Author: Taco Tuinstra

Malaysia Urged to Reconsider Display Ban

Photo: Heorshe
The Malaysian Vapers Alliance (MVA) is urging the ministry of health to reconsider the vape display ban introduced under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), set to take effect on April 1, 2025.
According to the MVA, the display ban not only limits consumers’ right to make informed decisions but also places unnecessary restrictions on access to crucial product information.
“The display ban for vape creates significant obstacles for adult consumers seeking to make fact-based choices about the products they use. By preventing users from browsing or viewing product options at the point of sale, the ban directly impacts consumers’ ability to access key information and data about product quality, nicotine content and flavor profiles—all critical factors in making informed purchasing decisions,” said MVA President Khairil Azizi Khairuddin.
“Beyond the practical limitations, by forcing vape products out of sight, the ban sends a stigmatizing message, implying that vape is socially unacceptable. This could deter smokers from making the switch to vape, leaving them feeling ashamed for even considering a less harmful alternative to smoking. It is demoralizing for those who are genuinely seeking a way to quit smoking, and it further isolates them from the harm reduction support they need.”

Limiting access to accurate information via a vape product display ban not only hinders transparency but also leaves consumers in the dark.
Khairil Azizi Khairuddin, president, Malaysian Vapers Alliance
Banning product retail displays at retail outlets goes against basic consumer rights, the MVA believes.
“Informed choice is a cornerstone of consumer rights. Limiting access to accurate information via a vape product display ban not only hinders transparency but also leaves consumers in the dark, unable to get the information they need to make choices.”
To this end, the MVA urges the ministry of health to reconsider this element of Act 852 and remove the vape display ban.
“There are many adult vape users in Malaysia who have transitioned away from smoking. Our 2023 survey found 73.7 percent of vape users in Malaysia are former smokers. In fact, 80.1 percent of respondents had switched to vaping as a means to quit smoking. These statistics share a realistic view of the use case for vape. Restricting consumer access to product information counteracts harm reduction efforts, which seek to provide smokers with less harmful alternatives to traditional cigarettes.”
“We are calling on the MoH [ministry of health] to remove the vape display ban from Act 852 and ensure that consumer rights are protected. Transparency and informed decision-making are key to the success of harm reduction strategies in Malaysia,” Khairil concluded.
November 5, 2024
Researchers Alarmed About Midwakh Smoking

Photo: Medwakh
Health activists in the Middle East are calling for strong smoking cessation policies and public education initiatives following a University of Sharjah study detailing the health problems associated with traditional Midwakh.
Midwakh comprises a smoking pipe of Arabian origin and a mixture of tobacco from Iran. It is prevalent in the Arabian Peninsula, which includes the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
The Iranian element is represented in an imported sifted loose tobacco mixture locally known as dokha or dizziness that contains bark herbs and aromatic leaves.
“Midwakh smoking is deeply ingrained in UAE tradition but poses significant adverse health outcomes and nicotine dependency,” the scientists write in their paper, which was published in the European Journal of Public Health.
Compared to shisha pipe smoking, another Middle Eastern traditional smoking practice, which has migrated to many western countries, Midwakh is more intense and stronger.
Basema Saddik, the study’s lead author, noted that while global smoking rates were declining, the Middle East faced unique challenges. “Population growth and a younger demographic in the Middle East are leading to sustained high numbers of smokers despite global declines in smoking prevalence,” he said in a statement.
“This is particularly critical for the UAE, where vaping, shisha, Midwakh and other alternative tobacco products are becoming increasingly popular among youth, potentially leading to significant health issues later.”
Although the results of the study are confined to data collected in the UAE, Saddik said the findings were bound to reverberate in countries where Midwakh is common among smoking populations.
“While the scope of this study is regional, its implications are significant and timely, especially as we continue to address nicotine dependence trends in this population.”
The research’s data collection included surveys featuring the “hooked on nicotine checklist,” clinical measurements and pre/post-smoking saliva samples. The scientists note that “Midwakh smoking adversely affects clinical measurements, with early start correlating with higher nicotine dependency, worsened by using multiple tobacco products.”
Saddik said the study’s findings showed that Midwakh users “often develop early signs of nicotine dependence and reported various clinical issues, including elevated carbon monoxide and cotinine levels, which are indicators of harmful tobacco exposure.”
The study reported that 33 percent of Midwakh smokers were under 21 years old, 68 percent had below undergraduate education and monthly household incomes over AED15,000 ($4,000). Smoking initiation was as early as 10 years old.
Smoking habits revealed 37 percent exclusive Midwakh use, 54 percent Midwakh with e-cigarettes, 21 percent with shisha and 34 percent with cigarettes. Post-smoking clinical measurements showed significant increases in blood pressure, heart, pulse and respiratory rates and carbon monoxide levels, according to the authors.
Saddik attributed the widespread use of Midwakh in Arabia and specifically in the UAE to smokers mistakenly believing that the herbs and aromatic leaves in the tobacco make it safer or less harmful than other cigarettes, leading to higher rates of initiation and dependence.
Research shows that a Midwakh smoking session, in terms of nicotine intake, can be the equivalent of smoking up to 10 cigarettes, with higher nicotine and tar levels. The diseases associated with Midwakh smoking are similar to those caused by cigarette smoking, including coronary artery disease, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“Clinical assessments also revealed negative health indicators, including elevated carbon monoxide levels, which suggest that without intervention, a large portion of the UAE’s youth could face severe long-term health consequences,” said Saddik.
“Addressing these issues now with targeted prevention programs and regulations on alternative tobacco products is essential to change these projected outcomes.”
Saddik described the findings of the study as “a wake-up call” for policymakers in the UAE and other countries with Midwakh smokers to implement “strong smoking cessation policies and public education initiatives, particularly aimed at youth.”
November 5, 2024
Finland to Hike Tobacco Taxes

