TobaccoReporter logo

Category: News This Week

  • NSW Tobacco Licensing Enforcement Kicks In

    NSW Tobacco Licensing Enforcement Kicks In

    The three-month grace period for Australian retailers and wholesalers in New South Wales to apply for a license to sell tobacco and smoking products ends today (October 2). Enforcement of the Minns Labor Government’s new Tobacco Licensing Scheme begins tomorrow, meaning all businesses selling tobacco or non-tobacco smoking products must hold and display a valid license. Those trading without one risk heavy penalties, although applicants who lodged a valid application before the deadline can continue operating until their outcome is confirmed.

    The new Center for Regulation and Enforcement within NSW Health will oversee compliance, working with state and federal agencies. Under recently passed reforms, penalties for unlicensed sales will increase dramatically, with fines of up to A$660,000 ($435,600) for individuals and A$880,000 ($580,800) for corporations. New offenses also target illicit tobacco trade, carrying maximum penalties of A$1.54 million ($1 million) and/or seven years’ imprisonment.

  • BAT Korea Replacing Butts with Flowers

    BAT Korea Replacing Butts with Flowers

    BAT Rothmans Korea expanded its flower-planting campaign to eight districts across Seoul, aiming to curb cigarette litter and promote cleaner public spaces, the company announced. Carried out in partnership with the Seoul Chapter of the Korean National Council for Conservation of Nature, the campaign involves 700 volunteers from the company, civic groups, and neighborhoods.

    Since launching in 2023, the project has transformed 50 alleyways—often hotspots for discarded cigarette butts—into decorated streets lined with 3,000 trees and flowers from 17 species. Districts including Jung, Gangnam, Gangdong, and Jongno have been part of the initiative, which has drawn support from local residents who help maintain the plants.

    BAT Rothmans says the initiative improves commercial areas while promoting sustainable environmental practices.

  • Consumer Group’s Pouch Tour Hits Belgium

    Last week, the international consumer group Considerate Pouchers brought its Protect Pouches campaign to Brussels, calling for an end to Belgium’s ban on nicotine pouches. Volunteers engaged citizens and policymakers, distributed fresh Jet Pack coffee, and collected postcards urging Members of the European Parliament to lift restrictions.

    The campaign said that Belgium, with one of Western Europe’s highest smoking rates, denies smokers access to safer alternatives shown to be more than 95% less harmful than cigarettes. Global spokesperson Juan Rafael Taborcía emphasized that over-taxation and bans drive consumers back to cigarettes, and that Brussels should lead Europe in harm reduction.

    The Brussels action is part of a broader European tour.

  • Jordan Aiming to Cut One of the World’s Highest Smoking Rates

    Jordan Aiming to Cut One of the World’s Highest Smoking Rates

    Experts in Jordan warn that the country’s reliance on tobacco revenue undermines long-term economic growth and public health, and as such, advocates are calling for policy reforms that prioritize prevention, strengthen enforcement, and protect health systems from the economic and societal costs of widespread smoking, according to Ammannet, the Community Media Network.

    Jordan, with 71.2% of its male population smoking, faces a stark financial and health paradox, according to Ammannet, with tobacco tax revenues providing the government JD 1 billion ($1.4 billion) annually, yet the cost of treating tobacco-related diseases alone exceeds JD 1.4 billion ($2 billion).

    The article said weak law enforcement compounds the problem, with widespread smoking reported in universities, government offices, and even health facilities. Despite 37% of smokers attempting cessation in the past year, government programs remain insufficient.

  • Cigarette Manufacturers Raise Prices in Macedonia

    Cigarette Manufacturers Raise Prices in Macedonia

    Cigarette prices in Macedonia increased about 10 denars ($0.19) per pack beginning September 29, however, many consumers have yet to feel the impact due to retailers selling off old stock. Producers say the higher prices will be felt in the coming days, affecting leading brands such as Dunhill, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, and Rothmans.

    The increase is not tied to new excise duties or state taxes, but stems from manufacturers’ pricing policies. Industry analysts link the move to rising production and logistics costs, as well as alignment with regional price trends, according to TV21.

  • Posturing Continues as Indonesia Considers Scrapping Tobacco Excise Hike

    Posturing Continues as Indonesia Considers Scrapping Tobacco Excise Hike

    News that Indonesia’s Finance Ministry is considering canceling next year’s planned cigarette excise increase following consultations with the tobacco industry has drawn sharp backlash from health groups, academics, and child advocates, who warn it threatens public health and undermines anti-smoking efforts. Critics urge the government to instead pursue higher annual increases—at least 25%—along with reforms to simplify excise tiers, narrow tariff gaps, and reduce cigarette affordability.

