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Category: Around the Industry

  • Vapes a ‘Relentless’ Source of Trash Fires

    Vapes a ‘Relentless’ Source of Trash Fires

    Ryan Fogelman, a partner at fire suppression firm Fire Rover, said that discarded vape devices are driving a surge in waste and recycling facility fires, as lithium-ion batteries inside the products can ignite when damaged or improperly handled. Fogelman, who tracks fire incidents across the U.S. and Canada, recorded 448 waste and recycling facility fires in 2025—the highest level since he began compiling data in 2016—describing vapes as a “relentless” and growing hazard. He argues that waste operators are increasingly forced to manage safety risks created by improperly disposed vaping products, which are difficult to detect during processing.

    In response, several U.S. states are exploring legislative and operational measures to address vape-related waste risks. California lawmakers passed legislation to ban disposable vape pens, partly aimed at reducing litter and fire hazards, while New Jersey has reintroduced an extended producer responsibility proposal that would place disposal and recycling obligations on manufacturers. Meanwhile, pilot take-back and safe disposal initiatives led by the Product Stewardship Institute are underway in states including New York and Missouri, alongside broader industry-backed education and battery recycling programs designed to reduce fire risks and improve end-of-life management of vaping products.

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    Following the publication of this story, Ryan Fogelman requested we link a recent article he wrote, titled, “December Fire Report: A Plea to the Tobacco Industry.”

  • ATNF Lineup Continues to Grow

    ATNF Lineup Continues to Grow

    The American Tobacco and Nicotine Forum (ATNF) updated its agenda for its 2026 program set for April 20–22, at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia, confirming an additional 18 prestigious speakers from the industry and regulatory world.

    Click here to see the current lineup of speakers.

    ATNF is the nation’s leading annual conference focused on the future of the tobacco and nicotine industries, serving as a global forum for the exchange of ideas among public health experts, government officials, industry leaders, and investors. Formerly known as the TMA Annual Meeting, the conference has been held continuously for more than 110 years, now under the Nicotine Resource Consortium.

    ATNF 2026 plans to feature an innovation product showcase and a wide-ranging program examining science, regulation, litigation, and tobacco harm reduction. Agenda highlights include sessions on the use of artificial intelligence in product research, lessons from the FDA’s nicotine pouch pilot authorization program, pathways to meaningful PMTA reform, state and local policy impacts on harm reduction, enforcement and marketplace integrity, litigation affecting smoke-free products, and strategies for communicating harm reduction to adults who smoke. Additional panels will explore women’s leadership in tobacco and nicotine law, streamlining product reviews through smokefree standards, and the evolving role of advocacy in advancing tobacco harm reduction.

    Click here to register.

  • PCA Announces New Board

    PCA Announces New Board

    The Premium Cigar Association announced the results of its latest Board of Directors election, with Brandon Hayes of Renegade Cigars in Dallas, Paul Copeland of Shore Thing Cigars (Florida and Alabama), and Michael Frey of the CigarBox in Las Vegas, elected to new three-year terms. Teresa Wessling of Georgetown (D.C.) Tobacco and Christian Eiroa of C.L.E. Cigars were re-elected to additional terms. The newly elected directors will be formally approved by the association’s membership on April 16 at the PCA 2026 trade show in New Orleans.

    PCA leadership said the association recorded its strongest membership, attendance, and revenue growth in a decade in 2025 and noted increased participation in this year’s board election.

  • PM Exec Urges Malaysia to Follow Japan’s Lead

    PM Exec Urges Malaysia to Follow Japan’s Lead

    A Philip Morris executive is urging Malaysia to adopt a harm-reduction approach to nicotine policy rather than banning vapes and e-cigarettes, citing Japan as a model. Naeem Shahab Khan, managing director of Philip Morris Malaysia and Singapore, called Japan’s framework a “pragmatic harm-reduction pathway,” noting the country legally allows heated tobacco products and applies product-specific tax rates. He said Japanese data show cigarette sales fell by about 52% from 2011 to 2023 as smokers shifted to alternatives, arguing that adult nicotine users should have “an equal opportunity to know what is less risky.” Khan warned that “unrealistic” bans could fuel illicit markets, adding that illegal cigarettes already account for about 55% of Malaysia’s sales.

