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Category: Around the Industry

  • Spain’s Tobacco Prices Rise Again

    Spain’s Tobacco Prices Rise Again

    Spain implemented another round of tobacco price increases, with new adjustments for cigars, cigarillos, rolling tobacco, and pipe tobacco published in the official state gazette on May 8 and taking effect the following day. The changes, which follow earlier revisions in April, reflect a pattern of frequent, incremental price updates driven by manufacturer submissions, rising production and transport costs, and broader inflation pressures. Premium cigars and imported products have seen notable increases, while rolling tobacco and pipe tobacco prices have also climbed across multiple formats.

    The latest update reinforces a broader trend in 2026 of gradual but continuous price increases across tobacco categories rather than single large adjustments. Under Spain’s pricing system, manufacturers regularly submit revised price lists for approval, resulting in ongoing shifts in retail pricing, particularly in non-cigarette segments.

  • Imperial Offers Guidance to Retailers Over UK Law

    Imperial Offers Guidance to Retailers Over UK Law

    Imperial Brands positioned its latest communication on the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026 as guidance to help retailers navigate the upcoming regulatory changes, emphasizing that implementation will be phased and not immediate. The company highlighted key confirmed timelines—such as restrictions on promotions from October 2026 and the generational smoking ban from January 2027—while noting that many other measures affecting vaping products, nicotine pouches, and retail operations remain subject to consultation and secondary legislation.

    “It is important that retailers take the opportunity to engage with these consultations as they come forward,” Stephen Rooney, senior government affairs manager at Imperial said. “Their input will be vital in ensuring that the practical realities of running a retail business are properly understood as the detailed rules are developed.”

    Imperial said further government guidance and a detailed implementation roadmap will be critical in helping retailers understand compliance requirements. The company indicated it will continue supporting retail partners with practical advice as more details emerge, positioning its updates as a resource to prepare for evolving regulatory obligations.

  • Dr. Iqbal Lambat, Star Agritech CEO, Passes

    Dr. Iqbal Lambat, Star Agritech CEO, Passes

    Star Agritech International announced the passing of its founder and CEO Dr. Iqbal Lambat, a prominent figure in the global tobacco industry. Over a multi-decade career, Lambat held senior roles at major multinational companies, including Philip Morris International, R.J. Reynolds International, and Japan Tobacco International, as well as Dow Chemical Europe and luxury brands Piaget/Baume & Mercier, before establishing Star Tobacco International in 2008, later rebranded as Star Agritech International in 2018.

    Lambat built Star Agritech into a significant player in tobacco leaf sourcing and export, expanding operations across Africa and other key growing regions and supplying major international manufacturers. Known for his deep industry knowledge and global perspective, he held multiple advanced degrees in finance, marketing and economics, as well as a doctorate in international finance, and was widely recognized for his contributions to connecting emerging markets with global tobacco supply chains.

  • PMI Calls for Lower Cigarette Taxes in Meeting With Australian Govt

    PMI Calls for Lower Cigarette Taxes in Meeting With Australian Govt

    Philip Morris used a closed-door Australian Senate hearing on illicit tobacco to argue that high excise taxes are driving consumers toward the black market and called for lower cigarette prices to restore legal sales. According to a released transcript, company representatives said taxes account for at least A$34 of a A$37.95 pack ($24.48 of $27.32), while illicit cigarettes can sell for as little as A$12 ($8.64), contributing to an illicit market estimated at 50–60% of total sales, or A$4–A$7 billion ($2.8–$5 billion).

    The company told lawmakers that narrowing the price gap between legal and illegal products could help shift consumers back into regulated channels, citing price, access, and enforcement as key drivers of illicit trade. The hearing, which was initially held in private, drew criticism from public health advocates who said it “ran counter to an international treaty Australia signed up to in the mid-2000s,” while government officials defended the decision to include industry input in the inquiry.

  • Belgian Health Minister Calls Tobacco Industry ‘Criminal’

    Belgian Health Minister Calls Tobacco Industry ‘Criminal’

    Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke sharply criticized the tobacco industry, describing it as a “criminal” sector with “no future,” as he defended ongoing regulatory efforts despite setbacks from a recent court ruling. Speaking on national television, Vandenbroucke acknowledged that a Constitutional Court decision forced the government to reverse its ban on cigarette sales in supermarkets, undermining part of its strategy to reduce tobacco accessibility. He reiterated support for stricter measures, including a planned ban on flavored vaping products, and warned that such products are contributing to rising youth nicotine use.

