Vape Laws and Regulations Weekly Report - July 1, 2024

Highlights

• North Carolina Passes Vape Product Registry Bill
• Australia's New Vaping Regulations Come into Effect, Pharmacies to Sell Vapes Without Prescription from October
• Kyrgyzstan Parliament Passes Bill to Ban E-cigarettes
• German Customs Seize Over 10,000 Untaxed E-cigarettes Worth Nearly €2 Million
• Chicago Customs Seize Over 50,000 Illegal E-cigarettes Involving Brand IPLAY
• Italy Bans 861 E-cigarette Websites, Orders Compliance by July 9
• Malaysian Public Health Experts Call for Ban on Caffeine-containing E-cigarettes to Protect Youth Health

North Carolina Passes Vape Product Registry Bill

Source

1. Key Points of the Bill:

• The North Carolina legislature passed a bill to create a vape product registry system.
• The bill will limit the number of vape products that can be sold.
• New rules will take effect on December 1.

2. Controversy:

• Critics, including vape shop and convenience store owners, worry that the new rules might harm their economic interests and potentially lead to closures.
• Supporters among state lawmakers cite health concerns and worry that vape products with bright colors and candy-like flavors attract children.

3. State-Level Registry Progress:

• Passed: Utah, Wisconsin, Kentucky, North Carolina.
• Implemented: Oklahoma, Louisiana, Alabama.

Australia's New Vaping Regulations Come into Effect, Pharmacies to Sell Vapes Without Prescription from October

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• Non-pharmacy retailers, such as tobacco shops, vape stores, and convenience stores, are prohibited from selling any type of e-cigarettes.
• Pharmacies can continue to sell therapeutic e-cigarettes, but flavors are limited to mint, menthol, and tobacco.
• Until September 30, 2024, anyone purchasing e-cigarettes containing nicotine or zero nicotine substances needs a prescription from a doctor or nurse.
• Starting October 1, 2024, adults over 18 can buy e-cigarettes with a nicotine concentration not exceeding 20 mg/mL from pharmacies without a prescription; minors and those needing higher concentrations still require a prescription.
• As of July 1, domestic production, supply, and commercial possession of non-therapeutic and disposable e-cigarettes are illegal.
• E-cigarette import, production, possession, or supply must comply with TGA regulations, including product labeling, packaging, ingredients, and flavor rules.
• Enhanced border control measures to prevent illegal e-cigarette imports, jointly enforced by Australian Border Force and TGA.
• Complete ban on advertising and promoting e-cigarettes, including restrictions on social media and other platforms.
• New criminal and civil penalties introduced, with maximum penalties of up to 7 years imprisonment and/or fines up to AUD 21.91 million.

Kyrgyzstan Parliament Passes Bill to Ban E-cigarettes

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Kyrgyzstan has passed a new bill banning the import and sale of e-cigarettes and vape cartridges, with hefty fines imposed to combat violations.

German Customs Seize Over 10,000 Untaxed E-cigarettes Worth Nearly €2 Million

Source

German customs in Frankfurt seized 10,700 untaxed e-cigarettes during a search operation in Hesse, with two suspects arrested.

Chicago Customs Seize Over 50,000 Illegal E-cigarettes Involving Brand IPLAY

Source

Chicago customs officials seized 53,700 e-cigarettes imported from China, involving the IPLAY brand, with a retail value exceeding USD 1.08 million. IPLAY's trademark is held by Cool Play Times (Shenzhen) Technology Co., Ltd., established in 2019 in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, primarily engaged in wholesale business.

Italy Bans 861 E-cigarette Websites, Orders Compliance by July 9

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Italy's Customs and Monopolies Agency recently added 8 websites to the list of banned sites, bringing the total to 861, mostly involving the illegal sale of tobacco and e-cigarette products. Banned websites must adjust their content by July 9, following the latest Turin court ruling, prohibiting the promotion of e-cigarette products through promotional activities or advertising but allowing the display of technical characteristics and flavor descriptions.

Malaysian Public Health Experts Call for Ban on Caffeine-containing E-cigarettes to Protect Youth Health

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Prof. Dr. Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, a public health medicine expert from the National University of Malaysia, suggests legislating a ban on e-cigarettes, particularly those containing caffeine, due to potential health risks to young people. She points out that over 30 countries worldwide have banned flavored e-cigarettes, arguing that they may attract young people and foster smoking habits.

Vape Market Weekly Updates

• Innovative Nicotine Inhaler in the UK Approved by MHRA, Similar to Asthma Inhalers
• Kent, Lancashire, and Carmarthenshire Counties in the UK are Major Sites for Illegal E-cigarette Seizures; Most Consumers Unaware of Compliance Information
• Reynolds Tobacco Launches Nicotine-Free E-cigarettes in the US
• Reynolds Submits PMTA for Age-restricted Vuse Pro E-cigarettes
• Altria Submits PMTA for on! PLUS Nicotine Pouches
• VUSE Market Share Drops to 41.1%, NJOY Sales Increase by 8% in Four Weeks
• Hui Long Co. Ltd.: Annual Production of 3,000 Tons of Menthol, Usable as Menthol E-cigarette Ingredient
• NJOY Plans to Expand to 100,000 Stores by Year-End: FDA’s First Menthol E-cigarettes to be Sold in the US