FLER at APE

Virginia Commonwealth University has signed a letter of intent to acquire Altria Group’s 450,000-square-foot building in downtown Richmond for USD 150 million, but the deal still depends on approval from the General Assembly. The university said the facility would support expansion of the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center and help grow enrollment in its new School of Public Health and School of Pharmacy. VCU also said constructing a comparable facility would cost about USD 715 million.

Galicia will implement a new “Minor Health Protection and Addictive Behaviors Prevention” law this Saturday, becoming the first region in Spain to ban the sale and use of vapes for people under 18.

Thailand’s Department of Disease Control has lodged a complaint over the alleged online sale of nicotine pouches. The department said its monitoring found the products were being advertised and sold through electronic media, and a further inquiry later identified a physical shop linked to a store in Pathum Thani province.

French anti-tobacco group Contre-Feu said in a statement released on April 14 that e-cigarette manufacturers are encouraging nicotine dependence among young people through targeted marketing and called for concrete measures to protect minors. The group asked for plain packaging for all vaping products, strict regulation of flavor names, and a ban on online sales.

City of York Council is considering new plans that would allow fines of up to GBP 200.00 (approximately USD 260.00) for traders caught selling illegal single-use vapes.

The European Commission has formally published its decision approving Bulgarian legislation banning the placing on the market, offering and sale of disposable e-cigarettes.