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Category: News This Week

  • NY AG Moves to Shut Down Repeat Vape Lawbreakers

    NY AG Moves to Shut Down Repeat Vape Lawbreakers

    New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a nearly 50-page petition in Otsego County State Supreme Court seeking to permanently close two smoke shops and bar their owners from the vape industry. The complaint alleges that Eysa Sharhan and Ahmed Mozeb repeatedly sold banned flavored vape products, sold to minors, and operated without proper state licenses.

    The petition targets Pop-In Smoke & Vape LLC, Pufftopia LLC, and Royalty Tobacco LLC, noting that the owners repeatedly changed business names and locations after license revocations to continue illegal operations. The state is seeking to seize illicit profits and collect nearly $200,000 in unpaid fines, arguing that the defendants “continue to operate and sell flavored vapor products, endangering the health and safety of New Yorkers.” This action follows a broader February lawsuit accusing major vape distributors of contributing to the youth vaping epidemic.

  • WHO Secretariat Accuses Tobacco Industry of Interference

    WHO Secretariat Accuses Tobacco Industry of Interference

    The Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) accused the tobacco industry of ramping up efforts to interfere with international tobacco control policymaking in advance of the Conference of the Parties (COP11) beginning November 17 in Geneva, according to the Albanian Daily News (ADN). Andrew Black, acting head of the WHO FCTC Secretariat, condemned what he described as deliberate attempts to weaken global health measures.

    “With strategies varying from lobbying to outright attempts to manipulate delegations, the tobacco industry’s tactics are a cause for serious concern,” Black was quoted by the ADN. “This is not just lobbying; it is a deliberate strategy to try to derail consensus and weaken measures to further the treaty’s implementation. Tobacco industry interference is one of the biggest constraints and barriers to the implementation of the Convention. The Secretariat strongly urges Parties, civil society, and other stakeholders working to support tobacco control to remain vigilant against the industry’s tactics and misinformation.”

    The COP11 session will bring together representatives from across the globe to discuss new policies to curb nicotine addiction, protect human health, and address environmental harms linked to tobacco.

  • UK Set to Miss 2030 Smoke-Free Target, New Analysis Finds

    UK Set to Miss 2030 Smoke-Free Target, New Analysis Finds

    A new analysis by Haypp, in collaboration with Swedish economist David Sundén, shows that the UK is unlikely to achieve its goal of being smoke-free by 2030 if current trends continue. Based on smoking rate declines across the UK and EU, England is projected to reach smoke-free status in 2032, Wales in 2033, Scotland in 2034, and Northern Ireland not until 2037. The study defines smoke-free as having less than 5% of the population smoking daily, in line with the World Health Organization criteria.

    The report highlights Sweden as a global leader, set to become smoke-free on October 25, 2025, driven by high cigarette taxes and widespread access to alternatives like snus and nicotine pouches. In comparison, the UK’s overall daily smoking rate remains at 11.9%, with rates among young adults (18–24) at 9.8%. Sweden’s young-adult smoking rate is 2.3%.

    Sundén notes that while alternatives such as vapes have helped reduce smoking, the rate of decline is slowing and some regions have even seen slight increases over the past year.

    The analysis also points to the potential public health impact if the UK adopted Sweden’s harm reduction strategies. Markus Lindblad, Haypp’s Director of External Affairs, emphasized that the UK has an opportunity to follow Sweden’s approach, using alternative nicotine products to accelerate the transition away from combustible tobacco as Parliament considers the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

  • Lenders Move to Sell Debt on Juul’s San Francisco Office Tower

    Lenders Move to Sell Debt on Juul’s San Francisco Office Tower

    Lenders are reportedly preparing to sell debt tied to Juul Labs’ San Francisco office tower at 123 Mission Street, a move that could pave the way for new ownership of the downtown property, according to the San Francisco Business Journal. According to multiple sources, Affinius Capital is in talks to sell the debt to Madison Capital, though no agreement has been finalized and pricing details remain unclear. Juul and Affinius both declined to comment, but sources suggest the deal could position Madison to eventually take control of the property, depending on the loan’s performance and structure.

