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  • Dutch Authorities Seizing Large Quantities of Illicit Products

    Dutch Authorities Seizing Large Quantities of Illicit Products

    Dutch authorities seized large volumes of illicit nicotine products in a series of enforcement actions over the last two weeks, including nearly 220,000 illegal vapes, more than 50,000 boxes of banned nicotine pouches, and 23 million illicit cigarettes. The total value of the items would roughly be in the €14–20 million range.

    The seizures, carried out by the NVWA and FIOD, targeted storage sites and shipping containers across Zuid-Holland and Noord-Brabant, with officials noting the products—many of them flavored—violated national regulations. Eight suspects have been arrested in connection with the cigarette seizures, with authorities estimating potential tax losses of nearly €9 million.

  • PCA Survey Finds Stable Sales, Rising Regulatory, Cost Concerns

    PCA Survey Finds Stable Sales, Rising Regulatory, Cost Concerns

    The Premium Cigar Association’s latest annual survey shows a largely stable market heading into 2026, with a majority of both retailers and manufacturers reporting flat or improved sales, particularly during the 2025 holiday season. However, the data highlights growing operational and regulatory pressures, with respondents citing taxes, tariffs, and compliance complexity as key concerns. Retailers pointed to increasing challenges around insurance availability, competition with online channels, and the need for more practical tools to navigate state-level regulations, while manufacturers flagged rising climate-related risks to tobacco production and ongoing uncertainty tied to market participation in states like California.

    The survey also underscores gaps in industry advocacy engagement, with both groups noting limited resources and unclear pathways for participation, alongside demand for better education on policy, marketing, and operations. Overall, while business performance remains relatively resilient, the findings suggest mounting concern about long-term sustainability as regulatory, cost, and environmental pressures continue to intensify across the premium cigar sector.

  • Survey: New Zealanders Think Nicotine is the Problem

    Survey: New Zealanders Think Nicotine is the Problem

    A survey of more than 1,200 adults conducted on behalf of Health Coalition Aotearoa finds strong public support in New Zealand for tighter nicotine regulation, including the reintroduction of very-low-nicotine cigarettes, while also highlighting widespread concern about industry influence on policy. The research shows that over half of respondents favor bringing back low-nicotine cigarettes and roughly two-thirds believe the tobacco industry influences government decisions, while support for newer products such as nicotine pouches remains limited, with more respondents opposing than supporting their retail sale.

  • MALAYSIA VAPE INDUSTRY WARNS OF $150 MILLION ANNUAL TAX REVENUE LOSS IF 15ML PRODUCTS ARE HASTILY BANNED

    MALAYSIA VAPE INDUSTRY WARNS OF $150 MILLION ANNUAL TAX REVENUE LOSS IF 15ML PRODUCTS ARE HASTILY BANNED

    Malaysia’s local vape industry has warned that any abrupt move to ban 15ml vape products under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) could cost the country more than RM600 million ($150 million) in annual tax revenue, while putting thousands of Malaysian jobs at risk.

    Local vape companies have collectively invested tens of millions of ringgit since Act 852 was introduced, including product registration with the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), SIRIM certification, excise duty payments, establishment of local manufacturing facilities, laboratory testing, and compliance with safety and labelling standards.

    Mohamad Nizam Talib, President of the Malaysian E-Vaporizers and Tobacco Alternatives Association (MEVTA), stressed that the industry had taken significant steps to comply with every regulatory requirement since Act 852 came into force.

    “We have followed the law and made substantial investments to ensure our products meet government standards. Now, out of nowhere, there are proposals to eliminate the 15ml product category, without any reasonable transition period. This does not just affect the industry. It affects national revenue and the livelihoods of Malaysians,” he said.

    Based on current estimates, there are approximately 1.5 million vape users in Malaysia, with around 70% using liquid-based vape systems. Average consumption is estimated at roughly eight bottles per month.

    At a tax rate of RM6 per 15ml bottle, the government is estimated to collect approximately RM50 million ($12.5 million) in tax revenue each month or more than RM600 million annually from this product category alone.

    A hasty ban on 15ml products would not only risk crippling the legitimate local industry, but could also fuel a surge in smuggling, accelerate black market growth, undermine regulatory control, and open the door to untaxed and unregulated products flooding the market.

    “Consumer demand does not simply disappear when legal products are taken off the shelf. Users will turn to the black market for unregulated and untaxed alternatives that fall entirely outside the government’s oversight,” Nizam added.

    The industry also raised concerns about the patchy enforcement of Act 852, noting that online sales remain rampant, unregistered products are still readily available, and the misuse of vape products containing prohibited substances, including synthetic drugs, is on the rise.

    The real driver of vape misuse, the industry argued, is the illegal market and underground products that sit completely outside any regulatory framework, not the legitimate, registered products currently being targeted.

    At the same time, the industry highlighted what it described as a glaring policy inconsistency: open system devices remain permitted, taxes continue to be collected, and SIRIM certifications are still being approved, yet the legally manufactured vape liquids designed for use with these very devices are now being proposed for elimination.

    “If the devices are still legal, why are legitimate vape liquids being singled out for a ban? This sends deeply mixed signals to investors and the industry,particularly given the significant investments that have been made to meet all government requirements,” Nizam said.

    Malaysia’s local vape industry is estimated to employ more than 8,000 workers in manufacturing and over 15,000 in retail, with thousands more supporting jobs throughout the broader supply chain.

    A significant portion of industry players are young entrepreneurs and Bumiputera business owners who have built their businesses through legal channels over the past few years.

    Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and rising retrenchment cases across multiple sectors, any drastic action against the vape industry would further strain employment opportunities for Malaysians.

