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Author Hannah Rubery Categories Other Posted on

Spain to Ban Vape Flavours and Disposable Vapes

The vaping landscape in Spain is about to undergo a seismic shift. The Spanish government has recently announced upcoming legislation to ban flavoured vapes alongside disposable E-cigarettes. For the vaping community, this raises many questions about accessibility, public health implications, and the future of the industry as a whole.

This blog will explore the details of the vape ban in Spain, assess the reasons behind the decision, and provide insights into how the vaping community can adapt to these changes. We'll also compare Spain’s move to similar regulations worldwide and discuss future possibilities for both policy and vaping culture.

What Does the New Vape Ban in Spain Entail?

The Spanish government has introduced legislation aimed at banning flavoured vapes and disposable vaping devices. This move stems from growing concerns over the increasing popularity of vapes among younger demographics and the environmental footprint of disposable E-cigarettes.

Under the new regulations:

  • Flavoured vapes will no longer be available for sale, leaving only tobacco and possibly menthol options on the market.
  • Disposable vapes—popular for their convenience but notorious for their environmental impact—will also face a complete ban.

Why is Spain Implementing the Vape Ban?

Several key motivations underpin Spain’s decision to introduce these bans:

1. Protecting Youth from Vaping

One of the main reasons cited by lawmakers is a surge in vaping among teenagers and young adults. Flavoured vapes, often with sweet or fruity profiles, are believed to have a strong appeal for younger users despite evidence that suggests fruit flavours are also highly popular in adult vapers. The Spanish Ministry of Health argues that these products act as a gateway to nicotine addiction for non-smokers.

2. Environmental Concerns

Disposable vapes pose significant environmental challenges due to their single-use nature. The batteries and plastic casings of these devices are often discarded improperly, contributing to growing e-waste and pollution issues.

3. Public Health Goals

Spanish authorities are aiming to echo the success of anti-smoking campaigns by curbing the use of vaping products, which are controversial despite being considered less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes.

What Will Be the Impact on Public Health and the Economy?

The vape ban raises crucial questions about its effects on both public health and Spain’s economy.

Public Health

The ban is expected to reduce vaping among young people, potentially preventing nicotine addiction in a vulnerable age group. However, for adults who use vaping as a harm-reduction alternative to smoking, the limitations on access to flavours could create challenges. Experts fear that some users might revert to smoking cigarettes, which carry far greater health risks. Studies have noted that flavours are beneficial for smokers in their quit-smoking journey.

Economic Ramifications

The vaping industry in Spain has grown substantially over the past decade, supporting a wide range of businesses, from specialised vape shops to online retailers. The regulation could disrupt the industry, leading to job losses, reduced tax revenue, and a hit to small businesses reliant on the sale of flavoured vapes and disposables.

How Does Spain Compare to Other Countries?

Spain is far from the first country to regulate vaping products heavily. Its recent move mirrors patterns seen elsewhere:

  • Australia: A stringent framework limits the sale and possession of all non-prescribed vaping products, positioning them strictly as medical tools for smoking cessation.
  • United States: Certain states have implemented flavour bans due to youth vaping concerns, with New York and California introducing some of the toughest restrictions.
  • European Union: Several EU member states, including Finland and Estonia, have imposed restrictions on vape flavours to align with the bloc's commitment to reducing smoking rates.

The results from these countries vary. For example, in the US, flavour bans have contributed to decreased youth vaping but also a noticeable rise in a black market for flavoured cartridges. Spain could face similar challenges unless well-thought-out enforcement strategies are put in place.

Are There Better Alternatives to Regulating Vaping?

While banning entire categories of vaping products may seem expedient, there are alternative strategies that might balance public health goals with consumer needs:

  1. Age-Restricted Marketing: Tightening regulations on how vapes are marketed, such as banning youth-oriented packaging and advertising, could help reduce the appeal to younger users while keeping products available for adult smokers.
  2. Stricter enforcement could target underage use and stem the sale of illicit products, reducing associated risks to public health.
  3. Public Awareness Campaigns: Education campaigns about the risks of vaping for non-smokers, combined with the promotion of vaping as a harm-reduction tool for smokers, could lead to better-informed use.

Navigating the Vape Ban as a Consumer in Spain

For Spanish vapers, the new legislation may feel daunting, but there are proactive steps users can take to adapt:

1. Transition to Refillable Devices

Since disposable vapes will no longer be an option, exploring refillable devices that use tobacco or menthol E-liquids might be the easiest way to comply with the new regulations.

