The Philippine Bureau of Customs seized an estimated P105.58 million ($1.9 million) worth of illicit cigarettes in Bataan, uncovering more than 1,000 master cases transported in 12 vehicles and traced to shipments originating from China, Vietnam, and South Korea. Authorities said the cigarettes—bearing brands including Modern, RGD, Nise Baisha, and President—were intended for distribution in northern and central Luzon, underscoring ongoing enforcement challenges as Customs intensifies its anti-smuggling campaign amid revenue shortfalls and a higher 2026 collection target.
Blog
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JT Introduces ‘Purple Dusk’ for Ploom AURA
JT released the fourth offering in its limited color series for the Ploom AURA today (January 13), introducing “Purple Dusk.” It joins “Amber Haze,” “Bronze Royal,” and “Aqua Green.”
Regarding Purple Dusk, JT says, “the deep colors reminiscent of the night scene and the accented patterned front panel create a mysterious atmosphere and presence. It contains the desire to be close to the moment to enjoy the night in your own way and to encourage the time you spend with your sensibility.”
A limited quantity is available in Japan for pre-sale at CLUB JT online shop and Ploom Shop for 2,980 yen ($18.77). It will be available at convenience stores and some tobacco stores beginning January 20.
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N.J. Tightens Cannabis Rules, Allows Workers to Unionize
New Jersey is tightening oversight across its cannabis and hemp markets, with new laws reshaping labor rules and retail competition. Assembly Bill No. 4182, now enacted, establishes a comprehensive labor framework for cannabis workers and other private-sector employees not covered by the National Labor Relations Act. The law places organizing and collective bargaining under the Division of Private Employment Dispute Settlement, grants it broad enforcement powers, and authorizes penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, or $20,000 in serious cases. Cannabis workers are explicitly guaranteed rights to organize, bargain collectively, and engage in protected activity, while employers face strict limits on retaliation, surveillance, and anti-union practices.
At the product and retail level, New Jersey has also moved to rein in intoxicating hemp under S-4509/A-6295, creating a new regulatory scheme aligned with federal law and repealing earlier permissive rules. The legislation phases out sales of intoxicating hemp products at gas stations, convenience stores, smoke shops, and liquor stores by November 13, with key restrictions beginning in April. Licensed cannabis dispensaries have welcomed the move, arguing it curbs unfair competition from loosely regulated outlets, while the law preserves protections for licensed hemp farmers operating under the state’s Hemp Farming Act.
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K&H Tobacco/Nicotine Symposium Registration Open
Keller and Heckman announced it will host its 10th annual E-Vapor, Nicotine, and Tobacco Law Symposium May 4–5 at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel, returning to Las Vegas ahead of the CHAMPS Trade Show. The two-day program is positioned as a comprehensive briefing on the legal, regulatory, and scientific issues shaping the tobacco, nicotine, and CBD/hemp sectors. The symposium is designed for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and retailers navigating FDA oversight and evolving compliance requirements.
Registration is now open, with a Super Early-Bird rate of $999 available through February 6, representing a $200 discount. Early-bird pricing runs through March 27, after which standard registration applies. Organizers say upcoming announcements will detail the agenda and confirm participating scientific experts, FDA officials, and attorneys.
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Hong Kong Health Org Wants Firm Dates for Tobacco Laws
Today (January 13), the Hong Kong Council of Smoking and Health (COSH) pressed the government to set a clear timetable for pending tobacco-control measures, warning that several proposals remain stalled ahead of Legislative Council review. COSH chairman Henry Tong said policies such as a ban on non-menthol flavored tobacco, the introduction of plain packaging, and a cigarette stamp duty system are slated for the second quarter of 2027, but lack firm implementation dates. He also urged faster action on banning smoking while walking, arguing that expanding outdoor no-smoking zones—modeled on Shanghai’s fully smoke-free Nanjing Road—could deliver immediate public health benefits.
