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Category: Around the Industry

  • Kenya Stays Defamation Case Based on ‘Tobacco Bribes’

    Kenya Stays Defamation Case Based on ‘Tobacco Bribes’

    Kenya’s Court of Appeal temporarily halted the defamation case filed by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula against the BBC, which he accused of defaming him in the 2015 documentary Panorama: The Secret Bribes of Big Tobacco. Wetang’ula seeks damages and costs over allegations that British American Tobacco bribed him while he served as Bungoma Senator.

    The BBC argued that continuing the High Court case would undermine its appeal and block access to crucial evidence from UK courts. Wetang’ula opposed the request, calling it procedurally flawed and delayed.

    The appellate court agreed the BBC raised an arguable point, noting the delay was not excessive and emphasizing the constitutional right to a fair trial. It granted the stay, pausing the High Court proceedings until the appeal is resolved, with costs to follow the outcome.

  • PM Japan Launches Sentia Icy Red for IQOS

    PM Japan Launches Sentia Icy Red for IQOS

    Philip Morris Japan introduced a new heated tobacco product, Sentia Icy Red, for its IQOS ILUMA i device and the IQOS ILUMA-exclusive “SENTIA” sticks. The product will be available in Japan beginning today (December 1) at four IQOS stores nationwide, select Yamada Denki and Bic Camera locations, and IQOS corners in some Don Quijote-affiliated stores. Online sales begin December 4, with availability at tobacco and convenience stores nationwide from December 8.

    According to the company, Sentia Icy Red features a strong cold menthol sensation combined with delicate fruity red berry and floral aromas, expanding the Sentia portfolio to 17 brands. The product is priced at 530 yen ($3.39) for 20 sticks.

    This launch reflects Philip Morris Japan’s ongoing strategy to diversify flavors and experiences for heated tobacco consumers while promoting its IQOS ILUMA platform.

  • CAPHRA Says WHO Allowing Prohibitionists to Dominate Agenda

    CAPHRA Says WHO Allowing Prohibitionists to Dominate Agenda

    The Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) criticized the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Secretariat for allowing what it called “Bloomberg-funded prohibitionist NGOs to dominate the policy agenda” at COP11. CAPHRA said the “Dirty Ashtray Award” given to New Zealand reflects a corrupted process in which countries are shamed for not aligning with an ideological, prohibition-driven narrative rather than evidence-based public health outcomes.

    New Zealand, CAPHRA said, has one of the world’s lowest smoking rates at 6.8%, alongside sharply declining youth vaping and minimal youth smoking—developments credited to its harm-reduction framework. Despite this success and strengthened penalties for youth access violations, New Zealand was targeted while countries with far higher smoking rates received positive recognition. Supportive COP11 delegations, including Canada, Sweden, and Germany, likewise emphasized transparency, consumer input, and independent science, highlighting widening divisions within the treaty process.

    CAPHRA executive coordinator Nancy Loucas condemned the Secretariat’s approach, saying evidence-based harm-reduction advocates are wrongly portrayed as industry-aligned. CAPHRA is urging the FCTC to uphold its mandate, arguing that countries must be free to craft policies suited to their own contexts.

    Source: CAPHRA

  • Geneva Meeting Boosts Action Against Illicit Tobacco

    Geneva Meeting Boosts Action Against Illicit Tobacco

    The fourth session of the Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products wrapped up in Geneva on November 26, with 60 Parties agreeing to strengthen international cooperation and enforcement. Decisions include compiling and analyzing tobacco seizure data, forming working groups on research and best practices, and improving licensing fee monitoring. Illicit trade is estimated to account for 11% of the global tobacco market, costing governments billions.

    The meeting also welcomed Vanuatu as the Protocol’s 71st Party, reinforcing global efforts under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

  • Imperial Offers Video Series to Battle Public Misconceptions

    Imperial Offers Video Series to Battle Public Misconceptions

    Imperial Brands launched a new video series aimed at addressing the common misunderstandings associated with next-generation nicotine products (NGP) like vapes and pouches. The company’s Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) survey shows widespread confusion about the risks of NGP)s, with 63% of young people and 53% of adult smokers wrongly believing vaping is as harmful or more harmful than smoking.

    Imperial Brands Science says such misconceptions weaken the public-health potential of NGP and offers the series to tackle claims that vapes are unregulated, cause “popcorn lung,” or are as harmful as cigarettes, and clarifies differences between passive vaping and passive smoking.

    Dr. Thomas Nahde, Imperial’s Head of Harm Reduction and Engagement, said misinformation is discouraging some smokers from switching to potentially less harmful alternatives. The videos aim to make the science more accessible and promote evidence-based discussion.

    Find out more about NGP myths and misconceptions on the Imperial Brands Science website’s dedicated page.

