Source: 22nd Century Group, Inc.
Desires Approval to Label and Launch “Nicotine-Free” Cigarettes in
the U.S.
22nd Century Group, Inc. (NYSE MKT: XXII),
a leader in tobacco harm reduction, today announced the launch of MAGIC
cigarettes in more than 150 U.K. specialty tobacco shops across England,
Wales, and Scotland. Starting June 15, 2015, MAGIC 0, the world’s only
“0.0mg nicotine” tobacco cigarette, will be available to U.K. consumers.
Featuring an authentic, natural tobacco taste, MAGIC O cigarettes are
made with the world’s lowest nicotine tobacco. Without any artificial
extraction or chemical processes, 22nd Century has developed the novel
technology which makes possible very low nicotine tobacco. The
proprietary tobacco used in MAGIC cigarettes is grown on
independently-owned farms in the United States and results in an
extraordinary cigarette with all of the taste of a conventional
cigarette, but MAGIC 0 yields only 0.04 mg of nicotine per cigarette −
95% less nicotine than conventional cigarettes. No other company can
grow tobacco with such low nicotine content.
In accordance with European regulations which require cigarette
manufacturers to list the nicotine yield directly on each pack of
cigarettes and to round the yield to the nearest 1/10 place, MAGIC 0
packs prominently feature the words: “0.0 mg nicotine.” MAGIC 2 packs
read “0.2 mg nicotine.” 22nd Century is proud to make these disclosures
and believes all tobacco companies should be required by the FDA to make
similar disclosures for cigarettes sold in the United States.
“The public health implications of a virtually nicotine-free tobacco
cigarette are enormous and 22nd Century is proud to be in a position to
bring such an important product to market,” explained Henry Sicignano
III, President and Chief Executive Officer. “I hope someday soon 22nd
Century will be allowed to bring a similar product – properly labelled
as a very low nicotine cigarette – to consumers in the United States.”
TOR Imports, the distributor for MAGIC cigarettes in the U.K., has taken
pre-orders for MAGIC brand cigarettes at more than 150 tobacconists and
expects to place MAGIC in over 300 tobacconists by the end of the
summer. Targeting tobacconists in the U.K. is critical to the successful
launch of a new cigarette brand. Unlike conventional grocers,
tobacconists in the U.K. are permitted to display cigarette advertising
and packaging directly to consumers.
Mr. Scott Vines, owner of TOR Imports explained, “MAGIC, 0.0
mg nicotine cigarettes… That says it all! TOR Imports is
placing MAGIC cigarettes in nearly 100% of the specialty tobacco stores
across the U.K. We are very excited to be able to offer U.K. smokers the
unprecedented choice of smoking nicotine-free tobacco cigarettes!”
The April launch of MAGIC cigarettes in Spain, and now their
introduction in the U.K., highlights 22nd Century’s plans for rapid
introduction of MAGIC brand cigarettes across Europe. By autumn, the
Company expects to secure MAGIC distribution in at least four more
European countries.
About 22nd Century Group, Inc.
22nd Century Group is a plant biotechnology company focused on
technology which allows it to increase or decrease the level of nicotine
in tobacco plants through genetic engineering and plant breeding. The
Company’s mission is to reduce the harm caused by smoking. 22nd Century
owns or exclusively controls 128 issued patents and 52 pending patent
applications in 96 countries. The Company’s strong IP position led to a
licensing agreement with British American Tobacco (“BAT”), the world’s
second largest tobacco company. Visit www.xxiicentury.com for
more information.
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