The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warning letters to three distributors of e-cigarettes that the FDA claims are popular with youth — ABS Distribution, EC Supply and Easy Wholesale — for selling or distributing unauthorized e-cigarette products. The illegal products listed in the warning letters include the popular e-cigarette products Elf Bar/EB…
Will Tobacco-Free Smoking Become Another Headache for the FDA?
The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products has loaded itself with more regulatory challenges than it can handle. In 2009, its national health priority was to minimize and eventually end tobacco-related diseases and deaths among smokers and non-smokers alike. One key strategy was to focus on ending underage tobacco use. If they…
Study Shows Not All Flavored Vape Brands Implicated in Youth Use
Bidi Vapor reported that underage use of the BIDI Stick line of disposable electronic nicotine delivery services (ENDS) is extremely low, according to a research study funded by Glasgow, Scotland-based Centre for Substance Use Research (CSUR). BIDI Vapor has noted that while youth vaping is rightfully a concern among health officials and the public at…
FDA Provides Update on Reagan-Udall Tobacco Panel
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided an update to its previous response regarding the Reagan-Udall Foundation expert panel that was conducted earlier this year, according to the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO). The panel evaluated the operational aspects of the FDA’s tobacco regulatory program and issued a report titled “Operational Evaluation…
Stuzo and Altria to Offer Digital Trade Program
Stuzo announced the launch of Altria’s current Digital Trade Program (DTP) and its upcoming retailer offering, Altria Personalization Plus (P+), which is scheduled for Q3 2023. Stuzo’s Altria DTP offerings will include Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 and P+ programs and incentives. The Tier 1 program includes scan data with incentives per tobacco transaction…
NYC Files Lawsuit Against Four Major Vape Distributors
New York City has filed a lawsuit against four distributors of flavored disposable e-cigarettes. The defendants are Magellan Technology Inc., Demand Vape, Mahant Krupa 56 LLC d/b/a Empire Vape Distributors and Star Vape. Magellan owns the trademark for the brand Hyde. These companies have violated “nearly every federal, New York State and New York City…
What C-Stores Should Know as Corrective-Statement Signs Arrive
The posting period for Department of Justice (DOJ) mandated corrective-statement signage began July 1, 2023, for retail stores that have manufacturer cigarette promotion programs in place with Altria Group Inc., Philip Morris USA Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and ITG Brands LLC. Signage is currently being distributed by an appointed third-party called Footprint Solutions. Your…
Uncertainty Continues for Cigars
The cigar category continues to wait for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decisions on the fate of characterizing flavors in cigars, causing uncertainty for c-store retailers regarding what the future of the category might look like. It’s been over a year since the FDA announced the proposed rule to prohibit all characterizing flavors (other than…
FDA Issues Over 180 Warning Letters for E-Cigarette Brands
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued 189 warning letters to retailers selling unauthorized tobacco products, namely Elf Bar and Esco Bars e-cigarettes. The administration noted that the brands are responsible for marketing flavors that appeal to youth, such as bubblegum and cotton candy. “The FDA is prepared to use all of its…
Should I Stock Nicotine-Free Options?
Select convenience store customers are choosing to opt out of nicotine — which is all the reason retailers need to begin stocking nicotine-free options. As the Food and Drug Administration looks to evaluate maximum nicotine levels in cigarettes, nicotine-free smokes offer an appealing alternative that flies under the regulatory radar, and it might be appealing…