Law Banning Flavored Tobacco Products in San Diego Signed into Law

News
Jun.05.2022
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria signed into law Friday a bill that will stop the sale of flavored tobacco in the city.
Law Banning Flavored Tobacco Products in San Diego Signed into Law

 

San Diego City Councilwomen Marni von Wilpert and Jennifer Campbell joined San Diego School Board Trustees on Friday to announce the Stop Adolescent Addiction to Flavored E-Cigarettes Act was officially signed into law by Gloria.

The City Council approved the SAAFE Act, introduced by von Wilpert, to prohibit the sale of specified flavored tobacco and nicotine products in the city. It targets flavored tobacco and nicotine products that “appeal to children through candy and fruit flavors, as an attempt to hide the harshness of nicotine and as a direct attempt to appeal to a younger audience,” von Wilpert said.

“This new law is going to save lives and safeguard children’s health,” she said. “Our new partnership with San Diego schools will empower parents with vital health resources so we do everything possible to prevent Big Tobacco from hooking our children and hijacking their futures.”

School Board Trustees Richard Barrera and Zachary Patterson joined the councilwomen at Friday morning’s news conference to educate parents on the dangers of skyrocketing teenage nicotine addiction and highlighted resources to combat youth nicotine use.

 

Source:timesofsandiego

 

U.S. Health Groups Seek to Overturn FDA Enforcement Discretion for Pending PMTAs as Altria's Helix, NJOY and AVM Move to Intervene
U.S. Health Groups Seek to Overturn FDA Enforcement Discretion for Pending PMTAs as Altria's Helix, NJOY and AVM Move to Intervene
American Vapor Manufacturers (AVM) and Altria subsidiaries Helix Innovations and NJOY filed separate motions on October 7, 2026, seeking to intervene on the FDA's side in a lawsuit challenging its enforcement guidance for certain e-cigarette and nicotine pouch products with pending premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs). Seven public health and tobacco-control organizations, including the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, sued the agency in July to overturn the policy. AVM argues that vacating the guidance could disrupt orders, inventory, retail distribution and investments in regulatory submissions.
Regulations
Oct.09
PMI Expands U.S. ZYN Portfolio With New 1.5 mg and 8 mg Strengths, Moves Toward a Unified 20-Pouch-Per-Can Format
PMI Expands U.S. ZYN Portfolio With New 1.5 mg and 8 mg Strengths, Moves Toward a Unified 20-Pouch-Per-Can Format
Philip Morris International is expanding its U.S. ZYN nicotine pouch portfolio with new 1.5 mg and 8 mg strengths and plans to move its core 3 mg and 6 mg dry-pouch products from 15 to 20 pouches per can in the fourth quarter of 2026. ZYN ULTRA is also commercially available, with FDA authorization covering 10 products at 9 mg and one 11 mg Smooth product. PMI U.S. lists the new 1.5 mg and 8 mg strengths as commercially available, but as of September 10 they do not appear on the FDA’s public authorization list. Public materials do not identify which PMTA submissions cover the two new strengths or their current review status.
Sep.11
GAO Audit Finds Nearly 132,000 FDA Tobacco Applications Waiting an Average 1,266 Days as Nicotine Pouch Pilot Practices Move Into Vape PMTA Reviews
GAO Audit Finds Nearly 132,000 FDA Tobacco Applications Waiting an Average 1,266 Days as Nicotine Pouch Pilot Practices Move Into Vape PMTA Reviews
A U.S. Government Accountability Office audit found that 131,915 tobacco product applications submitted to the FDA since 2018 remained without a final review as of December 31, 2025, with pending applications waiting an average of 1,266 days. GAO also found FDA lacks the data needed to systematically determine whether scientific reviews meet applicable timelines. HHS agreed to upgrade the agency's tracking systems. At the same time, FDA has begun applying lessons from its nicotine pouch PMTA pilot to e-cigarette reviews, while changes to enforcement policy and electronic submissions are making the specific stage of a PMTA increasingly relevant to market access.
FDA
Oct.03
U.S. Military Could Test Nicotine Pouches and Vapes for Smoking Cessation as Washington Examiner Cites ZYN and Potential $4 Billion Reduction in Related Defense Costs
U.S. Military Could Test Nicotine Pouches and Vapes for Smoking Cessation as Washington Examiner Cites ZYN and Potential $4 Billion Reduction in Related Defense Costs
The House-passed FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act includes a provision authorizing the defense secretary to conduct a one-year smoking-cessation pilot for active-duty service members. Section 707 lists counseling, nicotine gum and patches alongside what the bill calls "electric nicotine delivery systems," nicotine pouches and heat-not-burn products. A recent Washington Examiner op-ed cited ZYN as an example in arguing for the provision, but the legislation does not name any commercial brand or supplier. ZYN is made by PMI-owned Swedish Match USA, with specified products holding FDA marketing authorizations and modified risk orders.
Sep.20
Canada Health Minister Says She Is Not Considering Looser Nicotine Pouch Retail Rules as PMI-Linked Group Pushes for Wider Access
Canada Health Minister Says She Is Not Considering Looser Nicotine Pouch Retail Rules as PMI-Linked Group Pushes for Wider Access
Canadian Health Minister Marjorie Michel says she is not considering loosening retail restrictions on nicotine pouches. Canada regulates pouches containing 4 mg or less of nicotine per unit as non-prescription nicotine replacement therapy and requires newer NRT formats such as pouches to be sold from behind pharmacy counters. Meanwhile, Unsmoke Canada, linked to Philip Morris International's Canadian business, is pushing to allow pouches in convenience stores and other general retail outlets. Health Canada also acknowledges continued unauthorized sales, while recent research shows rising pouch use among Canadian youth aged 16 to 19.
Sep.24
Germany Probes 7.6 Million Illegal Vape Case With Estimated €33.3 Million Tax Loss; Four Chinese Manufacturer Employees Under Investigation, Some Packaging in Enforcement Images Resembles FUMOT Products
Germany Probes 7.6 Million Illegal Vape Case With Estimated €33.3 Million Tax Loss; Four Chinese Manufacturer Employees Under Investigation, Some Packaging in Enforcement Images Resembles FUMOT Products
German prosecutors and customs authorities are conducting a criminal investigation into an alleged cross-border organised vape network. Authorities say that between January 2024 and March 2025, four employees of an unnamed Chinese e-cigarette manufacturer allegedly built a network of sales agents and wholesalers that brought more than 7.6 million nicotine disposable vapes into Germany, causing an estimated €33.3 million in excise-tax losses. The manufacturer has not been named. Some products visible in enforcement images have packaging resembling products from FUMOT’s portfolio. European regulatory records from 2024, FUMOT’s public overseas-sales materials and records involving German vape importer and distribution company Zamu-Pro GmbH also show FUMOT/RandM products and German distribution activity during the period covered by the investigation.
Sep.21