    The Journal said the 123 Mission tower has had a turbulent ownership history since Juul purchased it in 2019 for $397 million, during the company’s rapid expansion, and then subsequent challenges as the market changed under regulatory uncertainty. After relocating its headquarters to Washington, D.C. in 2020, the company reportedly made several unsuccessful attempts to sell the building, including deals with PGIM and Pimco, both of which fell through amid the pandemic.

    If completed, the pending transaction would mark another major San Francisco acquisition for Madison Capital, which has invested nearly $800 million in the Bay Area over the past eight years.

  • Philippine Tobacco Growers Call for Stronger Action Against Smuggling

    Philippine Tobacco Growers Call for Stronger Action Against Smuggling

    The Philippine Tobacco Growers Association (PTGA) urged its government to step up enforcement against illegal cigarette trade, warning that smuggling is siphoning income from farmers and threatening one of the country’s key agricultural sectors. PTGA President Saturnino Distor said each illegal product sold in the market represents lost revenue for hardworking Filipino tobacco farmers, totaling P1 billion ($17 million)—or P17,000 ($289) for each of the organization’s 59,000 members.

    Industry data indicates illegal cigarettes sell for as low as P2 ($0.03) per stick, compared to P7 ($0.12) for legal products, fueling black-market growth and increasing accessibility to minors. This year, around 11.8 billion sticks of illegal cigarettes are expected to be sold in the Philippines, representing roughly 9.4 million kilos of tobacco that could have been sourced from local farms. At an average farmgate price of P104.09 ($1.77) per kilo, farmers have already lost P978.4 million ($16.6 million) in income.

    Distor also highlighted the broader impact on the industry, affecting transport workers, factory employees, and small retailers, while the government loses an estimated P40 billion ($680 million) in excise tax revenue annually. Despite the 2024 Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law, enforcement remains weak. “Farmers are not asking for special treatment,” Distor said. “We are asking for protection, for fairness, and for a chance to keep farming and feeding our families.”

  • French Lawmakers Reject Vape Tax

    French Lawmakers Reject Vape Tax

    Yesterday (October 22), the Finance Committee of France’s National Assembly voted to reject the government’s proposed tax on vaping products outlined in the 2026 draft budget. The measure, included in Article 23, sought to introduce a levy of €0.30 per 10mL for low-nicotine e-liquids and €0.50 per 10mL for higher-nicotine products, a move strongly opposed by several deputies who cited vaping’s lower health risks compared to smoking.

    Lawmakers across party lines defended vaping as a harm-reduction tool. Aurélien Le Coq of La France Insoumise argued that “electronic cigarettes, even if they carry risks, are much less harmful than tobacco,” suggesting the proposed tax reflected the influence of the tobacco lobby. Pierre Cazeneuve of Ensemble pour la République, speaking as a former smoker, also opposed the measure, saying that vaping plays a key role in helping people quit. However, Perrine Goulet of Les Démocrates countered that vaping could act as a “gateway to smoking for young people,” and supported moderate taxation to curb youth use.

    The committee ultimately adopted an amendment from the Republican Right group to keep vape taxes at 0% for 2026, a partial win for the vaping industry. However, challenges remain: lawmakers approved a ban on online vape sales, which currently account for up to 30% of the French market, and the European Union is preparing to introduce a bloc-wide vape tax starting January 1, 2028. The decision will next move to the full Assembly for debate and confirmation in the coming weeks.

  • RJR Seeks Dismissal of ‘Carbon Neutral’ Vape Lawsuit

    RJR Seeks Dismissal of ‘Carbon Neutral’ Vape Lawsuit

    R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. has asked a California federal judge to dismiss a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing the company of misleading consumers by advertising its Vuse e-cigarettes as “the world’s first carbon neutral vape brand.” In its filing with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the company said its statements were backed by independent third-party certifications from Verra and Vertis Environmental Finance Ltd., insisting that its carbon-neutral claims were accurate, verified, and aligned with recognized environmental standards. R.J. Reynolds argued that it did not exaggerate its emissions data and said plaintiffs failed to prove any economic loss tied to the marketing claim.