Image: Schlierner
Finland will increase tobacco taxes by nearly 30 percent between now and 2027, reports Yle News.
The raises will take place in six increments and eventually drive the price of a pack of cigarettes above €13 ($14.16). Tobacco taxes will be raised twice a year until July 2027, for a total increase of 27.1 percent.
The government aims to earn around €100 million from the tobacco tax increases.
The tax increases will apply to cigarettes, loose tobacco, pipe tobacco, cigars and cigarillos. However, nicotine pouches and e-cigarette liquids will not be affected by these hikes.
After the increases, a pack of cigarettes will cost an average of around €13.20.
November 4, 2024
Health Ministry Wants to Ban New Tobacco Products

Image: sezerozger
Vietnam’s health ministry has proposed a national ban on e-cigarettes and tobacco-heating products, reports Vietnam News.
During a conference last week, Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan stressed that all forms of tobacco, including new-generation products, pose a significant threat to public health.
Nguyen Nho Huy, deputy director of the physical education department at the Ministry of Education and Training, shared that vaping among students had risen from 2.6 percent in 2019 to 8 percent in 2023.
According to ministry of health data, nearly 1,224 people were hospitalized in 2023 due to health complications directly linked to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco.
Tran also referenced risks such as battery explosions and nicotine poisoning.
Heated tobacco, he noted, emits smoke containing toxins similar to those found in traditional cigarettes.
Participants in the event also expressed concern about the market for illicit vaping products. In the first half of 2024, authorities uncovered 35 cases of illegal trade and possession of drug-infused e-cigarettes, according to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Duy Trung.
November 4, 2024
Gibraltar Increases Cigarette Duty

Image: anetlanda
The government of Gibraltar has increased the duty on cigarettes by GIP0.25 ($0.32) per pack, reports The Gibraltar Chronicle.
Health authorities on the British Overseas Territory continue to voice concern about the high number of smokers in Gibraltar, which is about double the rate in the U.K.
A lifestyle survey conducted on the Rock in 2021 showed that nearly one in four people on the peninsula smoke. The majority of smokers (51.9 percent) had started by the age of 16. Health advocates blame low tobacco prices.
“The number of people that smoke in Gibraltar is definitely over 20 percent and it’s nearly twice the rates that they have in the U.K.,” Helen Carter, director of public health, told the Gibraltar Chronicle.
“That’s not surprising taking into account how cheap cigarettes are here in Gibraltar.”
November 3, 2024
Maldives Ends Bonding Option for Tobacco

Image: grigvovan
Tobacco products can no longer be bonded in the Maldives following an amendment of the island nation’s customs regulations, reports The Edition.
Bonding allows companies to store imported products in a warehouse without having to immediately pay import duties. The goods are kept “in bond” under customs control until they are taken out of the warehouse for sale or distribution within the country.
Following the change of rules, importers of tobacco products in Maldives must pay import duties as a lump sum in one go when goods are cleared within the set timeframe.
The amendment also changes the penalties for fraudulent imports. Individuals or organization caught bringing products into the country without inward and outward cargo manifests risk a fine of MVR200,000 ($12,937) per instance.
These regulations also impose a fine of MVR100,000 if the vessel carrying goods travels or docks contrary to the documents submitted to customs as the place of port, route or area used to enter Maldives. Mariners who turn of their vessels automatic identification system risk a fine of MVR200,000.
Last month, the government announced a ban on e-cigarettes, set to take effect between Nov. 15, 2024, and Dec. 15, 2024. It also raised duties on cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco.
November 3, 2024
Illicit Market Thriving After Flavor Ban: ITCAN

