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Category: Around the Industry

  • U.S. Customs Seize 749 Cartons of Cigarettes from Cruisers

    U.S. Customs Seize 749 Cartons of Cigarettes from Cruisers

    CSP Daily reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport seized nearly $60,000 worth of counterfeit cigarettes from passengers arriving on a cruise ship from Ensenada, Mexico, according to a CBP statement last week.

    On April 17, two female passengers traveling together disembarked an ocean liner arriving to Long Beach Cruise Ship Terminal and presented themselves for inspection, where CBP discovered 10 pieces of luggage full of cigarettes, including 749 cartons of illicit cigarettes.

    “Large quantities of cigarettes are considered ‘commercial,’ not personal use; therefore, an importer permit from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is required,” CBP said in a statement. “In addition, tobacco product labels must meet FDA standards, such as including nicotine warnings and accurate product descriptions.”

    Although the travelers presented purchase receipts, they were unable to provide the appropriate permits to import such a quantity of tobacco products. All 749 cartons will be destroyed under CBP supervision.

  • Riot Labs Launches Four New 0MG Flavors

    Riot Labs Launches Four New 0MG Flavors

    In advance of the UK’s June disposable vape ban and other global regulatory pressures, Riot Labs launched four new 0mg flavors for its popular Connex device. Ben Johnson, the founder and CEO of Riot Labs, said the launch of 0mg for the revolutionary device will give adults an easy-to-use alternative to disposables to quit smoking.

     “Amid increased government regulation on the sector and the impending disposables ban, we must not forget the hundreds of thousands of adult smokers who are currently using disposables, proven to be the most effective quitting tool, as part of their quitting journey, Johnson said. “Those who are now faced with having to learn an entirely new system, or an alternative method to help them quit smoking altogether. 

     “In a pivotal year, Connex 0mg will play a crucial role in smokers turning to vaping to help them kick the habit. The device has been designed to be as easy as possible to use, as easy as any disposable vape, featuring a clever closed-pod magnetic system and the ability to be recharged 500 times. Whilst the 4-strong range of 0mg flavors aims to provide a seamless transition off nicotine.”

    Connex 0mg launches with the campaign tagline “Cold Turkey Never Tasted So Good” and will be available in vape retailers and online starting today (May 14) at an RRP of £2.99 per flavor capsule, available in blueberry sour raspberry, pineapple ice, strawberry blueberry ice, and cherry cola. 

  • Foundation Cigar Latest to Up Prices from Tariff

    Foundation Cigar Latest to Up Prices from Tariff

    Foundation Cigar Co. announced it will increase the prices of most of its cigars beginning June 1 due to the Trump Administration’s April tariff announcement. Nicholas Melillo, Foundation’s owner, told Halfwheel that the increases would not apply to the company’s limited edition releases like the Highclere Castle Senetjer, The Tabernacle Knight Commander, or the upcoming Foundation 10 Year Aniversario. Foundation is the fifth major cigar company to make such an announcement, but did not detail the amounts of the increase.

    “At Foundation Cigar Company, we have always prioritized price stability while remaining dedicated to delivering premium cigars rooted in tradition, quality, and craftsmanship,” the company said in a letter to retailers. “Over the past several months, we have worked diligently to absorb a portion of these rising costs to shield our partners from disruption. However, the magnitude of the current tariff structure necessitates a modest adjustment in pricing across select product lines to ensure we can continue upholding the standards you expect from us.”

  • Study: Shisha to Increase 90% at Hospitality Venues

    Study: Shisha to Increase 90% at Hospitality Venues

    The global hospitality sector is experiencing a shisha boom, with venue owners worldwide expecting demand to surge over the next two years, according to new research from AIR, a global social inhalation business.

    The study, conducted with 400 hospitality businesses in Spain, Germany, the U.S., and the UAE that offer shisha, aimed to explore future demand and trends in those growing shisha markets. The study said 90% of the businesses expect to see demand for shisha increase over the next two years, with overwhelming backing seen across all four markets.

    The research also revealed that businesses are exploring ways to meet evolving consumer expectations and gain a competitive advantage, with 87% of the venues saying they are open to introducing charcoal-free alternatives, recognizing the value of offering a cleaner, safer, and more efficient experience that aligns with the growing focus on health-conscious options. 

