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Category: Around the Industry

  • BAT to Raise Prices of Heated Tobacco Sticks in Japan

    BAT to Raise Prices of Heated Tobacco Sticks in Japan

    BAT announced that it will increase the retail selling prices (RSPs) of its Lucky Strike and Kent heated tobacco sticks in Japan by ¥20 ($0.13) beginning January 1, citing higher manufacturing costs rather than tax-related reasons. Designed exclusively for use with the glo Hyper series, the adjustments will apply to 11 Lucky Strike and five Kent variants, setting new prices at ¥450 and ¥500 ($2.97 and $3.30), respectively.

    Prices for BAT’s other heated tobacco lines — Neo and Virto, for exclusive use with the glo Hilo series — will remain unchanged at ¥500 and ¥580 ($3.83). The company says that even after the increase, Lucky Strike will continue to be the lowest-priced tobacco stick among the three major heated tobacco platforms in Japan: IQOS, glo, and Ploom.

    The upcoming change follows a series of price revisions in recent years. Lucky Strike, originally launched at ¥450, was reduced to ¥400 ($2.64) in October 2023 and restored to ¥450 in April 2024. Kent, initially ¥500, dropped to ¥450 in August 2023 before rising to ¥480 ($3.17) in October 2024. Analysts suggest that the latest increase reflects BAT’s renewed confidence in its market position, emphasizing product innovation and the success of the glo Hilo series and Virto sticks, rather than relying on price competition.

  • Indonesian DM Calls for Worker Protection Amid Tobacco Industry Regulation

    Indonesian DM Calls for Worker Protection Amid Tobacco Industry Regulation

    Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Manpower, Afriansyah Noor, said the country needed new regulations in the tobacco industry that prioritized the welfare of workers and farmers. Speaking today (October 22), Noor said the industry must deliver tangible benefits to the nation and its workforce, rather than serving only business interests.

    Highlighting the sector’s labor-intensive nature, Noor pointed out that millions of workers are involved, from farmers to factory employees. He stressed that any policy changes causing layoffs must guarantee workers’ rights, severance pay, and social protection. Noor also proposed allocating a portion of cigarette excise tax funds to create a social protection scheme for tobacco workers affected by industrial shifts.

    Addressing emerging products like e-cigarettes, Noor emphasized that regulations must ensure workers are not sidelined by market changes. He called for inter-ministerial coordination in drafting tobacco industry policies that balance economic, health, agricultural, and labor considerations, ensuring the sector remains sustainable while safeguarding livelihoods.

  • Swedish Innovator Eyes U.S. Launch with Fast-Acting Nicotine Pouch

    Swedish Innovator Eyes U.S. Launch with Fast-Acting Nicotine Pouch

    As nicotine pouch use soars in the United States, Swedish biotech firm Emplicure AB announced plans to seek U.S. regulatory approval for its patented nicotine delivery system, Seratek. Designed to deliver nicotine more rapidly at lower strengths, the company says the technology could mark a new chapter in smokeless alternatives for adult nicotine users.

    According to a 2025 pharmacokinetic study, Seratek released 80% of its nicotine within five minutes under controlled conditions, outperforming existing pouch brands even at lower strengths. In a consumer taste test in Sweden, 123 adult pouch users preferred Seratek over international leaders for flavor, comfort, and discretion. Emplicure says it will file a Premarket Tobacco Application (PMTA) to authorize sales in the U.S.

    Emplicure CEO Mattias Josander, a former executive at Swedish Match, Red Bull, and L’Oréal, said the company’s goal is to “accelerate the transition to a smokeless world.” He added, “If vaccines were the breakthrough of the 20th century, nicotine pouches could represent the public-health breakthrough of the 21st.”