    The minister said the ruling complicated efforts to limit tobacco sales points, even as smoking rates have declined in recent years. He emphasized that broader regulatory action, both nationally and at the European level, remains necessary to address changing consumption patterns, including increased vaping among younger age groups, while maintaining pressure on tobacco and nicotine manufacturers.

  • Court Upholds ATF’s Action on Calif. Tribe’s Cigarette Sales

    Court Upholds ATF’s Action on Calif. Tribe’s Cigarette Sales

    A U.S. appeals court has upheld federal regulators’ decision to place the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians on a noncompliance list over cigarette sales, ruling that the tribe’s remote transactions with retailers on other tribal lands qualify as off-reservation activity. The Ninth Circuit panel found that such sales fall under California’s state tax and licensing requirements, supporting enforcement actions by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

    The decision affirms the application of state-level tobacco regulations to certain intertribal sales conducted remotely, reinforcing regulatory oversight in cases where transactions extend beyond a tribe’s own territory.

  • PMI Talks Illicit Trade, Tobacco Reforms in Pakistan

    PMI Talks Illicit Trade, Tobacco Reforms in Pakistan

    Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan met with a delegation from Philip Morris International to discuss challenges in the country’s tobacco sector, with a focus on illicit trade, regulatory gaps, and export potential. The delegation highlighted that an estimated 45–47 billion untaxed cigarettes are sold annually, contributing to revenue losses of around Rs350 billion ($1.3 billion) and creating competitive pressure on the formal sector. Discussions also addressed weaknesses in supply chain oversight, including tobacco leaf procurement and limited traceability, which enable informal manufacturing.

    Officials emphasized the need for stronger, coordinated enforcement across federal and provincial authorities, noting that existing regulations are often inconsistently applied. The role of the Pakistan Tobacco Board and broader policy challenges linked to IMF-related trade reforms were also reviewed, with both sides agreeing to continue collaboration on measures to improve compliance, strengthen monitoring systems, and support formal sector growth.

  • Altria, Juul Seek Pause in Antitrust Case Pending Appeal

    Altria, Juul Seek Pause in Antitrust Case Pending Appeal

    Earlier this week, Altria and Juul asked a California federal court to pause an ongoing antitrust case while they appeal a class certification ruling to the Ninth Circuit. The lawsuit centers on Altria’s 2018 $12.8 billion investment in Juul, which plaintiffs allege reduced competition by prompting Altria to exit the e-cigarette market, leading to higher prices and fewer product options.

    The companies argue that the appeal raises significant legal questions around class definitions and applicable laws, and that continuing the case could result in unnecessary litigation if the ruling is altered. Plaintiffs have opposed the request, noting the case has been ongoing for more than six years, as both sides acknowledge the current trial schedule will need to be revised pending the appellate process.

  • Tobacco Price Gap Driving Irish Customers Cross-Border

    Tobacco Price Gap Driving Irish Customers Cross-Border

    Irish consumers are increasingly purchasing tobacco products abroad or through duty-free channels due to significant price differences with mainland Europe, according to new research commissioned by Retailers Against Smuggling (RAS). Survey data of 1,000 adults found that 28% had bought tobacco outside Ireland, with Spain accounting for 48% of those purchases. The group highlighted a sharp excise gap—around €3 per pack in Spain compared to nearly €11 in Ireland—contributing to domestic prices approaching €19 per pack.

    Retailers warned that the price disparity is driving both cross-border purchasing and illicit trade, which now accounts for more than a quarter of the Irish market and is estimated to cost the government €590 million annually in lost revenue. RAS has called for stronger enforcement of existing rules on duty-free and cross-border limits, arguing that current measures must be backed by more visible and targeted action.

  • Saint Lucia Launches National Anti-Smoking Campaign

    Saint Lucia Launches National Anti-Smoking Campaign

    Saint Lucia has launched a national anti-smoking campaign led by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council Secretariat (SAACS) under the Ministry of Health, aimed at raising awareness of the risks associated with smoking and secondhand smoke. The initiative targets changing consumption patterns, including increased vaping and public use of tobacco and cannabis, and seeks to promote prevention and healthier behaviors, particularly among youth. The campaign will be delivered through schools, workplaces, community outreach, and digital platforms, with trained peer educators supporting messaging as part of broader efforts to reduce smoking-related illnesses and chronic disease.