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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.”
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 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, 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.
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.