  • CVA Urges Education Over Prohibition as Youth Vaping Declines

    CVA Urges Education Over Prohibition as Youth Vaping Declines

    The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) is calling on federal and provincial health ministers to prioritize youth prevention and education programs over restrictive vaping bans, warning that prohibitionist policies could fuel the illicit market and push adult smokers back to cigarettes. CVA President Sam Tam said measures such as flavor bans would undermine harm-reduction efforts that have helped millions quit smoking, noting that tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in Canada. The group emphasized that prohibition “leaves adult smokers with nowhere to turn except back to tobacco use,” threatening Canada’s goal of reducing smoking rates below 5% by 2035.

    Citing new Statistics Canada data, the CVA said youth vaping rates among Canadians aged 12–17 have fallen to 7.2% in 2025, nearly half the 2019 peak, crediting education-focused initiatives such as Health Canada’s “I Quit for Me” program. The association also highlighted research showing that flavored vaping products are crucial in helping adults switch from cigarettes, referencing studies by McGill University, Public Health England, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. The CVA warned that banning legal, regulated products would drive consumers to the black market, where unregulated, high-strength nicotine products are easily accessible to youth. Instead, the group urged governments to back evidence-based regulation, support enforcement, and expand youth cessation resources rather than pursuing prohibitionist approaches.

  • Indonesia Offers Amnesty to Bring Illicit Tobacco Makers into Fold

    Indonesia Offers Amnesty to Bring Illicit Tobacco Makers into Fold

    Indonesia’s government dropped plans to raise tobacco excise taxes and is instead offering amnesty to illegal cigarette manufacturers, signaling a major policy shift away from years of punitive enforcement. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the new strategy aims to bring unregistered producers into the formal economy, where their output can be monitored and taxed. The move comes as the government acknowledges that repeated excise hikes and raids under the previous “Gempur Rokok Ilegal” campaign failed to meaningfully reduce demand, while pushing small manufacturers underground.

    The policy rethink reflects a more pragmatic response to weak purchasing power and slow job creation, with officials noting that tobacco remains Indonesia’s single largest source of excise revenue and a vital employer across the supply chain—from farmers to factory workers and small retailers. Purbaya emphasized that the industry’s economic role must be balanced with health goals, warning that overregulation during a fragile labor market could trigger widespread job losses.

    By formalizing more players in the industry, the government hopes to expand its tax base, stabilize employment, and strengthen oversight—marking a strategic pivot from symbolic crackdowns toward sustainable regulation and fiscal recovery.

  • Cambodian Cigarette Factory Penalized for Pollution Issues

    Cambodian Cigarette Factory Penalized for Pollution Issues

    An inspection team from Cambodia’s General Department of Environmental Protection has taken action against a cigarette factory in Takeo province for serious environmental violations. The inspection, led by Deputy Director Cho Thol, found the LH-TBC (Cambodia) Co., Ltd. facility in Kang Thom village operating without adequate ventilation or emission control systems, leading to excessive odors and air pollution. Air quality testing confirmed that emissions from the factory exceeded national environmental standards.

    Authorities also determined that the company had been operating without a complete Environmental Impact Assessment and a valid waste discharge permit. In response, the inspection team imposed interim penalties under Cambodia’s Environment and Natural Resources Code and Sub-Decree No. 42 on Air Pollution Control. The company was ordered to install proper odor and smoke filtration systems, compensate for environmental and public health damages, and submit a full EIA report to the Ministry of Environment for review.

  • PMI Launches VEEV in South Africa, Expands Smoke-Free Portfolio

    PMI Launches VEEV in South Africa, Expands Smoke-Free Portfolio

    Philip Morris South Africa (PMSA) launched its VEEV e-cigarette this week, completing the company’s trio of smoke-free products in the country alongside IQOS heated tobacco and ZYN nicotine pouches, according to BizCommunity. This makes South Africa one of just 20 countries globally offering all three categories, underscoring PMSA’s commitment to providing adult smokers with scientifically backed alternatives to combustible cigarettes.

