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Category: Around the Industry

  • FDA Launches Pilot to Fast-Track Nicotine Pouch Reviews

    FDA Launches Pilot to Fast-Track Nicotine Pouch Reviews

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is set to fast-track reviews of nicotine pouches from Philip Morris International, Altria, Reynolds American, and Turning Point Brands in a pilot program launching Monday, according to Reuters. According to transcripts of an agency meeting last Friday, the agency aims to complete assessments by December, providing a quicker path to market for products like Zyn, on!, Velo, Fre, and Alp. The initiative comes amid pressure from the Trump administration to accelerate approvals and streamline the review process for the fastest-growing category of U.S. tobacco alternatives.

    The pilot program will reportedly feature reduced and expedited reviews, more frequent communication between FDA staff and companies, and a focus on essential scientific and safety data, including product characterization, manufacturing consistency, and abuse-liability information. For products already on the market without full authorization, the process could remove uncertainty over legality and potential enforcement actions. Tobacco firms have long lobbied for a faster FDA authorization route, noting that lengthy reviews have allowed competitors to capture market share in the meantime.

    “Adult nicotine and tobacco consumers are increasingly seeking nicotine pouches as a smoke-free alternative, and the industry is rapidly growing in response,” said Laura Leigh Oyler, vice president of U.S. Regulatory Affairs at Haypp Group, who will be speaking at GTNF 2025 in Brussels on the U.S. regulatory landscape. “These consumers deserve a marketplace of FDA-reviewed product choices to support their journey away from more harmful products. 

    “It makes sense that our government should also work to meet the demands of citizens, supporting a regulatory regime that quickly reviews well-designed and well-tested products from responsible and compliant manufacturers. This is a positive step not just for the regulator and the regulated industry, but for the millions of American adults looking for products they can trust.”

  • Philip Morris Gets Wash. Tobacco Deal Fight Sent o Arbitrator

    Philip Morris Gets Wash. Tobacco Deal Fight Sent o Arbitrator

    A Washington state judge ordered R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. to arbitrate rival Philip Morris USA Inc.’s claims that it breached a 2017 deal delineating billions of dollars in annual payments. Ruling from the bench on September 3, King County Superior Court Judge Michael Scott granted the motion to force arbitration, contending Philip Morris’ breach-of-contract claim against R.J. Reynolds and the other tobacco producers “clearly arises” out of the 2017 agreement and therefore must be arbitrated.

    The conflict centers on longstanding disagreements over the annual Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) payments to the state. RJR and fellow plaintiffs claim PM USA aims to derail a separate 2025 settlement signed between RJR and Washington by attempting to enforce an arbitration clause dating back to the 2017 agreement. They argue PM USA is improperly interfering in a deal it is not directly part of.

    In June, PM USA submitted its motion to compel arbitration, asserting that RJR and the other defendants are bound by the 2017 arbitration clause and that the court must defer to this private resolution mechanism.

  • Concerns Rise Over ‘Vitamin Vapes’ Trend

    Concerns Rise Over ‘Vitamin Vapes’ Trend

    The Straits Times in Singapore reported today (September 5) that “vitamin diffusers,” which it says are being marketed aggressively by social media influencers in the UK, Australia, and the United States, are making their way to Southern Asia. Online sellers are promoting them as a wellness-focused alternative to e-cigarettes, but health experts caution that their chemical content is unknown and potentially hazardous.

    Touted as energy boosters, the devices are filled with additives such as caffeine, vitamin B12, essential oils, and even melatonin. Researchers say the trend represents a new phase of misleading advertising.

  • IKE Report Urges Tech-Driven Solutions to Stem Vaping Issues

    IKE Report Urges Tech-Driven Solutions to Stem Vaping Issues

    Smarter age-verification tools are urgently needed to curb youth vaping and the booming illicit market in the U.S., according to a new report from identity verification specialist IKE Tech. The study, The First Vape-Free Youth Generation, surveyed 5,000 respondents across the U.S. and U.K., including 500 teenagers. It found that while nearly half of U.S. adults believe current regulations are effective, 41% see them as ineffective or counterproductive. Despite FDA crackdowns, flavored disposables remain widely available, fueling both youth uptake and a $2.4 billion illicit vape market in 2024.

    Peer pressure, easy access, and weak age checks are driving the crisis, with 73% of respondents saying minors buy vapes online and 67% noting lax in-store controls. IKE Tech argues that technology-enabled solutions, such as biometric locks and digital age checks at the point of use, are critical to closing enforcement gaps.

    “By integrating age verification directly into the device, we go beyond packaging restrictions and sales bans to ensure that only adults can access these products, no matter where or how they’re sold,” said John Patterson, president of IKE Tech. “It’s time to complement federal regulation with innovative tools that actually work in the real world.”

    Patterson, who will be speaking at GTNF 2025 in Brussels on youth access prevention,  added that “FDA has taken bold steps in restricting flavored e-cigarettes, but enforcement gaps remain, especially with online sales and black market products.”

     Download the full report here.  

