More evidence that England’s (and Canada and US FDA) enthusiastic approach to e-cigarettes is a disaster

In April 2023, David Hammond and colleagues published trends in high school use of e-cigarettes, cigarettes and other tobacco products in three e-cigarette-countries with policies to promote adult use of e-cigarettes for harm reduction: England, Canada and the US.  In the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (ITC) Youth Tobacco and Vaping Survey England, whichContinue reading “More evidence that England’s (and Canada and US FDA) enthusiastic approach to e-cigarettes is a disaster”

E-cig market shifts to keep growing rapidly as it adapts to loopholes the federal government leaves open

Last week, the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report published “E-cigarette Unit Sales by Product and Flavor Type, and Top-Selling Brands, United States, 2020–2022” that reported rapid growth in e-cigarette sales: from January, 2020 to December, 2022, e-cigarette sales increased by 46.6%.  (These figures are based on checkout bar code scanner data from retailers andContinue reading “E-cig market shifts to keep growing rapidly as it adapts to loopholes the federal government leaves open”

Who’s behind the expensive campaign to ban Chinese disposable e-cigs?

On June 21, 2023 Consumer Action for a Strong Economy ran this full page ad in the San Francisco Chronicle urging the public to demand that the FDA “get illicit disposable vapes in kid-enticing flavors from China off American store shelves.” On the webpage linked to this ad, Consumer Action for a Strong Economy (CASE)Continue reading “Who’s behind the expensive campaign to ban Chinese disposable e-cigs?”

FDA blocks some popular (but illegal) e-cigs at the border

Most e-cigarettes sold in the United States are imported (mostly from China).  FDA has allowed these products to be imported and sold despite them lacking FDA authorization.  Any and all e-cigarettes sold in the US without premarket authorization are illegal, although FDA has used its “enforcement discretion” to allow many to remain on the market.Continue reading “FDA blocks some popular (but illegal) e-cigs at the border”

FDA has what it needs to prohibit “non-menthol” cigarettes

On April 19, 2023, Politico published “RJR uses California as test market for skirting upcoming national menthol cigarette ban” describing how RJR has been promoting its “non-menthol” cigarettes as a way to get around California’s prohibition on the sale of all tobacco products. According to the article California AG Rob Bonta is “investigating” what hisContinue reading “FDA has what it needs to prohibit “non-menthol” cigarettes”

FDA’s proposed regulation establishes reasonable tobacco product manufacturing practice requirements that could help minimize the risks of products, especially to youth and young adults

We submitted this public comment to FDA on its proposed regulation on tobacco manufacturing practice requirements. A PDF is here. The regulations.gov tracking number is lgf-ds2n-iuvb. (This was updated on April 13, 2023 to correct the author list.)    FDA’s proposed regulation establishes reasonable tobacco product manufacturing practice requirements that could help minimize the risksContinue reading “FDA’s proposed regulation establishes reasonable tobacco product manufacturing practice requirements that could help minimize the risks of products, especially to youth and young adults”

Detailed changing use patterns of e-cigs and cigs shows harm enhancement for adults and youth

Until the advent of e-cigarettes nearly 20 years ago tobacco use patterns were pretty stable.  Almost everyone who smoked tobacco smoked cigarettes with a few people smoking cigars.  And some people used smokeless tobacco.  With the advent of e-cigarettes and other new tobacco products, this situation has become much more complicated, particularly since some inContinue reading “Detailed changing use patterns of e-cigs and cigs shows harm enhancement for adults and youth”

FDA inches ahead by denying marketing order for RJR Vuse Solo menthol

FDA has continued to deny marketing authorization for menthol e-cigarettes with its March 17, 2023 announcement that it had denied marketing authorization for two RJR Vuse Solo menthol cartridges. This action follows FDA denials for RJR Vuse Ciro menthol and JTI Logic menthol e-cigarettes. While FDA does not make its detailed analysis public for marketingContinue reading “FDA inches ahead by denying marketing order for RJR Vuse Solo menthol”

YouTube videos from smokers on RJR “non-menthol” cigarettes say they are still flavored: Direct evidence they violate California law

Customer reviews posted to YouTube provide evidence that RJ Reynolds’ new “non-menthol” cigarettes are still flavored and violate California’s (and local) bans on the sale of flavored tobacco products. The most extensive example is a detailed product review: In a second video, at around :45, the woman says the Newport non-menthols “still have a hintContinue reading “YouTube videos from smokers on RJR “non-menthol” cigarettes say they are still flavored: Direct evidence they violate California law”

Three new papers detail FDA errors in authorizing Vuse Solo

Last week Tobacco Control published two peer reviewed scientific critiques of FDA’s authorization for RJ Reynolds to sell Vuse Solo e-cigarettes as well as a commentary on the two papers.  Both papers recommend FDA exercise its authority to withdraw authorization to sell Vuse Solo and the commentary because FDA did not demonstrate that marketing VuseContinue reading “Three new papers detail FDA errors in authorizing Vuse Solo”