top news
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Philippines Cracking Down on Illegal Cigarettes, Criminals
The BIR filed tax evasion charges totaling $14.3 million against individuals involved in the large-scale illegal cigarette trade.
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Drug-Laced Vape Ring Busted in Malaysia
An international drug ring is accused of attempting to smuggle 2 million doses of etomidate- and cocaine-laced e-cigarettes into South Korea.
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Serbia Eliminates Favorable Tax Treatment for Alternative Products
Alternative tobacco products such as heated tobacco, hookah flavors, and herbal smoking products will now be taxed at 100% of the minimum cigarette excise duty.
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Uganda Ups Cigarette Taxes
The tax hike came just before the announcement of the World Health Organization’s “3 by 35” initiative, where it urged all nations to increase real prices on tobacco.
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Volunteers Pick Up 1M Cigarette Butts
The initiative, launched in the Netherlands in 2019, aims to raise awareness of cigarette filter pollution and advocate for a global ban on plastic filters.
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Haypp Partners to Age-Verify Online Sales
Age and identity verification isn’t just a compliance checkbox — it’s a fundamental part of who we are as a brand and our ongoing commitment to being a responsible retailer.
Upcoming Events
Global Regulation
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Serbia Eliminates Favorable Tax Treatment for Alternative Products
Alternative tobacco products such as heated tobacco, hookah flavors, and herbal smoking products will now be taxed at 100% of the minimum cigarette excise duty.
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Uganda Ups Cigarette Taxes
The tax hike came just before the announcement of the World Health Organization’s “3 by 35” initiative, where it urged all nations to increase real prices on tobacco.
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EU Trying to Stop “Tobacco Tourism”
The WHO’s calls for price hikes on harmful products by 2035 would raise Luxembourg’s prices €3.50 per pack of cigarettes, or 60%.
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Jakarta Finalizing Plans to Tighten Public Smoking Rules
To ensure enforcement, the city will deploy a task force, install airborne nicotine detectors, and launch a public reporting system for violations.
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Pakistani Vape Vendors Accuse Govt of Harassment as Court Case Proceeds
The court emphasized that the right to trade is constitutionally protected and questioned the legitimacy of enforcing restrictions without a legal basis.
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Cambodian Governor Orders Crackdown on Drugs, Smoking, and Vaping
The governor called for strict enforcement against student vaping and smoking, and inspections of condos and boreys suspected of illegal activity.
Agriculture & Sustainability
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Pakistan Sets Prices to Stabilize Tobacco Crop
Farmers pointed to rising input costs, with tobacco cultivation costing up to $6,650 per hectare, compared to around $1,050 for wheat.
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CORESTA Launches Website for Upcoming Conference
Agronomy & Leaf Integrity and Phytopathology & Genetics Conference will be held from September 28 to October 2 in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia.
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Cuban Tobacco Hit Hard by Power Outages
According to local officials, 385 hectares of tobacco crops were lost this season due to electricity shortages, mainly affecting irrigation.
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Pakistan’s Largest Tobacco Growing Region Suffers Huge Storm Damage
Swabi produces about 53% of KP’s tobacco output, with an estimated 15,500 hectares planted, last year producing about 42 million kg.
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With Record Already Set, Zimbabwe Eyes 400M Kg Milestone
More than 127,000 farmers, 85% of them smallholders, are registered this season, which ensures access to inputs, training, and markets.
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Mozambique’s Tobacco Export Surged 63% in 2024
Behind Zimbabwe and Malawi, Mozambique ranks third in Africa and eighth globally in tobacco cultivation area, with nearly 130,000 hectares planted.
Science & Innovation
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Haypp Partners to Age-Verify Online Sales
Age and identity verification isn’t just a compliance checkbox — it’s a fundamental part of who we are as a brand and our ongoing commitment to being a responsible retailer.