  • New Zealand Approves First Product to Help Quit Vaping

    New Zealand Approves First Product to Help Quit Vaping

    The New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority (Medsafe) approved the country’s first nicotine replacement therapy product specifically indicated to help people quit vaping. Medsafe is recommending Nicorette QuickMist for vapers looking to quit, a product that has been on the market for years for cigarette smokers. Asthma and Respiratory Foundation chief executive Letitia Harding said the approval recognizes vaping addiction as a growing issue and cited 2024 survey data showing 20% of Year 12 and 26% of Year 13 students reported vaping in the previous week. The Foundation is also calling for tighter vaping regulations, including halting new specialist vape retailers and restricting general retail sales.

  • American Lung Association Releases Tobacco Control Report

    American Lung Association Releases Tobacco Control Report

    The American Lung Association released its 24th annual State of Tobacco Control report, grading states and the federal government on policies proven to reduce tobacco use and prevent tobacco-related death and disease. The report states that the federal tobacco prevention landscape has been significantly altered by the effective dismantling of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, including the scheduled end of the Tips From Former Smokers media campaign in 2026, which the association describes as a major setback for national tobacco control efforts. The report also evaluates each state’s progress in adopting measures aimed at reducing tobacco use and supporting cessation.

    The report gave top overall grades to California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, and Massachusetts. Its worst overall grades went to Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas, followed by Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Tennessee. It said Maine and Montana were the two most improved states.

    Read the full report here.

  • Don Emmanuel Cigars Introduced in Panama

    Don Emmanuel Cigars Introduced in Panama

    Don Emmanuel Cigars announced its expansion into Panama, continuing its international growth with an official market launch this week. The debut was marked by an event at Club Unión’s Muelle featuring a cigar-and-rum pairing with Ron Barceló and an appearance by founder Don Emmanuel, introducing the brand’s Anunnaki line to local consumers.

    The company will be represented in Panama by Erick Villarreal, a banking professional and hospitality consultant with experience in Peru. The Anunnaki line, co-blended with master blender Eladio Díaz in the Dominican Republic, uses seven tobaccos including a Dominican wrapper and Mexican San Andrés binder. The Panama move follows recent expansion across the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa, as the brand builds its global presence.

  • Boveda Changes Name to Vivi in Cannabis Sector

    Boveda Changes Name to Vivi in Cannabis Sector

    Boveda announced that its two-way humidity controls designed specifically for the cannabis market will now be branded as Vivi, though materials, construction, and performance remain unchanged. The new brand will anchor a broader cure-to-storage system for cannabis, and Boveda said a dedicated Vivi team will support customers as the company expands its long-term presence in the industry.

    The company—which caters to “moisture sensitive” niches such as cigars, guitars, and medical devices—said the move is designed to better serve cultivators, homegrowers, and consumers with branding tailored specifically to cannabis, while keeping the same humidity-control technology that has been used in the sector since 2007.

  • RJR Loses Fla. Engle Case, Damages 5% of Sought Sum

    RJR Loses Fla. Engle Case, Damages 5% of Sought Sum

    A Florida jury on Tuesday awarded $675,000 to a longtime Newport cigarette smoker who developed severe lung disease and ultimately required a lung transplant, delivering a far smaller sum than the $14 million sought by plaintiffs against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. The case is part of Florida’s long-running Engle progeny litigation, which allows individual smokers to sue tobacco companies using findings from a landmark class action that established cigarettes are addictive and cause disease.

    While the jury found Reynolds liable for the plaintiff’s injuries, the verdict, according to Law 360, highlights the mixed legal risk tobacco companies still face in Florida: ongoing exposure to adverse findings, but with damages frequently falling well below plaintiffs’ demands, potentially tempering financial impact on manufacturers despite persistent litigation.

  • EU Suspects ‘Coordinated’ Interference in Tobacco Tax Feedback

    EU Suspects ‘Coordinated’ Interference in Tobacco Tax Feedback

    The European Commission suspects that a surge of pro-industry submissions opposing its proposed overhaul of the EU Tobacco Tax Directive was likely coordinated and intended to distort public consultation feedback, according to comments from Commission tax official David Boublil as reported by Politico. Thousands of largely anonymous responses promoting tobacco industry arguments, along with what are believed to be fake submissions attributed to public health experts, were filed in the final hours of the consultation period.

    While the Commission did not identify who was behind the activity, Boublil described industry lobbying on the issue as “gigantic.” The proposal would raise the EU-wide minimum excise duty on cigarettes from €90 to €215 per 1,000 cigarettes, a move opposed by several member states. The scrutiny comes amid broader upcoming EU reviews of tobacco taxation and regulation, including plans to extend tobacco control rules to e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches from 2026.