Oppressive FDA Regulations

[didache]

Some questions: what impact, if any, will this have on tobacco manufacture in Europe? I imagine that SOME European brands/blends have sufficient sales in the US to make the regulations sufficiently painful. But what of those brands who supply mainly the domestic market (eg St Bruno in the UK)? Would it be fair to say they would be more or less unaffected? Could Europe become the leader in new blends coming to the market? More insidiously, could Europe follow suit and introduce new regulations of their own?
Many more questions than answers I fear.
Mike

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Most companies that already do business with the US would want to continue. Since the US has the largest population in its trade groups. Most countries only have as many people as one of the US states. And, companies like STG and PS are already tied heavily to other US companies. I don't foresee any company already trading with the US preparing to cut it's profits in half to shoot itself in the foot. There are some small boutique type companies in the UK, such as Moztec that will probably continue as usual. The only one that would most likely be on the fence would be Germains/Esoterica, but by the way they play the game it's hard to say. But, with only about 1 in 1000 people getting an opportunity to ever even try their stuff, they would only be missed by like... what... twelve people in the US?

 

[mawnansmiff]

"There are some small boutique type companies in the UK, such as Moztec[sic]"
I thought Motzek was a German outfit. Also heard they folded last year.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Sorry, I should have just said European. Well, they folded... maybe they should have done business with the US, ha ha. Just kidding. I know they were a small family run thing, and didn't want to make money. I have that same problem with my own business. ::

 

[sablebrush52]

Some questions: what impact, if any, will this have on tobacco manufacture in Europe? I imagine that SOME European brands/blends have sufficient sales in the US to make the regulations sufficiently painful. But what of those brands who supply mainly the domestic market (eg St Bruno in the UK)? Would it be fair to say they would be more or less unaffected? Could Europe become the leader in new blends coming to the market? More insidiously, could Europe follow suit and introduce new regulations of their own?
Many more questions than answers I fear.

The simple answer is that blenders will need to meet the regulations of the countries in which they're selling their products, period. Our Regs affect product sold in the US. The UK has its own Regs. There re EU Regs and within the EU, Regs that vary from country to country.

 

[sablebrush52]

I thought Motzek was a German outfit. Also heard they folded last year.

Motzek didn't exactly fold. Herbert Motzek announced his retirement and his desire to sell the store and tobacco works so that it would continue after him. He made the announcement on his site either late in 2015 or early 2016, including his wish to sell the business rather than close it. Last spring Motzek found a buyer and the business traded hands. Since then, it has seen a change in the blends offered, and the celebrated Motzek Strang, the making of which the new owner was trained by Frau Motzek, has not reappeared. It's now easier to order from Motzek, since they offer Paypal.

 

[ryeguy]

Maybe all the blenders who are big enough to justify relocating will just expatriate to emerging market countries (think Russia, India, Argentina), countries whose governments either don't care or are too busy dealing with actual problems to bother with making the lives of pipe smokers miserable.
At the end of the day, customs can't open every box.

 

[ryeguy]

If we run out of countries whose governments don't care, I'd be up for buying a private island and leasing space to pipe tobacco producers.
A barge in international waters would be even safer; no law of the sea regards tobacco productions.

 

[mawnansmiff]

"The simple answer is that blenders will need to meet the regulations of the countries in which they're selling their products, period. Our Regs affect product sold in the US. The UK has its own Regs."
Jesse, when I was new to piping and still very green I visited a B&M about thirty miles away and asked if he stocked any of the US blends that I had read about as a newbie to this forum. His response was that American blends contain components/chemicals that are not allowed to be sold in the UK (as he deftly steered me towards a load of Brit made aromatics).
I have since found that to be codswallop though I have never found the real reason why they are not allowed to be sold here. If they were they would sell in huge quantities believe you me!
Regards,
Jay.