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RUYAN AMERICA & PRIME TIME INTERNATIONAL SIGN AGREEMENT

Chris Crawley — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:34:33 +0000

RUYAN AMERICA AND PRIME TIME INTERNATIONAL SIGN AGREEMENT
Ruyan America, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, and Prime Time International Company, Phoenix, AZ, announced that they have executed an “Exclusive Product Development, Brand Marketing and Supply Agreement.” Under the terms of the agreement, Prime Time will become the exclusive North American distributor and marketer of Ruyan America’s digital smoking alternatives and will provide input and direction with respect to Ruyan’s future product development initiatives, to include design, formulation, distribution, branding, labeling and marketing.
Initially, Prime Time will distribute Ruyan’s RAPP® digital, E-mystick®, a battery powered, personal, portable, and disposable vaporizer containing a long-established lobelia based supplement. The product is classified as a non-tobacco smoking alternative. It is not intended to be used for smoking cessation or deterrent. The product is formulated and assembled in the United States, using the finest and purest ingredients available domestically. Prime Time and Ruyan will cooperatively develop other formulations and designs for similar purposes. Ruyan America currently has patents pending for a variety of formulations using its patented designs and delivery systems.
William Bartkowski, President of Ruyan America, Inc., commented, “We are delighted to join forces with Prime Time International to bring our unique products to a broader market through its extensive wholesale and retail network. They have a demonstrated ability to reach segments of the market where consumers of traditional tobacco products are now looking for alternatives that can be used where smoking is now prohibited or limited.”
Jim Emery, President of Prime Time International, stated, “We are partnering with the original pioneer of this technology and with the real innovators of its design and formulation with both its current and future products under development. We anticipate being able to offer our customers the very best in innovation, design and effectiveness in a whole range of easy-to-use, disposable smoking alternatives. We look forward to expanding and extending the designs, formulations and uses for Ruyan’s dynamic and patent-protected products. Prime Time International is committed to bringing open and honest leadership to this exciting new alternative tobacco category. We are committed to being the captain in the category of alternative tobacco products with a broad range of product offerings.”

ABOUT RUYAN AMERICA
Ruyan America, Inc. is a technology based company that currently develops and markets OTC consumer products using patented and patent-applied-for convenient delivery methods. Ruyan America, Inc. is a U.S.-based joint venture partner of Ruyan Holdings Ltd. of Hong Kong.

ABOUT PRIME TIME INTERNATIONAL COMPANY
Prime Time International Company, established in 1993, is an established manufacturer of tobacco and non-tobacco products with an established presence in the US wholesale and retail supply chain serving over 70,000 established retail outlets. Prime Time International is committed to providing its wholesale and retail trade partners with highly profitable products that they will feel confident representing in their establishments. Prime Time International prides itself on its ability to identify market niches and initiate rapid product development to address changing consumer needs and strives to offer only products of consistent quality and excellence.

For inquires or questions regarding this partnership, Ruyan products, or distribution and sales opportunities call Prime Time International at (800) 959-9880.

New York State battles E-Cigarettes

Lou Maiellano — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:44:01 +0000

WANTED to pass on a note from Bill Godshall from SmokeFree PA.

Situation: The NY Senate Health Committee may consider a bill (S7234) that would ban e-cigarette sales as soon as Tuesday, April 27.

The NY Assembly may consider an identical bill (A9529) at any time.

Action requested: Call/e-mail/fax/snail mail NY Senate Health Committee members, and e-mail NY Assembly members urging them to oppose S7234 & A9529, and urging them to amend the legislation to ban e-cigarettes sales to minors.

Smokefree Pennsylvania sent the following letter to NY Senate Health Committee members (and a similar one to NY Assembly members). Contact information for NY Senate Health Committee members and NY Assembly is below. Please forward this e-mail to e-cigarette consumers and other tobacco harm reduction advocates ASAP.

The Honorable Thomas K. Duane, Chair

New York Senate Health Committee

430 State Capitol Building

Albany, NY 12247

Re: Health Committee legislation to ban sales of electronic cigarettes (S7234 & A9529)

Dear Senator Duane:

Smokefree Pennsylvania strongly encourages you to OPPOSE S7234 & A9529 because they would force e-cigarette consumers (who quit smoking by switching to e-cigarettes) to either go back to smoking deadly cigarettes, or to purchase these life saving products from a newly created black market. An even better alternative is to AMEND the legislation so it just bans e-cigarette sales to minors, as is the law with all other tobacco products.

