India’s CSIR conducted a survey which claims to find smokers and vegetarians are less likely to contract COVID-19 (1). The work was conducted by “an eminent team of 140 doctors and research scientists”, according to Free Press Journal.
Many European researchers have noted the lack of smokers being admitted to hospital and a number of research projects are ongoing to see how nicotine might be related to this observation.
It is being reported that China is planning to clamp down on vaping because, according to a professor, “e-cigarettes have hidden safety concerns and are dangerous without efficient supervision”. With tedious reference to attractive packaging and enticing flavours, campaigners are hoping to see the nation impose harsh restrictions to “protect minors against tobacco abuse” (2).
China has over 900 brands of cigarettes, sells to 300 million smokers, and the state-owned China National Tobacco Corporation holds a 40% market share. Clearly, the action is all about the health of children and not protecting income.
New Taipei has become first city in Taiwan to ban sale of e-cigarettes (3). The ban covers the “manufacture, importation, sale, display or advertising” of vape products. Fines for companies breaching the ban range from around £250 to £2500.
Individual vapers risk fines from £25 to £250 if they fail to attend “smoking cessation classes”.
Cambodia is also cracking down on tobacco harm reduction by banning vaping (4). Hiding behind the false claims from the World Health Organization, the National Authority for Combatting Drugs says vaping can lead to drug abuse and spread “deadly diseases”.
The Cambodia Movement for Health Organisation claims that there is a teen vaping epidemic in the country but can’t produce any data because the young people “don’t want use to use their identities”. So, pure fiction.
In the USA, The Federal Register, the daily journal of the United States government, reports a shift in emphasis about vapemail bans. While it looked as though the US Postal Service was going to block all vape products being posted, their appears to be movement.
“A forthcoming final rule will determine whether electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS”) may continue to be mailed pursuant to certain statutory exceptions that are currently administered through an application process. To the extent that such exceptions may ultimately be made available for ENDS, this document provides mailers with guidance to assist in preparing exception applications for submission following the final rule. In addition, ENDS mailers are advised to review and comply with all other applicable mailing restrictions and requirements currently in effect for controlled substances, drug paraphernalia, and hazardous materials.”
A detailed breakdown of the position is currently being provided by Filter Magazine (6).
References:
- Smokers, vegetarians less vulnerable to Covid-19 infection: CSIR survey - https://www.freepressjournal.in/health/smokers-vegetarians-less-vulnerable-to-covid-19-infection-csir-survey
- China to tighten rules on regulating e-cigarettes - https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-04-19/China-to-tighten-rules-on-regulating-e-cigarettes-ZA7xMWD7sQ/index.html
- New Taipei becomes first city in Taiwan to ban sale of e-cigarettes - https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202104290023
- Cambodia bans e-cigarettes - https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50828739/cambodia-bans-e-cigarettes/
- Treatment of E-Cigarettes in the Mail - https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/04/19/2021-07976/treatment-of-e-cigarettes-in-the-mail
- Treatment of E-Cigarettes in the Mail - https://filtermag.org/usps-vape-businesses-mail-ban/
Photo Credit:
Globe Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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