    “Venues that embrace cutting-edge shisha innovations are not only future-proofing their operations but also building loyalty by enhancing the overall customer experience,” Ronan Barry, chief legal and corporate affairs officer at AIR said. “By improving operational efficiency and meeting evolving expectations, these businesses are positioning themselves for long-term success in an increasingly competitive market.”

    The research also said charcoal-free shisha would reduce staff workload (28%), appeal to health-conscious consumers (27%), boost revenue (25%), and help meet regulatory requirements (25%).

  • New Coalition Calls to Ban Plastic Cigarette Filters

    New Coalition Calls to Ban Plastic Cigarette Filters

    In an article written for Recycling Magazine, the No Plastic Filter! organization said that today (May 13) “marks the launch of the international No Plastic Filter campaign, uniting voices across the planet for a ban on plastic cigarette filters.” It further said, “A growing coalition of citizens, businesses, institutions, scientists, NGOs and local authorities worldwide is calling on policymakers to take action.”

    The No Plastic Filter-campaign is an initiative by Dutch NGO Fair Resource Foundation, which is part of the Dutch Plastic Cigarette Butt Collective.

    “Plastic cigarette filters are the single most common form of plastic pollution globally,” the article said. “It is estimated that billions of filters end up in the environment every day.”

    “Even if 90% of used cigarette filters would be discarded in a bin, it would still be a massive environmental problem,” campaign leader Karl Beerenfenger said. “That’s why awareness raising and cleanups are not a solution, although the tobacco industry likes to place responsibility on smokers by financing those activities.’’

    The article claims cigarette filters are useless, merely “marketing tricks inserted by tobacco companies to placate health concerns,” and that the World Health Organization calls cigarette filters ‘’problematic and avoidable plastic’’ and calls on governments worldwide to ban all filters. The No Plastic Filter campaign said it aims at the Global Plastics Treaty, which is currently being negotiated by the United Nations, and the Single-Use Plastics Directive of the European Union.

  • BAT Launches New Campaign as it Updates Neo Series

    BAT Launches New Campaign as it Updates Neo Series

    British American Tobacco (BAT) Japan announced the fourth cycle of the “Live Life in Color” campaign with the launch of its Limited Edition glo Hyper Pro Aurora heated tobacco device. BAT is looking to revive the glo franchise in Japan, the world’s largest and most competitive heated tobacco market, as its category share dipped from 20.1% in 2022 to 17.8% in 2024.

    The device will only be available at the official VELO online store beginning May 26, with a price of ¥4,980 (US$33.6). “Live Life in Color” is glo’s brand campaign with the theme “Turn vibrant days into joy.” BAT further enhanced the richness and fullness of the fruity flavors, improving the aroma and taste, while also enhancing the cooling sensation for an even more refreshing experience.

    In addition, BAT also revamped the entire neo series by upgrading the packaging colors and changing the flavor names. The packaging colors now match the flavors, making it easier for consumers to recognize the flavor. In particular, the color of the menthol packs changed from dark to light as the flavor changed from strong to weak menthol.

  • JTI Adds Three Flavors to Pouch Line

    JTI Adds Three Flavors to Pouch Line

    Japan Tobacco International UK has expanded its Nordic Spirit nicotine pouch line by introducing “three on-trend flavor variants designed to elevate the consumer experience and cater to the growing demand for berry and tropical flavors.” With Nordic Spirit already delivering £4.5m in value sales each month

    Available now for independent retailers and symbol groups, the new Raspberry, Tropical Mix, and Forest Berries offerings feature a quicker and stronger flavor release, along with increased moisture content. The packaging and pouch size has also been changed to be more convenient for the user.

    “Consumers in this space are seeking bolder flavor experiences and greater variety from nicotine pouches,” said Bruce Terry, Portfolio Brand Manager at JTI UK. “That insight guided the development of our latest Nordic Spirit range, where we placed a strong emphasis on both intensity and diversity of flavors.

    “With enhanced taste profiles and a more impactful sensory experience, our new variants are set to excite the category, creating a valuable opportunity for retailers to drive sales and maximize profitability.”

    Retailers can purchase the new Nordic Spirit flavors through wholesalers or via the JTI360 website.

  • CAPHRA Says Vaping Misinformation has Deadly Consequences

    CAPHRA Says Vaping Misinformation has Deadly Consequences

    Today (May 12), the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) released a critical position statement warning that misinformation about safer nicotine products is putting millions of lives at risk and undermining global public health efforts. 

