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Category: Around the Industry

  • JTI UK Launches Strongest Nordic Spirit Nicotine Pouch Yet

    JTI UK Launches Strongest Nordic Spirit Nicotine Pouch Yet

    JTI UK announced the launch of its most potent nicotine pouch to date, Nordic Spirit Frosty Mint Max (17mg), which is now available via JTI360 and key multiple grocers, with wider rollout to independent and symbol retailers from November 3. Priced at £6.50 RRP, JTI said it is targeting the fast-growing “max strength” segment, which now accounts for 16% of nicotine pouch sales in the Independents & Symbols channel.

    The new variant debuts Nordic Spirit’s refreshed branding, featuring darker tones and bold design cues to emphasize strength. With the UK nicotine pouch market valued at £15.9 million per month, JTI says the product will help retailers meet rising demand for high-strength options.

  • Acting CTP Director Offers ‘Groundbreaking’ Views at FDLI

    Acting CTP Director Offers ‘Groundbreaking’ Views at FDLI

    Bret Koplow, Acting Director of the FDA Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), outlined a notable change in the agency’s approach to tobacco regulation, emphasizing tobacco harm reduction as a central principle, as he opened the Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI) Tobacco and Nicotine Policy Conference on October 28.

    Chris Allen, CEO of UK-based consultancy Broughton, called the keynote “one of the most significant speeches we’ve heard in years,” marking the FDA’s first public acknowledgment of harm reduction as a principle embedded in its regulatory framework in years, while public health expert Cliff Douglas posted on X that the speech was “refreshing and potentially groundbreaking,” noting Koplow’s clear articulation of the benefits of switching from cigarettes to alternative products.

    According to social media posts from the two experts, Koplow highlighted the importance of streamlining review and authorization processes to make harm reduction measures effective, and said the FDA will soon provide guidance on the continuum of risk for tobacco and nicotine products and signaled potential support for expanding flavored e-cigarettes using age-gating technology if they serve public health goals. He also stressed the need for a regulated marketplace of authorized reduced-risk products, warning that without proper oversight, unregulated alternatives could dominate the market.

    “This is encouraging, but we will need to see what form this takes and how well it is executed. The follow-up panel on the future of tobacco policy in the context of #MAHA [Make America Healthy Again] correctly highlights the welcome change in tone in Director Koplow’s remarks,” Douglas wrote, referencing the conference’s opening panel,
    The Future of Tobacco Policy: Aligning CTP’s Present with MAHA’s Vision, which featured industry experts Beth Oliva, Cheryl K. Olson, Jeff Weiss, Jeffrey Willett, and Robyn Gougelet. “This should not be overlooked, as his clear articulation of the benefits of switching from cigarettes to pouches and vapes, for example, is refreshing and potentially groundbreaking.”

    Allen agreed, saying that the industry has sought FDA clarity for years.

    “This was more than a language shift. It was a reframing of how CTP interprets the ‘appropriate for the protection of public health’ standard at the heart of the Tobacco Control Act,” Allen wrote. “This shift opens the door for more transparent communication on relative risk, more efficient regulatory pathways, and ultimately, a more pragmatic approach to reducing smoking-related disease and death.

    “It’s not just a policy update, it’s a philosophical evolution.”

    After speaking on the MAHA panel that followed Koplow’s remarks, Olson said it was a pleasure hearing the director’s talk about shifting schemes.

    “Government framing of nicotine is overdue for a rethink,” Olson wrote on LinkedIn. “Smoking rates are stuck among vulnerable groups such as older adults. If you look at what government websites say about smoking cessation, they mostly give the same advice they’ve given for decades. The old HHS Framework assumes that people who smoke are passive victims of industry manipulation. 

    “If MAHA is about empowering people to make choices…that could help create a new framework that puts the needs of people who use nicotine at the center.”

  • Ex-WHO Director Calls for Global THR Shift

    Ex-WHO Director Calls for Global THR Shift

    Former World Health Organization (WHO) director Professor Tikki Pang urged global health authorities to embrace tobacco harm reduction, saying rigid opposition to alternative nicotine products is undermining progress against smoking-related deaths. Speaking at the Asia Forum on Nicotine, Pang said that while the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control saved millions of lives, its impact has stalled, especially in lower-income countries. He blamed slow policy implementation and rejection of less harmful products like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches despite “overwhelming evidence” of the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of these (alternative) products.

