Since COVID-19 MIVAS 2020 was postponed to March 2022, sealebia invited you to join us.
Sealebia booth: 20
Time: 2022.03.26- 2022.03.27
Venue: Jalan Dulang, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor Darul Ehsan, MALAYSIA
Exhibition introduction:
MIVAS 2020 will be the third exhibition held in Malaysia since 2018.
The first exhibition started in September 2018 at the crown prince World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur, with about 100 international exhibitors. The organizers received more than 78000 registered visitors worldwide through Facebook.
The second exhibition will be held at the same venue in March 2019. It is bigger than ever, with more than 150 local and international exhibitors, and the organizers received more than 120000 registered visitors worldwide through Facebook.
The third exhibition will be held from March 28 to March 29, 2020 in hall Tun Razak 1 of the prince’s World Trade Center (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is estimated that there are about 200 exhibitors and 20000 visitors.
Malaysia has become the Asian center of all vaping products. The creation awareness and growth business have achieved great success in the past two Malaysian exhibitions. The vape scene in Malaysia and across the country has improved, the demand has increased, and some lifestyles have also improved.
You can share and expand your brand globally through the upcoming 2022 Malaysia e-cigarette exhibition.
Periphery of e-cigarette: battery, starter, charger, mobile power supply, tobacco oil, tobacco oil bottle, perfume, other storage equipment, packaging box, printing and packaging, e-cigarette production equipment, hardware accessories, production software, etc.
Smoking the dried flowers from a marijuana plant in a joint is one of the oldest ways to consume this magical herb.
Recent years have seen many cannabis fans forgo traditional papers and convert to electronic devices, believing vaporizing weed is better.
Both consumption methods allow CBD and THC to make their way into your bloodstream via the tissue in your lungs. You’ll also feel the psychoactive effects of a particular strain within a few seconds, regardless of which technique you use.
When it comes to vaping vs. smoking marijuana, the biggest difference is the heat produced by each method. Joints burn at high temperatures, damaging the soft tissue within your lungs every time you take a puff.
In comparison, devices used for vaping weed run a lot cooler, with some giving you full control of the temperature. As a result, you don’t irritate your throat and respiratory system to the same degree.
That doesn’t mean vaporizing weed is better or completely harmless.
Cannabis oil often contains a variety of chemicals and, due to a lack of regulations, may contain toxic compounds. Some of the most harmful ingredients used to make these products include:
Carcinogenic chemicals: Low-quality products contain damaging compounds used to suspend the THC and CBD in a fluid. While vaporizing weed is better, inhaling these chemicals can cause cancer.
Flavorants: Cannabis oils come in many different flavors. Some products use ingredients like diacetyl which irritate your lungs to achieve their mouthwatering tastes.
Heavy metals: The coils in a vape pen are made using a variety of different metals. Continuous use leads to the heating element breaking down and releasing microscopic particles into your lungs.
Benefits of vaping cannabis
Another reason electronic devices are winning in the battle between vaping vs. smoking marijuana is their additional benefits.
For starters, e-cigarettes are much easier to use, requiring a single press of a button to activate them. On the other hand, rolling joints takes skill and a bit of practice, which can get frustrating for some beginners.
Another massive reason people think vaporizing weed is better is that there’s less smell and no ash. You don’t have to worry about your clothes absorbing a pungent marijuana fragrance and a low chance of burning yourself.
While the initial cost of THC pens is high, vaping is more affordable than smoking in the long run. Oils tend to last longer than raw bud, and the devices are far more efficient with their usage.
When it comes to vaping weed vs. smoking it, one benefit that stands out is the ability to inhale a consistent dose. This feature becomes even more important for medical marijuana patients using CBD as a form of treatment.
Many people who choose to consume cannabis with an electronic device claim that the flavor is cleaner. You’re more likely to pick up nuances in flavor between various cultivars, improving your overall experience.
There is also a wider variety of options when it comes to vaping vs. smoking marijuana. Some electronic devices are single-use, while others let you refill with oil or wax. There are even models that let you vape raw, dry buds.
Potential issues
While there are many benefits to using vape pens over joints, there are still potential health issues with using these devices.
It’s important to understand that smoking anything is harmful to your respiratory system.
