Author: Taco Tuinstra

  • Cigarette Alternatives Gain Ground in Europe

    Cigarette Alternatives Gain Ground in Europe

    Photo: Tobacco Reporter archive

    Cigarette sales declined across Western Europe in 2023, but increased slightly at a regional level due to the strong growth in Turkey, where illicit trade was falling and the smoking population was growing, according to a new report published by Research and Markets.

    Sales of next-generation products continue to grow in Western Europe, with even an upcoming ban on disposable vapes in the U.K., their biggest regional market, not expected to significantly impact this trend, with Italy remaining the leading market for heated tobacco products regionally.

    Rising prices, due to the global inflationary environment and ongoing tax hikes, increasing health awareness and competition from next-generation products is resulting in declining unit volume sales of cigarettes across most of Western Europe, with little likelihood of this changing over the forecast period.

    Although slower than in the two previous years, closed-system single-use vaping products were still recording growth in the U.K. in 2023. However, with concerns about the throwaway nature of disposable vapes as well as their attraction to underage smokers, the U.K. government announced a ban on these products from early 2025, which force industry players to shift their focus toward open and other closed vaping products.

    The nicotine pouches category is expected to see strong growth over the forecast period. Sweden will continue to be the leading country market in Western Europe, but Finland is expected to take over from Denmark as the second biggest in the region over 2023-2028. This is due to the Finnish authorities deregulating the sale of these products in mid-2023.

    Heated tobacco products will be accounting for just over half of overall smokeless tobacco, e-vapor products and heated tobacco sales at the end of the forecast period, having recorded further growth in the coming years. Philip Morris International continues to drive the development of the category, rolling out its new IQOS Iluma devices and Terea sticks across the region, with the other tobacco giants also present with devices like Ploom (Japan Tobacco International), Glo (British American Tobacco) or Pulze (Imperial Brands).

  • JT Launches Mayfair Gold RYO

    JT Launches Mayfair Gold RYO

    Image: JTI UK

    Japan Tobacco International U.K. has launched Mayfair Gold Rolling Tobacco 30g in England, Scotland and Wales.

    “Ultra value” remains the fastest-growing segment in the British tobacco category, and Mayfair Gold Rolling Tobacco offers a premium quality Virginia tobacco at a recommended retail price of £18.50 ($24.22) per 30g pouch.

    The launch builds on the success of Mayfair Gold factory-made cigarettes, which have achieved a retail sales value of £46.7 million since debuting in September 2023 and is the fastest growing factory-made cigarette brand in Independent & Symbol Groups in the last 12 months.

    The continued demand for lower-priced options has led to an increase in growth of ultra value tobacco products. According to JTI, Mayfair Gold Rolling Tobacco 30g represents a great opportunity for retailers to capitalize on an established heritage brand at an ultra-value price point.

    “We find new product launches are helpful for our business across all categories, even in tobacco where customers are more brand loyal,” said Aruna Patel of Rons News in Worcestershire. “Mayfair is a popular brand, and we’d recommend Mayfair Gold to other retailers, as price is the main factor for our customers.”

    “The ultra-value price point remains the key focus for us, with 60 percent of all sales volumes coming from this sector,” said Mark McGuiness, marketing director at JTI U.K. “We are continuing to innovate our offering in this area with the launch of a heritage brand, Mayfair Gold, into the RYO [roll-your-own] category.”

  • U.S. Youth Vaping Drops to Lowest Level in More Than a Decade

    U.S. Youth Vaping Drops to Lowest Level in More Than a Decade

    Half a million fewer U.S. youth reported current use of e-cigarettes in 2024 compared to 2023, according to new data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) released Sept. 5, 2024, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

    The nationally representative data featured in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report includes findings on e-cigarette and nicotine pouch use among U.S. youth, two categories of tobacco products the FDA and CDC are monitoring closely, particularly regarding youth use and appeal.

