Read articles from North America

November 01, 2024 by convenience.org

The FDA issued warning letters to nine online retailers and one manufacturer for selling unauthorized disposable e-cigarettes resembling smart technology. The products target youth with features like gaming and smartphone connectivity. The agency warns that such products are illegal and aimed at children. Additionally, the FDA emphasized the appeal to youth due to designs concealing the products' nature as tobacco items. Firms violated the law by marketing these products without FDA authorization. The FDA has issued many warning letters to firms and retailers and filed complaints against manufacturers and sellers of unauthorized tobacco products.

October 31, 2024 by financialpost.com

Canada’s three major cigarette producers have offered $32.5 billion to settle lawsuits filed by provincial governments and smokers. The author argues that the plaintiffs should accept the offer. Although Big Tobacco’s harmful history might warrant ongoing punishment, the focus should be on helping smokers quit cigarettes, even if they switch to lower-risk nicotine options. The settlement amount is small compared to government revenue from cigarette taxes, which are very high to offset health costs and discourage smoking. Since the 1990s, Canada has collected about $250 billion in cigarette taxes. In contrast, the U.S. “Master Settlement” was $250 billion in a much larger economy with lower tobacco taxes.

October 31, 2024 by clearingtheair.eu

Mexico's president plans to constitutionally ban vapes by 2025 to curb their black market, mostly controlled by organized crime. With 1.7 million users, a legal and illegal market exists, with dangerous unregulated products. Critics fear a ban will worsen issues and empower crime further, hurting public health and tax revenue. Advocates suggest regulating vapes like tobacco to ensure safety and revenue. The ban, addressing youth vaping, may lead to unintended consequences. Vape regulation is a proposed alternative to reduce harm effectively. Organized crime profits billions from the illicit vape trade.

October 30, 2024 by filtermag.org

Youth smoking in the US is at an all-time low, but the public focus remains on vaping. Professor Kenneth Warner highlights this discrepancy in a paper questioning why the decline isn't celebrated more. Misconceptions linking nicotine vapes to cigarettes' harm persist, hindering recognition of reduced youth smoking rates as a public health success. Social norms and policies have primarily driven the decline, but e-cigarettes likely accelerated it since the mid-2010s. The decline in youth smoking contributes to longer life expectancies and reduced demand for cancer treatment, though care for older populations may increase.

October 29, 2024 by theguardian.com

Mexico aims to ban e-cigarettes and vapes by amending its constitution, driven by health concerns. Organized crime controls 90% of the market, leading to a 5bn peso black market with associated violence and health risks from unregulated products. Enforcing the ban could worsen these issues by consolidating control under criminal groups. Some suggest regulating vapes instead, like alcohol and tobacco, to ensure safety, quality, and tax revenue for public health. Despite concerns about youth targeting and health risks, banning vapes may not be the most effective solution. Balderas and Ospina advocate for a balanced approach to reduce harm in the complex grey market.

October 28, 2024 by regulatorwatch.com

Prohibition haunts the U.S. vaping industry, putting millions of lives at risk. Beyond the flavor bans and moral panics, the most damaging restriction is the FDA’s sweeping ban on speech. Joining us today to discuss groundbreaking litigation to overturn the FDA’s commercial speech restrictions is Jim McCarthy, President of Counterpoint Strategies and agency of record for American Vapor Manufacturers. The goal? To secure the right to tell the truth about vaping.

October 28, 2024 by regulatorwatch.com

Prohibition haunts the U.S. vaping industry, putting millions of lives at risk. Beyond the flavor bans and moral panics, the most damaging restriction is the FDA’s sweeping ban on speech. Joining us today to discuss groundbreaking litigation to overturn the FDA’s commercial speech restrictions is Jim McCarthy, President of Counterpoint Strategies and agency of record for American Vapor Manufacturers. The goal? To secure the right to tell the truth about vaping.

October 25, 2024 by theglobeandmail.com

Zonnic, a nicotine pouch, was marketed in Canada by Imperial Tobacco as a smoking cessation aid without explicit warnings. Health Canada approved it despite concerns about youth access. The government issued a ban on non-mint flavors and restricted sales to pharmacies in response to underage use. Meanwhile, smoking rates decline as tobacco companies pivot to alternative products. Industry efforts to present these products as harm reduction tools are scrutinized, with critics cautioning about potential addiction risks and marketing to new users. Settlement talks between provinces and tobacco companies could reshape the industry's future. BAT aims to transition to non-nicotine ventures, anticipating a shift away from traditional tobacco products.

October 25, 2024 by filtermag.org

In July, the FDA and CBP seized a record-breaking 3 million unregulated nicotine vapes worth $76 million. This marked the largest seizure to date, part of a federal task force combatting illegal e-cigarettes trafficking. The FDA highlighted the risk of these products reaching children, with plans to incinerate the seized vapes. The joint task force is coordinated by the FDA, DOJ and involves other agencies for enforcement. Despite the FDA's efforts to curb unauthorized vapes, its regulations have limited legal vaping products, prompting a debate on harm reduction. Tobacco firms support PMTA bills to curb unauthorized vapes, even as unregulated vapes aid in reducing harm for users.

October 23, 2024 by globalnews.ca

The federal government is set to reveal new restrictions on flavored vaping products, potentially within the next month. The long-awaited regulations aim to limit flavors in e-cigarettes to tobacco, mint, and menthol. Despite a push to curb youth nicotine use, national restrictions are still pending. Concerns include creating a comprehensive framework to prevent loopholes that endanger youth. Various jurisdictions' approaches, like Quebec's ban on flavored vapes leading to illicit markets, are being considered. Advocates stress the urgency of action due to high youth vaping rates. Discussions on potential restrictions involve nationwide bans, while others suggest limiting flavored products to specialty stores.