【Weekly Focus】UK Enforces TikTok Advertising Regulations for E-cigarettes; FDA Launches Tobacco Rapid Response Center
UK distributor Supreme becomes the main distributor for ELFBAR and Lost Mary
Vape Electronic cigarette distributor Supreme, listed on the London Stock Exchange, announced in a statement that it has partnered with ElfBar and Lost Mary and became their main distributor in June. It will supply retailers in the UK such as Tesco, Morrisons, One Stop, and WHSmith Travel.
Minxin Corporation: Steady Growth of Vape Electronic Cigarette Components
According to the investor relations activity report released by Minxin Corporation on July 5, it mentioned the trends of MEMS in the field of electronic cigarettes: after a long period of development and validation, MEMS has become quite mature and the shipment volume is steadily increasing.
FDA Launches Tobacco Rapid Response Center
A consortium led by Rutgers University has received a $18 million grant from the FDA to provide real-time data on tobacco and nicotine marketing, products, and consumer behavior to help the FDA regulate tobacco products. The center officially began operating on June 1.
London Stock Exchange-listed electronic cigarette distributor Supreme reports 75% revenue growth for the fiscal year
On July 5, Supreme announced its performance for the 2023 fiscal year. The electronic cigarette division achieved record-breaking results, with revenue increasing from £43.6 million in the previous fiscal year to £76.1 million, a year-on-year growth of 75%. At the same time, its gross profit increased by £8.6 million to reach £28.1 million.
Vietnam to Implement 50% Preferential Tax Rate on Electronic Cigarettes and Raw Materials from July 15
Decree No. 26/2023/ND-CP issued by Vietnam on May 31 will take effect on July 15. The General Department of Customs has instructed customs departments in various provinces and cities to note that the preferential import tax rate for Group 24.04, which includes raw materials for smoking substitutes, will be 50%.
Illegal Electronic Cigarette Seizures in the UK Seven Times Higher in the First Four Months than the Whole Year of 2021
The UK has seized two million illegal electronic cigarettes since 2022. The number of illegal electronic cigarettes seized in the first four months of 2023 is seven times higher than the total seized in 2021. Based on the data from 2023, the number of seized illegal electronic cigarettes is already more than twice the number of counterfeit cigarettes.
Juul Files Patent Lawsuit Against NJOY, a Subsidiary of Orchidia
Juul Labs, the parent company of the Juul brand, announced on its official website on June 30 that it has filed complaints against NJOY with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and the Arizona State Court. The complaint alleges that the product NJOY Ace infringes on multiple Juul Labs' patents and requests the commission to block its importation and sale of infringing products in the United States.
British American Tobacco to Launch Vaporized Electronic Cigarettes in the South Korean Market
Executives of British American Tobacco Korea stated in an interview on July 3 that they have always been open to launching vaporized electronic cigarettes in South Korea. Another executive mentioned that many Koreans are seeking vaporized electronic cigarettes from abroad, and they are preparing to introduce other harm reduction products, including vaporized electronic cigarettes, into the market.
KT&G OEM Factory Reveals Annual Production Capacity of 300 Million Pods
ITM, the OEM factory of KT&G, stated in an interview that due to the increased sales of Lil Hybrid Easy through global exports this year, ITM is ready to produce 300 million pods (dedicated pods for vaporization + HNB products) per year, ensuring high production volume and competitive cost structure.
UK Advertising Regulator Notifies TikTok E-cigarette Advertisers of Impending Enforcement
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) of the UK issued an "Enforcement Notice" to the e-cigarette companies regarding advertising rules and the removal of any e-cigarette advertisements on social media platforms.
British American Tobacco Introduces Free Smart Shelves
These smart shelves will be provided for free to customers participating in retailer loyalty programs, in compliance with Scottish legislation. The design aims to help retailers display VUSE electronic cigarettes and VELO nicotine pouches more effectively. The smart shelves are equipped with three displays to play promotional information related to Vuse and Velo.
Ispire Raises Q4 Hardware Revenue Expectation to $14-15 Million
Ispire Technology Inc. announced on June 29 that it has raised its fourth-quarter cannabis vaping hardware revenue expectations from the previous $12-15 million to $14-15 million. This applies to the company's fourth quarter of the 2023 fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
Vietnam to Consolidate Opinions of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Health on E-cigarette Policy
During the "Responsible Smoking" workshop held on July 4 by the Vietnam Law Newspaper, Tran Thanh Trung from the Food Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade stated that although there are still some issues between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Health, efforts are being made to reach a consensus on new tobacco regulations. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is developing a management plan that aligns closely with the opinions of the Ministry of Health to be submitted to the government.
Thailand Urges Tighter Regulations as E-cigarette Usage Among Young People Exceeds 9%
Data from the Department of Health Service Support (DHSS) in Thailand shows a high rate of e-cigarette usage among young people. The survey, conducted from April 25 to June 6, involved 61,688 respondents nationwide, with the data showing that 9.1% of young people use e-cigarettes, primarily influenced by friends and peers.
Scotland Sees 26-27 Million Disposable E-cigarette Sales and 27% Usage Rate
A survey report from Zero Waste Scotland reveals that an estimated 21-26 million disposable electronic cigarettes were used in Scotland in the past year, with 543,000 Scots currently using e-cigarettes. 10.8% of adults are regular users of e-cigarettes, and within this group, 27% use disposable electronic cigarettes.