Blog - Tobacco Reporter

South Korea: Smoking Down After Covid

The smoking rate in South Korea decline in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, reports The Korea Bizwire, citing figures from the Community Health Survey.

On Oct. 26, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) released the results of an analysis of changes in the Community Health Survey conducted before and after the pandemic.

The smoking rate among adults decreased by 1.8 percentage points, dropping from 21.2 percent before the pandemic to 19.4 percent after. The smoking rate for men also saw a decrease of 3.8 percentage points, going from 39.6 percent to 35.8 percent during the same period.

The KDCA utilized the average figures for the 2017 to 2019 period as the pre-COVID index and the data from 2020 to 2022 as the post-Covid index.

October 30, 2023

JT Launches Ploom X Advanced in Japan

Japan Tobacco announced the launch Ploom X Advanced, a new model of heated tobacco device that has evolved in terms of taste and user comfort.

The company believes the new device will play a significant role in its mid- to long-term business strategy.

According to JT, the new device represents a significant improvement over the current model and incorporates advanced features, including:

An upgraded heating technology, dubbed “Power Heatflow,” which increases the maximum heating temperature from 295 degrees Celsius to 320 degrees Celsius to provide a richer flavor experience.
A new automatic heating function that automatically starts heating when a stick is inserted into the device.
Reduced charging time from approximately 110 minutes for the current model to approximately 90 minutes.

The device will be available at convenience stores and tobacco retailers nationwide in Japan starting on Nov. 21, 2023, at a suggested, tax-included retail price of ¥1,980 ($13.22).

Following the launch of Ploom X Advanced, JT will discontinue sales of the current Ploom X model in Japan.

October 30, 2023

Leaf Traders Agree to Higher Floor Prices

Farmers and buyers have agreed on new floor prices for Philippine tobacco for the next two trading years, reports The Inquirer.

The floor price for Virginia tobacco grades will increase by PHP9.90 ($0.17) per kg, while that for burley and native tobacco will go up by PHP5.90 and PHP3.90 per kilo, respectively, according to the National Tobacco Administration (NTA).

“We aim to improve our industry by helping one another to balance the economic significance of tobacco as one of the highest contributors to the government coffer,” said Agriculture Undersecretary Deogracias Savellano.

Tobacco farmers have been pushing for higher floor prices since earlier this year, citing an increase in imports and labor.

The NTA convenes the tripartite conference every two years to review and fix tobacco floor prices based on factors such as the world market, production costs and profit margins for farmers, dealers, manufacturers and exporters.

In 2022-2023, the floor prices of Virginia top grades were between PHP86.10 and PHP87.10 per kg. High grades of burley attracted PHP72.10 to PHP75.10 per kg, while the floor price for the native top grade was at PHP77.10 per kilo.

NTA data show that the tobacco industry contributed PHP149.7 billion in revenues to the government in 2020.

The sector provides livelihoods to at least 2.1 million people, including at least 430,000 farmers and farmworkers, the NTA said.

October 29, 2023

Third of Irish Youngsters Vape: Study

More than a third of Irish people aged 13 to 16 years old currently vape without having smoked before, reports The Irish Times, citing new research commissioned by Foroige Sligo.

After questioning 900 young people aged 10 to 24, the study found that across all age groups, there is a link between appearing “cool” and vaping. It also found that vaping allows some young people to feel connected to their peers.

Many respondents felt that the marketing of vapes targets young people with a “toy-like” attraction and inventiveness of products in terms of flavor, color, and personalization.

Josephine Lally, an independent social researcher who conducted the study, said she was struck by how vaping served as a tool for participation in social groups.

“It has become a part of their day to day life,” she was quoted as saying. “If you mention conventional cigarettes they’d say, ‘no way, I wouldn’t smoke’. They perceive vaping to be safer and that is an issue,” she said.

To tackle youth vaping, the research recommended consistency in public health messaging and a direct campaign to inform young people and their families about vaping.

October 29, 2023

King: Progress Implementing Reagan-Udall Suggestions

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) has made significant progress in addressing the recommendations made by an expert panel facilitated by the Reagan-Udall Foundation, CTP Director Brian King said in a recent update.

Key areas of focus include cross-cutting initiatives, science and application review, regulations and guidance, compliance and enforcement, public education campaigns, and resource development.

According to King, the CTP is working on a new strategic plan set to be released by December 2023, which includes cross-cutting themes like science, transparency, stakeholder engagement and health equity. The center has solicited extensive feedback from both internal and external stakeholders, aiming to create a robust and inclusive plan.

