Tobacco Asia

Tobacco Asia 43 • Double your resource value • Use 100% expanded fine- cut for MYO and RYO • Untouchable product quality • Impex – pressure/vacuum technology • DIET - Dry Ice Expansion Technology AircoDIET has supplied more than 55 DIET plants worldwide, many of which have been turn-key. We continuously develop and refine the DIET process and our DIET plants have above 95% uptime with a dry yield better than 98.5% through the plant. www.aircodiet.com Over 100% tobacco expansion Kennedy estimated that 50 truckloads of product were taken from Midwest Goods, with "about 90% originating from China." He said the seizures resulted from undercover purchases in multiple states, part of a coordinated federal operation that also targeted businesses in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, and North Carolina. The Port of Chicago seizure announced later the same day targeted shipments described as undervalued or mislabeled to avoid inspection. Officials stated that the goods originated almost entirely from China. "All e-cigarette products seized in this operation lacked mandatory premarket authorization from the FDA and therefore can- not be legally marketed in the United States," FDA and CBP said in a joint statement. Makary emphasized the agencies' role in blocking imports. "If a product has not been authorized by FDA, CBP will seize, detain, or destroy it," he said. FDA has authorized only 39 products for sale in the US so far, leaving almost all other devices and flavors – from Chinese disposable vapes to US produced bottled e-liquids – un- authorized. Kennedy described the seizures as decisive action to protect young people. "We will never allow foreign actors to threaten the health of America's children," he said, and thanked Trump and Bondi for their support. Federal data indicate that the enforcement effort is intensifying. Including the Chicago seizures, FDA and CBP report they have blocked more than 6 million units worth over US$120 million from entering the US this year alone. Officials also warned 37 importers and entry filers involved in the shipments that providing false declara- tions is a federal crime. Impact on the industry For the independent US vaping industry, the raids mark a turning point. While much public attention has been focused on flavored disposable vapes made in China, the Midwest Goods case has shown that enforcement is also targeting American-made bottled e-liquids used in refillable, open-system devices. In a statement, Midwest Goods challenged the government's framing, calling the raid a "civil seizure action." The distributor explained that most of the confiscated inven- tory was nicotine liquids from 75 different brands, many of which still had pending pre- market tobacco product applications (PMTA) with FDA. Typically, products with pend- ing PMTA have been allowed to remain on the market until the reviews are completed. "We find FDA's actions particularly troubling given reports earlier … that FDA plans to expedite reviews of several tobacco products manufactured by Big Tobacco A 2024 campaign promise to "save vaping" resonated with adult consumers, retailers, and the vape industry. Recent actions by authorities beg to differ. Credit: Vaper City, CC4.0. Credit:

• Cover