    Last week, citing the current 57% rate as the legal tax ceiling under Law No. 39/2007, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said cleaning up the illegal tobacco market and protecting jobs was more prudent. Industry players agreed, arguing that further tax hikes would strain manufacturers, farmers, and workers.

  • 22nd Century Group Backs FDA’s Proposed Reduced Nicotine Standard

    22nd Century Group Backs FDA’s Proposed Reduced Nicotine Standard

    22nd Century Group, Inc. submitted public comments in support of the U.S. FDA’s proposed rule to mandate very low nicotine levels in cigarettes and other combusted tobacco products. CEO Larry Firestone said the evidence shows such a standard could save millions of lives and transform the market within two years, with the company’s VLNC technology already proven to deliver consumer-acceptable products.

    22nd Century criticized Big Tobacco’s stance as contradictory, arguing that support for a reduced nicotine mandate would align with industry claims of pursuing a “smoke-free future.” The company pledged to continue backing the rule, calling it a landmark public health measure.

    “The evidence is overwhelming that a reduced nicotine yield standard for combusted tobacco products has the potential to save millions of lives and trillions of dollars cumulatively in the U.S. alone,” said Firestone. “From both a public health and commercial standpoint, the only barrier left to the most transformative public health policy of a generation is the willingness to move forward with this mandate.”

  • Vape Industry Slams Malaysia’s Proposed Ban, Points to Illegal Trade

    Vape Industry Slams Malaysia’s Proposed Ban, Points to Illegal Trade

    Malaysia’s vape industry has hit back at a proposed government ban, with the Malaysia Retail Electronic Cigarette Association (MRECA) warning it would wipe out years of investment and punish law-abiding businesses. “Why should there be a ban on vape products when those that have undergone [Ministry of Health’s] stringent approval process are already in the market?” asked MRECA president Datuk Adzwan Ab Manas, noting companies have spent millions on compliance, safety testing, and labelling.

    Adzwan said the real problem lies with unapproved products and criminal misuse, not licensed businesses. He urged enforcement agencies to intensify raids and penalties against illegal sellers, warning that a blanket ban would only fuel smuggling and expand the black market.

    MRECA members, who have upgraded facilities and testing systems at significant cost, fear massive job cuts and financial losses if prohibition goes ahead. “The solution is not prohibition,” Adzwan said. “The solution is cooperation, enforcement, and fairness. We must not undermine a regulated industry that has demonstrated its willingness to comply with the law and contribute responsibly to the economy.”

  • Trinidad & Tobago Considers Harm Reduction in Tobacco Policy

    Trinidad & Tobago Considers Harm Reduction in Tobacco Policy

    Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Health said it is laying the groundwork for a new approach to tobacco control, with officials confirming they are collecting data to regulate reduced-risk products such as vaping, nicotine pouches, and heat-not-burn devices. The move signals a shift away from policies focused solely on bans and restrictions, toward strategies that emphasize harm reduction.

    Despite years of regulation, smoking rates remain high in the country, with nearly one in five adults still smoking. The absence of laws specific to vaping has left products in a legal grey area, creating uncertainty for smokers looking to switch to less harmful alternatives. Advocates argue that clear regulation could help reduce smoking-related disease and deaths, pointing to examples from Sweden and the U.K.

    Public health voices in Trinidad and Tobago say the country has an opportunity to chart its own course, using evidence-based regulation to give smokers safer choices. “Now is the moment to act,” one health advocate said, urging policymakers to put harm reduction at the center of the nation’s tobacco strategy.

  • Joya de Nicaragua to Take Over U.S. Distribution from Drew Estate

    Joya de Nicaragua to Take Over U.S. Distribution from Drew Estate

    Joya de Nicaragua will begin handling its own U.S. distribution starting January 1, 2026, ending its 17-year partnership with Drew Estate, the company said in a press release. Since 2008, Drew Estate’s national sales team has sold Joya’s cigars across the country.

    Dr. Alejandro Martínez Cuenca, chairman of Joya de Nicaragua, said the change reflects “taking ownership of the path ahead” while maintaining strong ties with Drew Estate, according to Halfwheel. Jonathan Drew, co-founder of Drew Estate, expressed admiration for Joya and emphasized that the companies’ friendship will continue despite the transition.