to its board

“The last annual tobacco tax increase of 11.5%, on 1 January this year, took an average pack of 25 cigarettes to over $41. “AVCA does not support tobacco tax hikes. Too often they’ve been used as a revenue gathering exercise and always hit the vulnerable the hardest. They’re terribly regressive and I would argue have had little impact on the likes of Maori with 31% still smoking. “Sure, we’ve seen New Zealand’s overall smoking rates fall to a record 12.5% low, but that’s largely due to education and the arrival of vaping.” “We support the Government investing in campaigns via its own Health Promotion Agency to encourage smokers to switch to vaping.”

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Good News Tobacco Tax Not Hiked Again

“Misinformed vapers are returning to smoking cigarettes according to Dutch trade association Esigbond. The organisation is issuing a call for objective information to be considered, “now that the facts are known.” Esigbond says: “Nearly half of the e-cigarette users in the Netherlands who stopped vaping at the end of last year did so because of negative reporting of inappropriate use of e-cigarettes in the US. Two-thirds of those who stopped vaping during that period also started smoking tobacco again.” “For 45 percent of former vapers, the negative reporting at the end of 2019 was the main reason to quit vaping.”

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Dutch Vapers Scared Back To Smoking

“The executive committee of the South African Thoracic Society (SATS) has thrown its weight behind the government’s ban on the sale of tobacco products during the Covid-19 lockdown. The ban on the sale of tobacco products, which includes cigarettes and vaping products, was instituted at the start of the lockdown on 26 March. President Cyril Ramaphosa, without citing reasons, then announced on 23 April that the ban would be lifted as the country moved into Level 4 of the lockdown. Days later, the government made a u-turn when Minister of Cogta Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced that the ban would remain in place.”

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South African Thoracic Society supports govt ban on sale of tobacco products

” A bill raising the age to purchase tobacco products, including vaping and e-cigarette products popular with young people, is on its way to Gov. Tim Walz’s desk. The Minnesota state Senate on Wednesday, May 13 passed the bill, often dubbed “Tobacco 21,” by a 43-21 vote. The House had already passed it on May 9, making the bill’s next stop the desk of Walz, who has already pledged to sign it. The bill brings Minnesota into compliance with the federal government’s own Tobacco 21 law, which President Donald Trump signed into law in December after administration officials called youth e-cigarette use an “epidemic.” Minnesota’s House File 331 prohibits retailers from selling tobacco and e-cigarette products to those under 21, enforceable by a $300 penalty on first offenses and more subsequently.”

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Minnesota Legislature votes to raise tobacco age to 21

“A Legislative Council bills committee should stop scrutinizing a bill banning the sale of electronic cigarettes, as it is unlikely to complete discussions within the current legislative year ending July, its chairman, Kwok Wai-keung, said. In a letter to fellow lawmakers, Kwok said it would be “unrealistic” to expect the committee to finish its work by July, since another 10 meetings are needed to go over the bill, as members have indicated they are planning amendments. He called for support for his plan, as the committee has yet to start scrutinizing the bill clause by clause. If passed, the bill would prohibit the import, manufacture, sale, distribution and advertisement of new smoking products, including e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn devices and herbal cigarettes in Hong Kong. If the bill, gazetted last February, fails to pass before the current Legco session adjourns in July, the government will have to go through the legislative process again after the September election.”

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Lawmakers urged to cool it on e-cigarette bill

“e-Smoking guns: The great vape wars of the twenty-first century are underway. Tobacco titans RJ Reynolds (who owns RAI Strategic Holdings, Reynolds Vapor Company, and markets the Vuse product) and Philip Morris have been battling in district court on patent infringement of their vaping device units (particularly the IQOS®) while relative (but rather cash-flush) upstart Juul has filed many dozens of complaints and some ITC actions against smaller competitors. Here it seems clear that RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris have been negotiating a cross-licensing deal for some time; just weeks after Winston-Salem titan RJ Reynolds sued Philip Morris, PM struck back with three IPRs this week.”

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Patent Filings Roundup: Forum Selection Clause Ends an IPR; Vape Wars: Philip Morris Strikes Back

“Dr Carmen Escrig has issued a call for vapers to help with a brief survey. The vaping advcoate helps to coordinate the activities of Spanish consumer group EFVI and MOVE (Medical Organizations Supporting Vaping and Electronic cigarettes). The survey seeks to counter the unscientific claims being made that state vaping makes people more likely to contract the COVID-19 virus. Addressing vapers across Europe, Carmen wrote: “As you know, the terrible situation regarding COVID-19 is being taken advantage of by the usual anti-THR lobbies to continue carrying out campaigns of harassment and destabilization against vaping. “Therefore, we are asking all international vaping groups to please collaborate by asking their colleagues to take the survey.””

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Help MOVE With COVID Data

“An order in council signed last week amending the Tobacco Access Act regulations will restrict the sale of e-liquids to a maximum nicotine concentration of 20 milligrams per millilitre. The move follows an amendment the government passed earlier this year banning flavoured vape products. The content cap, which is aimed squarely at products that tend to be favoured by young people, comes into effect on Sept. 1. Kelly Cull, a spokesperson for the Canadian Cancer Society, and other advocates are also looking for further changes, such as restricting the sale of vape products to adult-only specialty stores and requiring people to be 21 to be able to purchase the products.”

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Nova Scotia signs off on stiffest vaping regulations in Canada