Forward-looking global weekly report on the e-cigarette industry, issue 37

1. A week of hot articles

Neuroscientists: E-cigarettes are harmful to brain development

According to Science magazine, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science held on February 14, Yale University neuroscientist Marina Picciotto described some early discoveries made mainly in animals. She said that e-cigarettes have become very popular in the past 10 years, and we still don't know what the consequences will be if you consume e-cigarettes for a long time or the nicotine contained in them. But now it has begun to show signs. Picciotto's research shows that adolescents exposed to nicotine may experience structural changes in their brains during development, which can have a negative impact on later behavior.

Study: E-cigarettes cause DNA changes similar to cancer

According to foreign reports, a new study shows that the DNA of e-cigarette users may have potentially carcinogenic changes similar to those found in smokers. These chemical changes (called epigenetic changes) can cause genes to malfunction. Researchers note that they are present in almost all types of cancer and other serious diseases. Ahmad Besaratinia, associate professor of preventive medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, said: That doesn't mean these people will get cancer. rdquo; But what we see is that the same changes in chemical labels detectable in tumors of cancer patients have also been found in people who e-cigarettes or smokers, presumably due to exposure to carcinogenic chemicals present in cigarette smoke, and whose levels are often much lower, including e-cigarette vapor. rdquo; He said in a school press release.

A man in London suffered third-degree burns due to an e-cigarette explosion has released photos of his injuries as a warning

According to the London News, Richard Bingham, a 37-year-old builder, was taken to hospital after his e-cigarette exploded in his pocket after touching the key.· He was working at Whittington Hospital in Upper Holloway when the incident occurred last summer and was immediately taken to A E for treatment.& Richard then shared photos of the burns to warn others of the dangers of e-cigarettes.

2. Industry dynamics

Shenzhen IECIE Electronic Cigarette Exhibition announced its postponement: originally scheduled to be held at the end of April

On February 17, it was reported that the well-known domestic e-cigarette exhibition IECIE official Bo Wen Creative Exhibition announced that the e-cigarette exhibition originally scheduled to be held at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center from April 24 to 26 will be postponed due to the impact of COVID-19. IECIE is a well-known e-cigarette exhibition event in China. Two exhibitions were held in Shenzhen in April and Shanghai in November last year. The Shenzhen exhibition is the largest and basically covers e-cigarette manufacturers, industry professionals, media and e-cigarette users around the world.

Difficulties in enforcing e-cigarettes in Taiwan suspected of pushing the Consumer Protection Law to regulate e-cigarettes

According to the "Bao Bao" report, as the new session of the Legislative Yuan of Taiwan will begin, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has decided to re-submit the draft amendment to the Tobacco Injury Prevention and Control Law to meet the control needs of various new tobacco products. On January 31, the Ministry of Health and Welfare invited experts and scholars to jointly convene a "Consultation Meeting on E-Cigarette Related Laws." In addition to discussing the amendment issues of the Tobacco Hazard Control Law, the theme of the meeting also included the suspected use of relevant provisions of the Consumer Protection Law to solve regulatory issues for e-cigarette products.

Lawmakers from both parties in the United States have proposed charging extra fees for e-cigarette sellers

According to foreign media sources, recently, some members of both parties in the United States have suggested that measures should be taken against retailers selling vaporous e-cigarette products, that is, additional fees should be charged to fund the government's tobacco control budget. Six senators from both parties in the United States have introduced SB 3223, a bill related to preventing smoking among young people, and proposed charging additional fees to e-cigarette manufacturers and sellers to provide for federal government activities related to preventing smoking among young people. corresponding fees.

Several U.S. senators have sent a letter to the FDA criticizing the new e-cigarette policy: There are obvious gaps in the guidelines

According to foreign reports, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski joined other lawmakers in expressing concern about the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) guidance on e-cigarettes in January, saying it was not enough to solve the smoking problem of young people. Senators have recommended banning the use of fragrances in broader electronic nicotine delivery systems. The senator also recommended a temporary ban on menthol because of research that suggests young people turn to menthol without other flavors.# p#pagination title #e#

Oklahoma oral surgeons urge teenagers to stop using e-cigarettes

Oral surgeons in Oklahoma are urging teenagers in the state to sign a commitment by the end of the month to stop using e-cigarettes, Fox News reported. It is reported that students who sign the commitment letter before February 28 will receive a scholarship of US$500. Along with reports of lung-related injuries and cancer-causing chemicals, new research suggests that atomization may cause serious dental problems, including tooth decay and gum disease, as well as an increased risk of oral cancer and heart disease.