    “CAPHRA’s analysis revealed that persistent anti-vaping propaganda, often promoted by influential health bodies, is drowning out mounting scientific evidence supporting tobacco harm reduction,” CAPHRA said in a statement. “Countries such as the UK and New Zealand, which have embraced evidence-based approaches, are seeing significant declines in smoking rates, yet much of the world remains gripped by outdated ideology.” 

    “The scale of misinformation about safer nicotine products is staggering and deliberate,” said Clarisse Virgino, CAPHRA Philippine Representative. “It is costing lives by discouraging smokers from switching to less harmful alternatives. Ideological opposition is being prioritized over science, and the public is paying the price.” 

    CAPHRA’s statement said that despite robust evidence showing vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, global health agencies continue to mislead the public about the risks. CAPHRA executive Coordinator Nancy Loucas criticized the World Health Organization for “ignoring the science and silencing consumer voices,” arguing that this approach perpetuates the deadly smoking epidemic. 

    CAPHRA is calling on governments and health authorities to embrace transparency and evidence, and to recognize harm reduction as a vital tool in the fight against smoking-related disease. “We need pragmatic solutions, not ideological warfare. The stakes are simply too high,” Loucas said. 

     Access the full position paper here. 

  • Cigar Lounge Sues City Over 15-Minute Smoking Limit

    Cigar Lounge Sues City Over 15-Minute Smoking Limit

    Anthony’s Pipe & Cigar Lounge filed a lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis for a law it passed last year that put a 15-minute time limit on cigar smoking in tobacco shops. Representatives of Anthony’s say the law seems targeted, as Anthony’s is the only shop in the city where indoor smoking is allowed.

    According to 2007’s Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act, customers are permitted to smoke cigars in licensed indoor areas “for the specific purpose of sampling tobacco products.” The state did not define “sampling.” Minnesota is a local authority state in regards to tobacco control, meaning local municipalities are granted the authority to create local ordinances. Last year, Minneapolis decided to define “sampling” as 15 minutes of smoking.

    Hadi Aboumourad, the owner of Anthony’s, and his lawyer, John Sperry, recently filed a lawsuit against the city, hoping it will repeal the ordinance.

    “It’s without any demonstrable health benefit that avoids secondhand smoke exposure to non-smokers, which is a fundamental purpose of the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act,” Sperry told Cigar Aficionado. “We see that [the 15-minute sampling window] as a death by a thousand cuts.

    “They can’t outright ban something that the state statute clearly permits and expresses as an exemption. Fifteen minutes of sampling and then prohibiting it after 15 minutes is still a prohibition of sampling, right?”

    Sperry told Cigar Aficionado that despite going into effect last December, the city ordinance has not actually been enforced yet, and the city assured him they would not enforce the ordinance unless a complaint is made. Sperry requested a temporary injunction on the ordinance while the lawsuit plays out, making the ordinance unenforceable while the lawsuit works its way through the court. A hearing is set to decide on the temporary injunction on May 29.

  • Meerapfel Offering Supports PCA Advocacy

    Meerapfel Offering Supports PCA Advocacy

    Meerapfel Cigar announced the launch of its 2025 Création Liberté, a special premium cigar blend created to support cigar rights movements and advocacy groups worldwide. Proceeds from this year’s brand will be donated to the Premium Cigar Association’s (PCA) Industry Defense Fund, which supports the association’s ongoing advocacy efforts.

    “We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Meerapfel team on Création Liberté and have the honor of being the recipient of proceeds from the sale of this unique product this year,” Joshua Habursky, executive director of the PCA, said. “The cigar is a symbol of our mission, and the proceeds will support our advocacy efforts.”

    Création Liberté 2025 is hand rolled exclusively in a 6 x 50 Toro vitola and features a vintage Cameroon wrapper, a signature “sacred leaf” grown by the Meerapfel family. It is presented in a Paulownia-wood chest that holds two cigars. Only 613 of these sets are being released globally. Each Création Liberté 2025 set has a suggested retail price of $249.

     “The greatest threat to our industry is the one that we have been facing over the past years: the threat of regulation,” said company head Jeremiah E. Meerapfel. “Thank goodness we have organizations such as the PCA that stand up for the consumers, the manufacturers, and the farmers. They do the dirty work: Educating and reminding our leadership of the importance of premium cigars for our societies and quality of life. It is people such as the PCA members that help us defend our craft and the future generations of our industry. We are eternally grateful. This is our tradition, and we will fight to protect it.”