TobaccoReporter logo

Blog

  • Philippines Hosting Third International Tobacco Summit

    Philippines Hosting Third International Tobacco Summit

    The Philippines will convene the Third International Tobacco Summit on June 18 in Pasig City with the stated goal of strengthening coordination against the illicit tobacco and nicotine trade. Citing an EU–ASEAN Business Council and Euromonitor study, officials estimate the country lost about ₱141 billion ($2.4 billion) in revenue from illicit tobacco between 2024 and 2025, with 85.6% of e-vapes sold in the Philippines classified as illegal.

    The summit will focus on enforcement gaps, taxation issues, regulatory coordination, and regional cooperation among ASEAN states, alongside a planned joint commitment by government agencies to intensify action against illicit operators. The Department of Agriculture and the National Tobacco Administration, along with the Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police, Department of Justice, and other agencies, are expected to participate.

  • Pakistani Farmers Slam 11 Different Tobacco Taxes

    Pakistani Farmers Slam 11 Different Tobacco Taxes

    Tobacco growers and exporters in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have criticized what they describe as a “tax upon tax” regime on tobacco, claiming the sector is subject to 11 separate taxes from cultivation to sale. They say provincial charges include a Tobacco Cess of Rs 27.50 ($0.10) per kg and an additional Rs 50 ($0.18) per kg levy, alongside federal and other taxes that they argue reduce export competitiveness.

    Industry representatives claim tobacco supports thousands of families and is a key provincial crop, but say it is being disproportionately taxed compared with other agricultural sectors, with calls for the removal of what they describe as discriminatory levies affecting production and exports.

  • NZ Retailers Want Action as Illicits Climb

    NZ Retailers Want Action as Illicits Climb

    A retail industry report by FTI Consulting estimates illicit tobacco accounts for 33.5% of total consumption in New Zealand, up from 27.2% a year earlier, though anti-smoking advocates dispute the methodology and argue it does not align with tax revenue trends. Official data from Stats NZ shows no dedicated national study of illicit tobacco consumption, while Treasury figures indicate tobacco excise revenue fell to $1.47 billion ($852 million) in 2024–25, down about $2 million ($1.2 million) from the previous year.

    Customs and government agencies have formed an interagency action group with police and health authorities to target illicit tobacco supply chains, while enforcement penalties include up to six months’ imprisonment or a $20,000 ($11,600) fine for illegal sales. Australia is cited in comparison, where the Bureau of Statistics estimated 80% of nicotine products consumed in 2025 were illicit, up from 12% in 2017.

  • Kazakhstan Loosening Hookah Regs

    Kazakhstan Loosening Hookah Regs

    The government of Kazakhstan is backing a shift from stricter restrictions on hookah businesses toward a regulated licensing framework, with the Ministry of Finance estimating the move could generate about 50 billion tenge ($100 million) in additional budget revenue. Finance Minister Madi Takiyev said existing restrictions have proven ineffective and argued that licensing hookah operators would improve oversight while bringing the sector into the formal economy. The proposal would allow businesses to continue operating under government supervision and would remain under legislative consideration.

  • Health Canada Issues Recall for Zyn, Siberia Pouches

    Health Canada Issues Recall for Zyn, Siberia Pouches

    Health Canada issued a nationwide recall for Siberia and ZYN nicotine pouches last week, saying the products are being sold without market authorization. The recall covers Siberia 35 mg pouches and Zyn 6 mg varieties across multiple flavors and all lots, with officials classifying it as a Type II risk, meaning potential temporary health effects but low likelihood of serious harm.

    Consumers are advised to check whether their products are affected, contact their healthcare provider before stopping use, and report any adverse effects or safety concerns to Health Canada, which is also directing users to the recalling firm for further information.

  • Bulgarian Tobacco Farmers Urge EC to Consider Rural Impact of Regs

    Bulgarian Tobacco Farmers Urge EC to Consider Rural Impact of Regs

    More than 8,300 tobacco growers in Bulgaria urged the European Commission to assess the economic and social impact of planned revisions to the EU Tobacco Products Directive, warning that new regulations should not harm rural communities or fuel illicit trade. In a video submission to the Commission’s public consultation, growers said decisions made in Brussels could have significant consequences for tobacco-dependent regions across Bulgaria and the EU.