Although vaporizing weed is better, the heat is the main problem. Prolonged exposure may still lead to damaged lung tissue, even if the device’s temperature is lower than a joint.
Buying and using low-quality oils can also release toxic compounds into your lungs that can lead to illnesses like cancer. Only buy from trusted dispensaries and avoid black market products.
If you develop symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, or shortness of breath, stop smoking and visit your health practitioner.
The bottom line
So, is smoking carts better than weed?
The truth is that inhaling any hot vapor into your lungs isn’t good for you, regardless of the consumption method.
If you like smoking cannabis, a vape pen is a healthy alternative to joints, provided you buy products from a reputable dispensary. You could also grow your own weed at home, ensuring no harmful chemicals make their way into your oil or wax.
Where do you stand when it comes to vaping vs. smoking marijuana? Check out the vast range of CBD and THC oils for sale and see if you can tell the difference.
On March 24, the official website of FDA showed that some products of logic, an e-cigarette brand of Japan Tobacco International, were authorized by PMTA, such as logic vapeleaf, logic power, logic pro, etc., mainly tobacco flavor, and mint flavor is still under review.
This is the second electronic cigarette product authorized by PMTA after VUSE of British American tobacco.
Logic products reviewed by PMTA:
Logic Regular Cartridge/Capsule Package
Logic Vapeleaf Cartridge/Capsule Package
Logic Vapeleaf Tobacco Vapor System
Logic Pro Tobacco e-Liquid Package
Logic Pro Capsule Tank System
Logic Pro Capsule Tank System
Logic Power Tobacco e-Liquid Package
Logic Power Rechargeable Kit
Logic is an electronic cigarette manufacturer in the United States. It was acquired by Japan Tobacco International in April 2015. It has multiple electronic cigarette categories.
Vapeleaf: This is the only HTP authorized by FDA except iqos of Philip Morris International. Due to patent dispute, this product is not sold in the United States, but in other countries under the brand of ploom tech of JTI.
Logic power: a rechargeable cigar like device with a traditional screw in atomizer supplement.
Electronic capsule with embedded logic: 1.5 ml, which can hold electronic liquid.
Logic is the second company approved by FDA to sell electronic cigarette products. In October 2021, the agency authorized RJ Reynolds (RJR) vapor company to provide marketing licenses for three outdated steam products for its VUSE solo equipment and two tobacco flavored smoke bombs.
The agency also denied that VUSE PMTA was used for flavoring products other than tobacco.
It is worth noting that neither logic products authorized today nor VUSE solo occupy a considerable share in the U.S. e-cigarette market. The most popular mass market e-cigarettes, such as Juul and VUSE Alto cartridge change e-cigarettes, are still under FDA review.
To help the efforts in Ukraine, Ultimate Juice has launched a Non-profit E-liquid range called “Ultimate E-liquid supports Ukraine”.
This range consists of two flavours which share the colours of the Ukraine flag respectively. ‘Blue’ is a Blue Raspberry Energy drink flavoured e-liquid and ‘Yellow’ is a Tropical fruits flavour with Pineapple and Mango.
They have manufactured 4000 bottles of this new range and will in turn donate all profits from this run until it has sold out.
The profits made from this project for Ultimate Juice will be going to the DEC Ukraine humanitarian appeal to help support struggling families in the current crisis. These families include people who are in need of food, water and shelter.
Ultimate Juice say…
“We would appreciate as much support as possible to make as much of an impact as we can to support these people.”
Four different e-liquids were analysed manufactured by Dreamods which were different tobacco flavours – “Dolce Bacco”, “Red Bacco”, “Deciso” and “Otello”. The device used for the e-liquid tests was an Aspire Zelos and Nautilus 2 tank with 1.6ohm coil at 10W power.
Anyway the results apparently show there were no contaminates in any of the tested liquids and any metal contents were below the levels required by the WHO (World Health Organisation) for drinking water.
Also tested was the vapour from these liquids versus tobacco smoke to replicate the human exposure of lung cells to them.
Professor Massimo Caruso (University of Catania and author of the study) was…
“satisfied with the significantly reduced (about 80% less) cytotoxic effect of the aerosol of all four liquids compared to cigarette smoke.”