    NYTS is an annual school-based, self-administered survey of U.S. middle (grades 6–8) and high school (grades 9–12) students conducted Jan. 22 to May 22, 2024. Findings showed there was a significant drop in the number of U.S. middle and high school students who reported current (past 30 days) e-cigarette use – a decrease from 2.13 million (7.7 percent) youth in 2023 to 1.63 million (5.9 percent) youth in 2024.

    This decline was largely driven by reduced e-cigarette use among high schoolers (1.56 million to 1.21 million), with no statistically significant change in current e-cigarette use among middle school students within the past year. The number of youth who used e-cigarettes in 2024 is approximately one-third of what it was at its peak in 2019, when over 5 million youth reported current e-cigarette use.

    “The continued decline in e-cigarette use among our nation’s youth is a monumental public health win,” said Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, in a statement. “This progress is a testament to the relentless efforts by the FDA, CDC and others, particularly over the past half decade. But we can’t rest on our laurels, as there’s still more work to do to further reduce youth e-cigarette use.”

    Among youth who currently used e-cigarettes, 26.3 percent reported using e-cigarettes daily. The vast majority of youth who currently used e-cigarettes used flavored products (87.6 percent), with fruit (62.8 percent), candy (33.3 percent) and mint (25.1 percent) being the top three most commonly used flavors. Disposable e-cigarette products were the most common product type used; however, the most popular brands included both disposable and cartridge-based products. Among youth who currently used e-cigarettes, the most commonly reported brands were Elf Bar (36.1 percent), Breeze (19.9 percent), Mr. Fog (15.8 percent), Vuse (13.7 percent) and JUUL (12.6 percent).

    Youth nicotine pouch use did not show a statistically significant change from 2023 (1.5 percent in 2023 and 1.8 percent in 2024). Of the nearly half a million middle and high school students who reported current nicotine pouch use, 22.4 percent used them daily. The most commonly reported brands among that group were Zyn (68.7 percent), On! (14.2 percent), Rogue (13.6 percent), Velo (10.7 percent) and Juice Head ZTN (9.8 percent). Among those who currently used nicotine pouches, the vast majority used flavored products (85.6 percent), with mint (53.3 percent), fruit (22.4 percent) and menthol (19.3 percent) being the most commonly used flavors.

  • Zimbabwe Growers Start Planting Irrigated Tobacco

    Zimbabwe Growers Start Planting Irrigated Tobacco

    Photo: Taco Tuinstra

    Tobacco farmers in Zimbabwe started planting irrigated tobacco this week, with many expressing optimism about the upcoming growing season, reports The Herald.

    Zimbabwe law stipulates Sept. 1 as the earliest legislative date for transplanting tobacco from the seedbed to the field. The bulk of rain-fed tobacco crop will be planted from late October to early December.

    Most irrigated tobacco is grown by contracted growers who get their inputs on time. About 95 percent of the country’s crop is grown by contracted farmers.

    “We have high hopes this season following the weather forecast so farmers are in the fields,” said  Tobacco Farmers Union Trust President Victor Mariranyika.

     Zimbabwean growers earned $793.18 million from 231.47 million kg in tobacco sales during the most recent marketing season, compared with $896.38 million from 295.94 million kg the previous year.

    However, most farmers made more money than in the prior season, leaving them in a good position for the upcoming growing season.

  • Vapes Among Top Quitting Aides

    Vapes Among Top Quitting Aides

    Photo: Vadzim

    E-cigarettes are among the Top-3 most effective tools to stop smoking, according to a new review of evidence by a team of scientists. The other strategies are Varenicline, a prescription drug sold under brand names such as Chantix and Champix, and Cytisine, a plant-based compound sold as an over-the-counter natural health product in Canada and throughout central Europe and eastern Europe, and available under prescription in the United Kingdom.

    These tools for quitting work best when combined with behavioral support, such as counseling, according to the authors. Bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) are also effective, especially NRT patches combined with fast-acting forms like gum.

    “For behavioral support, evidence is strongest for counseling and for programs that reward people for stopping smoking,” said senior author Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, assistant professor of health policy and management in the UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences, in a statement.