The growing body of scientific evidence consistently indicates that e-cigarettes (also called nicotine vaporizers) are at least 99% less hazardous alternatives to smoking cigarettes, as they emit no smoke. Since 2007, an estimated 300,000–500,000 smokers in the US (including tens of thousands of New Yorkers) have switched to e-cigarettes, which emit smokefree nicotine vapor. The American Association of Public Health Physicians, American Council on Science and Health, and many other health policy experts agree.

Instead of protecting health (as some groups claim), S7234 & A9529 threaten public health by protecting the deadliest consumer product (cigarettes) from market competition by far less hazardous smokefree alternatives. E-cigarette consumers and smokers have a human right to access and use far less hazardous tobacco alternatives to cigarettes.

By creating a black market for e-cigarettes, S7234 & A9529 would force e-cigarette suppliers in NY to move to other states, encourage e-cigarette consumers to buy from a black market, and waste state and local tax dollars for enforcement and adjudication.

Although the cigarette industry would be the chief beneficiary of S7234 & A9529, tobacco companies aren’t lobbying for the legislation. Rather, drug industry funded abstinence-only anti-tobacco groups are pushing the bills because they vehemently oppose smokers reducing their health risks by switching to less hazardous smokefree tobacco alternatives.
After 25 years of advocating laws that reduced smoking, I cannot think of a more effective way to protect cigarette markets or to harm/kill hundreds of thousands of smokers than by banning sales of e-cigarettes or other smokefree alternatives, as S7234 & A9529 would do.

Once again, please reject or amend this outrageous and inhumane legislation.

Sincerely,

William T. Godshall, MPH
Executive Director

NATO Show Continues to Add Exhibitors

Lou Maiellano — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:31:06 +0000

This Post is informative but I’m sure folks have an opinion on this and have comments to share. So what are your thoughts? Any thoughts that need to be passed on as I know NATO views TobaccoToday?

MINNEAPOLIS — The National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) has announced that it has received a wave of new exhibitor commitments to the 2011 NATO Show, the inaugural trade show for the association. The latest exhibitors to sign up for the NATO Show include A&T Tobacco Imports, Bags of Bags, Bahama Mama Cigars, Beach Cigar Group, Inc./Gurhka Cigars, Cheyenne International, DWC Enterprises, Global Tobacco, Great Midwest Tube & RYO Machines, International Tobacco Partners, Liaison Sales and Marketing, M & R Holdings, National Honey Almond, Rouseco and Tantus Tobacco.

The 2011 NATO Show will be held at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas on April 12-14. The NATO Show will feature educational seminars for retailers, the NATO Annual Awards Dinner, along with evening parties and special show deals.

Jim Colucci, senior vice president sales and marketing for Altadis USA and a member of the NATO Trade Show Committee, said, “Having a great trade show means that retailers find value in attending, and the retailers are telling manufacturers and distributors, this is the show to attend. When that happens, companies can’t wait to sign up. Also, these companies realize NATO has put more resources into fighting legislative battles than ever before, and helping support the trade show means more resources to fight anti-tobacco legislation. That’s a big point of difference between NATO and other shows which will not be using the proceeds to fight tobacco-related legislation.”

The NATO Show has already received commitments to exhibit from more than 30 manufacturers and distributors.

Companies include Nat Sherman, New Image Global, Smokey Mountain Chew, Zander-Greg and K. K. International Corp. Also Arango Cigar Co., Carolina Tobacco, Dom Rey Cigar, Inc./Cusano Cigars, Drew Estate, Harold Levinson Associates, House of Oxford, King Maker Marketing, Renegade Tobacco/House of Windsor, Smoker Friendly International, U.S. Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers and Zippo Lighter Co. And Altadis USA, Swisher International, Swedish Match, Republic Tobacco and National Tobacco Co.

Minneapolis-based NATO is a national retail trade association that focuses exclusively on state and federal tobacco legislative issues and leads the fight for all tobacco interests in the United States.

CBS 60 Minutes: Going Smokeless

Lou Maiellano — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 02:03:27 +0000

As cigarette sales plunge, tobacco companies are marketing smokeless products to skirt smoking bans and keep customers. Lesley Stahl investigates the pros and cons. Here is the link for your review. A very interesting review. What are your thoughts on the topic? Was the presentation good for the future of Snus? Give us your feedback.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Star Scientific Files Application with FDA for Ariva-BDL(TM) Approval as First Modified Risk Tobacco Product

Lou Maiellano — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:23:31 +0000

Star Scientific, Inc. (Nasdaq: CIGX) announced that on Friday, February 19 the company filed an application with the Food & Drug Administration for approval to market Ariva-BDL™ as a “modified risk” tobacco product under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009. This submission is the first such application to be filed with the Tobacco Products Center of the FDA, which has been established to oversee all aspects of tobacco regulation outlined in the 2009 Act.