2. Customise Flavours

With flavoured vapes banned in stores, DIY E-liquid mixing at home (where permitted by law) could be an alternative for experienced users.

3. Seek Support Networks

Joining vaping communities on forums or social media platforms can provide valuable advice on adapting to the new laws and maintaining harm reduction goals.

4. Consult Healthcare Providers

If vaping plays a crucial role in your smoking cessation efforts, consult healthcare professionals for guidance on transitioning to nicotine replacement therapies or other alternatives.

The Future of Vaping in Spain and Beyond

Spain's vape ban underscores an evolving global trend towards stricter vaping regulations. While the aim of protecting public health and the environment is commendable, the long-term success of these measures will highly depend on their implementation and the availability of viable alternatives for smokers seeking harm reduction.

The vaping landscape will likely continue to change in the coming years, so staying informed and prepared is essential for both businesses and consumers. Advocating for thoughtful, evidence-based policymaking will also be crucial to ensure regulations strike a fair balance between public health and individual choice.

For vapers in Spain, these changes may feel overwhelming, but with some adjustments and support from the community, adapting to the new regulations is entirely achievable.

Author Hannah Rubery Categories Compliance, E-Liquid, Other, Xyfil Updates Posted on

Changes to Certification & Fees for Vape Products in the UAE

The vaping industry in the UAE is continuing to grow with a projected revenue of US$59.38 million in 2023 – that’s almost double from 2019 when vapes first became able to be legally sold in the UAE. The market is also expected to grow by 9.41% from 2023 to 2027.

Recently in the UAE, the MoIAT (previously vape products were regulated by ESMA) registration fee has changed, no doubt due to the surge in the vaping market.

Changes to UAE registration fee

To legally sell vaping products in the UAE, E-Liquids and devices must be registered for approval with the MoIAT (Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology). Typically, this is a service that can be provided via agencies, but Xyfil also offers compliance services, whether you’ve manufactured with us or not.

Registering your product for sale in the UAE requires two separate fees:

1) Certificate issuing fee: (It must be paid to the MoIAT). These fees have been reduced from AED 5000 to AED 670 per application.

2) Document review fee: (It must be paid to the notified body). There has been no change on this and it is still AED 800 per application.

For a full breakdown regarding products, see below.

 OLDNEW
LABELAED 5,000AED 670
PRODUCT-LIQUIDAED 5,000AED 670
RoHSAED 1,000AED 1,000
PRODUCT-DEVICEAED 5,000AED 670

There have also been some changes with the registration process. Originally, a single application could include different variations of flavours; so, if you had an E-Liquid flavour in several strengths, you could register them all under one application. This has since been changed and a separate application must be submitted for each sku that has a barcode. Should you wish to register a multipack of the same flavour and nicotine strength, along with the single pack variation, this will require two separate applications.

How Xyfil can help you with registering compliant products in the UAE

“Our in-house team of compliance experts are able to perform the necessary toxicology tests and full reports required by MoIAT. More critically, we are able to gather all necessary data into the format required by the MoIAT. With popular brands we manufacture like Pod Salt fast becoming one of the most popular brands in the UAE, we’re here to help bring even more premium brands to the Middle East.”

-Pradip, Compliance, Xyfil.

Since the changes in 2019 that allowed for the selling of E-Cigarettes and E-Liquids in the UAE, we have been successfully manufacturing and selling compliant products in the Middle East. With a valid UAE Industry/Trade License, we are licensed to manufacture products for UAE within the UK. This helps to ensure that our products benefit from the superior British standard for manufacturing E-Liquids.

As a Toll Manufacturer with ISO 9001 and GMP certification, we are skilled with over 10 years of experience in manufacturing, production, R&D, logistics, compliance and more. Whether you are looking to take an existing product and turn it into one for sale within the UAE, or looking to manufacture a whole new product range we at Xyfil can help you through any and all stages of compliance.

Talk to us and book a meeting today.

Author Hannah Rubery Categories E-Liquid, Manufacturing, Other, Regulations Posted on

Australia Considers Toughening Restrictions on Vaping

Despite being the home of one of the world’s toughest restrictions on vaping, the Australian government are considering further tightening. The aim is to crackdown on children accessing E-Cigarettes. But is it creating more harm than good?

The current vaping regulations in Australia

Currently, it is illegal to purchase nicotine-containing E-Liquid, and devices in Australia without a prescription. Each state however regulates issues such as sales, public use, age limits etc.

All states require retailers to be given approval for selling E-Liquid but at this time, none have been granted approval. Similarly, many states allow the sale of nicotine-free E-Cigarettes, but the products cannot claim to help quit or reduce smoking. These include Australian Capital Territory (retailers must have a tobacco license) and Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales have the same rule but sellers don’t require a license.

