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Category: Around the Industry

  • China Destroys $355M of Illicit Tobacco, Nicotine Products

    China Destroys $355M of Illicit Tobacco, Nicotine Products

    Chinese authorities destroyed 188 million smuggled cigarettes, 55,000 e-cigarettes, and 2.7 metric tons of cut tobacco Oct. 12 as part of a nationwide crackdown on tobacco-related crimes. The coordinated operation took place in several regions, including Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Xinjiang. Since the start of 2026, a joint campaign involving 13 government departments, including the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, Ministry of Public Security, and General Administration of Customs, has led to investigations of more than 4,500 smuggling cases and seizures of approximately 1.3 billion cigarettes, 150,000 cigars, and 39.8 metric tons of cut tobacco and tobacco leaves. The seized products were valued at 2.37 billion yuan ($355.5 million).

    The campaign targets tobacco products manufactured illegally overseas and smuggled into China, with enforcement covering purchasing, transportation, storage, and sales. Authorities have increased inspections at ports and border areas and expanded international law enforcement cooperation to disrupt smuggling routes.

  • Türkiye Eyes Electronic Age-Verification for Tobacco Sales

    Türkiye Eyes Electronic Age-Verification for Tobacco Sales

    Türkiye plans to require age verification for cigarette purchases as part of proposed legislation to curb tobacco use, Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu said Oct. 10-11, adding that the government is considering electronic systems that protect personal data following privacy concerns over a proposal requiring buyers to provide national identification numbers. The bill, expected to be submitted to Parliament within weeks, would also reduce the visibility of tobacco products, strengthen penalties for violations, and clarify smoking restrictions in cafes, restaurants, schools, sports facilities, and indoor public spaces.

    Memişoğlu said about 33% of Türkiye’s population uses tobacco and that the country sold 160 billion cigarettes, equivalent to 8 billion packs, in 2025, generating an estimated $20 billion to $30 billion in revenue. He also cited a Turkish Green Crescent Society study finding that 80% of people in the country want to quit smoking.

  • Russia Attacks JTI Subsidiary in Ukraine

    Russia Attacks JTI Subsidiary in Ukraine

    Russia’s Defense Ministry said it struck a subsidiary of Japan Tobacco International (JTI) in Ukraine’s Poltava region as part of an attack on Ukrainian defense industry enterprises, port infrastructure, and vessels. Russia alleged the JTI facility was producing ammunition for Ukrainian forces. JTI denied the allegation, saying it manufactures and sells tobacco products and has never been involved in military production.

    JTI said the factory had been struck several times and that operations were suspended before the latest attacks. The company said all employees were safe. The Japanese Embassy in Ukraine said it had no information indicating that any Japanese nationals were affected by the latest attack.

  • Ill. Rep Questions FDA Review of Vape Rules

    Ill. Rep Questions FDA Review of Vape Rules

    This week, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) asked FDA Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas for information about the agency’s Sept. 28 announcement that it is considering replacing the 2021 rules governing Premarket Tobacco Product Applications (PMTAs). Krishnamoorthi, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus to End Youth Vaping, questioned whether changes could reduce the scientific requirements for new tobacco products and asked whether FDA consulted tobacco manufacturers, industry associations, or parties challenging the current framework before announcing the review. He also requested communications between FDA officials and Altria, Reynolds American, their subsidiaries, and other parties involved in challenges to the rules.

    Krishnamoorthi also cited FDA’s recent authorizations of flavored e-cigarettes and Juul products in raising concerns about the agency’s approach to scientific review. He asked FDA to identify provisions of the 2021 PMTA rule it may change, explain the evidence supporting those changes, address the relationship between the illicit market and lawful product authorization requirements, and outline additional enforcement actions against unauthorized e-cigarettes. He requested written responses by Oct. 20.

  • GAO Finds FDA Holding 130K Tobacco Applications to End 2025

    GAO Finds FDA Holding 130K Tobacco Applications to End 2025

    Vaping 360 reports that nearly 132,000 tobacco product applications remained unresolved at the end of 2025, with the applications awaiting decisions for an average of 1,266 days, according to a new Government Accountability Office audit of the FDA’s tobacco product review program. The FDA received more than 26.6 million applications from 2018 through 2025 and completed reviews of about 26.5 million, with most applications submitted after the 2020 deadline for products covered by the agency’s Deeming Rule involving e-cigarettes.

    The GAO found that completed reviews across three premarket pathways averaged 507 days and that FDA systems do not consistently capture information needed to determine whether the agency meets the 180-day statutory target for the scientific-review phase of Premarket Tobacco Product Applications. The FDA has reduced screening times and introduced automated application checks, while also applying lessons from its nicotine pouch pilot to e-cigarette reviews. The GAO recommended that FDA improve data collection to monitor scientific-review timelines, and the Department of Health and Human Services agreed.

