Stories

The proposed WHO Pandemic Treaty faces scrutiny for possibly infringing on national sovereignty and lacking transparency, citing the flawed FCTC as a cautionary example. Concerns include biased reporting, exclusionary practices, and undue influence from external entities like Michael Bloomberg. The WHO must prioritize transparency, inclusivity, and impartiality to gain trust before expanding its authority. The FCTC's coercive tactics and lack of diverse input hinder effective policy-making. Transparency, media engagement, and industry inclusion are crucial for fostering trust and collaboration. Addressing these flaws is essential for the WHO to be credible in managing global health agreements effectively.

The FDA rescinded marketing denial orders for Juul, allowing their vaping products to be back under scientific review after being pulled from the market in 2022. This move is crucial in the harm reduction and youth vaping debate. Critics say the FDA's decision was political, urging a swift final review. Although Juul retains tobacco- and menthol-flavored products, its future remains uncertain. Authorization could secure access for ex-smokers. The PMTA process has faced criticism for favoring big tobacco. Juul plans to engage in an evidence-based FDA process, hoping for approval. Youth vaping has declined, and stakeholders stress the need for swift FDA action.

Lawmaker Peter Shiu expressed concerns that banning flavored cigarettes in Hong Kong might deter visitors and harm tourism. He questioned the government's goal of making Hong Kong smoke-free, emphasizing the need to consider practical implications. Authorities plan to implement new anti-smoking measures by 2025, including a ban on flavored tobacco products and possession of alternative smoking devices. Deputy Secretary for Health Eddie Lee defended the measures, highlighting the importance of transparency in informing visitors about smoking regulations.

Nevcore Innovations Inc. ("Nevcore Innovations") proudly announces the acceptance of its Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its CLEW modern oral nicotine pouches. This achievement sets Nevcore apart as one of the select brands to attain PMTA approval, underscoring its pioneering status in the industry. This milestone represents a significant leap in innovation, providing adult nicotine consumers with a discreet, smoke-free, and convenient alternative.

What’s holding up the transformation to safer nicotine products in low-income and middle-income countries, known as LMICs? In India, there are over 300 million tobacco users, with many using what Dr. Sudhanshu Patwardhan calls “risky forms of tobacco” that significantly increase cancer severity. Hear Dr. Sud’s “bottom of the pyramid” plan to supercharge the tobacco transformation in LMICs.

Restricting menthol flavor in cigarettes and improving access to affordable nicotine replacement therapy can reduce tobacco-related socioeconomic disparities, according to a study by Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. Cigarette smoking, a leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., shows higher rates among lower socioeconomic groups due to targeted marketing. Using an Experimental Tobacco Marketplace, researchers found that banning menthol cigarettes significantly reduced purchase disparities, highlighting the importance of assessing policy impacts. The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive tobacco restrictions and examining the interaction between different policies to address health disparities effectively. The research, supported by the National Cancer Institute, aims to forecast the impact of policies on public health.

Juul, the e-cigarette, has scored a big win as the Food and Drug Administration rescinded its marketing ban on the product on Thursday. Two years ago, the government ordered Juul Labs to remove its e-cigarettes and vaping products from stores and online shops. The products remained on the shelves pending an appeal. The company claimed that its products could be used to stop smoking cigarettes - and came during a massive rise in the use of e-cigarettes.

Study participants found that the current UK-required nicotine addiction warning on e-cigarette packaging was ineffective. They suggested larger warnings, plain packaging, and warnings on the devices themselves to deter use, specifically among young people and non-nicotine users. Potential alternative warnings like messages on harm, risk, or toxicity were explored. Dr. Daniel Jones emphasized the importance of packaging in conveying health messages and the need for further research on effective warning strategies to prevent e-cigarette uptake in vulnerable populations. The research study is titled 'The role of e-cigarette packaging as a health communications tool.'

Hong Kong recently announced a complete ban on e-cigarettes due to concerns about their impact on the health of young people. This decision was made following a consensus on the matter, with the ban coming two years after the city prohibited the import, manufacture, and sale of such products. "We will fully ban all alternative smoking products," Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said at a news conference, using the government term for products such as e-cigarettes.

20 out of the 23 dentists that have tested Stingfree nicotine pouches recommend Stingfree to patients that suffer from irritated gums and/or oral mucosal snus lesions, and that are unable or unwilling to cease using snus or nicotine pouches. Stingfree nicotine pouches are the world's only nicotine pouches with a built in protective layer for the gum that reduces burning and irritation of the users´ gums.