    Jonathan Kwak, Director of Smoke-Free Products at PMSA, said the launch gives “adult smokers more options than before when considering scientifically substantiated alternatives to smoking” and is a critical step toward eliminating cigarette use. PMI says it has invested over $14 billion globally since 2008 in research and development of smoke-free products, which are now available in 97 markets and used by more than 41 million adult consumers worldwide.

    While emphasizing that quitting all tobacco and nicotine remains the best choice, Kwak said that switching entirely to smoke-free products can significantly reduce exposure to harmful chemicals produced by burning tobacco. “With our expanding offering, we aim to accelerate South Africa’s transition to a smoke-free future, aligning with harm-reduction principles already embraced in other public-health fields,” he said.

  • JTI Introduces Ploom AURA in Romania

    JTI Introduces Ploom AURA in Romania

    Japan Tobacco International launched its latest heated tobacco device, Ploom AURA, in Romania, offering adult consumers a modern and premium experience. The device features “SMART HEATFLOW technology, which preserves authentic tobacco flavors without combustion or smoke, while its sleek, curved design ensures ease of use and a sophisticated look.” Sobranie refills with CleanSeal technology complement the device, preventing tobacco leakage and enhancing the overall experience.

    Marian Zamfir, Marketing Director for JTI Romania, Moldova, and Bulgaria, said the device meets three essential consumer needs: taste, experience, and style, saying, “Ploom AURA was designed for adult consumers seeking solutions that align with their lifestyle and evolving preferences.” The launch follows JTI’s entry into Romania’s heated tobacco market in 2023 with the Ploom X device.

    Alexander Pitchka, General Manager of JTI Romania, Moldova, and Bulgaria, highlighted the company’s long-term vision in the country, citing its success in developing premium brands like Sobranie. He emphasized that the launch reflects JTI’s commitment to sustainability, consumer choice, and innovation.

  • Imperial Launches THR Myth-Busting Series

    Imperial Launches THR Myth-Busting Series

    Imperial Brands Science launched a new educational video series to debunk common myths about nicotine, vaping, and other NGPs. The short videos address topics such as the “popcorn lung” myth, misconceptions about regulation and research, passive vaping versus passive smoking, and misunderstandings about nicotine itself.

    The series is in response to a new 2025 survey by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has found that misconceptions about vaping and next-generation products (NGPs) have reached record levels in Great Britain. According to the report, 63% of young people and 53% of adult smokers now wrongly believe that vaping is as harmful—or more harmful—than smoking. ASH noted that increased media focus on youth vaping may have contributed to this widespread misunderstanding.

    Imperial Brands said the initiative aims to improve public understanding of tobacco harm reduction and highlight the potential of NGPs as less harmful alternatives for adult smokers. “We want to ensure consumers have the right information and continue to challenge misconceptions through responsible education and communication,” the company said.

  • Seminar Calls for THR Policy in Bangladesh

    Seminar Calls for THR Policy in Bangladesh

    Speakers at a seminar in Dhaka urged the Bangladesh government to adopt a practical tobacco harm reduction policy to cut smoking-related health risks. The event, titled “Policy for Progress: Towards Harm Reduction 2.0” and organized by Policy Exchange Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Harm Reduction Foundation, compared Bangladesh’s current approach with successful global models such as New Zealand and Sweden.

    Former World Medical Association secretary-general Dr. Delon Human said that New Zealand cut its smoking rate by nearly half by officially recognizing alternatives like vaping, while Bangladesh’s progress has been slower due to a lack of such policies. Other speakers warned that bans on electronic nicotine products have instead fueled illicit trade, depriving consumers of regulated, safer options and reducing tax revenue.

    Participants, including Timothy Andrews, director of consumer issues for the Tholos Foundation, and Schumann Zaman, president of the Bangladesh Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Traders Association, called for balanced regulation rather than prohibition, stressing that harm reduction strategies and legal frameworks could help Bangladesh transition to less harmful products and achieve meaningful progress in public health.