Category: News This Week

  • Imperial Adds Hamilton as Non-Exec. Director

    Imperial Adds Hamilton as Non-Exec. Director

    Image: Mariakray

    Julie Hamilton will join the board of Imperial Brands as a non-executive director upon conclusion of the company’s annual general meeting on Jan. 31, 2024.

    Hamilton, who was chief commercial and global sales officer at Diageo until August 2023, has over 30 years’ experience in marketing, strategy and digital transformation. Prior to Diageo, she spent 25 years at the Coca-Cola Co. where she held a range of leadership positions, including chief customer and commercial leadership officer.

    “Julie is an experienced global leader who brings deep knowledge of delivering commercial change in multinational consumer businesses,” said Imperial Brands Chair Thérèse Esperdy in a statement. “Her understanding of digital transformation and global brands will be invaluable to the board as it continues to oversee Imperial’s strategy and transformation.”

    Hamilton will also join the People and Governance Committee upon appointment.

  • AOI Brazil Invests in Seed Production

    AOI Brazil Invests in Seed Production

    Image: AOI

    Alliance One International has opened a seed industrialization unit at its Global Research, Development and Deployment Center in Passo do Sobrado, Brazil.

    Alliance One is a major supplier in Brazil’s tobacco seed market, with tobacco grown from the company’s varieties comprising approximately 40 percent of the tobacco produced in the country. According to AOI, the new seed industrialization unit positions the company for global growth as a leader in tobacco crop solutions with the ability to provide customers and farmers with best-in-class genetics.

    “Our new unit provides us with greater quality control of our seed products and makes it possible for all activities to be governed by our internal integrated quality management system,” said Helio Moura, vice president of global agronomy at Alliance One, in a statement. “Improved quality control opens doors to sell our seed in new markets at a faster speed, increases customer and farmer satisfaction, and drives efficiencies within our business.”

    According to AOI, the new equipment furthers the company’s efforts to combine cutting-edge technology with advanced agricultural practices to produce high-quality seeds for tobacco production. The machinery is designed to handle small seeds such as tobacco, a rare specification in various markets, and perform a range of essential seed processing functions including threshing, grading, upgrading, pelleting, drying and seed finishing. These capabilities help improve seed germination, stimulate healthy, consistent crop development and increase yield—key elements to improving farmer livelihoods and meeting customer volume requirements and specifications.  

    The unit has an annual processing capacity of nearly 2 metric tons and the ability to pelletize more than 200,000 cans of seed for sale each year. “The company’s global research, development and deployment center plays a fundamental role in promoting quality, productivity and sustainability in tobacco,” said Moura. “Our agronomic input packages are tested at the center before going to the field, positioning our Company to deliver extremely competitive genetics to the farmer.”

    Alliance One says its genetics promote higher quality, yield and disease resistance in tobacco crops and are proven to reduce the amount of crop inputs, such as crop protection agents, fertilizer and nutrients necessary for production. This reduction results in a lower cost of production for the farmer while driving forward a more sustainable industry.

    “Our strategy has allowed us to develop global solutions and approaches, respecting the culture and speed of each market, aiming to strengthen the future of and bring efficiency to our supply chain,” said Moura.

    AOI says it remains committed to the innovation of sustainable agriculture practices and driving advancements in the agriculture sector that will support farmers and customers across the globe.

  • Canada Rolls Out New Health Warnings

    Canada Rolls Out New Health Warnings

    Canada has started rolling out 14 new graphic health warnings on cigarette packs, reports Yahoo Finance.  Manufacturers must ensure the new labels are on packages by Jan. 31, and retailers are required to stock the packs by April 30, according to Health Canada.

    The new labels feature smoking-related illnesses such as tongue, stomach and neck cancer, as well as gangrene. Canada pioneered the concept of graphic health warnings in 2001 and has frequently updated its image library to prevent the pictures from losing their shock value.

    The latest set of photo warnings also build on various other harms of smoking, including heart attack, brain damage and death from stroke as well as impotence due to reduced blood flow to the penis.

    Another set of 14 photo warnings is expected to appear on cigarette packages in two years.

    Last year, the government also required cigarette manufacturers to print health warnings on individual cigarette sticks. Cigarettes now include messages, such as “poison in every puff,” in English and French.

    Canada aims to  slash smoking rates from about 10 percent to less than 5 percent by 2035.

  • Zimbabwe: Commercial Shisha Hectars Increase

    Zimbabwe: Commercial Shisha Hectars Increase

    Image: KPad

    Zimbabwe’s shisha flue-cured tobacco commercial production increased 270 percent to 407 hectares this season, according to Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) statistics, reports The Herald.

    Last year, 101,559 kg of shisha were marketed at an average of $3.15 per kilogram. It reached a high price of $5.40 per kilogram.

    Currently, Cavendish Lloyd is the only TIMB registered and licensed shisha merchant.