The study shows…
“Results that increasingly support international data confirming the reduced toxicity of electronic cigarettes compared to conventional smoking and the benefits, in terms of health, for those smokers who decide to use them to quit smoking.”
Several points were made in the summary – I quote some of them below…
“The benefits of innovation are unpredictable and hard to quantify. Fear of adverse consequences can lead to excessive emphasis on risk avoidance, leading to regulation that holds back beneficial innovation. The experience in tobacco harm reduction illustrates this.”
“Innovative reduced-risk nicotine products, such as e-cigarettes, snus and heated tobacco, have been associated with steep declines in smoking prevalence in several countries, including the UK, but have been banned in others on the basis of the precautionary principle.”
“Those who are opposed to tobacco harm reduction tend to focus on the potential risks of alternative products, rather than their risks relative to the hazards of smoking. This is a mistake. The realistic counterfactual to a scenario in which hundreds of millions of smokers switch to lower-risk nicotine products is not one in which nicotine use disappears but one in which hundreds of millions of people continue to smoke cigarettes.”
The document was written by Victoria Hewson and Christopher Snowdon who are both heads of departments at the IEA.
It covers the topics of Harm Reduction, How risks are relative and how over-regulation could be a hindrance.
Innovation In The Tobacco Industry
The Tobacco Reporter website has published an interview with former WHO and Foundation for a Smoke-Free World member Derek Yach.
Since leaving these organisations he has spent a lot of time promoting innovation to help reduce smoking rates and encouraging health authorities to recognise this opportunity.
Here is the video interview including topics such as the Tobacco Reporter recent “innovation issue” and the importance of innovation.
The AJPH (American Journal of Public Health) announced a policy change that it will no longer accept content from scientists associated with the vaping or tobacco industries.
“Corporate deception in public health is nothing new. From the fossil fuel industry hiding the environmental impact of fracking to the pharmaceutical industry misleading the medical community about the dangers of opioid use, for-profit industries have often misrepresented scientific findings to obscure negative evidence related to the public’s health and well-being to protect their bottom line.
Among the worst offenders is the tobacco industry, who knowingly hid the truth about the impact of cigarette smoking for decades. Tobacco industry executives spun a narrative of doubt around the health risks of smoking, donated to politicians who would oppose greater regulations, and funded research designed to undercut objective scientific findings to protect profits. Not until the landmark 1998 Master Settlement Agreement did such actions receive greater attention and tobacco companies were forbidden to engage in practices that conceal health risks.”
However it also raises questions about censorship and how the scientific establishment could basically ignore any line of research it doesn’t agree with.
Also some very convincing arguments are mentioned in the article about how independent studies have also produced their fair share of Junk Science too.
The author of the article is actually a vaper and stopped smoking by vaping 10 years ago. He says in reply to any suggestion that he may be a “tobacco Shill”…
“Critics will inevitably assert that I wrote this article because ACSH has received some tobacco-industry funding in the past. That’s nonsense, of course. I cover vaping research because I smoked my last pack of Camel Lights a decade ago, right around the time I purchased my first e-cigarette with my doctor’s endorsement. I’m much healthier as a result, a fact I’ve learned to truly appreciate since becoming a father. It therefore boggles my mind that American anti-smoking groups continue to deny the well-documented benefits of vaping.”
I am conflicted about this issue – yes we need to safeguard against Big Tobacco hiding or manipulating evidence, but I think every study needs to be assessed by its own virtues and accuracy.
I do agree that the title is a bit of a jumbled word-salad but the findings make a lot more sense.
The basis of the study was to assess the effectiveness of e-cigarettes (with or without nicotine) versus NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) or not using any aids at all to quit smoking (Cold Turkey method).
This took place in Germany between 2016-2021 and 2740 current smokers and recent ex-smokers who had made more than 1 quit attempt in the past 12 months were included.
The conclusion as you would have expected was that they found the vapers showed a higher rate of abstinence from cigarettes than with those who went “cold turkey”.
Sadly the English version of the text is not available yet – but should be on the way soon!
Cochrane Want Your Input!
The Cochrane Tag (Tobacco Addiction Group) has asked for everyone to take part in a survey to help them understand the output people want to see.
Cochrane are an organisation who perform medical research of healthcare topics.
They want to see how well their information is put across and any feedback people have.
