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Category: Around the Industry

  • Philippines Warns Against Deadly ‘Tuklaw’ Cigarettes

    Philippines Warns Against Deadly ‘Tuklaw’ Cigarettes

    The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Dangerous Drugs Board warned the public to avoid “tuklaw,” or black cigarettes, after reports of teenagers suffering seizure-like symptoms.

    Tests show the product contains nicotine levels up to 9% and synthetic cannabinoids, which can trigger psychosis and hallucinations. PDEA chief Isagani Nerez said tuklaw, believed to originate from Vietnam’s “thuoc lao” tobacco, is being smuggled into the country and sold online.

    Authorities plan to work with health agencies and law enforcement to curb its spread.

  • Hank Mozingo, Retired Tobacco Associates President, Passes Away at 57

    Hank Mozingo, Retired Tobacco Associates President, Passes Away at 57

    Henry “Hank” Mozingo, the esteemed retired president of Tobacco Associates, Inc., and a respected figure in the U.S. flue-cured tobacco industry, passed away. His passing was announced by Corporate Secretary Veronica Martins and the Tobacco Associates Board of Directors, expressing deep sadness at the loss of a leader who left an indelible mark on the organization and the livelihoods of U.S. growers.

    Mozingo’s career with Tobacco Associates spanned over three decades, beginning in 1990 with his first trip to Korea. He dedicated himself to expanding markets for U.S. flue-cured tobacco, fostering relationships with industry leaders, and promoting the quality of American leaf globally. His vision led to the development of new brands in several countries, including “Türkiye”, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, Hungary, Jerusalem, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Notably, Mozingo was the first U.S. tobacco official to visit VINATABA after the normalization of U.S.-Vietnam relations in 1995.

    Mozingo is remembered by colleagues as a gentle, honorable, and unwavering individual who treated those he worked with as family.

    A Celebration of Life will be held  August 10, at 3 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 134 S Peace Haven Rd, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made via the family’s GoFundMe, which will support the local Humane Society and establish a scholarship in Mozingo’s name at his alma mater, James Madison University.

  • California Drafting Rules for Unflavored Tobacco List

    California Drafting Rules for Unflavored Tobacco List

    Five years after passing a flavored tobacco ban, the California Attorney General’s Office this week released a draft detailing how tobacco manufacturers can request placement of products on the state’s Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL), a key requirement under the state’s flavored tobacco ban. The list is essentially the state’s official registry of tobacco products that are certified as not having a “characterizing flavor” — meaning they don’t taste or smell like menthol, fruit, candy, mint, vanilla, chocolate, or any other non-tobacco flavor.

    According to the draft, companies wanting to sell tobacco and nicotine products must file an online application for each “Brand Style” they want listed, certify that the product has no characterizing flavor, waive sovereign immunity, consent to California court jurisdiction, and submit a sample in its largest retail package. A $300 fee per product must be paid online, and applications must be truthful under penalty of perjury. Products submitted by the initial deadline will be considered for the first official list, set for release by Dec. 31, 2025.

    Products that require federal premarket authorization but haven’t received it are generally ineligible—unless they meet specific conditions, such as being on the U.S. market by certain dates and having timely FDA applications still pending. Exceptions apply if the FDA says no authorization is needed, a court vacates a denial, or the product is a variant of an already-listed brand.

    “The UTL will cause many companies to stop selling products in California because of the registration process,” wrote Charlie Minato for Halfwheel. “Many might choose not to sell limited edition cigars in California because of the added paperwork. Furthermore, because companies will need prior authorization to sell the products, it might mean that California retailers will receive delayed shipments of new items as cigar companies wait for the attorney general’s office to approve a product for the UTL.

    “It’s not just a problem for California-based retailers; this would apply to all shipments going to California, meaning that a retailer in Florida would run the risk of fines if they were to ship a product not on the UTL to a consumer in California.”

    See the full draft here.

  • Kenya’s Health Secretary Pushes to Regulate Miraa and Shisha

    Kenya’s Health Secretary Pushes to Regulate Miraa and Shisha

    Kenyan Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale told the Senate that the country currently lacks laws regulating the use of miraa and shisha, and called on Parliament to enact necessary legislation to control their consumption. Appearing before the Senate Delegated Legislation Committee during deliberations on the Graphic Health Warnings for Tobacco Products, Duale said the Tobacco Control Bill, sponsored by Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma, offers a vital opportunity to introduce such controls.

    “The Ministry of Health fully supports the Bill,” Duale said. “We have submitted our proposed amendments and urge senators to pass it.” He also revealed that “powerful individuals” had tried to pressure the ministry into approving harmful tobacco products but insisted the entire government must safeguard public health.

    Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki raised the alarm over the lack of regulations for miraa, muguka, and shisha, calling them as dangerous as tobacco. He warned that the tobacco industry would likely attempt to influence lawmakers to block the Bill.

  • Seatca Urges UN to Ban Plastic Cigarette Filters

    Seatca Urges UN to Ban Plastic Cigarette Filters

    The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (Seatca) is urging the United Nations to impose a global ban on plastic-based cigarette filters, as final negotiations for a global plastic pollution treaty take place in Geneva this week. Seatca warned that 460 billion cigarette butts are discarded annually in ASEAN countries alone, contributing to a global total of 4.5 trillion. “The filters, made of cellulose acetate, degrade slowly, releasing toxic microplastics, nicotine, and heavy metals into ecosystems,” the organization said.