Image: Ahmed
One year after Quebec banned non-tobacco flavored vapes, most vapers are buying such products illegally in the province, according to Imperial Tobacco Canada (ITCAN).
In a survey carried out by Leger, 61 percent of vapers said that they purchased non-tobacco flavored vapor products in the past 12 months. Forty percent of those respondents said that they purchased an illegal flavored vapor product from a vape shop, and 33 percent of those respondents said they purchased flavored vapor products online. Forty-seven percent of those respondents said they knew it was illegal when they purchased a flavored vapor product
“If the government’s objective was to create an untaxed and unregulated vapor market, then well done and mission accomplished,” said ITCAN Vice President of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Eric Gagnon in a statement.
ITCAN attributed the problem in part to weak enforcement. “A report from the Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux (MSSS) website reveals that only 150 (38 percent of all vape shops) have been inspected by MSSS,” the company wrote. “Worse yet, very few fines have been issued with reports showing only 28 of those 150 received fines, even though more than 90 percent are uncompliant.”
ITCAN urged the government to train inspectors, issue fines heavy enough to deter illegal players and conduct an “enforcement blitz” to demonstrate the gravity of the situation, among other suggestions.
November 1, 2024
JTI Opposes Canada Settlement

Image: helgidinson
JTI-Macdonald Corp. opposes a proposed multi-billion-dollar settlement of long-running tobacco litigation announced earlier this month, reports Financial Post, citing a company filing made to an Ontario court.
As part of a court-appointed mediator’s plan, Canada’s three leading cigarette manufacturers would pay CAD32.5 billion ($23.6 billion) to provinces and territories and more than CAD4 billion to tens of thousands of Quebec smokers and their heirs.
Before it can be implemented, the proposed plan must be voted on by creditors, which include plaintiffs in two class-action lawsuits in Quebec as well as provincial governments seeking to recover smoking-related health costs. It must also be approved by the court.
In its court filing, JTI-Macdonald Corp. indicated it does not support the proposal due to “critical outstanding issues.”
November 1, 2024
Forestation Rules Underway

Image: patpitchaya
Companies should avoid pushing back plans to ensure that they and their products comply with the EU Deforestation Regulation, warns the Crowell law firm.
On Oct. 2, the European Commission published proposals to postpone some of the application deadlines to give companies more time to comply with core provisions of the legislation, which entered into force in June 2023.
The legislation specifically targets products like cocoa, coffee, soy and palm oil, but the tobacco business, too, has faced criticism for its contribution to deforestation, especially in countries where farmers use wood as a fuel to cure their leaf.
EU Institutions are currently in the process of deciding whether the new (delayed) deadlines will apply. The proposal must be approved by both the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, which represents the member states. If passed, larger companies will have until Dec. 30, 2025, to comply with the new rules, while small and medium-sized enterprises will have until June 30, 2026, according to Euro News.
According to Crowell, the potential delay should not be taken as an excuse to postpone action. Ensuring that products and supply chains comply with the deforestation regulation is no easy feat and can take considerable time and effort. What’s more, failure to comply may attract significant penalties—including criminal liability—in the future.
The law firms advises companies to assess the scope and application of the deforestation regulation as soon as possible, and ensure commodities and products they themselves supply – comply with the Deforestation Regulation. Moreover, companies should ensure that upstream commodities, products and raw materials are fully compliant to avoid supply-chain disruption.
The EU has been criticized for its role in global deforestation. Estimates suggest the bloc is responsible for deforesting over 2480 square km annually—an area nearly the size of Luxembourg.
November 1, 2024
Brazil Leaf Exports Could Top $3 Billion: SindiTabaco
The value of Brazil’s tobacco exports could surpass $3 billion this season, according to the interstate tobacco industry union SindiTabaco.
During an Oct. 30 meeting of the Sectoral Chamber of the Tobacco Production Chain, stakeholders shared information on the sector’s performance during the most recent growing season and their expectations for the upcoming crop year.
According to the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, Brazil shipped 316 million kg of leaf tobacco between January and September, representing a 14 percent reduction compared to the same period in 2023.
Production volumes were down 16.12 percent, to 508.04 million kg, in 2023–2022 due to excessive rainfall during the growing season. However, the depressed volume boosted the average price by almost 28 percent (see “The Great Scramble,” Tobacco Reporter, May 2024).
In dollar terms, the value of the shipments to date are up 3.44 percent to $2.03 billion. The largest export destinations for Brazilian tobacco were Belgium, China, the United States, Indonesia and Egypt. In 2023, Brazil exported 512 million kg worth $2.73 billion to 107 countries, with the European Union acquiring the bulk (42 percent) of Brazilian leaf exports.
SindiTabaco’s newly appointed president, Valmor Thesing, credited Brazil’s integrated system for the sector’s strong performance. “This is a demonstration that our integrated system is fully active, generating income, jobs and revenue,” he said in a statement.
Some 133,000 families were involved in producing southern Brazil’s 2023–2024 crop—6.62 percent more than during the previous season, according to the Brazilian Tobacco Growers’ Association, Afubra. A similar increase was seen in the planted area, which grew 8.57 percent to 284,184 hectares. “In recent harvests, there has been a more satisfactory average return for producers, which ends up stimulating the expansion of area and producers adopting tobacco cultivation,” explained Afubra President Marcilio Drescher.
This year’s firm prices may boost next year’s harvest. “We are wrapping up cultivation in almost all areas, and we have noticed an increase in area, encouraged by the recent return,” said Drescher. “By mid-November, we should have some forecast regarding the cultivated area and the number of producer families involved in the activity,” he added.
October 31, 2024