I quote…
“Please help us to evaluate this approach by letting us know if you are aware of this review and of our supporting materials and by providing any feedback you may have.
By taking part in this survey you will help us to successfully share the findings that matter most to the people who need them.”
After 12 years of discussion, the FDA today announced concrete steps to ban sales of menthol cigarettes and flavored mass-market cigars. The agency has issued a draft rule, and will accept public comment on the controversial measure from May 4 to July 5.
The FDA has not encouraged menthol smokers to switch to safer menthol-flavored vapes—an action that could not only save lives, but would greatly reduce the challenges of managing a menthol cigarette ban. If more smokers understood the truth that vaping is far less risky than smoking, and had ready access to a selection of FDA-authorized menthol e-liquids and quality prefilled devices, many would likely be inspired to quit smoking.
The FDA, however, doesn’t seem interested in smoothing the bumpy road it will soon face. As things currently stand, the agency will deal with two nicotine product black markets.
But @FDATobacco is indulging in de facto rulemaking by blocking all flavoured vape products via an unattainable PMTA standard. FDA is crushing the US vape industry while evading the disciplines of the rulemaking process and its obligation to meet the public health standard.
“Despite the cascade of bad news, there had been some optimism that if the FDA announced a menthol cigarette ban, it would be preceded by positive news about menthol harm reduction products,” American Vaping Association President Gregory Conley told Vaping360. “Regrettably, the FDA continues to show that its supposed commitment to comprehensive nicotine and tobacco regulation was really just another excuse to ban more products.”
In today’s FDA press release, the agency said it “recognizes the importance of ensuring broad and equitable access to all the tools and resources that can help smokers quit.” The press release goes on to note that many insurance plans “cover tobacco cessation services, like medication and counseling, without any out-of-pocket cost,” and to encourage people who want to quit smoking to visit smokefree.gov.”
The FDA made no mention of harm reduction options for people who smoke. The agency faces continued lobbying from tobacco control groups to ban menthol vapes too. Truth Initiative today issued a statement congratulating the FDA on the menthol cigarette ban, and urging the agency to “expand these efforts to eliminate all flavored tobacco products from the market, especially menthol e-cigarettes—a key driver of the persistent national youth e-cigarette epidemic.”
The 2009 Tobacco Control Act banned cigarettes with “characterizing flavors”—except menthol, which Congress ordered the new FDA Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) to study. The agency concluded that banning menthol would benefit public health, and has since been under constant pressure from tobacco control groups to prohibit menthol.
Until now the FDA hasn’t had White House support for a menthol ban. When Trump’s FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced his intention to ban menthol cigarettes as part of his comprehensive overhaul of the nicotine market, the menthol ban went nowhere. When Gottlieb resigned, the FDA dropped the issue until the Biden administration decided to revive Gottlieb’s plan.
Despite my cynicism, I am often optimistic about the future.
I thought that if a menthol ban was formally proposed, the FDA would highlight the availability of menthol harm reduction products as a key reason for doing it.
The ban is still a long way away. Following a 60-day public comment period, the agency will produce a final rule, which could take a year or more. Then the FDA will set a date to implement the new rule, which could take another year. At that point, tobacco companies will almost certainly sue the agency, which could postpone the ban further, possibly for many years.
Most observers expect aggressive legal challenges to the ban, especially from Reynolds American (a subsidiary of British American Tobacco), which makes Newport cigarettes, the leading menthol brand in the U.S. Menthol cigarettes make up half of Reynolds’ sales.
Fewer than half of Americans who smoke choose menthol cigarettes, but more than 80 percent of black smokers prefer them. Because of that, tobacco control organizations have long courted support for a menthol ban from civil rights organizations. The issue has gained steam in recent years, with some groups like the NAACP joining the fight to ban menthol as a social justice issue.
Other organizations, like the American Civil Liberties Union, disagree. They fear that the inevitable black market that will result from a menthol ban would lead to unnecessary and potentially violent interactions with police who will be tasked with enforcing sales bans.
If the FDA really wanted to improve the health of those who smoke menthol cigarettes, including disproportionate numbers of minorities, it would have authorized the sale of menthol e-cigarettes to adults– years ago– to help them switch.