Regarding science and application review, the CTP has processed more than 26 million deemed products’ applications and is committed to addressing the remaining applications efficiently while ensuring scientific accuracy and legal compliance. It has also developed resources and engaged with stakeholders to enhance the premarket application review process.

In the realm of compliance and enforcement, the CTP has taken various actions to curb the sale of illegal tobacco products, particularly those appealing to youth. They have issued warning letters and complaints for civil money penalties, demonstrating their commitment to enforcing the law.

Public education campaigns continue to play a crucial role in preventing youth tobacco product use. The CTP is actively seeking input and aims to share updated campaign information soon.

The CTP recognizes the importance of their staff and is working on enhancing their workforce development. They are also exploring options for securing user fees to support regulation efforts and requesting additional funding in the president’s fiscal year 2024 budget.

October 29, 2023

Kenya Urged to Hike Excise Duties

Kenya should increase its cigarette excise duties in line with World Health Organization guidelines, according to coalition of health experts, tobacco control advocates and national development policy specialists, reports People Daily Kenya.

The call comes in response to the government’s 2023-2024 financial budget, which for the first time in a decade maintains cigarette tax levels at their current levels.

A 2019 study by the National Taxpayers Association (NTA) proposed to the government to increase the excise duty applicable to cigarettes and to apply a uniform rate.

Kenya taxes filterless cigarettes at lower rates than filtered products—and approach that falls short of the recommended WHO best practices for tobacco taxation, according to the study.

NTA CEO Irene Otieno, says that despite efforts to control tobacco consumption in Kenya over the last decade, more than 2.5 million adults use tobacco products.

October 29, 2023

Cigarette Production Plunges in Pakistan

Tobacco companies in Pakistan produced 43.9 billion cigarettes in 2022-2023, down from 64.7 billion in the previous fiscal year, reports The News International, citing figures from the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) track-and-trace system.

The country’s leading manufacturers, Pakistan Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris International, suffered year-to-year production declines of 32 percent and 39 percent, respectively. The production of Khyber Tobacco, by contrast, jumped 48 percent in the most recent financial year.

The FBR collected tobacco revenues of PKR62.9 billion ($224.3 million) from July to September this year, compared with revenues of PKR177.7 billion in the comparable 2022 quarter.

The FBR undertook 1,447 “actions of enforcement and seizure with confiscation” during the most recent financial year, according to FBR Project Director of Track and Trace Zaheer Qureshi

The government is reportedly exploring strategies to boost revenue as part of an anticipated mini-budget in December.

During a discussion on tobacco taxes, FBR officials attributed lamented the challenges posed by a limited workforce, logistical hurdles and an undocumented economy.

October 29, 2023

Survey: Tobacco Grower Relatively Wealthy

Tobacco farmers in southern Brazil earn an average monthly income of BRL3,935.40 ($785.08) from their crops, according to new research conducted by the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul at the request of the Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco).

By comparison, the average per capita income in Brazil was BRL1,625 in 2022, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Taking into account all sources of income, the tobacco farmers in southern Brazil earn an average monthly income of BRL11,755.30. Seventy-three percent of tobacco farmers in the region have additional income sources, which may include earnings from the cultivation of other crops, land leases or financial investments.

Nearly 73 percent of the tobacco farmers live in masonry houses; nearly 72 percent have three or more bedrooms per household; and all households have at least one bathroom or toilet, according to the study. Almost all households (98.6 percent) have access to electrical energy, via national power grid, while practically 100 percent have heated water.

The results come as no surprise to those who know the tobacco sector, but they could come as a surprise to those who still believe in information based on ideology.

Iro Schuenke, president, SindiTabaco

One hundred percent of the tobacco farmers surveyed had an automobile, while 137 percent owned a property in addition to their home.

Nearly 60 percent of those surveyed have more than eight years of schooling, meaning they have competed their elementary education, or more; among them, 32.2 percent have more than 11 years of schooling, corresponding to high school, and some have taken college courses.

Conducted June 30-July 20, 2023, the survey covered 37 municipalities in the tobacco growing states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and Parana.

According to SindiTabaco President Iro Schuenke, the results reaffirm the economic and social importance of tobacco in rural areas. “At several moments we have heard that the tobacco farmers endure vulnerability conditions, but the research destroys this tale,” he said in a statement. “Just like in 2016 [when the previous survey took place], the results come as no surprise to those who know the tobacco sector, but they could come as a surprise to those who still believe in information based on ideology,” Schuenke said.