    The appeal comes as the EU prepares a major overhaul of tobacco and nicotine product regulations, with producers calling for detailed impact assessments on farming, employment, local economies, and the wider tobacco value chain before legislative proposals are finalized later this year.

  • PCA Launching New Initiative in Mexico

    The Premium Cigar Association announced PCA Connect Mexico 2026, a new international market-development program scheduled for August 24–30, aimed at strengthening the premium cigar sector in Mexico. The initiative, developed with Cigar Roller Mexico, will take place across multiple cities, including Mexico City, Guadalajara, and the Riviera Maya, and is designed as a curated business and education roadshow rather than a traditional trade show. It will bring together importers, retailers, hospitality professionals, brands, and adult consumers for training, market engagement, and promotional activities, as the PCA expands year-round programming to support global industry growth and professionalization.

  • Article Examines S. Africa’s Intentions vs Consequences in Tobacco Control

    Article Examines S. Africa’s Intentions vs Consequences in Tobacco Control

    A new article by Mukundi Budeli, recently published by TheCommonSense, warns that South Africa’s proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill could unintentionally strengthen the illicit tobacco market by introducing plain packaging and other restrictive measures without adequate enforcement capacity. While acknowledging the public health objectives behind the legislation, Budeli argues that South Africa risks repeating mistakes seen during the 2020 tobacco sales ban, which he says failed to curb smoking and instead boosted illegal trade.

    “On its own terms, the public health rationale is coherent,” Budeli wrote. “The disagreement is not about whether that goal is worthy. It is about whether this instrument, in this country, at this moment, is likely to achieve it.”

    The article contends that plain packaging may make counterfeit products easier to produce in a market already plagued by weak enforcement, limited cigarette seizures, and the absence of a functioning track-and-trace system. Budeli urged policymakers to consider South Africa’s enforcement realities and the potential economic and fiscal consequences before adopting regulations modelled on measures implemented in countries with stronger regulatory infrastructure. “Policies designed in Geneva or Canberra do not automatically produce good outcomes in Johannesburg or Limpopo,” he said. “Good intentions, poorly calibrated to local conditions, have a habit of serving neither the public health goals they were designed to advance nor the broader fiscal and social interests of the country.”  

  • 10% of Korean Teenagers Say Smoking Looks ‘Cool’

    10% of Korean Teenagers Say Smoking Looks ‘Cool’

    A new South Korean study found that nearly one in 10 teenagers view characters who smoke in TV shows, films, and online videos as attractive, highlighting concerns about the influence of media depictions on youth attitudes toward smoking. The survey of 3,384 middle and high school students found that 9.2% considered smoking characters appealing, while 44.3% reported frequently seeing smoking scenes in media.

    Researchers identified a strong link between exposure to smoking content, perceiving smokers as attractive, and greater tolerance toward smoking, with 12.2% of respondents saying teenage smoking should be allowed. The study concluded that smoking is often portrayed as “cool” or rebellious in entertainment content, potentially shaping positive perceptions of smoking among young people in South Korea.

  • Kenya Looking to Crack Down on Shisha Offenders

    Kenya Looking to Crack Down on Shisha Offenders

    The Kenyan government proposed tougher regulations targeting shisha, including fines of up to Sh1 million ($7,700) and prison terms of up to six months for offenders, arguing that the country’s 2017 ban has failed to eliminate the product from nightclubs and other venues. The proposed Public Health (Control of Waterpipe Tobacco Products) Rules, 2026 would maintain the ban on the importation, manufacture, sale, distribution, promotion, and use of shisha while expanding enforcement powers across the supply chain.

    Health authorities cited continued use among young people, concerns over addiction and disease risks, and evidence of ongoing non-compliance with the existing ban. If approved, the rules would replace the 2017 regulations and establish a stricter legal framework aimed at fully eliminating waterpipe tobacco products in Kenya.