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Category: Around the Industry

  • Cigarettes to Return to Belgian Supermarkets in 2027

    Cigarettes to Return to Belgian Supermarkets in 2027

    Belgium will allow supermarkets to resume cigarette sales from January 1, 2027, following a Constitutional Court ruling that struck down the current ban on larger retail outlets. The court found that restricting tobacco sales in shops over 400 square meters while allowing smaller retailers to continue was discriminatory, giving the government until 2027 to revise the law. Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke has opted not to introduce a replacement ban, meaning tobacco products can return to supermarket shelves, though they must remain out of sight.

    The decision has drawn mixed reactions, with supermarket groups welcoming the change while newsagents criticized the return of competition. The policy shift comes alongside other tobacco control measures, including a planned ban on flavored e-cigarettes from 2028 aimed at reducing youth uptake.

  • WSJ Reports Trump Pressuring FDA to Move on Flavored Vapes

    WSJ Reports Trump Pressuring FDA to Move on Flavored Vapes

    According to The Wall Street Journal, President Donald Trump has criticized FDA Commissioner Marty Makary for not moving quickly enough to approve flavored vaping and nicotine products, raising the issue in recent discussions with advisers. The report, citing people familiar with the matter, said Trump sought input on the role of flavored products among key voter groups and questioned the pace of regulatory decisions, with some advisers describing the FDA’s approach as an obstacle to the administration’s stated position on vaping.

    The FDA has so far authorized only 41 vape products for sale in the U.S., all in tobacco or menthol flavors, maintaining a requirement for strong evidence that flavored products provide benefits to adult smokers that outweigh youth risks. According to the report, Makary has discussed the possibility of adjusting the agency’s stance, with some sources indicating he may be considering a more open approach to flavored product approvals, though no formal policy change has been confirmed.

  • Clashing Protests On Both Sides of Bangladesh’s Tobacco Tax Debate

    Clashing Protests On Both Sides of Bangladesh’s Tobacco Tax Debate

    Civil society groups in Bangladesh formed a human chain and called for higher tobacco taxes and pricing reforms ahead of the 2026–27 national budget at a protest in Tangail today (May 4). Organizers, including the Development Organization of the Rural Poor (DORP), urged the government to merge lower cigarette price tiers and raise minimum prices, proposing Tk100 ($0.81) per 10-stick pack for the lowest tier and a uniform 67% supplementary duty alongside a specific tax of Tk4 ($0.03) per pack. Speakers said low and mid-priced cigarettes account for nearly 90% of sales, contributing to accessibility and rising use, particularly among youth.

    Participants also highlighted the broader public health and economic impact, noting that tobacco use prevalence in Bangladesh stands at 35.3%, and that tobacco-related costs reached more than double industry revenue, and called for stronger pricing policies and alternative employment options for bidi workers as part of broader tobacco control efforts.

    Concurrently, bidi workers called for higher wages and the removal of taxes on the sector during a May Day rally organized by the Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federation in front of the National Press Club. Workers demanded the withdrawal of taxes on the bidi industry, the elimination of advance income tax on bidis and cigarettes, improved wages, ration support, and action against counterfeit products. Union representatives also raised concerns about industry conditions and alleged financial outflows by multinational companies, while emphasizing the need for policy changes to support workers in the bidi sector.

  • Forbes Includes PMI Near Top of Net Zero Leaders List

    Forbes Includes PMI Near Top of Net Zero Leaders List

    Philip Morris International was named to Forbes’ 2026 Net Zero Leaders list, which recognizes U.S.-listed companies demonstrating measurable progress toward achieving net zero emissions. PMI ranked first in the fast-moving consumer goods category and fourth overall, based on assessments of governance, risk management, decarbonization performance, and financial resilience using data from Sustainalytics and Morningstar.

    The company reiterated its target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2040, ahead of the 2050 benchmark used by most companies. Recent milestones cited include the launch of its Value Plan 2030+, publication of an updated Climate Transition Plan, and continued progress toward science-based emissions reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.

  • R.J. Reynolds Opens Defense in Engle Case

    R.J. Reynolds Opens Defense in Engle Case

    A Florida jury heard opening arguments in a wrongful death case alleging that a woman who died of lung cancer was addicted to R.J. Reynolds’ menthol cigarettes. Plaintiff attorneys argued that the smoker became dependent on nicotine at a time when its addictive nature was not widely acknowledged, noting that the U.S. Surgeon General did not formally recognize nicotine addiction until 1988.