    The industry also claimed that no meaningful consultation had been conducted with the relevant economic ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), and the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), before the proposal to eliminate 15ml products was tabled.

    In light of this, the industry is calling on the Prime Minister to intervene directly to ensure that any policy changes properly account for the economic implications, national revenue, investment stability, and the risk of a growing black market that will become increasingly difficult to rein in.

  • CTP Director Touts Progress, Future in Statement

    CTP Director Touts Progress, Future in Statement

    The FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products says it has made significant progress in streamlining the review of premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs), reducing its backlog by approximately 70% in 2025 and eliminating the queue for initial acceptance review. In a statement dated May 7 and released today (May 13), acting Director Bret Koplow said new efficiencies are allowing applications to move into review almost immediately, while accelerated filing and scientific review processes—particularly for nicotine pouches and electronic nicotine delivery systems—are helping bring compliant products to market more quickly.

    Koplow also highlighted the success of a pilot program for nicotine pouch applications, which led to authorizations for six products within three months, a record pace for the agency. The FDA plans to apply lessons from the pilot more broadly, including expedited review for product modifications and increased real-time communication with applicants, signaling a shift toward faster but still science-based regulatory decision-making in the nicotine category.

    Read the full release here.

  • Maryland Adds Two Tobacco-Related Laws

    Maryland Adds Two Tobacco-Related Laws

    Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed two tobacco-related bills aimed at expanding regulatory oversight and tightening control of vaping products, both set to take effect on October 1. Senate Bill 279 grants Baltimore City new authority to enact and enforce local regulations on cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices that are at least as stringent as state law, marking a shift toward greater local control and potentially creating stricter rules at the city level. The measure also introduces local licensing requirements, with partial fee sharing with the state, and has drawn mixed reactions from public health advocates and industry groups concerned about regulatory fragmentation.

    Senate Bill 249 introduces additional licensure requirements for businesses that manufacture, distribute, or sell electronic smoking devices, aiming to improve oversight and tax compliance in the vape market. The legislation targets gaps in enforcement, with officials noting that a significant portion of retailers have been improperly taxing these products.

  • Cannabis and Tobacco Co-Use Increases Psychosis in High-Risks: Study

    Cannabis and Tobacco Co-Use Increases Psychosis in High-Risks: Study

    A new multisite study published in Nature Mental Health found that combined use of cannabis and tobacco significantly increases the risk of developing psychotic disorders among individuals already considered high risk. Analyzing data from more than 1,000 participants, researchers found that while use of either substance alone was linked to anxiety, depression, and early psychotic symptoms, co-use was associated with a nearly threefold increase in the likelihood of progressing to full psychosis over time.

    The findings point to potential compounding effects of co-use, with researchers suggesting that tobacco may enhance THC absorption, potentially amplifying neurological impact.

  • Crowned Heads Entering U.K. Market

    Crowned Heads Entering U.K. Market

    Crowned Heads is set to enter the U.K. market for the first time through a new distribution agreement with Barkers of Harrogate, according to Halfwheel. The Nashville-based cigar company has not yet begun shipments or confirmed a retail launch timeline, but the partnership marks a strategic expansion into a key international market. Barkers, an established distributor representing brands such as Gurkha and Macanudo, will handle distribution, aligning with Crowned Heads’ push to grow its global footprint in the premium cigar segment.

  • GTNF 2026 Being Held Sept. 9–11 in Portugal

    GTNF 2026 Being Held Sept. 9–11 in Portugal

    The Nicotine Resource Consortium, organizer of the Global Tobacco and Nicotine Forum (GTNF), announced updated details for GTNF 2026, which will take place September 9–11 in Lisbon, Portugal. The event will be hosted at the Myriad Cristal Center, bringing together global stakeholders from across the tobacco and nicotine ecosystem.

    “We are excited about the potential of this year’s GTNF,” said NRC president and CEO Christopher Greer. “We have some outstanding content announcements upcoming, and now we have a great venue and city that matches what will take place during conference sessions and enhances the networking experience for all our delegates.”

    The revised dates reflect efforts to accommodate an increasingly crowded global events calendar, while the selection of Lisbon—long regarded as a historic crossroads of global trade—underscores GTNF’s role as a meeting point for international dialogue. For 2026, the conference will introduce a revamped program structure built around core thematic modules designed to explore key issues in greater depth and sequence, responding directly to feedback from past attendees and industry stakeholders.

    The GTNF 2026 agenda will focus on major topics shaping the sector, including global supply chains and trade dynamics, innovation in science and product development, environmental sustainability, harm reduction, and illicit trade. Sessions will feature a mix of panels, in-depth discussions, and fireside chats aimed at fostering debate, presenting diverse viewpoints, and generating actionable insights. The program will also include leadership addresses from prominent voices across industry, policy, and research communities.

    Registration for GTNF 2026 is now open, with organizers encouraging early participation as the forum continues to serve as a key platform for advancing dialogue on the future of the global tobacco and nicotine landscape.

  • Al Fakher’s Nicotine Pouch Line Now Available

    Al Fakher says it has officially entered the nicotine pouch market with eight new products now available on Hookah.com. The company previously announced its intentions to launch a new tobacco-free product line and expand beyond its core hookah business into the fast-growing modern oral category at the Total Products Expo in March. The pouches come in four flavors inspired by the brand’s heritage—Frosty Apple, Spearmint, Mango, and Wintergreen—and are offered in 4 mg and 8 mg strengths, priced at $5.99 per can.

    Al Fakher said the move positions the company to tap into a global category growing at roughly 30% annually, while targeting consumers familiar with its flavor portfolio, particularly those connected to hookah culture.