“Should cops be staking out stores for contraband menthol cigarettes and flavored vapes?” asks author Jacob Grier. “ Should street sellers be subjected to potentially violent policing? Should Americans be arrested and sentenced to years in prison for selling tobacco and nicotine to consenting adults?”
The FDA claims that it “cannot and will not enforce against individual consumers for possession or use of menthol cigarettes or flavored cigars,” but only against manufacturers and sellers. But in black neighborhoods, it will be black citizens that face police—not FDA—enforcement of contraband cigarette sales, whether as store owners and employees, or as street sellers in what will likely be a massive informal market.
Tobacco control activists claim that fears of police violence and imprisonment for sales of contraband cigarettes are overblown. But in states with menthol and other flavored tobacco and vape bans, enforcement actions are already happening. A federal ban on menthol cigarettes will increase opportunities for aggressive enforcement and incarceration exponentially.
The compiled data also indicated that chewing tobacco, having smoking parents and friends who smoke, cigarette were associated with an increased likelihood of current smoking.
The research team employed 341 adolescents from Eastern Ethiopia between July and August 2020, and data were collected via questionnaire. The researchers found that the prevalence of current cigarette smoking among adolescents was 21.1%. The compiled data also indicated that chewing tobacco, having smoking parents and friends who smoke, cigarette were associated with an increased likelihood of current smoking.
US studies looking into e-cigarette use behavior patterns amongst the same age group, found that a number of factors were involved in this. Some studies found that personality factors, curiosity and the “cool factor” played a main role in enticing teenagers to initiate vaping. This reflects arguments by tobacco harm reduction experts who have long been pointing out that the existence of flavours is not the main cause of teen vaping and that those likely to vape would be smoking in the absence of the safer alternatives.
Other factors
Other studies found that lifestyle factors played a role, whilst others indicated that teens who crave excitement are more likely to use multiple illicit substances, including tobacco and vaping products. Researchers Kevin Tan and Douglas C. Smith, found that those teens who are less satisfied with their lives and seek out risky and exciting experiences are the ones more likely to use multiple illicit substances regularly, including nicotine via e-cigarettes. Additionally, found the study, the participants’ attitude towards vaping also reflected how they viewed other substances.
According to Nielsen, for the two weeks ended April 9, 2022, Vuse has now surpassed Juul and become No.1 in U.S. e-cigarette sales with a market share of 35 percent, driven by the sale of its flagship product Vuse Alto, which represented over 90% of Vuse revenues in the U.S. in 2021. Being back on top in the U.S market has strengthened Vuse’s global leadership.
It is another milestone for Vuse to be the U.S top-selling vaping brand again, since Juul overtook it in 2017. Juul, the emerging brand founded in 2015, had already captured a massive 68% share of the US vaping market within 3 years while Vuse’s market share had reduced to 10% from 44.2% in 2016.
In order to turn the tide in the competition against Juul, Vuse had started searching for a new manufacturer and atomization technology provider on a global scale, and considered introducing a game-changing product. In 2018, Vuse entered into partnership with FEELM, the flagship atomization tech brand belonging to SMOORE and soon launched Vuse Alto in August.
In contract to Juul, which mounts traditional cotton coil, Vuse Alto provides a revolutionary vaping experience by adopting FEELM ceramic coil, and Vuse also started swinging momentum in its favor. Since 2019, Vuse’s US market share has rocketed, with Vuse Alto becoming one of the most popular vaping products worldwide. In 2021, Vuse announced to be No.1 global vaping brand and reached a full year value share of 33.5% in the top five vapor markets (the U.S, Canada, France, Germany and the UK), which account for approximately 75% of total industry vapor revenue (closed-system). In the US market, Vuse’s US value share reached 35.9% in December 2021. It has managed to close 27% value share point gap in just 2 years, with only 0.1% difference with Juul(36%).
Equipped with an industry-leading ceramic coil, Vuse Alto brings a consistently smooth vaping experience and boasts a long-lasting pod with extraordinary leakage-proof performance. Moreover, due to the authentic flavor reproduction of FEELM ceramic coil, Vuse Alto features a full-bodied, rich taste of tobacco and menthol. It becomes an increasingly prominent competitive edge, especially after the U.S FDA banned e-cigarettes with flavors other than tobacco and menthol in February 2020, to address youth vaping epidemic. Meanwhile, Juul has been stuck in youth marketing controversy and faced mounting state lawsuits in the US.
