LATEST ALERTS
Jammu and Kashmir becomes the fifth Indian state to ban e-cigarettes
28th September 2017 - News analysis |
Jammu and Kashmir has become the fifth Indian state to ban e-cigarettes, following pressure from the World Health Organization (WHO)
Nicotine
New incoming rules will mean further restrictions in Portugal
27th September 2017 - Country regulatory reports , Regulatory reports |
New legislation regulating nicotine-containing e-cigarettes came into force on 1st January 2016 in Portugal. Current taxes on nicotine e-liquids are €0.30/ml, but a new budget law is due for vote in November 2017 when it will become clearer if the rate will be changed or kept at the same level.
Chicago adds detail and taxation to Illinois’s light state regulation
27th September 2017 - Country regulatory reports , Regulatory reports |
While Illinois has a relatively liberal approach to e-cigarettes, Chicago has a more restrictive regime and two layers of taxation – city and county.
Finland: market grows despite strict regulation
22nd September 2017 - Country market reports , Market reports |
The EU’s Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) was transposed in Finland the form of the Tobacco Act, which made Finland one of the EU’s most strictly regulated countries. Market growth of 40% throughout 2016–2017 was mainly determined by increased numbers of vapers (+16%), growth of the share of daily users (30% in 2017 compared with 14% in 2016), plus an overall price increase in most e-cigarette categories.
US vape store survey: optimism up as revenue stays flat
21st September 2017 - Market reports , Topic market reports |
ECigIntelligence’s survey of 1003 US vape stores finds increased optimism on the street despite revenues being exactly what they were 12 months ago.
Sweden may follow Finnish model as it prepares to impose e-cig tax
20th September 2017 - News analysis |
Sweden is set to bring in a new tax on e-cigarettes, following a proposal in the national budget for 2018. The exact nature and level of the tax will be determined after consultation with relevant bodies
Physical stores remain focus of vape chains in France
20th September 2017 - Market reports , Topic market reports |
in our latest look at the French market, we see that all the studied vape store chains are at least partially using a franchise business model. Our franchising conditions’ analysis revealed the Jwell chain has the most attractive franchise conditions, while Clopinette had the strictest. All the vape stores have an online retail presence; however, their focus is on their physical stores.
Australian Senate committee opposes legalising sale of nicotine e-cigs
19th September 2017 - News analysis |
An Australian government committee has recommended the rejection of a bill that would legalise the domestic sale of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes
Study exposes flaws in ex-Surgeon General’s report on youth vaping
18th September 2017 - News analysis |
A new study takes serious issue with the influential 2016 Surgeon General Report, accusing it of misrepresenting the evidence on e-cigarettes, young people and harm reduction
Italy: vape store geographical breakdown and analysis
15th September 2017 - Market reports , Topic market reports |
Our research on Italian e-cig retailers has revealed that the region around Rome is Italy’s most developed vape store market, with more than four times as many vape stores per inhabitant than the lowest-density areas. There may be scope for growth in Milan and Naples, given these cities have around half the vape store density of Rome.
The vape store market is dominated by the leading vape store chains in the northeastern region. Elsewhere, stores are predominantly independently owned/branded. There is very little crossover between the online and vape store distribution channels.
Open systems dominate markets across the Baltic States
14th September 2017 - Country market reports , Market reports |
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, collectively known as the Baltic states have a total population of around 6m and share common political traits, economies and history. In our latest report, we estimate the Baltic states’ e-cig market is currently worth around €15m, with 75,000 vapers. Open-system products dominate the market, with basic open systems being very popular. The online channel is more developed in Lithuania and Estonia. In Latvia, due the ban on online retail, most sales are offline.
Russia: little regulation of e-cigs or HnB for now – but the heat is on
11th September 2017 - Country regulatory reports , Regulatory reports |
At present there is comparatively little regulation in Russia covering either heated tobacco or e-cigarettes. This may change, however
Czech Republic: e-cigarettes under a post-TPD regime
8th September 2017 - Country regulatory reports , Regulatory reports |
Our latest look at the legal status of e-cigarettes in the Czech Republic details the country’s approach to the European TPD requirements
Domestic troubles send Malaysian manufacturers into foreign markets
5th September 2017 - News analysis |
Malaysian e-liquid manufacturers are looking at the European Union and other markets as regulatory uncertainty bites at home – but only the bigger players can afford the costs involved
Denmark: daily users boost market in the wake of TPD regulation
4th September 2017 - Country market reports , Market reports |
Our latest in-depth look at the Danish e-cigarette sector finds a market that is growing despite a reduction in the overall vaping population, and where the beneficial effects of the European TPD are being felt
Australian lawmakers are warned of ‘dangerous black market’ in nicotine
4th September 2017 - News analysis |
Australia’s ban on the sale of nicotine e-liquids has led to a black market that damages the health of the very people the law is meant to protect, an official inquiry has heard
Colombia market report: the future is bright
1st September 2017 - Country market reports , Market reports |
Very small market size but the future outlook is positive.
