Analysis of critical issues and trending industry topics

What has a social media appeals board in Europe got in common with the FSFW?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 10th October 2024

A new body for judging social media complaints has been launched in the EU using money originating from Meta, the parent company of Facebook ...

What is the future of health policies under the incoming EU Commission?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 1st October 2024

Some fear healthcare and food safety will not be among the main concerns of the next European Commission after the Commission president unveiled the new commissioners’ respective tasks ...

What to expect when expecting the latest EU Tobacco Products Directive revision

Written by Freddie Dawson | 19th September 2024

There is still little concrete information on what the EU will do in its next revision of the Tobacco Products Directive, though the primary focus will likely be emerging tobacco products ...

The impending UK disposables ban: necessary step or gateway to illicit sales?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 12th September 2024

The debate over vaping regulations in the UK is heating up, with recent discussions in the House of Lords (upper house of Parliament) raising concerns about the growing use of disposable vaping products by children...

Is the Czech government operating in line with its own anti-addiction action plan?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 5th September 2024

Just over a year after the Czech government unveiled a new, ambitious action plan to fight addictions, doubts are being raised over the government’s alignment with its own declared war on addictions ...

Vape products being adapted in face of looming disposables bans across Europe

Written by Freddie Dawson | 5th September 2024

E-cigarette design is already starting to change in anticipation of an exceedingly likely disposables ban in the UK, which could lead other jurisdictions to follow suit ...

Will the new FDA import rule for ENDS products really streamline the process?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 22nd August 2024

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of the Treasury have recently proposed a new rule that could significantly impact the importation process for electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) into the country ...

If low-in-nicotine analogues are lower in accuracy, why are nicotine vapes scary?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 15th August 2024

Nicotine-free vaping products are not subject to the same regulation as those that contain nicotine, but scientists are not sure that they don’t expose users, especially young ones, to potentially serious health threats ...

Big Tobacco happy with growth, but no talk of impact from regulatory changes

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 8th August 2024

All Big Tobacco companies reported growth in their smoke-free segments, reflecting a trend towards diversification from traditional cigarettes, though none have addressed the regulatory environment and its potential impact on future earnings ...

As US gubernatorial contests heat up, where do candidates stand on vaping?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 25th July 2024

Though debate about US president Joe Biden’s potential replacement dominates headlines on the November elections, down-ballot races in many states may impact the future of vaping in the country ...

Results of 30-year Swiss survey show smoking rate down since onset of vaping

Written by Freddie Dawson | 18th July 2024

Swiss authorities have released results of a 30-year study on smoking and tobacco use in the country, tracking answers to a health survey conducted from 1992 to 2022 ...

EU Commission revision of smoke-free recommendation coming soon...probably

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 11th July 2024

Previous delays and European health commissioner describing the work as “particularly challenging” could indicate that the European Commission’s proposal for revising its smoke-free environment recommendation is at risk of further postponement ...

Courts in the US, the FDA, and the end of ‘Chevron deference’: a dissenting view

Written by Barnaby Page | 4th July 2024

There has been jubilation in the US e-cigarette industry over the demise of the legal doctrine of “Chevron deference”, but many outside the sector itself have expressed reservations, and they are right to do so...

Ten lessons learned over ten years of covering the novel nicotine industry

Written by Barnaby Page | 4th July 2024

In this part of a series of articles celebrating the tenth anniversary of Tamarind Intelligence, our editorial director shares ten things he’s learned about the sector in the last decade ...

Takeaways from this year’s thought-provoking Global Forum on Nicotine

Written by Barnaby Page | 21st June 2024

The Global Forum on Nicotine was in Warsaw again last week, and once again proved to be one of the most thought-provoking events on the tobacco harm reduction calendar ...

What is the future of nicotine products among a right-leaning EU Parliament?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 13th June 2024

The result of the latest European Union elections is a clear twist to the right, signalling a potential shift towards a more business-friendly and deregulated environment for the vaping and heated tobacco industries ...

Science-based or science fiction? Can WHO stop kids from getting hooked?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 6th June 2024

The World Health Organization (WHO) chose to dedicate this year’s World No Tobacco Day to exposing practices used by the tobacco industry to “hook the next generation” into becoming its customers for life ...

