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Category: News This Week

  • South Korea Updates Tobacco Disclosure Rules Amid Criticism

    South Korea Updates Tobacco Disclosure Rules Amid Criticism

    South Korea will begin enforcing its Tobacco Harm Management Act on November 1, requiring manufacturers and importers to disclose harmful components in tobacco products for the first time. The law mandates inspections every two years for existing products and within one month for new launches. Public disclosure of results is expected to begin late next year.

    The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has identified 44 harmful substances in combustible cigarettes and 20 in liquid e-cigarettes for mandatory disclosure. However, critics say the standards are outdated, based on a 1997 U.S. framework by Dr. Dietrich Hoffmann, and have obvious “gaps” as products containing synthetic nicotine or marketed as “nicotine-free” are excluded. South Korean law defines tobacco only as products made from tobacco leaves.

    In defense, MFDS noted that South Korea’s list already exceeds WHO and ISO requirements and matches Canada in scope. Officials said they will expand the list in the future and are considering whether disclosures will be published by product type, brand, or in aggregate, along with explanations of toxicity and carcinogenicity.

  • FDA Launches Pilot to Fast-Track Nicotine Pouch Reviews

    FDA Launches Pilot to Fast-Track Nicotine Pouch Reviews

    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.”

  • Philip Morris Gets Wash. Tobacco Deal Fight Sent o Arbitrator

    Philip Morris Gets Wash. Tobacco Deal Fight Sent o Arbitrator

    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.

  • NYC Charges 12 Distributors in Largest Vape Sting in State History

    NYC Charges 12 Distributors in Largest Vape Sting in State History

    New York City carried out the biggest criminal vape enforcement action in its history, resulting in more than a dozen arrests and nearly 40 criminal charges, Governor Kathy Hochul announced on September 3. The crackdown, led by the New York State Department of Health and State Police, targeted businesses accused of illegally selling and distributing vapor products across the state.

    Authorities said many of the seized products were disposable e-cigarettes and flavored e-liquids that are especially appealing to youth. Some devices featured bright packaging, digital display screens, and designs resembling smartphones or video games, raising additional concerns about their appeal to minors.

    Companies caught up in the operation include Shindler Distribution (Vaporush), ePuffer, Vape4Style, Beyond Vape, NYC Glass 718, Vaperdudes, and Shinnecock Vape Shop. “These companies built their business models around breaking New York’s laws and targeting our kids—now we’re holding them accountable,” Hochul said, stressing that the state will continue to pursue offenders aggressively.

  • JT Completes €500 Million Subordinated Bond Issuance

    JT Completes €500 Million Subordinated Bond Issuance

    Japan Tobacco International Financial Services B.V. (JTIFS), a subsidiary of Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT), completed the issuance and settlement of €500 million Euro-denominated subordinated bonds due 2055. The transaction was first announced on August 27.

    The securities, which carry equity-like features while being classified as debt, were launched to refinance JTIFS’s existing subordinated bonds due 2081.

    JT said the transaction, which also included the settlement of a related tender offer, will help strengthen the group’s financial foundation. The new securities are callable at the issuer’s discretion from March 2031 and on subsequent interest payment dates.

  • Texas Ban on Disposable Vapes Takes Effect

    Texas Ban on Disposable Vapes Takes Effect

    Texas outlawed nearly all disposable e-cigarettes under Senate Bill 2024, which took effect on September 1. The law bans the sale, marketing and advertising of vape products that could appeal to minors, including those without nicotine, and specifically targets devices manufactured in China. Refillable vape devices made in the U.S. remain legal.

    Retailer Edgar Ramirez, owner of Smokeex in Killeen, told KWTX reporters the move is devastating. Ramirez said disposable vapes accounted for the majority of his sales, but now his shelves and cabinets sit empty, with more than $4,000 of unsellable inventory in storage. “None of them are made in America at all,” he noted, adding that distributors cannot source compliant products.

    Violators of the new law face a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Retailers say the ban leaves them few options as consumers shift away from cigarettes and traditional tobacco.

  • Concerns Rise Over ‘Vitamin Vapes’ Trend

    Concerns Rise Over ‘Vitamin Vapes’ Trend

    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.

  • Zimbabwe Hits Record Tobacco Output, Faces Climate Risks

    Zimbabwe Hits Record Tobacco Output, Faces Climate Risks

    Zimbabwe closed its 2025 tobacco marketing season with a record 352.7 million kilograms sold, generating $1.2 billion in revenue—a 53% increase from last year, underscoring the crop’s role as the country’s top foreign currency earner.

    Analysts warn, however, that the gains remain fragile. Industry stakeholders are urging investment in dams, irrigation, and climate-smart practices to sustain growth. Without intervention, they say, Zimbabwe’s record output may prove unsustainable in the face of mounting environmental pressures.

    The sector, dominated by smallholder farmers without irrigation infrastructure, is increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks such as last year’s El Niño-induced drought. Tobacco curing also contributes to deforestation, compounding water scarcity challenges.

  • Australia: Legal Cigarettes Plunge, Black Market Thrives

    Australia: Legal Cigarettes Plunge, Black Market Thrives

    Legal cigarette sales in Australia have dropped 22% in the past year, according to data published yesterday (September 3) from the Australian Bureau of Statistics; however, industry experts point out that not having the overall smoking rate mirror that number exposes the growing dominance of the black market and the challenges it poses for enforcement and government revenues. The Treasury expects tobacco excise collections to fall to A$7.1 billion ($4.6 billion) this year, down 57% from the 2019–20 peak of A$16.3 billion ($10.6 billion), despite years of sharp tax hikes.

    Excise increases of more than 280% since 2013 have lifted the price of a 25-pack to around A$50 ($32.50), driving many smokers toward illicit alternatives costing less than half as much. The Australian Border Force estimates organized crime controls 75% of the trade, smuggling in the equivalent of A$3 billion ($2 billion) in untaxed tobacco last year alone. More than 120 Victorian outlets have been fire-bombed since 2023 in gang turf wars.

    While smoking rates have nearly halved since 2010, health groups warn progress has slowed, even as public finances are squeezed.

  • IKE Report Urges Tech-Driven Solutions to Stem Vaping Issues

    IKE Report Urges Tech-Driven Solutions to Stem Vaping Issues

    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.”

     Download the full report here.