Highly fragmented in all respects.
There’s a small amount of vapers but numbers are expected to grow as product awareness increases.
Germans hear it officially: e-cigs are ‘significantly’ safer than tobacco
31st August 2017 - News analysis |
A study for the German government has concluded that “e-cigarettes are significantly less harmful than tobacco”, but adds a warning that the long-term effects remain unknown
Portugal market adapting to new regulations and lower tax
30th August 2017 - Country market reports , Market reports |
After the fall of the market size due the e-liquid tax, it seems both companies and vapers have now adapted to the new regulation. As the market starts to grow again, we find advance modular systems have a high prevalence. With distance sales forbidden, Portugal stores have adapted the same strategy as companies in Belgium and Austria: the catalogue is online but there is no delivery.
New York schools expel e-cigs as kids switch from smoking to vaping
30th August 2017 - News analysis |
New York governor Andrew Cuomo has closed what he called “a dangerous loophole” by adding e-cigarettes to a statewide ban on smoking on school premises
Shake and vape: the legal implications in the EU
24th August 2017 - Regulatory reports , Topic regulatory reports |
The sale of ingredients for shake and vape – enabling users to mix their own nicotine and non-nicotine e-liquids – is a legal grey area for sellers in many European countries, as it can be a way to get round TPD quantity restrictions on nicotine-containing liquids. In this report, ECigIntelligence looks into the matter in detail.
UK advertising watchdog rules: no print ads for nicotine-capable e-cigs
22nd August 2017 - News analysis |
The UK Advertising Standards Authority has provided further clarity on what is and is not permitted in print media e-cigarette advertising with a ruling against a magazine ad for a vape store
Polish market report: a tale of two cities
20th August 2017 - Country market reports , Market reports |
ECigIntelligence visited 34 vape stores in Poland’s two largest cities, Warsaw and Krakow, to gauge the market and compare offline prices – and found a striking difference between the two.
Bulgaria: scope for further development
18th August 2017 - Country market reports , Market reports |
The Bulgarian e-cig market is currently worth BGN78m ($47m in 2017), with 200,000 vapers. Almost one in 20 Bulgarians regularly uses e-cigarettes – nearly half because they can vape in places where smoking is banned. The online channel is undeveloped and most sales are offline. However, we believe there is scope for the market to develop further.
New Zealand health report suggests stick for cigarettes, carrot for e-cigs
14th August 2017 - News analysis |
A group of public health professionals in New Zealand are recommending a two-pronged approach to cutting smoking – action against combustible cigarettes combined with support for vaping
Croatian study finds e-liquids break the rules on nicotine concentration
10th August 2017 - News analysis |
Researchers in Croatia have found that more than half the e-liquids they tested exceeded the maximum nicotine concentration level laid down by the European TPD
Malaysia: tough regulation stifles market growth
10th August 2017 - Country market reports , Market reports |
ECigIntelligence estimates the Malaysian e-cig market to be worth 513.4m ringgit ($120m) in 2017, with 600,000 vapers. Regulatory uncertainly and a ban on e-cigarettes in some states makes the outlook for future growth pessimistic. This static market is focused on hobbyists and dominated by open system e-cigs, with most vapers using advanced mods with digital screens.
E-cig market grows in Czech Republic, fuelled by tobacco regs
9th August 2017 - Country market reports , Market reports |
In this August 2017 look at the Czech Republic, we find that the relatively mild regulation of e-cigarettes is apparently fuelling further growth in the sector. The Czech e-cigarette market is also geared more towards open systems, with closed systems being mainly available offline. About half of all e-cigarette sales go through online channel.
Light-touch regulation aids HnB over e-cigs in Japan
7th August 2017 - Country regulatory reports , Regulatory reports |
In our latest look at Japan, we find the country is a favoured market for heated tobacco products because regulation is much lighter on tobacco than it is on nicotine-containing e-cigs. In a country where 20% of the population smoke, heated tobacco products are regulated in a similar way to tobacco in most policy areas.
Post-TPD online ban hits internet sales in Poland
7th August 2017 - Market reports , Topic market reports |
Before the TPD, around half of Poland’s e-cig sales were made on the Internet. But now, only a few offshore and B2B operations survive.