    “Consideration of the dreaded El Nino weather pattern led to farmers planting 407 hectares, a figure less than the planned over 500 this season,” said Tinashe Mukadzambo, Cavendish Lloyd CEO. “In our maiden commercial season last year, we did 110 hectares from 10 commercial growers.”

    More commercial, semi-commercial and small-scale growers, in addition to the 10 commercial growers, were added this year, said Mukadzambo.

    Tobacco Reporter profiled Cavendish Lloyd’s operations in its May 2022 print edition (see “Great Expectations”).

  • JTI Awarded Global Top Employer

    JTI Awarded Global Top Employer

    Image: Nuthawut

    Japan Tobacco International was certified Global Top Employer for the 10th year in a row.

    “This recognition acknowledges that our people are at the heart of everything we do and shows the progress we continue to make in improving our environment, caring about the well-being of our employees as well as our focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. Being awarded Top Employer 10 years in a row demonstrates to our future employees that JTI is a great place to work. This certification is a key component in attracting and retaining top talent,” said Guergana Andreeva, senior vice president of people and culture, in a statement.

    JTI is one of 17 companies to be honored with the Global Top Employer award. Eleven countries where JTI has a presence were ranked No. 1. Globally, JTI ensures that its employees and their families have best-in-class support thanks to its global family leave policy aiming to provide equal opportunities for both parents to spend time with their newborn, according to JTI.

    JTI has also implemented new flexible working measures, which allow employees to choose how, when and where they work, and with the help of the employee resource groups, the company provides great support to various underrepresented groups, including, but not limited to, supporting females in leadership roles and LGBTQ+ communities.

    “While we are very pleased to have received the Global Top Employer certification for the 10th consecutive year, we are even more delighted that the various initiatives we have put in place in our locations across the world have helped improve our employees’ well-being, job satisfaction and opportunities to continue to develop their careers. JTI was awarded the Top Employer certification thanks to its 46,000 employees of 119 different nationalities who set goals and commit to achieving them,” Andreeva added.

  • Egypt: Philip Morris Cleans Up Nile River

    Egypt: Philip Morris Cleans Up Nile River

    Image: spiritofamerica

    Philip Morris Misr organized a campaign to clean up the Nile River as part of its social responsibility initiatives, according to Daily News Egypt. The campaign aimed to raise awareness of the importance of protecting the Nile River from pollution and enhancing environmental sustainability.

    “Our corporate strategy is based on implementing and consolidating sustainability standards,” said Ali N. Karaman, managing director of Philip Morris Egypt and Levant. “We are committed to fulfilling our social responsibility by engaging in activities that serve the needs and requirements of the local communities. Philip Morris Misr is keen to organize annual events that promote environmental awareness.”

    The campaign included various activities to collect waste from the Nile River and educate people on proper waste disposal methods, aiming to highlight negative impacts of water pollution.

    Philip Morris has strengthened its commitment to environmental sustainability recently, with plans to make plants carbon neutral by 2030. Philip Morris has made steps toward this goal, installing wind turbines, solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations at its facilities and performing awareness activities on proper disposal of cigarettes.

  • Indonesia: Bentoel Delisted

    Indonesia: Bentoel Delisted

    Image: Yazid Nasuha

    Bentoel International Investama, BAT’s Indonesian unit, has officially been delisted from the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), according to the Jakarta Globe. Bentoel has been listed on the IDX since 1990.

    “IDX approves the removal of the company’s securities listing on the stock exchange, effective on Tuesday,” the IDX announced. “If the company wishes to re-list its shares on the IDX, the process can be carried out under applicable regulations.”

    Bentoel Group has become the fourth-largest tobacco company in Indonesia, following Sampoerna, Gudang Garam and Djarum. The company produced local brands such as Bentoel Biru, Tali Jagat, Bintang Buana, Sejati, Neo Mild and Uno Mild.

    In the first six months of 2023, Bentoel’s revenues were IDR4.31 trillion ($275.5 million), a 27.37 percent increase from the previous year. Net profit in the first semester of 2023 was IDR35.49 billion, up 121.83 percent from the previous year period.

  • Foley Joins Foundation for a Smoke-Free World

    Foley Joins Foundation for a Smoke-Free World

    Image: Foundation for a Smoke-Free World

    The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World appointed Katherine Ellen Foley as its new director of media relations. Foley brings a wealth of expertise and a deep understanding of health and medical journalism, making her a valuable addition to the foundation’s mission to accelerate the end of smoking worldwide.

    Prior to joining the foundation, Foley served as a U.S. Food and Drug Administration reporter for Politico, where she stood out for her dedication to the role and for her fearless coverage of the politics behind major regulatory decisions, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her insightful reporting spanned diverse areas, including neurodegenerative diseases, Covid-19 vaccines and therapeutics, and nicotine and tobacco regulation.

    Cliff Douglas, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, said in a statement, “Katherine Foley is a terrific addition to our team. Her experience in health journalism and commitment to public health align perfectly with our goals. Katherine’s passion for improving understanding in this complex area and advancing effective tobacco prevention and cessation initiatives will undoubtedly strengthen how we communicate with stakeholders and the public regarding these complex issues.”

