Tobacco Asia

Volume 20, Number 1

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34 tobaccoasia E-CIGARETTE NEWS 电子烟新闻 US NY Court Vindicates Vaping In a landmark ruling, a New York judge recently ruled that vaping is not smoking and the two words cannot be used interchangeably. New York currently bans smoking in most public areas, so according to the ruling that doesn't mean vaping is automatically banned as well. After a vaper was cited for using his device on a subway platform, he chal- lenged the issue in court. In "People vs. Thomas", the judge said that New York law defines smoking as "the burning of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or any other matter or substance which contains tobacco". However, the court said that this definition excluded vapor devices. "An electronic cigarette neither burns nor contains tobacco," the court noted. "Instead, the use of such a device, which is commonly referred to as 'vaping,' involves the inhalation of vaporized e-cigarette liquid consisting of water, nicotine, a base of propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin and occa- sionally, flavoring." During the case, the state argued that the ban on vaping should be understood and there was no need for a specific prohibition on vapor devices because "the courts of New York have yet to make a determination as to whether electronic cigarettes are to be viewed any differently under these sections than tobacco cigarettes." However, the judge ruled that this argument was invalid. After all, vapor devices just do not match up with the state's current definition of "smoking" and cannot be treated as tobacco products if they contain no tobacco. In New York City, leaders have specifically included bans on vaping under the Smoke Free Air Act. How- ever, statewide laws are yet to follow suit. Last summer, the state considered a bill to add restrictions against using vapor devices in public places, but the bill died in the Senate. Malaysia 'Un-Islamic' Vaping a Hit Vaping is soaring in popularity in Malaysia, the largest e-cigarette market in the Asia-Pacific region, but authorities are threatening to ban the habit for health reasons – a move that has sparked anger from growing legions of aficionados. The pastime has proved a particular hit in the moderate, Muslim-majority nation, where other vices such as alcohol and drugs are especially frowned upon. Backing the ban, Malaysian religious leaders this month declared a fatwa on the "un-Islamic" habit, but it remains to be seen whether the decree will dampen enthusiasm. According to Vape Em- pire's co-founder Muhammad Sharifud- din Esa, his business has expanded to 57 locations since it opened just two years ago. "The business is growing very fast because there are many people trying to convert from tobacco smoking to vaping," he said. The industry, which is expected to grow by more than 13% year-on-year up to 2025, is currently unregulated, and many say forbidding e-cigarettes – al- ready outlawed in Thailand and Singa- pore "for health reasons" – is a big mistake. "The government must regulate and not ban, because vaping is the future," Sharifuddin said. A growing number of amateur merchants have emerged across the country, where about a million people smoke e-cigarettes, a five-fold surge since last year, according to the Malaysia E-Vaporizers and Tobacco Alternative Association (MEVTA) activist group. Research on health risks remains split and like Malaysia, few countries have introduced national legislation to regulate the sector. Essentra Launches Rechargeable and Disposable E-Cigarette Solutions Essentra, the global supplier of essential components, has launched two industry-lead- ing e-cigarette solutions – the company's first 'full service' white-label products in the category. The new e-cigarettes – a rechargeable and a disposable option – have been devel- oped in response to Essentra's extensive customer research and industry insights, and both deliver a high performing and consistent 'extraction efficiency' for optimum taste and nicotine release. Essentra's rechargeable portfolio ranges from a traditional cigarette size through to its most powerful cigar size. Essentra provides entire e-cigarette kits, which include battery units, refill cartridges and a USB charging device. The disposable e-cigarette is a more convenient solution for the consumer. This product will be available as a single unit or as multiples. These are packaged into a branded outer carton or blister carton. The products have been developed using Essentra's specialist knowledge, innova- tion and sector expertise – one example being its patent-pending reservoir technology. The reservoir can be manufactured without the use of processing aids such as anti- static, lubricate, bonding agent or surfactant, meaning that it does not interfere with the chemistry of the e-liquid it holds, ensuring a purer experience. Essentra continues to research new materials and processes through their world- class research centre. All Essentra products are stringently tested against industry lead- ers and customer benchmarks to guarantee both quality and safety. Essentra's expertise within the packaging industry is evident in its tapes, cartons, leaflets, labels and security features. Eye-catching designs are used in order to promote products, but also strengthen and protect brand image. Essentra prints on a wide variety of materials to create prominent packaging. Additionally, they provide performance varnishes, security and tamper-evident features, and Braille embossing. - www.essentra-endtoend.com

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