    “Global health authorities have adopted a very strong anti-tobacco harm reduction stance,” Pang said. “[They] actually state that these products are as harmful as combustible cigarettes and call on their member states to ban them and actually give awards to countries which have done so.”

    Pang called for independent, evidence-based platforms to unite governments, scientists, and industry to promote transparency, proportional regulation, and harm reduction success stories.

    Pang also quoted renowned physician Alex Wodak, saying, “And I quote Alex – WHO’s position on this issue is now as irrelevant as the position of governments in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union in the 1980s on the future of central command economies. WHO’s position will collapse at some point, but I don’t know when.”

  • BAT Pauses Vuse One Vape Launch Amid FDA Scrutiny

    BAT Pauses Vuse One Vape Launch Amid FDA Scrutiny

    Yesterday (October 28), Reuters reported that BAT paused its pilot launch of the Vuse One disposable vape in the U.S., highlighting the regulatory hurdles in the rapidly growing nicotine products market, news that was confirmed by a spokesperson for Reynolds American, BAT’s U.S. subsidiary. The pilot will be postponed while the company focuses on its existing portfolio, including a nicotine pouch currently under PMTA review that FDA has promised to fast-track.

    “We will bring Vuse One to market at the appropriate time,” the spokesperson said. “Vuse One is one of the few disposable vapor products that meet the in-market and PMTA-deadline requirements that Congress established in 2022. We have communicated with our customers to ensure that they are fully informed about our decision.”

    The move follows increased U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) enforcement against unapproved vapes, many imported from China, which have eroded profits in the $22 billion U.S. smoking alternatives sector. Earlier this year, it was reported that several manufacturers, frustrated by the lack of progress within the FDA, were considering launching products prior to official approval, similar to those already available on the market.

    The pause underscores the industry’s broader push for reforms to streamline FDA approvals, which often take years. Philip Morris International and Altria are also navigating similar challenges, balancing regulatory compliance with the competitive pressure from unlicensed products. The FDA has signaled intentions to accelerate applications, though public health groups warn that any loosening of review standards could undermine safety and oversight.

    The FDA recently sent a letter to “remind” manufacturers that selling new nicotine products without authorization is unlawful.

  • Industry Veteran Escalona Joins Don Emmanuel Cigars

    Industry Veteran Escalona Joins Don Emmanuel Cigars

    Don Emmanuel Cigars announced that Carlos Escalona, a longtime veteran of Davidoff of Geneva, has joined the company to help steer its growth and expansion. The move is a significant step for the emerging premium cigar brand, according to its founder, Brazilian Master Cigar Sommelier Don Emmanuel.

    The connection was made through legendary blender Eladio Díaz, who collaborated with Don Emmanuel to craft the brand’s debut Anunnaki line—an artisanal collection featuring seven tobaccos, including a rare Dominican wrapper.

    “To see someone like Carlos Escalona believe in what we’re creating is deeply meaningful,” said Emmanuel. “Eladio and I built these cigars with soul and precision. Carlos brings the same dedication and understanding of what true luxury represents.”

  • Public Health Groups Drop Lawsuit Over FDA Menthol Ban Delay

    Public Health Groups Drop Lawsuit Over FDA Menthol Ban Delay

    A coalition of public health organizations, led by the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC), voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday (October 27). The lawsuit, originally filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in November 2024, sought to compel the FDA to finalize a long-awaited rule banning menthol cigarettes. The plaintiffs’ action comes after the incoming Trump administration officially withdrew the proposed menthol ban in January 2025, effectively making the lawsuit’s core demand moot, according to Bloomberg.

    The case centered on the FDA’s “unreasonable delay” in issuing a final rule, which began with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in May 2022. The Biden administration’s failure to finalize the rule, reportedly due to political concerns, prompted the legal challenge. However, the subsequent administrative reversal under the new presidential administration closed the door on this particular federal strategy.

    With the federal avenue for a menthol ban now closed, the public health advocates involved in the lawsuit have confirmed they will shift their focus to state and local-level initiatives, according to Bloomberg. By voluntarily dismissing the case, the plaintiffs can redirect their resources and strategic efforts toward more viable legal and political pathways. The dismissal was filed “without prejudice,” meaning the case could theoretically be refiled, but the current political climate and regulatory withdrawal make a renewed federal challenge unlikely in the near term.