The proposed changes

The Australian federal government are considering key changes targeting specific areas such as importation rules and tougher labelling laws. A public consultation will be held to cover the four areas:

  • Changes to importation and border control laws required to stop illegal products entering Australia
  • Pre-market assessments of vapes to create a regulated source of products for pharmacists and doctors to prescribe
  • Labelling, advertising and flavouring of vapes that make them attractive to children
  • Stronger identification and regulation of nicotine-containing products

While these are being debated, the health Minister Mark Butler, has announced a ban on menthol cigarettes and other cigarette flavours plus additives.

The public consultation on vaping reforms will be open until the 16th of January.

The AMA (Australian Medical Association) has welcomed the federal government’s plans to tighten tobacco control and calls for the below changes to be made:

  • reducing the concentration limit from 100mg/ml to 20mg/ml, and introducing limits on the flavours and volume of nicotine that can be prescribed or ordered,
  • banning the importation of nicotine vaping products through the Personal Importation Scheme,
  • adding Nicotine Vaping Products to Real Time Prescription Monitoring programs,
  • restricting the use of Medicare smoking cessation items to a patient’s usual doctor, consistent with previous advice provided by the AMA.

Have these regulations really helped?

There’s much to debate with Australia’s already tight regulations on vaping. They clearly haven’t had the impact the government wished as they feel the need to tighten them further. And research has suggested that these changes may have been more detrimental to the smoke-free objective.

A recent study published by the BMJ (British Medical Association) analysed the smoking rates and cigarette consumption in 6 jurisdictions, across different regulatory environments for vaping. These included Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and British Colombia, UK and Australia. It was noted that, unsurprisingly, Australia had lower rates of vaping and a much lower rate of declining smoking rates, in comparison to the other countries.

And other countries are taking note of the failings. CAPHRA (Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocate) have submitted a consultation document to Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). They believe that Australia’s method of medicalising vaping is failing and that there needs to be open access for smokers looking to quit smoking.

Keep posted on the latest news with Xyfil.

Author Hannah Rubery Categories E-Liquid, Manufacturing, Other Posted on

Creating a Cost-Effective E-Liquid Brand for 2023

A lot has happened over the last couple of years between Brexit, the pandemic and of course the ongoing turmoil that has led to sky-rocketing prices. It’s not surprising that brands are considering looking at ways to cut their costs, but is it worth it? Brand owners should look at it holistically without compromising product quality. Read more about becoming more cost-effective in our latest article.

What’s driving the desire to be more cost-effective?

Overseas brands bringing cheaper E-Liquids

It began with the influx of Chinese-manufactured disposable devices taking the UK by storm. At the time this didn’t worry E-Liquid brands as much but now there’s a growing shift towards E-Liquids once more, these same overseas brands are now beginning to import E-Liquids, not just disposables. Manufactured in China, these E-Liquids often are cheaper in price to produce.

Unfortunately, this opens the possibility for some products of questionable quality and unregulated E-Liquids, to arrive in UK markets. British-manufactured E-Liquids, like those manufactured by Xyfil, understand the importance of quality and follow GMP and ISO guidelines to ensure this quality is passed onto the products we produce.

Inflation across the market

Another influence on the cost and pricing of products has of course been inflation. Across the globe, countries are feeling the sting of inflated prices. In the UK, it was recorded at 11.1% in October, rising at the fastest pace in 40 years.

The UK’s cost of living crisis

This has also led to the cost-of-living crisis as inflation impacts the pricing of consumer products. With the rising costs of essentials, some items are becoming more of a luxury than some can afford. Because of this, consumers are looking to cut costs and spend less.

Is it possible to create a cost-effective brand?

Quality vs Cost

Making cuts to your brand to help lower costs can impact on the quality of your products. Sourcing alternative ingredients that are lower in quality or manufacturing overseas, can negatively impact your product and your brand overall. Studies have shown that consumers can tell the difference between brands that are shrinking or ‘skimping’ on their products due to inflation. The last thing you want for your brand is to lose the confidence of your consumers.

Cutting back and trimming down

That’s not to say there aren’t ways of trimming down that don’t impact on your quality. Some brands have already started looking at ways to remove unneeded packaging in an effort to cut prices. Removing the need for cardboard boxes would help remove part of the cost of E-Liquids, however, the need to adhere to regulations and provide warnings would need to still be fulfilled.