    Foley said, “I am delighted to join the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World in their crucial efforts to combat smoking worldwide. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to contribute to public health initiatives on the front line. I am eager to leverage my experience in media and communications more generally to drive awareness of the foundation’s crucial work.”

    Foley graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in 2014 and holds a master’s degree in journalism from New York University’s Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is an enthusiastic long-distance runner.

    In her new role, Foley will lead the foundation’s media relations strategy, fostering collaborations and enhancing communication efforts to further the foundation’s vision of reducing smoking prevalence globally.

  • U.S. FDA Issues MDOs for SMOK

    U.S. FDA Issues MDOs for SMOK

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) to Shenzhen IVPS Technology Co., Ltd for 22 SMOK vaping hardware products.

    The denied products include devices, pods, atomizers, and cartridges. It’s the first time the agency has denied strictly hardware products from one company en mass.

    The products were denied because they were submitted without a specific e-liquid to be used with the devices, according to the FDA. “The denied SMOK e-cigarette products are not sold with an e-liquid. A consumer instead adds their separately purchased e-liquid into the device,” the agency wrote. “Therefore, these SMOK products have the potential to be used with any e-liquid on the market and available to the consumer, which could include tobacco-flavored and non-tobacco-flavored e-liquids.”

    The products receiving MDOs include:

    • SMOK OSUB ONE Device
    • SMOK OSUB ONE RPM Cartridge
    • SMOK RPM DC 0.8 Ω MTL Atomizer
    • SMOK OSUB ONE RPM Cartridge 3 Pack
    • SMOK RPM DC 0.8 Ω MTL Atomizer 5 Pack
    • SMOK Nfix Device
    • Nfix DC 0.8 Ω MTL Pod
    • SMOK POZZ Device
    • SMOK POZZ DC 0.8 Ω Pod
    • SMOK RPM 40 Device
    • SMOK RPM Empty Standard Cartridge
    • SMOK RPM Empty Nord Cartridge
    • SMOK RPM Mesh 0.4 Ω Atomizer
    • SMOK Nord DC 0.8 Ω MTL Atomizer
    • SMOK SCAR-P3 Device
    • SMOK SCAR-P3 Empty RPM 2 Cartridge
    • SMOK SCAR-P3 Empty RPM Cartridge
    • SMOK PRM 2 Mesh 0.16 Ω Atomizer
    • SMOK RPM Mesh 0.4 Ω Atomizer
    • SMOK Nord 2 Device
    • SMOK Nord 2 RPM Cartridge
    • SMOK Nord 2 Nord Cartridge

    After reviewing the company’s PMTAs, the FDA determined that the applications lacked sufficient evidence to demonstrate that permitting the marketing of the products would be appropriate for the protection of public health, which is the standard legally required by the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. More specifically, the applicant failed to provide sufficient data to characterize constituent delivery, product stability, and product abuse liability.

    “Science is a cornerstone of FDA’s tobacco product review process, and CTP remains committed to evaluating applications based on a public health standard that considers the risks and benefits of the tobacco product to the population as a whole,” said Brian King, director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide sufficient scientific evidence to demonstrate that marketing a new tobacco product is appropriate for the protection of the public health. In this case, the applicant failed to provide this evidence.”

  • Attorneys General Urge Menthol Ban

    Attorneys General Urge Menthol Ban

    Credit: Jet City Image

    A coalition of 21 state attorneys general submitted a letter to the White House Office of Management and Budget urging the Biden administration to complete its review and swiftly implement proposed bans on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.

    “The proposed FDA rules, which are supported by ample evidence, have been long overdue,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta in a press release. “In today’s letter, the coalition specifically highlights calls for action by civil rights and public health groups to remove menthol tobacco products from the marketplace to protect public health and address the systemic and disproportionate impact of these products on minority communities and other vulnerable populations, including young people.”

    Bonta said tobacco companies have intentionally targeted specific communities across the nation, particularly communities of color, which has contributed to significant health disparities and inequities.

    “The time to act is now,” said Bonta. “I urge the Biden Administration to finally halt the sale of these flavored tobacco products, which will lay the groundwork to reverse decades of disparities in tobacco use and save lives.” 

    In the letter, the multistate coalition urges the Biden Administration to finalize its review of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s proposed rules without delay.

    “As state and territorial chief legal officers, the attorneys general address unfounded claims that the proposed menthol ban will increase illicit trade or criminalize the individual purchase, possession, or use of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars,” the letter states. “The coalition argues that the FDA’s proposed rules are critical steps for advancing health equity and protecting public health. Moreover, banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars will bring the country closer to achieving the Cancer Moonshot, President Biden’s historic push “to end cancer as we know it.”

    Bonta co-leads the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Mariana Islands, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and District of Columbia.

    A copy of the letter can be found here.