  • Black Buffalo’s Boss Honored with Goldman Sachs Award

    Black Buffalo’s Boss Honored with Goldman Sachs Award

    Black Buffalo co-founder and president Mark Hanson was honored by Goldman Sachs as one of the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2025 at its Builders and Innovators Summit. The recognition follows Black Buffalo’s national retail expansion, growth of its “Herd Rewards” loyalty program, and continued investment in R&D and compliance serving adult nicotine consumers. “This award is a reflection of the Black Buffalo team’s tireless dedication to excellence, foundational commitment to compliance, and relentless pursuit to deliver innovative products to our adult consumers,” Hanson said. The Summit, now in its 14th year, brings together founders and CEOs of hypergrowth companies to share insights and advance business leadership.

  • Happy World Tobacco Growers’ Day

    Happy World Tobacco Growers’ Day

    Each year since 2012, October 28 has been celebrated as World Tobacco Growers’ Day (WTGD), the date when Europeans reportedly first observed tobacco as Christopher Columbus arrived at the island that is now the Dominican Republic. Founded by the International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA), the day is meant “to celebrate the legitimacy and dignity of the work carried out by millions of tobacco growers around the world.”

    “Since its establishment, World Tobacco Growers’ Day has been celebrated across many countries, honoring the dedication and contribution of farming communities,” the ITGA says. “In several nations, the day has even been formally institutionalized, becoming a proud annual tradition that recognizes the economic, cultural, and social importance of tobacco growers. A global day to honor those who cultivate the land and preserve a living heritage.

    “WTGD shines a light on the cultural, historical, and socio-economic legacy of tobacco growing — a livelihood that has shaped generations and sustained rural communities for centuries. Tobacco growers work in a legal and regulated market, and this day is about giving dignity and recognition to their honest labor and enduring contribution to the global agricultural landscape.”

  • ‘Science Must Lead Policy,’ Say South African Harm-Reduction Experts

    ‘Science Must Lead Policy,’ Say South African Harm-Reduction Experts

    Health and policy leaders at the Progressive Business Forum (PBF) Colloquium on Wellness and Healthy Lifestyles in South Africa called for a science-driven approach to public health, urging the government to prioritize harm reduction over ideology. Former Gauteng Health MEC Dr Gwen Ramokgopa said South Africa must extend harm reduction principles—long used in HIV prevention and road safety—to emerging health risks such as tobacco and substance use. “Harm reduction is not permissiveness, it’s progress,” she said, noting that public health must help people make safer choices rather than impose moral judgments.

    Dr Percy Selepe, Acting COO of the Gauteng Department of Health, said “science must lead policy.” He and other speakers argued that South Africa’s punitive, abstinence-based approach has failed to curb smoking and substance use. Harm reduction advocates, including Professor Monique Marks, criticized the lack of government funding for evidence-based interventions, noting that all existing programs are run by non-profits. Marks stressed that switching from combustible cigarettes to regulated smoke-free products could dramatically reduce health risks and ease the burden on the healthcare system.

    Professors Obedy Mwantembe and Tivani Mashamba-Thompson called for African-led research into nicotine science and integrated harm reduction services addressing HIV and Hepatitis C. They emphasized that compassion and science must work hand in hand to reduce stigma and improve outcomes. If Gauteng’s evidence-first stance becomes national policy, speakers said, South Africa could modernize its public health strategy — replacing bans and punishment with regulation, education, and empathy. “Better health contributes to positive growth,” Ramokgopa said. “Collaboration between science, policy, and society is not optional — it’s essential.”

  • Nigeria Health Advocates Push for 50% Tobacco Tax

    Nigeria Health Advocates Push for 50% Tobacco Tax

    Health stakeholders and tobacco control advocates at the Gatefield Health Summit 2025 urged the Nigerian government to raise tobacco taxes to 50% of the retail price, citing the measure as a key tool to reduce smoking, prevent related illnesses, and protect public health. Experts highlighted that Nigeria’s current tax level of about 25% falls well below the World Health Organization’s recommended 75% of retail price.

    Michael Olaniyan, Country Representative for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, claimed that higher taxes are effective in deterring youth smoking, while Chibuike Nwokorem of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance criticized tobacco companies for exploiting weak enforcement mechanisms and influencing policy decisions through industry associations.