  • USA Vape Lab Sues FDA Over PMTA Delay

    USA Vape Lab Sues FDA Over PMTA Delay

    USA Vape Lab, maker of the Naked100 line of bottled e-liquids, filed suit against the Food and Drug Administration, alleging it unlawfully delayed action on its premarket tobacco applications for more than five years. The suit was filed November 21 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

    In the complaint, the Huntington Beach, Calif.–based company says it submitted extensive PMTAs for its flavored and tobacco e-liquid products ahead of the September 9, 2020 deadline. Despite a Tobacco Control Act provision requiring FDA to issue decisions within 180 days, the agency has yet to act, the suit states. USA Vape Lab is asking the court to order FDA to issue final determinations.

    The company also argues FDA must consider what it describes as robust population-level evidence included in its submissions. According to the filing, a randomized controlled trial showed nearly one-third of participants achieved six-month cigarette abstinence when using Naked100 e-liquids—quit rates the company claims are two to three times higher than those reported for FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapies. USA Vape Lab further alleges that flavors such as Really Berry and Strawberry Pom demonstrate net public-health benefits that outweigh potential youth risks and exceed those of comparable tobacco flavors.

    “We felt that we had no choice but to initiate this lawsuit,” founder Huy Nguyen said in a statement, criticizing the agency for years-long delays while threatening enforcement actions against products lacking marketing orders.

    USA Vape Lab manufactures a range of popular e-liquids, including American Patriots, Crisp Menthol, and Lava Flow.

  • Half of Thai Smokers Have Undiagnosed Diabetes, Doctors Warn

    Half of Thai Smokers Have Undiagnosed Diabetes, Doctors Warn

    Doctors in Thailand have raised alarm that more than 700,000 smokers are living with diabetes, with nearly half unaware of their condition, according to last year’s Thai Health Examination Survey conducted by Ramathibodi Hospital alongside the Ministry of Public Health and other health agencies.

    The survey found 6.1 million Thais have diabetes. Of the 779,060 smokers with the disease, 377,542 are undiagnosed, and 42,099 know they have diabetes but are not receiving treatment. Only 133,027 are listed as maintaining good control of the disease.

    Dr. Prakit Vathesatogkit of the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation highlighted that smoking increases the risk of diabetes by 30–40% and worsens blood-sugar control, accelerating complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, vision loss, and poor circulation.

  • CORESTA Conference Abstracts Available

    CORESTA Conference Abstracts Available

    Cooperation Centre for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco (CORESTA) announced that it has made its abstracts and presentations available from its 2025 Science-Techno Conference held in October in Annecy, France. The document is available here.

  • 25 Attorneys General Call to Tighten Online Tobacco Sales

    25 Attorneys General Call to Tighten Online Tobacco Sales

    California Attorney General Rob Bonta and the City of New York co-led a bipartisan coalition of 25 attorneys general in urging Shopify Inc. to take stronger action against merchants selling illegal tobacco products, particularly e-cigarettes, through its platform. In a letter sent November 24, the coalition requested a meeting with Shopify to develop a comprehensive solution, noting that despite existing policies, sellers continue to use the service to market unlawful products. Shopify, California’s Department of Justice said, has previously cooperated with enforcement actions, terminating certain e-cigarette sellers flagged by California officials.

    The coalition identified 29 illegal e-cigarette websites currently hosted on Shopify and enclosed an exhibit listing more than 200 additional sites selling unlawful tobacco products. The other attorneys general represent Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

    Bonta has previously taken action against individual sellers, including lawsuits against companies marketing flavored disposable e-cigarettes.

  • JT Announces Board, Leadership Changes

    JT Announces Board, Leadership Changes

    Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) announced several resolutions from its Board of Directors concerning the company’s new and revised executive appointments, including changes among its Representative Directors. The most notable change is that Takehiko Tsutsui is being promoted from executive vice president of JT International to assume the office as president and Chief Executive Officer, replacing Masamichi Terabatake, who will become the deputy chairperson of the Board. The move will be effective January 1, 2026, subject to ratification at the company’s shareholders’ meeting and approval of the Board of Directors. Tsutsui joined JT in 1997 and has been a vice president since 2012.

    The company also announced that Shigeaki Okamoto will become the new chairperson of the Board, appointed Yukiko Uchida to the Board, and announced the resignations of Yukiko Nagashima and current chair Mutsuo Iwai. The Board changes will be effective at the conclusion of the shareholders’ meeting scheduled for March 25, 2026.

    In other moves, Adam Vilalta was named senior vice president of marketing of Tobacco Business in Japan with the resignation of Igor Dzaja, and Hisashi Shimobayashi was promoted to senior vice president, Chief Technology & Information Security Officer.