In October 2021, the FDA has issued first marketing granted orders to Vuse (Solo), recognizing the public health benefits of Vuse products, particularly for addicted adult smokers seeking for switchover. Later in April 2022, the FDA has approved NJOY Ace for sale. This latest approved product is also powered by FEELM atomization technology, thereby reaffirming the harm reduction potential of this ceramic coil. Sharing the same FEELM atomization technology with NJOY Ace, Vuse Alto is also very likely to be authorized by the FDA soon.
The two-day Malaysian e-cigarette exhibition was successfully concluded. Experts and leading cadres from all walks of life participated in the discussion, and many domestic and foreign media reported on this industry event.
Sealebia (booth: 20), With high-quality electronic cigarette products, vivid and smooth on-site interpretation and careful and thoughtful service, it has been praised by many exhibitors, visitors, participants and sharing guests.
Sealebia will always be full of vitality, adhere to innovative R & D vape products, pay attention to the cutting-edge trends of the industry, and constantly make positive changes according to the market.
In a public document, the regulator listed the required standards for design, chemical compounds, and the mechanics for e-cigarettes that domestic manufacturers must meet in order to sell their products. The release sets another significant milestone for China’s vape industry.
The local industry has operated within a gray area for years. Meanwhile, another new bill going into effect on May 1st, will ban 122 vape flavours as proposed by the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, including numerous fruit and alcohol flavours. The draft rules amend the country’s tobacco monopoly, extending it to e-cigarettes, forcing local businesses to register with the tobacco authority. Moreover local manufacturers must obtain an additional license to prove they are in possession of sufficient funds for production, and an adequate facility and equipment that meet the set standards.
The local vape market takes a hit
As a result of the announced restrictions, the local vape industry has taken a serious hit. However, the Hong Kong-listed Huabao International has experienced a further drop in shares when it was announced that its chair and CEO Chu Lam Yiu, was being investigated by Chinese authorities for “suspected disciplinary violations.”
This led to fall in shares of 65% earlier this year. “Up to the date of this announcement, the company has not been provided with any details of the nature of the suspected violations of Ms. Chu that is currently being investigated,” the company said in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. “The business operation of the Group remains normal.” The company noted that the probe is being conducted by the Leiyang City Supervisory Committee, a government body based in Hunan province, southern China.
According to foreign reports, the Thai government rejected a cabinet minister’s efforts to legalize and standardize nicotine e-cigarettes, but reconfirmed the country’s ban on the sale and import of e-cigarettes.
Thailand’s e-cigarette ban has been implemented since 2014 and has led to a well-known excessive enthusiasm for law enforcement.
According to Thailand’s national newspaper, the national tobacco product control commission maintained the ban at a meeting last week. Kiattiphum wongrajit, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of public health, supported the decision, which will be submitted to the cabinet for formal approval.
The cabinet (or Council of Ministers) that controls the executive branch of the Thai government is unlikely to overthrow the Committee and the Minister of health.
According to the Thai national newspaper, the tobacco Commission said that Thailand, as a signatory of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on tobacco control (FCTC), should maintain the ban to prevent cigarette addiction among children and adolescents.
FCTC does not require Member States to ban e-cigarette products, but generally supports prohibition and strict regulation.
The state tobacco administration of Thailand controls the production and sale of tobacco in this Southeast Asian country. Many countries with government-owned tobacco industries have passed restrictions or bans on e-cigarettes, which compete with state sponsored cigarette sales that generate important taxes.
Chaiwut thanakamanausorn, Minister of digital economy and society, urged the government to end the ban on e-cigarettes, which he believed provided a low-risk option for smokers.
The cabinet ministers’ position sparked panicky opposition from tobacco control and public health organizations, most of which strictly followed the recommendations of tobacco control organizations that urged a ban funded by who and Bloomberg charitable foundation.
Just in January, thanakamanusorn planned to set up a working group to study the issue and consider public opinion. It is unclear whether the minister will now continue his campaign to legalize e e-cigarettes.
Despite the strict law enforcement, the black market of electronic products in Thailand is booming. The country also has competent e-cigarette advocates in the consumer group ECST.