What are your thoughts?

Have you tried the “NEW” Ariva product?

Any expectations of others to follow Star’s lead.

Will the process work? Is harm reduction going to work?

PR Newswire Feb 22 2010 BDL Filing

A Smokefree Future – England’s Ten Year Plan

Lou Maiellano — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:05:35 +0000

In an historic first for public health, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) of the UK’s National Health Service overwhelming approved tobacco harm reduction as a key component in England’s ten year plan to reduce cigarette smoking by half. The US FDA should follow the UK’s lead. The announcement and a news excerpt are below, the press release is attached, and the full report “A Smokefree Future” is at http://www.dh.gov.uk/dr_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_111748.pdf

Interesting development in the UK.

What are your thoughts?

Do you see the FDA following suit?

Professor: E-Cigarette Safer than Regular cigarettes, FDA Study is Propoganda

James Dunworth — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:14:26 +0000

In a recent interview with ECigaretteDirect.co.uk Carl Phillips, Associate Professor at the University of Alberta in Canada, told us that the electronic cigarette was an order of magnitude safer than regular cigarettes and that an FDA study into the electronic cigarette was “pure propoganda”.

The electronic cigarette carried, he estimated, around one percent of the risk of regular cigarettes.

While he acknowledged that the electronic cigarette carried traces of carcinogens, he pointed out that banning the electronic cigarette based on the very low levels of carcinogens contained within would also mean “banning half the foods available.”

Given that, he argued, the FDA’s stance on the electronic cigarette was motivated by propoganda and not by science.

You can read the full interview here: Electronic Cigarette Interview with Carl Phillips.

Philip Morris International looking at the e-cig business?

Lou Maiellano — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:06:05 +0000

PMI Reported To Be In Negotiations With Ruyan

An OfficialWire report on November 4th said Philip Morris International is in negotiations with Ruyan Group, the manufacturer of the original e-cigarette in 2005. According to an article on Quamnet.com, “Ruyan Group said that an agreement between the Company and Philip Morris International Management S.A. could not be reached on matters relating to the co-operation between them on its ‘electronic cigarettes’ by the end of the first and exclusive phase of negotiations.” It is unclear what the news could mean for the e-cigarette industry, but “Philip Morris wants in,” the report said (OfficialWire 11/4).

Can anyone shed light on this possibility? Is it a possibility? Why Ruyan? If not Ruyan then who? Or is someone just blowing a lot of smoke (vapor)? What would this do to all the competition if it became a reality? Could Marlboro one day have an electronic version? What are your thoughts? Does PMI really want in?

A World Without Marlboro?

John Rolfe — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:58:40 +0000

Wouldn’t it be ironic if the Altria juggernaut, the one that worked with the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids to create the FDA regulation and its ban on characterizing flavors, except menthol and something called “tobacco flavor,” ultimately ended up by creating an FDA regulatory scheme that defined “tobacco flavor” so narrowly as to eliminate the vanilla, cocoa, licorice and other flavors that go into burley “toasting” and that were recently banned in Canada? Now that the World Health Organization’s TobReg group is meeting this weekend in Jordan to lock down definitions of things like “tobacco flavor” as part of their work on Articles 9 and 10 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control wouldn’t it be ironic if they came out against the American Blend cigarette? Could it be that the success of Marlboro Lights as the kids’ cigarette of choice is due to the smoothness of an American Blend product? What if the tobacco control world only wants harsh products on the market as the next stage in reducing tobacco consumption? Talk about Altria having opened up a pandora’s box. No wonder they want the regulators to focus on flavored little cigars which are rarely if ever smoked by kids.

ASH UK Supports eCigs

John Rolfe — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:16:15 +0000

Prof. Michael Siegel of Boston University School of Public Health welcomed Action on Smoking and Health UK’s statement (http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_715.pdf) supporting the use of e-cigarettes by smokers who are otherwise unable to quit smoking, as it represents one of the first major anti-smoking groups that is in favor of allowing the product on the market. ASH UK’s statement says it supports a “harm reduction approach to tobacco,” and for those who do not wish to stop smoking or find it difficult to quit, products that deliver nicotine in a safe way should be made available. Since most of the smoking-related diseases are caused by inhaling smoke, the e-cigarettes, which deliver nicotine without the harmful toxins in cigarette smoke, are “likely to be a safer alternative to smoking,” ASH UK said. ASH’s US counterpart has called for a ban on e-cigarettes. Siegel said anti-smoking groups in the US support a policy of banning e-cigarettes, though such an approach would result in ex-smokers returning to cigarette smoking (tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com 10/15).