    Lawyers for the plaintiff contend that addiction limited the smoker’s ability to quit, contributing to her illness and death, while the defense is expected to challenge causation and individual responsibility as the trial proceeds. Working under the Engle progeny litigation umbrella, this case is part of ongoing tobacco litigation in Florida, where plaintiffs seek to link long-term smoking behavior to addiction and industry conduct.

  • Taipei Introducing Public Smoking Zones

    Taipei Introducing Public Smoking Zones

    Taipei will begin implementing designated smoking zones and outdoor negative-pressure smoking rooms in the Ximen and Zhongshan districts this month, marking the first phase of a broader plan to establish 19 such areas citywide. From June 1, Ximen will become the first neighborhood where smoking is banned in public except within these designated rooms, with three facilities already prepared for operation. City officials said additional areas will follow as part of efforts to expand smoke-free spaces.

    The announcement drew backlash from smokers, with critics citing limited locations, restricted hours, and capacity concerns, as the rooms operate from 8 a.m. to midnight and accommodate about 10 people, though authorities said they are within a five-minute walk of key locations and align with practices seen in other cities.

  • Greece Launches Digital Registry to Track Nicotine, Alcohol Sales

    Greece Launches Digital Registry to Track Nicotine, Alcohol Sales

    Greece launched a digital registry system to monitor the sale of alcohol, tobacco, and vaping products in real time, introducing mandatory registration and compliance tracking for retailers. The platforms alto.gov.gr and events.gov.gr underpin the system, which has already registered more than 88,600 points of sale and over 79,000 businesses, the government said. Under the framework, retailers must submit operational details and receive QR-coded certification, enabling authorities to verify compliance instantly during inspections, with non-registered businesses barred from selling regulated products.

    The initiative is aimed at strengthening enforcement and limiting underage access, while bringing tobacco, alcohol, and vaping products under a unified regulatory structure. Officials said the system improves market visibility and enables more targeted inspections, replacing fragmented oversight with continuous digital monitoring and stricter control of retail activity.

  • Ireland Customs Seizes 11M Illegal Cigarettes

    Ireland Customs Seizes 11M Illegal Cigarettes

    Revenue officers in Ireland seized about 11.4 million illicit cigarettes at Dublin Port following a targeted inspection on April 30. The shipment, which arrived from Rotterdam and was declared as cardboard packaging, was flagged through routine risk profiling and uncovered with the assistance of a detector dog and mobile X-ray scanner. The cigarettes, including brands such as Lambert & Butler Silver, Superkings Blue, and Richmond, are estimated to be worth more than €10.8 million, with a potential tax loss to the state of over €8.4 million.

    Authorities said investigations are ongoing and noted the seizure forms part of broader efforts to combat illegal tobacco trade and the shadow economy.

  • 5th Circuit Considering if FDA Overstepped in Vape Flavor Regs

    5th Circuit Considering if FDA Overstepped in Vape Flavor Regs

    A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard oral arguments this week in a case brought by seven small vape-liquid companies challenging the FDA’s denial of marketing authorization for flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems. The companies argue the FDA rejected their applications based on a comparative efficacy requirement they say was not disclosed before the 2020 PMTA deadline, in violation of the Tobacco Control Act.

    The FDA defended the denials, saying manufacturers must prove their specific products are appropriate for the protection of public health. Government counsel argued that non-tobacco flavors add youth-use risk and that applicants failed to show added adult switching benefits over tobacco-flavored products.

    The panel questioned both sides on whether the FDA’s approach was lawful adjudication or rulemaking in practice. Courthouse News Service said, this “ruling could affect thousands of pending applications and clarify how much procedural leeway the FDA has when reviewing the flood of vape products submitted after the 2020 PMTA deadline.”

  • Aussies Seize Huge Illicit Haul in Retailer Raids

    Aussies Seize Huge Illicit Haul in Retailer Raids

    Authorities in Canberra, Australia, seized more than 455,000 illicit cigarettes, along with 26 kg of loose-leaf tobacco, 6,000 cigars, more than 1,600 vapes, and about $27,000 in cash following coordinated raids on six retail outlets. The operation, led by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government and Australian Border Force with support from ACT Policing, also identified six people of interest linked to the illicit tobacco trade. The total seizure could be worth as much as A$580,000 ($418,000).

    Officials said the enforcement action reflects growing concern about the scale of Australia’s black market, estimated at roughly A$10 billion ($7.2 billion), and its links to organized crime. ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the impact on communities and legitimate retailers, while police highlighted the role of asset seizures in disrupting illegal activity.