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Study: Nicotine Loop Inhibits Dopamine, Induces Anxiety in Mice
The results highlight the nuanced, bidirectional modulation of VTA dopamine neurons by nicotine and ethanol.
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Study: Vape and Nicotine Replacements Help People Quit Smoking
After nine months, 10% of both groups remained smoke-free, deemed a success for a population with typically high-smoking and low-quit rates.
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Truth Initiative Warns Smoking Depictions Threaten Real Decline
In 2023 alone, nearly 17 million young people were exposed to streaming shows that featured tobacco.
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Haypp Survey Tracks UK Nicotine Pouch Explosion
The main advantages of pouches compared to other nicotine products are that they are discreet (68%), they feel healthier (64%), and they do not affect others (54%).
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Study: (Non-FDA-Approved) Vapes Emit More Toxic Metals Than Cigarettes
The report said one device released more lead in a single day’s use than nearly 20 packs of cigarettes.
Business & Finance
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Eastern Company Caps Cig Prices After Egypt Ups Taxes
The company said rising raw material and transportation costs significantly increased production expenses.
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BAT COO Says Korea Key to Smokeless Expansion
“Korea offers a unique blend of sophisticated consumers, cutting-edge technology, and a dynamic regulatory environment.”
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Caliburn G4 Pro: ‘The Vaping Industry’s First Full Touchscreen Pod System”
The device’s interface offers one-tap access to wattage adjustment, output mode switching, puff counter reset, and a swipe-down Smart Hub.
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22nd Century Announces Major Pinnacle Brand Expansion
Pinnacle’s conventional cigarette and cigarillo products have built a strong sales track record with consumers.
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PMI Launches IQOS ILUMA i in Egypt
Smoke-free products now make up 42% of PMI’s net revenues, with 38.6 million adult users worldwide.
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JTI Philippines Eyes Expansion into RRP Manufacturing for Export
These new categories of RRPs are becoming more and more important, not only in the Philippines but also across different markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
Around the Industry
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Volunteers Pick Up 1M Cigarette Butts
The initiative, launched in the Netherlands in 2019, aims to raise awareness of cigarette filter pollution and advocate for a global ban on plastic filters.
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Sampoerna Shows Progress in Smoke-Free Product Innovation
The company’s goal is to provide adult smokers who would otherwise continue smoking with access to science-backed, smoke-free options.
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PMI Moving Toward Smoke-Free Goals in Philippines
Having the smoke-free alternative available so that the smokers can move away from cigarettes and switch is serving the population.
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VOOPOO Unveils Futuristic Argus Matrix Device
Blending futuristic visuals with powerful performance, the Argus Matrix features dynamic lighting, a 1350mAh battery, and 30W output.
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Haypp Strengthens U.S. Leadership with Legal and Regulatory Hires
“We’re not just growing—we’re setting the bar on what a responsible and compliant nicotine pouch retailer looks like in 2025.”
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PMI US Launches “Invested in America” Campaign
PMI U.S. plans to invest over $800 million in new and expanded smoke-free product facilities, generating high-paying, high-skilled jobs.
Thought Leaders
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Opinion: WHO Is Wrong on Flavors — It’s Time to Stand Up for Harm Reduction and Common Sense
The slogan—Bright Product. Dark Intentions. Unmasking the Appeal—is both misleading and dangerous. And the question we ask ourselves: to what end?
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Thoughts on FDA Reform
Prioritizing Education on Smoke-Free Alternatives By Dr. Tom Price The recent marketing authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of 20 Zyn nicotine pouch products is a good…
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The Trailblazer
Godfrey Phillips’ Chairwoman Dr. Bina Modi Sits Down with Tobacco Reporter to Talk the Future of the Industry, Women’s Leadership, and More
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Don’t Gamble Your PMTA: Bet on Your Quality System
A PMTA is more than a regulatory formality. It’s a company’s game plan. A commitment to how the product will be manufactured, tested, controlled, and distributed.