Could Ireland’s aim to raise the legal age for tobacco use affect vaping products?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 23rd May 2024

Ireland will look to raise the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 21, but vaping products could be safe from the age hike (for now) ...

Compromise is key for the future of novel products and harm reduction in Europe

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 16th May 2024

The next European Parliament may feature a new mix of members who are likely to change Europe’s conservative stance on novel products and include harm-reduction strategies as part of the debate ...

Yet another US menthol ban delay – is it just playing politics in an election year?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 9th May 2024

The US government has once again dropped its plans to issue an immediate ban on menthol cigarettes, despite efforts from numerous civil rights organisations and medical associations urging for a ban to protect targeted communities...

Balancing between adult harm reduction and youth addiction – the debate goes on

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 2nd May 2024

The debate over the approach healthcare providers should take when it comes to suggesting alternative products to help adult patients quit smoking has been ongoing for quite some time, but it’s still controversial ...

Can e-cig use among young Finns be determined by a circle of friends metric?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 18th April 2024

The majority of Finnish youth report at least occasional vape use, according to a survey by a substance abuse organisation in the country, but what other factors are behind these numbers? ...

Spain’s long-awaited anti-smoking plan finally gets the OK but is still not in effect

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 11th April 2024

Three years after the expected date, the Spanish government has finally approved the country’s new anti-smoking plan, which will now need to be implemented through different laws across the country ...

US FDA responds to Reagan-Udall review with product list and policy memoranda

Written by Freddie Dawson | 4th April 2024

The US FDA has published a searchable product database and a collection of scientific policy memoranda as part of its efforts to meet and respond to recommendations made in the 2022 Reagan-Udall operational review ...

Mixed messages on harm reduction and tax are not the worst that could happen

Written by Freddie Dawson | 21st March 2024

Public health experts say the proposed UK tax on vaping products sends a mixed message in terms of public health, but perhaps mixed is as good as it gets, judging by recent events in Europe...

Banning disposable vapes across Europe: what purpose does it really serve?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 14th March 2024

The fate of disposable vapes appears to be sealed across much of Europe, with at least four countries already determined to ban non-rechargeable e-cigarettes under the auspices of protecting young people and the environment ...

It’s a safe bet that no change will come from the latest vaping petition in the UK

Written by Freddie Dawson | 7th March 2024

UK vapers have been asked to support a new e-petition to demonstrate the level of opposition to a flavour ban, and it has so far garnered 40,000 signatures and counting ...

Europe’s respiratory specialists would prefer that you just don’t use nicotine

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 22nd February 2024

No smoking and no nicotine consumption at all is better for your health than quitting cigarettes without quitting nicotine, says the European Respiratory Society, stating the obvious ...

Bans – what are they good for? Absolutely nothing. Seems we’re all saying it again.

Written by Freddie Dawson | 15th February 2024

It’s clear from recently released company financial results that the proposed ban on disposable e-cigarettes in the UK is not expected to have much of an impact in the short term ...

The dizzying task of trying to follow the EU tobacco policy revision process

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 8th February 2024

European authorities seem unsure on the timeline for the next step in the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) review and laissez-faire about keeping anyone up to date on developments for it ...

Can e-cigarettes help reduce tobacco use? WHO needs more vaping data to find out

Written by Freddie Dawson | 25th January 2024

Not enough countries collect data on e-cigarette usage and it's necessary to improve this to better monitor reduction in tobacco use, says the World Health Organization (WHO) ...

An e-cigarette by any other name, and other issues with industry terminology

Written by Barnaby Page | 18th January 2024

Perception is often at least as important as reality in forming policy-makers’ and the public’s opinion where novel nicotine products are concerned, but there’s a persistent problem with terminology ...

Is inactivity in the vape industry to blame for the increase in disposable bans?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 10th January 2024

The vaping industry could look at increased efforts to crack down on disposable e-cigarettes as its own failure to provide more viable solutions that could have curtailed countries around the globe taking legal actions ...

