top news
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THR Advocates Criticize COP11 Transparency, Agenda
Delegates should demand a broader range of observers and greater transparency to avoid a situation where one billionaire funder can speak through dozens of organizations.
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Laos Vape Ban Crackdown Affects 759,000 Online Members
The Lao Ministry of Health, with support from WHO and Meta, shut down 288 online e-cigarette stores with more than 759,000 members.
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BAT Malaysia Adjusts Prices, Eyes Market Stability
Industry analysts note that while higher prices could pressure consumer demand, BAT Malaysia stands to benefit from stronger enforcement against contraband.
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Survey: Luxembourgers Favor Strict Tobacco Rules
Finance Minister Gilles Roth warned in October that the proposed tax hikes were “excessive” and risked disrupting existing price levels.
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Poland Dismantles Armenian Crime Gang Running Illegal Cigarette Factories
Prosecutors charged 14 suspects with operating an organized criminal group, producing illegal tobacco products, and committing tax crimes.
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Imperial Revenue Dips, But Delivers Strong NGP Growth
Oral nicotine growth in the U.S. and Europe fueled NGP performance, with net revenue climbing 13.7% and reported NGP revenue up 14.9%.
Upcoming Events
Global Regulation
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THR Advocates Criticize COP11 Transparency, Agenda
Delegates should demand a broader range of observers and greater transparency to avoid a situation where one billionaire funder can speak through dozens of organizations.
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Laos Vape Ban Crackdown Affects 759,000 Online Members
The Lao Ministry of Health, with support from WHO and Meta, shut down 288 online e-cigarette stores with more than 759,000 members.
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Survey: Luxembourgers Favor Strict Tobacco Rules
Finance Minister Gilles Roth warned in October that the proposed tax hikes were “excessive” and risked disrupting existing price levels.
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PCA Fighting N.J. Bill to Hike Premium Cigar Taxes
The bill would also expand taxation on other nicotine products, including e-liquids used in vaping devices.
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Ireland Considering Disposable Vape Ban, Wider Nicotine Controls
Public health advocates, including the Irish Cancer Society, have criticized the government for being slow to regulate new nicotine products.
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COP11, Good Gop 2.0 Both Open in Geneva
“The experts are fringe fanatics in the tobacco control world pushing an agenda to the extremes of what they can get away with.”
Agriculture & Sustainability
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Zimbabwe Tobacco Industry Targets $7B by 2030
As Africa’s largest tobacco producer, Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry supports over 130,000 households and contributes more than half of the country’s agricultural exports.
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Philippines: Tobacco Farmers Warn of Livelihoods Threatened by WHO
The PTGA President urged COP delegates to balance public health with economic realities, highlighting the role of the Sustainable Tobacco Enhancement Program.
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Zimbabwe Boasts 22% Increase in Tobacco Plantings
Zimbabwe remains Africa’s largest tobacco producer and the sixth largest globally, supporting over 160,000 households and contributing more than half of the country’s agricultural exports.
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Zimbabwe Sees Steep Decline in Registered Tobacco Farmers for Next Season
TIMB said thus far, 83,000 farmers registered for next season, down 43,000 from last year.
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Farmers, Economy in Jeopardy as Tobacco Remains Unsold in Malawi
Farmers say many took out loans expecting to repay them through sales, but with buyers pulling back and prices falling, they are now trapped in debt.
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Pakistani Court Strikes Down Local Tobacco Excise Duty
The petitioners challenged the $0.18 per kilogram levy on unmanufactured tobacco, arguing that excise duties fall exclusively under federal jurisdiction.
Science & Innovation
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Dutch Hospitals Tracking ER Nicotine Cases Today
Today (November 13), hospitals across the Netherlands are recording the number of patients arriving at emergency rooms with medical problems linked to smoking, vaping, and/or snus, in a nationwide effort…
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BAT Launches Yoti Age Estimation System in Channel Islands
The initiative is part of BAT’s wider European deployment of Yoti technology, now active in over 600 stores, showing a 99% accuracy rate,
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PMI Pushes Smoke-Free, Green Agenda in Egypt
PMI has invested $14 billion in smoke-free innovation since 2008, with nearly all of its R&D now dedicated to alternatives to cigarettes.
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Global Survey Finds Strong Support for Smoke-Free Alternatives
“There is strong demand globally for fact-based policies that keep pace with innovation and deliver better outcomes for society.”
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Bloomberg Reports on Uncertain Future of FDA Nicotine Rule
The piece details how cigarette makers argued the proposed nicotine standard is technically and legally unachievable.
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Study Finds Nicotine Pouches May Aid Smokers in Quitting
Findings suggest that pouches are being used as harm-reduction tools, even though they are not officially authorized as smoking cessation aids.
Business & Finance
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Imperial Revenue Dips, But Delivers Strong NGP Growth
Oral nicotine growth in the U.S. and Europe fueled NGP performance, with net revenue climbing 13.7% and reported NGP revenue up 14.9%.
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OTP Driving Q3 Growth for U.S. Convenience Retailers
Arko Corp. CEO Arie Kotler reported OTP sales up 16% year over year, with same-store sales rising 6.6% and category margins improving by more than 300 basis points.
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New Indonesian Factory Fuels KT&G’s Expansion
The company also plans to expand into new markets like Jordan and Bangladesh, while growing its next-generation product (NGP) segment.
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Pyxus Posts Strong Margins, Higher Guidance for Q2 2026
Gross margin improved to 15.4% from 13.3%, “driven by a better product mix and higher returns on current crops.”
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PM Korea’s IQOS ‘Seletti Edition’ Sells Out in First Week
Philip Morris Korea highlighted that the strong response reflects consumer appreciation for the brand’s design sensibility and value, not just sales performance.
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Scandinavian Narrows 2025 Outlook After Steady Q3 Performance
The company narrowed its full-year guidance to reflect better visibility heading into year-end and the effect of USD movements.
Around the Industry
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BAT Malaysia Adjusts Prices, Eyes Market Stability
Industry analysts note that while higher prices could pressure consumer demand, BAT Malaysia stands to benefit from stronger enforcement against contraband.
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Nationwide Pushes Back on Cannabis Coverage, Raising Industry Concerns
The filing underscores the growing challenges cannabis firms face in securing reliable insurance protection as litigation risks mount.
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COP11, Good Gop 2.0 Both Open in Geneva
“The experts are fringe fanatics in the tobacco control world pushing an agenda to the extremes of what they can get away with.”
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ITGA Marks 20 Years of Advocacy at WHO FCTC, Calls for Grower Inclusion
As COP11 convenes, ITGA calls for continued dialogue, evidence-based policymaking, and policies that consider the livelihoods of families dependent on tobacco.
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Cigarette Butts, Winter Months Increase Korean Fire Risk
Authorities also said that cigarette-related fires, along with electrical faults, were among the leading causes of large-scale factory and warehouse fires.
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Ispire, IKE Tech Applaud FDA’s Illicit Vape Market Mandate
The legislation directs the FDA to allocate at least $200 million toward electronic nicotine delivery system enforcement.
Thought Leaders
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Differentiate and Give Smokers a Safer Alternative
Science says combustibles and non-combustibles are not the same, and pretending otherwise undermines the goals we are trying to achieve in public health.
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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.