There are many options which would be great from a sustainability standpoint but do not necessarily equate to cutting costs. New technologies like linerless labels help to improve efficiency and lower costs, but the technology itself requires an initial cost.

Simplicity vs complexity

E-Liquid flavours can quickly tot up the costs when creating a new product range. The more complex a flavour, the more ingredients are used to create that exact flavour. Keeping things simple might not make you stand out in a crowd, but it helps to keep the price down.

Getting creative with limits

Often, a prestigious brand looks the way it does because of the finishes and special touches added to the product packaging. But creative brands can certainly make use of the ‘less is more' approach and create eye-catching designs with simpler finishes. Setting a limit on the number of finishes and seeing what your designers can create will open more room for creativity.

Planning is key to managing costs

Leading on from this, it’s important to establish your plan brief with your manufacturer, and not just at the initial point of conception. Actively planning the details of your product from flavour to ratio to bottle size, to design and even how you wish to market it, can help tailor it to a more cost-effective product. Be honest and upfront with your brief to see exactly what your budget can achieve.

The pros of white label manufacturing

An option available for brands looking to create cost-effective products is white-label manufacturing. By selecting already pre-registered products to rebrand under your logo, not only do you save on compliance costs but benefit from high-quality products that are tried, tested, and approved.

Why you shouldn’t compromise products to cut costs

The Good-Better-Best (G-B-B) pricing approach

It’s a concept that many businesses have yet to touch on but those that have, see surprising benefits. What is G-B-B? The Good-Better-Best pricing approach is an option for businesses in which their product offering and pricing are tiered. This is often seen in the forms of products with 'regular', 'plus', and 'super' versions. This could be gadgets, subscriptions, consumables and more.

So perhaps the discussion shouldn’t be how you can make your brand cost-effective, but how your brand could make a cost-effective product part of your range.

Cost-effective vs Cost efficiency

It may sound the same, but they differ and can make a big difference in your products. Being cost-effective is predominantly about getting the task done adequately; in a way, you can think of this as the bare minimum to create your desired product. Being cost-efficient however is getting the job done the right way with the least amount of waste and optimising your available resources.

In terms of E-Liquids, the most cost-effective way to create a budget-friendly brand would be to establish a new product offering that focuses on simplicity and meeting consumers’ needs. Rather than complex designs across the packaging, garner more interest with simple designs and a finish that is eye-catching. Source locally and don’t compromise on product quality to ensure you don’t harm your brand’s reputation.

Choosing to be cost-effective is a sure way to end up compromising your products and your brand. But aiming to become cost-efficient may see some initial cost but is more likely to provide longer-returning benefits.

Author Hannah Rubery Categories E-Liquid, Manufacturing, Other, Xyfil Updates Posted on

Meet Our Key Team Members – Important Contacts

Get in contact with the person you need to talk to at Xyfil with these important contacts. Whether you’re looking for a quote, more information or regarding a project already in the works, these are our key contacts.

Sales team

Our sales teams are dedicated to helping you from start to finish. Whether that’s a new range you have in mind or a product idea you want to scope out, our sales team can answer the questions. The first point of call for your product needs, our sales team are here to help.

For all things sales related our top contacts for you are:

Imran Ibrahim

Email | Linkedin | Mobile/WhatsApp

Flavourists

As a leading E-Liquid and CBD manufacturer in the UK, our Flavourist and Product Development manager can help you see your ideas become real. With expert knowledge on the latest trends in the vaping and CBD industry, developing new products and E-Liquid flavours has never been easier than with Xyfil.

For all things flavour and product development you can contact:

Suleman Umar

Email | Linkedin

Compliance

Ensuring that your products meet legal requirements is yet another service that we provide for CBD and E-Liquid manufacture. Our compliance team offer expert knowledge for regulations including UK, EU and the Middle East; work with our teams in-house to ensure that products are compliant throughout the process.

For all things compliance and regulations, you can contact:

Pradip Suwal

Email | Linkedin

Design

Our creative studio handles all things design when it comes to your products, be it product design, logos, packaging & labels, POS, web banners and more. The team have helped hundreds of brands hit the market with eye-catching, unique E-Liquid and CBD designs. If you’re looking to create a new range or simply give your products an updated design, we can help.

For all things creative you can contact:

Jack Tidy

Email | Linkedin

Operations

A quality operations team ensures the production process is completed from start to finish, and our operations department strives to ensure customer satisfaction. Between meeting deadlines, establishing supply chains and running production to push your products out for your deadlines, operations is one of the key cogs in the E-Liquid and CBD manufacture process.

For all things relating to production, you can contact:

Anisha Hansrod

Email | Linkedin