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Category: Around the Industry

  • Reign Bar Debuts Mana 50K at CHAMPS Austin

    Reign Bar Debuts Mana 50K at CHAMPS Austin

    At the CHAMPS Tradeshow in Austin, Texas, today (September 9), Vape brand Reign Bar launched Mana 50K, a disposable device that, according to the company, features “the industry’s first visible e-liquid tank and dual sweetness-ice adjustment.” Dubbed the “Specs Terminator,” the product delivers up to 50,000 puffs with consistent output.

    Equipped with a high-power mesh coil, smart display controls, adjustable power, sweetness, and ice intensity, Reign says “Mana 50K addresses demand for customizable, anxiety-free vaping.” The device debuted with 10 fruit-flavor blends.

  • VELO Teams with McLaren in Fan-Centric Marketing Campaign

    VELO Teams with McLaren in Fan-Centric Marketing Campaign

    VELO has teamed with the McLaren Formula 1 Team to launch “Live Your Fandom,” a campaign designed to deepen fan engagement by offering exclusive, behind-the-scenes access. Nine fans from around the world were selected through McLaren Plus app competitions to spend a day inside the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK. The immersive experience included a surprise meeting with McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, a design workshop, and a Q&A with driver Lando Norris.

    “VELO, who champions those that embrace authenticity and self-expression, and the McLaren Formula 1 Team, are putting fandom front and center,” VELO said in a press release. “The two brands have come together to deliver unparalleled experiences and reward a community of global fans throughout the F1 season.”

  • MRECA: Should Hear from All Parties, Not Rely on “Biased” Vape Report 

    MRECA: Should Hear from All Parties, Not Rely on “Biased” Vape Report 

    The Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA) voiced concern over the Health Parliament Special Select Committee’s (PSSC) latest report, which proposes a blanket ban on the sale and use of e-cigarettes and vape. MRECA said the report was biased and prepared without consulting key stakeholders, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, consumers, and independent experts.

    “The industry supports firm and balanced regulations, including age restrictions, product standards, and consumer safety measures,” MRECA said in its statement. “However, the process must be transparent and inclusive. Allegations made against the industry should be reviewed and verified with scientific evidence, not assumptions.”

    The association urged the Health PSSC to hold consultation sessions with all stakeholders before finalizing recommendations. “Without a fair and comprehensive process, a blanket ban would unfairly punish the industry as a whole,” MRECA said. “The vape sector should be seen as part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

  • Smoking Bill Amendments Cleared, Debate Looming in Hong Kong

    Smoking Bill Amendments Cleared, Debate Looming in Hong Kong

    Hong Kong’s Legislative Council President Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen ruled that all three sets of amendments proposed by the Liberal Party to the government’s smoking control bill comply with procedural rules, paving the way for debate when the second reading resumes on September 10. The amendments, led by Liberal Party chairman and retail sector lawmaker Peter Shiu Ka-fai, seek to scrap the planned flavored cigarette ban, delay measures such as plain packaging through an “affirmative vetting” process, and broaden exemptions for additives used in cigarette manufacturing. While the government argued the changes would dilute its policy intent, Leung said the proposals do not breach the Rules of Procedure.

    Passage of the amendments will require majority support in both functional and geographical constituencies under LegCo’s dual voting system.

  • PCA Launches Premium Retailer Finder

    PCA Launches Premium Retailer Finder

    The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) introduced “Find Your Tobacconist,” a new interactive store locator on its website that enables enthusiasts to discover nearby premium tobacco retailers that are current PCA members. By leveraging geolocation and an intuitive map interface, the feature makes it easier than ever to support local brick-and-mortar tobacconists.

    Visit premiumcigars.org/find-your-tobacconist to use the locator.

  • Gudang Garam Denies Layoff Rumors Amid Financial Strain

    Gudang Garam Denies Layoff Rumors Amid Financial Strain

    Indonesian cigarette producer PT Gudang Garam has strongly denied claims of mass layoffs at its Kediri and Tuban factories. Over the weekend, a viral video showing hundreds of PT Gudang Garam Tbk employees shaking hands in what appeared to be an emotional farewell sparked layoff rumors. Adib Musyafa, head of human resources at the Tuban plant, called those rumors false and the video misleading, confirming that all 850 employees remain active, and no layoffs have occurred. He clarified that routine performance evaluations do not automatically lead to dismissals, urging the public to rely on official company statements.

    The Indonesian Trade Union Confederation (KSPI) picked up on the video and said it was verifying the reports and warned of potential ripple effects across the supply chain, which added to the validity of the rumor.

    The company reportedly saw an 82% drop in net profit in 2024 and its stock drop 33.7% this year, pointing to the financial pressures of higher excise taxes, falling sales, and competition from illegal cigarettes, but insists that mass workforce reductions have not taken place.

  • 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.