October 27, 2023

New Report Touts THR Benefits

Significant numbers of lives can be saved through the widespread adoption of tobacco harm reduction (THR) and related measures in Kazakhstan, Pakistan, South Africa and Bangladesh, according to a new report released by experts in the field.

Titled “Lives Saved—Integrating harm reduction into tobacco control,” the report analyzed the current smoking rates and quitting rates in four low-income and middle-Income countries– Kazakhstan, Pakistan, South Africa, and Bangladesh—where 350,000 people die prematurely from tobacco use each year.

The report aims to provide policymakers and public health experts with estimates of the potential benefit of THR, improved cessation, and better access to lung cancer diagnostics and treatment on reducing premature deaths.

The study’s key findings indicate that significant numbers of lives can be saved in these countries through the widespread adoption of THR and related measures. For instance, Kazakhstan could prevent 165,000 premature deaths in the next four decades, while South Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan could save 320,000, 920,000, and 1.2 million lives, respectively.

This document marks a key milestone in the fight against smoking-related deaths. I urge decisionmakers worldwide and particularly those of low- and middle-income countries—where the total number of lives claimed by the smoking epidemic is still too high—to carefully review this document.

Riccardo Polosa, co-author

“Calculating the potential lives of adult smokers that can be saved by improving tobacco control and complementing it with harm reduction strategies is a critical exercise in public health,” said Riccardo Polosa, founder of the Center of Excellence for the acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) and one of the paper’s contributors, in a statement.

“This document marks a key milestone in the fight against smoking-related deaths. I urge decisionmakers worldwide and particularly those of low- and middle-income countries—where the total number of lives claimed by the smoking epidemic is still too high—to carefully review this document.

“In these countries, the failure and the current stagnation in the calculation of lives saved from smoking are palpable due to the adoption of strategies that are no longer effective. The evidence is clear, wide adoption of combustion-free nicotine products can potentially save hundreds of thousands of human lives, even up to 1 million in Pakistan alone.”

Polosa urges policymakers to consider tailor-made interventions that foster a culture of health through educational and prevention programs. This approach, he notes, should incorporate lessons learned from countries with extensive histories of tobacco control, encompassing both their successes and failures.

The report demands several actions. “The adoption of combustion-free nicotine products presents a viable alternative, but its success hinges on the development of a strategy that thoughtfully incorporates scientific evidence” said Polosa

“This strategy should seamlessly integrate the evidence into established healthcare approaches to maximize outcomes, which are currently at a standstill. To make a meaningful impact, maximum cooperation is imperative, particularly at the level of healthcare policies. This involves educating the medical community about the relative harms associated with different methods of nicotine consumption and providing comprehensive health education to the end consumer.”

October 27, 2023

Activists Worried About COP Transparency

The World Vapers Alliance (WVA) is worried about the transparency and inclusivity of the upcoming COP10 meeting for the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

The WVA cites a recent Politico article, according to which seven EU member states have expressed reservations regarding their diminished roles and the Commission’s deviation from established practices in the face of global treaties.

“It’s deeply concerning that such pivotal discussions affecting millions of vapers and smokers across the EU might not reflect all member states’ diverse views and interests, not to mention the diverse views of their citizens,” said WVA Director Michael Landl in a statement.

“The Commission’s evident anti-harm reduction stance starkly contrasts with several member states that have been more progressive and successful with their harm reduction policies. These nations and citizens deserve to have their voices amplified and heard.”

According to the Politico report cited by the WVA, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Romania and Slovakia jointly released a statement highlighting the Commission’s shift from the usual consensus-based approach to using Article 218 (9) TFEU. This gives the Commission a more centralized role in the Panama negotiations, sidelining individual member states. The countries stressed the success of the consensus model in the past nine sessions and regretted the lack of a detailed explanation for the change.

Additionally, these nations lamented the absence of an ambitious proposal for a working group focusing on novel products. The established plans regarding the EU’s representation in FCTC expert working groups have also been questioned, with concerns about representation, rotation and coordination among the 27 member states.

“The EU had a true opportunity to assume leadership in smoking-cessation efforts by pushing for an ambitious and consumer-friendly harm reduction strategy. Embracing less harmful products such as vaping, nicotine pouches and heat-not-burn products—which have already saved millions of smokers’ lives—would be a bold step forward. Unfortunately, the EU still has a long way to go,” remarked Landl.

October 27, 2023