  • UK Smoking Rate Falls as Vaping Remains More Common

    UK Smoking Rate Falls as Vaping Remains More Common

    The UK’s adult smoking rate fell to a record-low 9.8% in 2025 from 10.6% in 2024, with about 4.9 million people aged 18 and over reporting that they smoked, according to data released Oct. 6 by the Office for National Statistics. In Great Britain, 5.4 million adults, or 9.9% of those aged 16 and over, reported using e-cigarettes daily or occasionally, compared with 4.8 million current smokers, continuing a trend that began in 2024 when vaping overtook smoking. E-cigarette use was highest among 25- to 34-year-olds, at 16.4%.

    John Dunne, director general of the UK Vaping Industry Association, said the figures demonstrate the role vaping is playing in reducing smoking but criticized government policies, including the Vaping Products Duty that took effect Oct. 1. Dunne cited UKVIA research showing 50% of surveyed vapers feared the duty could push them back to smoking or the black market, while industry-backed analysis estimated 946,000 vapers and dual users could switch exclusively to smoking. He called for a “Fair Deal for Vaping” that protects young people while maintaining access to vaping products for adult smokers seeking to quit.

  • French Retailers Cite Cross-Border Tobacco Trafficking

    French Retailers Cite Cross-Border Tobacco Trafficking

    French tobacconists near the Spanish and Italian borders are calling for action against what they describe as growing “nicotrafficking,” as lower cigarette prices in neighboring countries fuel cross-border purchases and resale in France. A pack that costs nearly €13 in France can be purchased for about €5.50 in Italy and between €5 to €6.25 in Spain, according to TF1. In the Alpes-Maritimes region, authorities administratively closed 32 establishments in 2025 for involvement in the illicit tobacco market.

    Claude Ferreri, vice president of the Alpes-Maritimes tobacconists, said legal tobacco sales have fallen 10% to 15% since 2024 and argued that narrowing the price gap with Italy could curb trafficking. Ferreri claimed that about half of cigarettes consumed in France bypass the legal tobacconist network, representing roughly 26 billion cigarettes annually.

  • Germany Steps Up Enforcement Against Illegal Vapes

    Germany Steps Up Enforcement Against Illegal Vapes

    According to an article by Stuttgarter Zeitung published today (Oct. 7), German authorities are stepping up enforcement against illegal disposable e-cigarettes amid concerns over products that bypass regulatory and tax requirements and are increasingly marketed to young people. The report on enforcement efforts in Berlin highlighted a raid targeting businesses selling unauthorized disposable vapes, while authorities continue broader investigations into illicit vape distribution.

    The scale of the market was underscored by a separate investigation that found more than 7.6 million nicotine-containing disposable vapes had been imported illegally into Germany between January 2024 and March 2025, resulting in an estimated €33.3 million in lost excise tax. Authorities have also seized large quantities of illegal vapes in raids as they target distributors and organized networks behind the trade.

  • Austria’s Tobacco Industry Defends Vapes, Pouches

    Austria’s Tobacco Industry Defends Vapes, Pouches

    Austria’s tobacco industry is defending e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches as tools to move adult smokers away from combustible cigarettes as the country introduces new regulations for alternative nicotine products. Die Presse reports that Austria collected more than €2 billion in tobacco taxes in 2025, with more than 10 billion taxed cigarettes sold, while companies including Imperial Brands and Japan Tobacco are expanding their alternative-product portfolios. Imperial Brands Austria spokesperson Simone Pibernik said incentives, including flavor and pricing, are needed to encourage smokers to switch, while acknowledging the need for stronger youth protections.

    The industry’s comments come as nicotine pouches have been brought under Austria’s tobacco-monopoly system, with sales restricted to licensed tobacconists, while e-cigarettes are moving into a regulated distribution system. Imperial has said it supports age restrictions and responsible marketing, but argues that regulation should balance youth protection with access to potentially lower-risk alternatives for adult smokers.

  • Queensland Legal Cigarette Sales Surge After Illicit Crackdown

    Queensland Legal Cigarette Sales Surge After Illicit Crackdown

    Legal cigarette sales in Queensland, Australia, rose 55% in the first month after tougher enforcement laws took effect in November and remained 40% to 45% above previous levels for the following six months, according to retailer data provided to Australia’s Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner. The increase contrasts with a largely flat national market and comes as Queensland has stepped up efforts to shut illicit tobacco, vape, and nicotine pouch retailers. More than 300 closure orders have been issued in the state since November, contributing to the closure of more than 1,000 illicit tobacco shops nationwide.

    The crackdown is projected to generate A$89 million ($62.3 million) in additional tobacco excise revenue and A$11 million ($7.7 million) in GST over two years, potentially covering enforcement costs. Quitline calls more than doubled in the 10 days following major enforcement operations, while a recent 10-day blitz resulted in 148 store closures and seizures of 11.8 million cigarettes, 1.7 tonnes of loose tobacco, 87,000 vapes, and 270,000 nicotine pouches.