    According to ClassAction.org, the lawsuit, filed on May 28, 2025, seeks $5 million in damages and alleges that British American Tobacco (BAT) and its subsidiary R.J. Reynolds misled consumers with a deceptive sustainability campaign. Plaintiffs argue that the “carbon neutral” label relied on flawed carbon offset projects, including Uruguay’s Guanaré Forest Plantations Project, which an independent review found had no measurable climate benefit. The complaint claims the company continued to use the “carbon neutral” slogan even after learning of issues with the offset program, calling the campaign a marketing strategy aimed at enhancing brand loyalty rather than environmental responsibility.

    A BAT spokesperson previously said that Vuse’s carbon-neutral status was independently verified in 2021 and that related marketing materials were discontinued by the end of 2023, according to Law360.

  • Malawi: Agricultural Center Opens to Help Tobacco Farmers Diversify

    Malawi: Agricultural Center Opens to Help Tobacco Farmers Diversify

    Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi announced the opening of its new Global Action Agricultural Transformation Centre, designed to help smallholder farmers transition from tobacco cultivation to “more sustainable and profitable crops” like soybeans, groundnuts, and sunflowers. The facility was a gift from Global Action to End Smoking.

    Because Malawi is heavily dependent on tobacco, with the crop representing a significant portion of Malawi’s gross domestic product and roughly half of the country’s exports, farmers are particularly exposed to the negative impact of decreasing demand for tobacco as global smoking rates continue to drop, as well as the impact of volatile weather. Global Action estimates that 800,000 Malawian farmers have begun diversifying crops as a layer of insurance.  

    “Reducing demand for tobacco without supporting farmers would result in serious economic consequences,” said Dr. Candida Nakhumwa, vice president and country director for Global Action in Malawi. “That’s why Global Action’s approach includes agricultural transformation as a critical part of the global public health response.”

  • 22nd Century Expands VLN to 140 C-Stores in Illinois

    22nd Century Expands VLN to 140 C-Stores in Illinois

    22nd Century Group, Inc. announced the launch of its VLN reduced-nicotine content cigarettes with 140 Circle K locations in Illinois, marking another step in the company’s nationwide rollout. The products, designed to contain 95% less nicotine, are now authorized for sale in 45 states, with approvals in the remaining five expected soon.

    Chief Executive Officer Larry Firestone said the expansion returns the brand to its first launch market. “We know there are VLN smokers who will appreciate the new branding and product rollout in Illinois,” Firestone said. “Once we achieve authorization and distribution in all 50 states, we will demonstrate the large-scale feasibility of our VLN low-nicotine products and alignment with the FDA’s new low-nicotine mandate.”

  • Vaping Advocates Say B.C.’s Bill 24 is ‘Irresponsible’

    Vaping Advocates Say B.C.’s Bill 24 is ‘Irresponsible’

    British Columbia’s proposed Bill 24, the Vaping Products Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, is drawing sharp criticism from harm reduction advocates, medical experts, and the vaping industry, who argue the legislation could jeopardize one of the most effective tools to help smokers quit. The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) said the government failed to consult key stakeholders before introducing the measure, warning it could devastate small businesses and mislead the public.

    “Tobacco and opioids have been proven to kill and cause irreparable harm. Vaping has not killed a single Canadian,” said Sam Tam, president of the CVA. “It would be irresponsible for the B.C. government to require vaping companies, including trade associations, to pay a fabricated cost without considering their ability to help far more British Columbians.” 

    The bill would allow the province to recover healthcare costs from vaping manufacturers—treating regulated vaping products like tobacco and opioids—despite federal evidence showing that vaping is far less harmful than smoking.