Is taxing e-cigarette products the right way to reduce youth vaping in the UK?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 14th December 2023

A new levy to discourage children from vaping in the UK is likely to be introduced in the next year, but it is still uncertain exactly how the government intends to tax vape products ...

When will MEPs be able to fight over the EU tobacco policy framework revision?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 23rd November 2023

This time last year, the start of a debate within the European Parliament on the revisions to the EU tobacco policy framework was imminent, but now it’s not even part of the 2024 parliamentary schedule...

UK conferences have differing takes on the biggest challenges the industry faces

Written by Barnaby Page | 23rd November 2023

What the biggest challenge is facing the British e-cigarette and novel nicotine sectors depends on who you ask. Recent industry conferences in London addressed the question of youth vaping, but in very different ways ...

With the focus on kids, do US FDA adult tobacco campaigns lack data support?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 16th November 2023

The latest nationwide survey on tobacco product consumption among US youth showed that high school students in the country are ditching vaping, which is definitely good news ...

FSFW and PMI split raises issues around tobacco companies funding research

Written by Freddie Dawson | 9th November 2023

The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World has ended its relationship with Philip Morris International, bringing to a close one of the tobacco company’s many efforts to distance itself from its own best-selling products ...

The rise and fall of Juul: a match made in heaven or a recipe for disaster?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 26th October 2023

A new Netflix documentary attempts to provide a balanced narrative and a nuanced view on the rise and fall of one of the most famous brands in vaping ...

What could the future hold for a smoke-free UK with tighter vaping restrictions?

Written by Barnaby Page | 19th October 2023

With the British government’s new raft of proposals on regulating tobacco products, it’s possible to make some tentative predictions just from the questions being asked in a current consultation ...

Would e-cigarettes escape a generational ban on tobacco purchases in England?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 12th October 2023

A newly proposed generational ban on tobacco purchases in England may accelerate the already dropping cigarette smoking rates among young people in the country ...

Keeping track of the disposables scene: how will it weather the regulatory storm?

Written by Barnaby Page | 5th October 2023

We estimate that disposables now account for nearly 40% of the global vape market. But the growth rate that led disposables to their current success also seems to be leading them into a perfect storm...

Regulating e-cig sales: are FDA warning letters just a drop of ink in the ocean?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 21st September 2023

The US FDA recently notified more online retailers and manufacturers of significant violations related to the sale of e-cigarettes. But are these regular warning letters really enough to reassert the FDA’s control over the market...

TikTok comes under fire with the UK ASA once again for vape product advertising

Written by Freddie Dawson | 14th September 2023

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has once again been policing the marketing of vaping products on the social media platform TikTok ...

Looking into nicotine – a tobacco-related poison or a food-derived health aid?

Written by ECigIntelligence | 7th September 2023

Despite increasing interest in synthetic nicotine, most nicotine still comes from tobacco. But could other plants also be a commercially viable source? ...

The FDA is worried about misperceptions – but what’s it doing to combat them?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 30th August 2023

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seems to be looking for the right words to educate smokers about the reduced risks associated with vaping ...

The pollution problem – the newest culprits, who’s to blame and is it solvable?

Written by Barnaby Page | 18th August 2023

The vast volumes of waste and litter attributable to vaping have become a major issue in recent months, and even if some of the media coverage seems biased, the underlying problem is real enough ...

A blogger’s farewell – who knows all the known unknowns on e-cigs and health?

Written by Aidan Semmens | 10th August 2023

It was cannabis joints that lured me into smoking. Once tipped out into the world of work, the cannabis was easy enough to give up. The tobacco not so much. Ultimately, it’s all about the...

Sustainability versus waste and pollution – it’s the major, growing issue we all face

Written by Aidan Semmens | 3rd August 2023

While no industry, from aviation to mining, farming to fishing, can pretend to be uninvolved in the major growing issue of the environment, the e-cigarette industry is just as inescapably bound up in the debate...

Brighter later? Were gloomy forecasts for global e-cig regulation too negative?

Written by Barnaby Page | 21st July 2023

There are several reasons to be cautiously negative about the direction regulation of novel nicotine products will follow, globally – but does that make up a fair picture? ...

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