  • Thai Survey Finds Youth Vaping on the Rise

    Thai Survey Finds Youth Vaping on the Rise

    A nationwide survey by Thailand’s Department of Health Service Support that e-cigarette use among young people is growing, with the youngest reported new user just 6 years old. Conducted online earlier this year with more than 40,000 participants, the survey found the average age of initiation was 13.

    A previous survey found a sharp rise in e-cigarette use among Thai youth, increasing from 3.3% in 2022 to 17.6% in 2025. Of those users, 37.6% are aged 19–25, followed by 16–18-year-olds at 29.3%, and 13–15-year-olds at 22.4%. Peer pressure emerged as the leading factor driving uptake, with 45.6% of respondents saying they tried vaping because of friends. Social media was also cited as a major influence, with Facebook (27.9%) and TikTok (27.6%) named as the main platforms exposing youth to e-cigarette advertising.

  • UWELL Launches Gamified Caliburn G4 Pro Koko

    UWELL Launches Gamified Caliburn G4 Pro Koko

    UWELL unveiled the Caliburn G4 Pro Koko, introducing touchscreen controls and a gamified vaping experience with five unlockable user interface themes. The device features a 2000mAh battery, up to 35W output, three vaping modes, and a 2-inch shatterproof HD screen. Compatible with GPP and G3 cartridges, it incorporates leak-proof technology and a customizable interface, aiming to blend performance with interactive design.

  • Levity Delivers Innovative Packaging Design for Cohiba’s 2025 Spectres 

    Levity Delivers Innovative Packaging Design for Cohiba’s 2025 Spectres 

    Levity, branding specialists for consumer packaged goods,partnered with Cohiba to unveil a new packaging design for the company’s 2025 Spectre edition. The six-part packaging system blends high-end craftsmanship with precision engineering, including a sculpted wooden case, precision-crafted metal cigar tubes, a travel humidor, and a bespoke analog coreset mechanism that creates a slow, cinematic reveal.

    Matt Wilson, senior brand manager at Scandinavian Tobacco Group, said the collaboration was about “creating something exceptional, unexpected and truly luxurious.” Levity’s executive creative director, Theo van Blyenburgh, added that every detail, “from the packaging’s aesthetic to the way it moved in the hand, had to deliver on that promise.”

    Limited to just 750 units, this year’s Spectre features 10 hand-rolled cigars crafted with a rare, limited-edition blend, making it one of the most anticipated launches in the premium cigar market.

  • Tourists at Heart of Japan’s Cigarette Butt Problem

    Tourists at Heart of Japan’s Cigarette Butt Problem

    A new survey found cigarette butt litter around Osaka, Japan’s Namba Station to be four times higher than at Tokyo Station, highlighting challenges in enforcing the city’s street smoking ban among tourists. The survey, commissioned by the Osaka Prefecture food service industry sanitation association, revealed Namba as the worst offender among six locations nationwide. While street smoking has been banned citywide since January, limited designated smoking areas and confusion among visitors have contributed to widespread littering.

    Namba, home to popular tourist spots like Dotonbori, attracts many international visitors from countries where outdoor smoking is still permitted. Communicating Japan’s local rules to these travelers remains a hurdle, according to the officials.

  • FDA Urges Child-Resistant Packaging on Nicotine Pouches

    FDA Urges Child-Resistant Packaging on Nicotine Pouches

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is calling on nicotine pouch manufacturers to use child-resistant packaging to prevent accidental exposure among young children, though the agency acknowledges that all 20 FDA-authorized nicotine pouch products currently feature child-resistant packaging, so the news release appears to be aimed at pending or future applications.
     

    “ZYN is the only nicotine pouch authorized by the FDA as appropriate to protect public health,” officials from Philip Morris International said in a response to the FDA announcement. “In making that conclusion, the agency noted that ZYN’s packaging is designed to be child-resistant—and has been since its launch 11 years ago.”


    The concentrated nicotine in pouches can be harmful to children even in small amounts. From April 2022 to March 2025, about 72% of reported nicotine pouch exposure cases involved children under age five.
     
    “The fruity flavors and bright, colorful designs of nicotine pouch products could resemble candy and seem attractive to children,” said FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary. “Manufacturers should consider what steps they can take to prevent accidental exposures and ingestion.”
     
    The news release was paired with consumer information that advises parents to store all nicotine products securely and to contact Poison Control if ingestion occurs.

  • Court Orders the Reopening of 26 Cigarette Factories in Pakistan

    Court Orders the Reopening of 26 Cigarette Factories in Pakistan

    Pakistan’s Peshawar High Court has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to de-seal 26 cigarette factories in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that were shut for failing to install CCTV cameras under a directive that was issued August 18 and enforced August 25. Petitioners, including Universal Tobacco Company, argued the order was discriminatory as multinationals were exempted, despite already complying with tracking-and-tracing regulations. Their lawyer contended the new CCTV requirement was excessive, with factories already under electronic monitoring and tax office supervision.

    A bench led by Justice Wiqar Ahmad and Justice Mohammad Ijaz Khan ruled that no further action be taken against the petitioners until the next hearing on September 11.