    Published Sept. 4 in the journal Addiction, the review was conducted by the non-profit Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group (CTAG)

    CTAG’s summary outlines the key findings from 14 Cochrane reviews that CTAG published between 2021 and 2023.

    The latest Cochrane review of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation concluded that there was high‐certainty evidence that e-cigarettes with nicotine increase quit rates compared with NRT, and moderate‐certainty evidence that they increase quit rates compared with e-cigarettes without nicotine.

    The 2023 Cochrane review of pharmacological and e-cigarette interventions for smoking cessation included all drugs licensed as treatments for smoking cessation anywhere in the world, as well as e-cigarettes with or without nicotine. The review included 319 studies (157,179 participants). The most effective interventions were nicotine e‐cigarettes, varenicline and cytisine, all of which had high-certainty evidence, closely followed by combination NRT. 

  • Retailers Urged to Prioritize Training

    Retailers Urged to Prioritize Training

    Photo: auremar

    The U.S. We Card program is encouraging retailers to make employee training a top priority in promoting responsible retailing of age restricted products.

    In addition to educating staff, retailers should update in-store signage, gauge employee performance through “mystery shopping,” and compare their store practices against We Card’s Guide to Best Practices, according to the organization.

    “There are lots of changes in laws, regulations and age restricted products sold at retail,” said We Card President Doug Anderson in a statement. “In September, we kick off Awareness Month with a focus on elements that help reduce underage access: effective employee training that ensures retail employees are trained-and-confident and ready to deny underage purchase attempts of tobacco, vaping and nicotine pouch products.”

    To ensure compliance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspects up to 9,000 stores per month. Simultaneously, state government authorities also measure retailers’ compliance with state youth access laws.

    “Keeping tobacco, vaping products, nicotine pouches and all age-restricted products out of the hands of everyone under 21 years old is our top priority,” said Lyle Beckwith, senior vice president of government relations for the National Association of Convenience Stores and a We Card founding board member.

    “A well-trained staff helps stores establish a reputation as a responsible retailer in their communities.”

  • Organigram Closes Second BAT Tranche

    Organigram Closes Second BAT Tranche

    Photo: krishnadasekm

    Organigram Holdings closed the second of three tranches of a CAD124.56 million ($92.2 million) equity investment by British American Tobacco’s BT DE Investments subsidiary.

    Pursuant to the second tranche closing, the investor acquired 4,429,740 common shares and 8,463,435 Class A preferred shares at a price of CAD3.22 per share for gross proceeds of $30.82 million. The remaining 12,893,175 shares subscribed for are due to be issued at the per share price in the final tranche on or around Feb. 28, 2025.

    “With two tranches of the Jupiter pool now funded, combined with our strong balance sheet and targeted investment strategy, Organigram is well on its way to executing on its ambitious growth plan focusing on international, technological and product expansion,” said Organigram CEP Paolo De Luca in a statement.

    “Our inaugural Jupiter investment in Open Book Extracts marked our second investment in the U.S. market, and our first international investment in Sanity Group represents a significant first step in our ambitions to grow our footprint in the fast-growing German market,” he added.

  • Accorto Joins Institute for Novel Nicotine

    Accorto Joins Institute for Novel Nicotine

    Accorto Regulatory Solutions has joined the Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN), an organization dedicated to advancing tobacco harm reduction through supporting the research and development of non-vaporized tobacco alternatives for adult smokers. The GINN also promotes compliance standards, focusing on youth access prevention, responsible marketing and product quality.

    Accorto Chief Scientific Officer Vince Angelico will join the GINN’s science and standards committee, which helps shape regulatory recommendations for the industry.

    “Becoming a member of GINN is a pivotal move in our ongoing commitment to advancing public health through robust, evidence-based regulation,” said Accorto Regulatory Solutions CEO Tom Beaudet in a statement. “GINN’s dedication to upholding industry integrity and prioritizing consumer safety mirrors our own values. We are eager to collaborate with fellow members to drive impactful progress in the tobacco harm reduction space.”