    Calling cigarette filters “a health fraud and an environmental hazard,” Seatca demanded the treaty enforce the polluter-pays principle, reject industry lobbying, and require mandatory cleanup systems for tobacco waste. They also criticized so-called “eco-filters” and “green butts” as greenwashing tactics, insisting that no sustainable alternatives exist for cigarette filters and calling for a complete ban on all types.

    Seatca estimates that ASEAN countries currently spend $10 billion annually to clean up cigarette filter waste.

  • VOOPOO Unveils “Futuristic” ARGUS Matrix

    VOOPOO Unveils “Futuristic” ARGUS Matrix

    VOOPOO launched what it calls the company’s most advanced pod device yet: the ARGUS Matrix, “a bold leap into the future of vape design and performance.”

    VOOPOO says the ARGUS Matrix features the “world’s first curved full-screen display on a pod system, creating a cyber-futuristic visual experience that’s as immersive as it is stylish,” using enhanced IML film technology and dynamic lighting that mimics circuit boards.

    According to the company, the Matrix delivers substance through iCOSM CODE 2.0 technology in the ARGUS Top Fill Cartridge V2, “ensuring leak-proof usage and up to 30 days of consistent flavor delivery. With a 100 mL e-liquid endurance capacity, it’s designed for convenience and longevity.” Vapers can fine-tune their experience with adjustable wattage (up to 30 W), a 1350 mAh battery, and a three-level precision airflow system that caters to both MTL and RDL users.

    Fully compatible with the ARGUS Pod Family, the Matrix offers seamless cartridge switching, blending style with versatility.

  • Ireland’s Crackdown on Vape Sales to Minors Sees Few Consequences

    Ireland’s Crackdown on Vape Sales to Minors Sees Few Consequences

    Nearly 15% of retailers across Ireland have been caught violating laws banning the sale of vapes to children, with only a fraction facing legal consequences, according to new figures from the Health Service Executive (HSE). Enacted in December 2023, the law makes it illegal to sell nicotine-inhaling products to those under 18 years old. Since then, the HSE’s National Environmental Health Service has carried out 699 test-purchase inspections and found 102 to be non-compliant.

    Of the 52 cases of non-compliance recorded in 2024, just 19 resulted in court proceedings to date. Only 12 led to convictions and fines, while six were resolved under the Probation Act, and one was dismissed.

    Social Democrats TD Aidan Farrelly said the low number of prosecutions undermines the law’s credibility: “A law is only as strong as its enforceability. We have to make sure retailers are complying.”

  • PAX Launches New Premium Flower Vaporizer

    PAX Launches New Premium Flower Vaporizer

    Cannabis tech leader PAX unveiled its latest innovation, the Pax Flow, a “high-performance dry herb vaporizer designed for modern consumers seeking a combustion-free smoking experience.”

    “Featuring a hybrid heating system, up to six times more airflow, and a sleek, compact design, Flow delivers smoother, more flavorful vapor and easy maintenance,” the company said. The device also supports USB-C fast charging and offers customizable heat modes for personalized sessions.

    Retailing at $350, Flow is now available globally in Onyx and Greenstone at pax.com and select retailers.

  • Senators Demand Answers from FDA Over Juul Approval

    Senators Demand Answers from FDA Over Juul Approval

    A coalition of Democratic U.S. senators is pressing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for answers after it issued marketing granted orders (MGOs) for Juul e-cigarettes. Led by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, the group—also including Senators Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Baldwin, Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, Jack Reed, Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren—sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Marty Makary last week expressing deep concern over the agency’s reversal of prior marketing denial orders (MDOs) issued to Juul Labs Inc. in 2022.

    The lawmakers cited potential conflicts of interest, pointing to ties between former Trump administration officials and Juul’s lobbying efforts. They also highlighted Juul’s $1.1 billion settlement with 48 states over allegations of youth-targeted marketing.

    “We are deeply troubled by the appearance of conflicts of interest between the Trump administration and the e-cigarette industry in the United States,” the senators wrote, requesting detailed responses to their questions by August 22.

    The FDA has not yet responded publicly to the letter.

  • Australia’s Illegal Tobacco Trade Surges to 50%

    Australia’s Illegal Tobacco Trade Surges to 50%

    “Australia’s illegal tobacco problem has made the proverbial transition from tragedy to farce,” wrote Alan Kohler for ABC Radio New Zealand, commenting on a new report that suggests Australia’s crackdown on tobacco through high excise taxes and strict regulations has backfired, with illegal cigarettes now making up half of all the nation’s sales.

    A study published earlier this year by FTI Consulting said 39.4% of cigarettes sold in the country were illicit in 2024, up from 14% six years ago. However, the firm updated its numbers in June and put the new figure at 50%.

    “We can now conclude that the strategy of taxing and banning nicotine addiction out of existence is a complete failure,” Kohler wrote. “The result is that organized crime is making about A$10 billion ($6.5 billion) a year in revenue. Who needs narcotics? With them, you risk lengthy jail time; with smokes and vapes, it’s a fine, but only if you’re very unlucky.”

    The federal government has seen tobacco excise revenue collapse from A$16 billion ($10.4 billion) in 2019 to just A$7.4 billion ($4.8 billion) this year. Experts blame excessive taxation, menthol bans, and the lack of coordinated enforcement. Only 1% of shipping containers are inspected, and selling illegal tobacco often isn’t even a criminal offence.