The city of Danville passes new rules on flavored e-cigarettes: not prohibited, but subject to strong supervision

Foreign news reported that the regulations supported by the Council of Danville, Illinois, retained the recommendation to ban the sale of e-smoking utensils and e-liquid liquids within towns, but council members disagreed with the recommendation to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products within towns. Instead, they chose to strengthen regulation of flavored tobacco by adding flavored tobacco products to existing rules for advertising, distribution and display of tobacco products, but did not ban sales entirely.

Court blocks New Jersey e-cigarette company from selling e-cigarette products in Arizona

According to the Associated Press, Arizona's attorney general has obtained an injunction against the New Jersey e-cigarette company, which he recently sued to ban it from selling or selling any of its products in the state. Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced the ban on Eonsmoke last Thursday.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Altria's Juul investment

According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has begun an investigation into Altria Group's investment in e-cigarette startup JUUL Labs. Sources told the Wall Street Journal that regulators are reviewing whether the tobacco company fully disclosed the risks to shareholders when it invested $12.8 billion to buy a 35% stake in Juul in 2018.

The American Heart Association wants teenagers to understand the risks of using e-cigarettes

Since 2014, e-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product among teenagers. And the American Heart Association (AHA), which is also involved in the fight to stop youth smoking, says the harm they cause is obvious. The event aims to highlight the truth about the risks of smoke. Ebony Bagley is director of communications for the AHA in southeastern Michigan. She said their focus is on educating children and their parents.

Paper on e-cigarette exposure to heart disease was withdrawn

On February 20, the Journal of the American Heart Association, an academic journal owned by the American Heart Association, officially issued a retraction statement on a research paper on e-cigarettes. This paper mainly talks about the connection between the use of e-cigarettes and heart disease, and the harm to the heart of using both e-cigarettes and cigarettes. Some scholars have found that users of e-cigarettes in the study developed heart disease before using them, which is not related to e-cigarettes causing heart disease.

Research: Metal substances in e-cigarette fog can cause DNA damage

According to foreign reports, a new study warns that the fog from e-cigarettes can cause DNA damage associated with a range of diseases, including coronary heart disease, leukemia and even lung cancer. The damage was caused by exposure to high concentrations of metals derived from wires used in electronic cigarette atomizers. As the metal heats, small particles of the metal are released into the vapor, which can accumulate in the body, which can cause various health problems.

Affected by the epidemic in China, Australia has insufficient stocks of e-cigarette products

According to Vapingpost, due to the rapid outbreak of an unexpected new coronavirus in China, China has implemented quarantine measures and most companies have been unable to resume work. The inventory of e-cigarette products (such as replaceable coils and cigarettes) in Australia is rapidly decreasing. Inventories in Australia are dwindling, and retailers and distributors are concerned. Some people have run out of e-cigarette products, while others worry that their stocks will only last for a few weeks

3. Investment and financing

E-cigarette retail giant AMV acquires e-cigarette retail brand Kure

According to foreign reports, AMV Holdings announced on January 31, 2020 that it had acquired most of the assets of Kure Corp. through a wholly-owned subsidiary. It is reported that AMV is one of the largest independent professional e-cigarette retailers in the e-cigarette industry, with retail and manufacturing operations. AMV already operates retail stores with multiple brands, including brands such as Madvapes and Alohma, and KURE has brought another leading professional e-cigarette retail brand to the organization.# p#pagination title #e#

4. Industry data

Smoking rate in my country shows a downward trend and the use of e-cigarettes increases

The results of the 2018 China Adult Tobacco Survey released by China Center for Disease Control and Prevention show that the smoking rate of people aged 15 and above in my country is on a downward trend, the exposure to second-hand smoke has improved, and the proportion of public support for smoke-free environment policies has further increased. But at the same time, adults are generally less willing to quit smoking, e-cigarettes are gradually becoming popular among young people, and the current situation of tobacco control is still worrying.
 
According to specific data, the smoking rate among people aged 15 and above in my country in 2018 was 26.6%, including 50.5% for men, 2.1% for women, 28.9% in rural areas, and 25.1% in urban areas.

The majority of people using e-cigarettes are young people. The e-cigarette usage rate among people aged 15 - 24 is 1.5%. The most important way to obtain e-cigarettes is the Internet, with a proportion of 45.4%. It is worth noting that compared with 2015, the proportion of people who have heard of e-cigarettes, who have used e-cigarettes, and who use them now has increased.
  Public awareness of the dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke has increased

Public awareness of the dangers of smoking has increased, with 86.0% believing that smoking can cause serious diseases. The awareness rate of specific diseases caused by smoking, from high to low, is lung cancer (82.8%), heart disease (50.8%), stroke (41.4%) and impotence (26.0%).
  71.4% of people believe that second-hand smoke can cause serious diseases. The awareness rate of specific diseases caused by second-hand smoke, from high to low, is lung disease in children (66.7%), lung cancer in adults (65.8%), and heart disease in adults (39.7%).