The future of electronic cigarette

The vape, electronic cigarette, e-cig, whatever how you call it, aroused a very important interest since its appearance 13 years ago. First it had been hailed as a positive alternative to tobacco addiction, enabling smokers to have a less noxious substitute. Nevertheless, over the years, several controversies rose such as its effects on health, its impact on young people, and some others. We could see rules be born to control its use.

Let's find out the news over the technological innovations and the regulations that are in evolution.

• The recent technological advance

We attend a frenetic run of the great manufacturers regarding the technological innovations on the vape market. Indeed, each year new boxes, pods, atomizers, clearomizers, drippers arrive on the market.

Here are some:

- A double tank electronic cigarette which offers the possibility to adjust nicotine rate in one click.

- An ultra sound box: it is a technical that evenly warms the liquid to get a smoother steam. This method leads to a low energy consumption as well as a decrease of liquid use.

- An alternative current device. Thanks to this option you don't need direct current. Its is a system where vibrations are communicated by sent electricity that allows an optimal uptake of steam. It allows to control the frequency and the power. We notice an increase of battery lifespan.

- The waterproof electronic cigarette, you can vape under the rain with no problem.

- The "smart" e-cigarette that is perfect for tobacco quitting. It automatically adjusts the quantity of delivered nicotine following your addiction to it, but also your use habits and your cessation advancement. The goal is to minimize the undesirable effects of withdrawal offering a progressive decrease of nicotine absorption.

- Or even a Bluetooth e-cig that you can connect to your smartphone app. You can follow in real time your liquid consumption, battery level...

The innovation isn't just technological. It also goes to the design's evolutions in terms of aesthetic as well as ergonomic and personalization.

This way, it exists e-cig with temperature control, evolved battery with fast charge...

Progress is constant and focuses its development on device performances and consumers expectations. We can therefore expect to see the emergence of the following in the next few years:

- more compact, lighter devices without sacrificing battery life or flavor rendition, like the Gotek X kit from Aspire®.

- new technologies for faster, more precise heating of resistances, batteries capable of storing more energy...

- integrating it further into our daily lives, by making it compatible with more smartphones, connected watches and other connected objects, or even voice activation.

• Vape stigmatization and evolution of rules

Vape is still being denigrated by anti-vape organizations such as the CNCT (anti-smoking and anti-vape association), but also by major bodies such as the Haute Autorité de Santé (French National Authority for Health) and the Haut Conseil de la santé publique (French High Council for Public Health). In fact, in June 2023, the HAS updated its recommendations for good practice in quitting smoking. As was the case in 2014, e-cigarettes have been excluded from these recommendations, according to the HAS, for lack of hindsight and scientific proof that they are harmless. Yet for more than a decade, e-cigarettes have been a real help to many ex-smokers, and have been recommended by a large number of health professionals and doctors. Moreover, studies confirm the effectiveness of vape in smoking cessation, such as Pr Hajek's 2019 study or the Crochane study of 2020, reviewed in 2022, which cross-referenced some 80 reliable studies. Despite this, the HAS considers that "there is currently insufficient scientific evidence to support the claim that vaping products can help people stop smoking" (Rapport 2023, p6).

The road to recognize e-cigarette as an efficient less risky substitute is still long.

Which we can observe even more reading the Sovape article who, with the help of Aiduce, detailed a series of antivape measures suggested by WHO.

From November 20 to 25, 2023, WHO is organizing COP10 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), to be held in Panama City. COP10 is an event held every two years under the auspices of the FCTC treaty. It brings together the 181 decision-making national delegations and the European Union, as well as other WHO-accredited organizations.

Sovape's teams have analyzed the preparatory documents published by the FCTC Secretariat, which make it possible to anticipate the measures on the agenda against electronic cigarettes. Although the agenda is only revealed publicly at the last moment, these documents reveal some worrying clues for all vapers.

Every decision taken at this event is by consensus, not by vote. If a country opposes a measure, it will not see the light of day. If the FCTC proposals are approved, the parties will have to implement the new regulations in their national legislation.

Here are the main points:

- A ban on open vaping systems. These systems allow vapers to control the parameters of their e-cig and liquid ingredients. The aim is to remove control over power and airflow settings, and to impose flavour and nicotine levels.

- A total ban on flavors other than classic flavors.

- A ban on nicotine salts.

- Mandatory standardization of nicotine delivery for devices.

- Link vaping to smoking by redefining the terms "smoke" and "stop smoking" to include vapers.

- Regulate all vaping products in the same way as tobacco products: same tax treatment, ban on vaping in public places (even open), mandatory health warnings, plain packaging, ban on advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

We'll come back to these measures when we publish the COP10 minutes.