FDA squeeze on nicotine in combustibles could hasten Big Tobacco move to HnB
3rd August 2017 - News analysis |
A move by the US FDA to reduce the nicotine content in cigarettes to non-addictive levels could encourage Big Tobacco to put yet more effort into alternatives
Australian government e-cig inquiry receives mixed messages on health
1st August 2017 - News analysis |
Major Australian public health organisations have submitted evidence to a government inquiry on e-cigarettes, with many taking a negative stance
Sweden’s new e-cig law transposes TPD
21st July 2017 - Country regulatory reports , Regulatory reports |
E-cigarettes are regulated in Sweden by the Act on Electronic Cigarettes and Refill Containers (2017/425), which came into force on 1st July 2017. It transposed the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) into Swedish legislation. Non-nicotine products are currently not regulated.
UK authority won’t close loophole in TPD rules that allows nicotine shots
11th July 2017 - News analysis |
The UK authority that oversees compliance with the EU TPD has said it will allow nicotine shots, even though they are seen by many as exploiting a loophole
Underground or online, the Indian vaping market is slowly growing
11th July 2017 - News analysis |
Unclear regulation means most e-cigarette sales in India are conducted in a grey area, either through discreet physical stores or – more frequently – in a still small but growing online market
Poland’s excise tax proposal will hit independent e-liquid producers hardest
5th July 2017 - Regulatory reports , Topic regulatory reports |
Poland’s finance ministry is proposing an excise tax on all e-liquids that will raise the cost of vaping in the country and impose extra difficulties on independent producers
South Korea: steady growth predicted despite severe restrictions
29th June 2017 - Country market reports , Market reports |
Our survey of the e-cigarette market in South Korea finds a country with a traditionally high rate of smoking and potential for a small vaping population to grow, despite fairly stringent regulation.
Despite official bans, South America has great market potential for e-cigs
29th June 2017 - News analysis |
E-cigarettes, banned throughout most of South America, could nevertheless be taken up rapidly across the continent, according to a senior public health policy expert on the region.
Flavours are off the menu as San Francisco legislators get tough
27th June 2017 - News analysis |
San Francisco has taken a big step nearer to a city-wide ban on flavoured e-cigarettes and tobacco products with a unanimous vote by the Board of Supervisors
Heated tobacco: expanding the market for reduced-risk nicotine?
23rd June 2017 - Market reports , Topic market reports |
Heat-not-burn could compete with e-cigarettes for consumer attention, but it may also attract new users. What progress has the recent spate of launches made, and what might the future hold?
Researcher calls for much closer attention to patterns of dual use
22nd June 2017 - News analysis |
A US researcher is calling for much closer inspection of how dual users combine vaping with smoking in order to determine the true impact of e-cigarettes on cessation efforts.
France: how vape stores are faring across the country
19th June 2017 - Market reports , Topic market reports |
Our survey of French vape stores, conducted in April and May 2017, analyses detailed responses from 165 store managers, representing 548 stores across 12 of the 13 mainland regions of France.
Florida: e-cigarette regulation is focused on protecting under-18s
14th June 2017 - Country regulatory reports , Regulatory reports |
E-cigarette regulation in Florida is minimal, focused entirely on preventing minors from gaining access to vaping products.
Local paper advertisement makes the UK rules clear – by breaking them
13th June 2017 - Marketing & retailing , News analysis |
A ruling by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority against one vape store’s ad may be good news for others – because it clarifies what is acceptable in local newspapers.
Distance sales banned in Latvia as TPD is transposed
8th June 2017 - Country regulatory reports , Regulatory reports |
ECigIntelligence examines the post-TPD state of e-cigarette regulation in Latvia, including the distance sales ban, taxation, registration, and retailer requirements.
Brazil: a small market under tight regulation
1st June 2017 - Country market reports , Market reports |
Tight regulation keeps Brazil’s e-cigarette market small – but there’s life stirring under prohibition.
Health and cost draw French and Spanish vapers away from tobacco
30th May 2017 - News analysis |
Two new surveys suggest that most French and Spanish vapers have used e-cigarettes to give up smoking, for both health and financial reasons – and that very few had continued to smoke after taking up e-cigarettes.
Confusion over new rules puts brake on vaping in Balkan nations
30th May 2017 - News analysis |
Uncertainty caused by new regulations is sending some vapers in Europe’s Balkans region back to smoking, according to local e-cigarette associations, who say the rules in Romania and Slovenia are in urgent need of clarification.
One year on: the picture is clearer as TPD reaches its anniversary
18th May 2017 - Regulatory reports , Topic regulatory reports |
How far has Europe’s Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) succeeded in its goal of harmonising the e-cig market across the EU? For many, the jury is still out…
Spanish stores: high-footfall areas attract new customers, bigger spend
17th May 2017 - Market reports , Topic market reports |
In our latest look at the Spanish market, we see that stores in areas with a high footfall tend to have double the number of new vaper customers, and most of the e-liquids sold come from Spain, Italy, UK and China.