Ahead of next month’s fiscal budget, COSH is also calling for a sharp increase in tobacco taxes, recommending a rise to 75% starting in the next fiscal year, followed by automatic annual increases similar to systems used in Australia and the UK. The council further urged officials to define a concrete “smoke-free generation” timeline. Its recommendations are backed by a University of Hong Kong survey of 5,600 respondents conducted between late 2024 and mid-2025, which found nearly half had been exposed to secondhand smoke in the previous week, most commonly in outdoor public spaces such as pavements, crossings, parks, and bars.
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Universal Releases FY25 Sustainability Report
Universal Corporation released its 2025 Sustainability Report yesterday (January 12), outlining progress across environmental, social, and governance priorities during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. The company reported a nearly sixfold increase in renewable electricity use, with renewables accounting for 17.8% of global consumption, and a 7.7% year-over-year reduction in combined Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, alongside Science Based Targets initiative approval for near- and long-term goals. Social initiatives included direct engagement with more than 200,000 tobacco farmers, over 2 million farm visits, distribution of 445,000 PPE kits, and expanded workplace safety inspections. The report, prepared in alignment with GRI and SASB standards and incorporating EU CSRD considerations, also highlights expanded data transparency and a completed double materiality assessment.
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22nd Century to Participate in the Needham Annual Growth Conference
22nd Century Group, Inc. announced that CEO Larry Firestone and CFO Dan Otto will present as part of the Needham Growth Conference taking place January 16. The management team will be available for virtual one-on-one meetings.
Investors interested in booking meetings can register for the conference and arrange a time through their Needham representative or the Company’s investor relations at investorrelations@xxiicentury.com.
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Doseology Partners with McKinney to Bring Pouches to Market
Doseology Sciences entered a strategic partnership with McKinney Regulatory Science Advisors to guide its U.S. regulatory strategy as it advances oral pouch products toward commercial readiness. Under the agreement, McKinney will advise on formulation strategy, data generation, PMTA preparation, and post-market compliance, positioning Doseology to navigate FDA requirements while strengthening product design and intellectual property protection.
The company said the collaboration marks a shift from development to regulatory execution, with a focus on dose consistency, consumer safety, and compliance in regulated markets. McKinney’s regulatory roadmap will be integrated into Doseology’s R&D and manufacturing validation plans, supporting structured PMTA readiness for both nicotine and nicotine-analogue products as the company seeks to establish a defensible, science-led position in the oral pouch category.
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Zimbabwe’s Increased Efficiency Base for Market Growth
Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) released projections for the 2025/26 growing season, interpreting the numbers as a nation that is becoming more efficient. Registered farmers declined 19.3% to 101,443, yet planted area increased 21.7% to 113,536 hectares, suggesting rising productivity and capital intensity. One such example of progress, according to the TIMB, is the irrigated planted area increasing to 24,000 hectares this season, up from 19,700 hectares last season.
Contract farming continues to dominate, accounting for about 75.6% of planted area, though industry observers note that the 15% share of self- or bank-financed growers offers renewed support for Zimbabwe’s traditional auction system.
Output is projected to climb to 400 million kg this year from 354 million kg last season, reinforcing tobacco’s position as Zimbabwe’s largest agricultural export and second-biggest foreign currency earner after gold. Export earnings reached $1.4 billion by mid-December 2025, down slightly year on year, as weaker demand from traditional Asian markets—particularly China—was offset by strong growth in Europe and steady gains within Africa. The European Union stood out, with export earnings surging 64.5% to $169.6 million, reflecting rising demand for Zimbabwe’s flue-cured Virginia leaf, while the Far East remains the largest market, accounting for 60% of total export value despite a 14% decline.
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MagicCube Investing in Phone Biometrics, AI Commerce
MagicCube announced that it raised $10 million in new committed funding to expand its software-based security technology beyond tap-to-phone payments into biometrics, identity verification, and AI-driven device security, with strategic participation from Verifone alongside existing investors. The California-based company develops Software Defined Trust, which uses a software Trusted Execution Environment to deliver hardware-grade security on standard mobile and IoT devices without specialized chips, supporting secure payments and sensitive data processing. The funding will be used to accelerate R&D, strengthen AI security capabilities, and deepen integrations across global payment and identity ecosystems, as MagicCube positions its platform for broader digital commerce and compliance-driven use cases.