    Through this collaboration, Accorto Regulatory Solutions aims to contribute to the development of comprehensive, science-driven regulations that will enhance public health outcomes and promote responsible industry practices. Additionally, Accorto says it is dedicated to helping GINN members with novel, science-backed reduced-risk products fortify their regulatory applications, enabling these products to reach the market.

    “Accorto Regulatory Solutions joining GINN marks a significant step forward in our shared mission to advance tobacco harm reduction through evidence-based regulation,” said GINN Director Shem Baldeosingh. “Accorto’s deep expertise in regulatory compliance and their commitment to public health align perfectly with GINN’s core values. We are particularly excited about Dr. Vince Angelico’s involvement in our science and standards committee, as it will further enhance our ability to develop comprehensive, science-driven regulatory frameworks that support the safe and responsible marketing of reduced-risk nicotine products.”

  • Study: HTPs Increase Likelihood of Quitting

    Study: HTPs Increase Likelihood of Quitting

    Photo: Nikita

    Switching to heated tobacco products (HTPs) can significantly increase the likelihood of smokers quitting smoking entirely, reports the Inquirer, citing a study conducted by South Korean researchers.

    Conducted by experts at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, the study also found no evidence to support concerns that HTPs serve as a gateway to smoking.

    Using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the researchers observed that 99.4 percent of HTP users either switched from traditional cigarettes or are dual users, with only 0.6 percent being new smokers.

    Anton Israel, president of the Nicotine Consumers Union of the Philippines, said the Korean study demonstrates how technology can mitigate the risks associated with nicotine consumption. “Nicotine isn’t the problem,” he was quoted as saying. “It’s the way it’s delivered through combustion. Smoke-free products like HTPs eliminate the harm from smoke.”

    The Korean study, which surveyed 4,514 adults, also concluded that adolescents are more likely to start smoking with traditional cigarettes rather than HTPs. Among the study’s participants, 2,356 were nonsmokers, 1,316 were traditional cigarette smokers, and 842 were HTP users. 

    Heated tobacco products accounted for 12 percent of South Korean tobacco sales in 2021, up from 2.2 percent in 2017.  

  • Supreme Court Urged to Overturn Triton Ruling

    Supreme Court Urged to Overturn Triton Ruling

    Image: hafakot

    A group of congressional lawmakers urged the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn a lower court ruling that blocked federal regulators from rejecting certain e-cigarette products, reports, reports Courthouse News.

    They argued that the move could hinder government efforts to keep illegal vaping products off store shelves.

    The Supreme Court is set to tackle the FDA’s power to regulate vape sales altogether this term, in FDA v. Wages and White Lion Investments, LLC. The forthcoming case challenges a January ruling from the Fifth Circuit, which found that the FDA overstepped its authority when it rejected marketing applications from two manufacturers looking to sell flavored liquids for e-cigarettes.

    In an amicus brief filed with the Supreme Court Sept. 2, the group of legislators—led by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and New Jersey Representative Frank Pallone—argued that the FDA’s decision to reject these marketing applications was “carefully” reasoned.

    “Guided by Congress’ chief directive—to deny such authorization unless a product under review would be ‘appropriate for the protection of the public health’ … FDA has been appropriately mindful of children and teenagers, the most vulnerable pool of nontobacco users,” the lawmakers wrote.

    They contended that judicial oversight of the agency’s authority had been “generally consistent” until the Fifth Circuit’s ruling and had not impeded it from accomplishing its regulatory responsibilities.

    The legislatures told the high court that allowing the lower court’s ruling to stand would not only force the FDA to waste resources reevaluating the rejected marketing applications but could also invite other manufacturers previously rejected by the FDA to relitigate their own marketing requests.

    “While those applications are once again pending FDA review, the tobacco products they cover would continue to be sold, despite the law’s clear pre-market authorization regime,” the lawmakers said. That provides a “powerful financial incentive” for manufacturers to reapply for FDA approval, even if they know the agency will ultimately deny their applications.

    A group of health organizations has filed a separate amicus brief, making similar arguments, in the case.