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Category: News This Week

  • FDA Authorizes Four New ENDS Products

    FDA Authorizes Four New ENDS Products

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized four Glas electronic nicotine delivery system products through the PMTA pathway, including Classic Menthol, Fresh Menthol, Gold, and Sapphire pods containing 5% nicotine. The decision marks the first FDA authorization of ENDS products beyond traditional tobacco and menthol flavors, expanding the range of legally marketed vaping products in the U.S. to 45.

    The agency said the authorization was based on evidence that the products’ device access restriction technology—requiring age verification via government ID, smartphone pairing, and biometric checks—can effectively limit youth access.

    “By helping to prevent youth use, device access restrictions are a potential game changer,” said Dr. Bret Koplow, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “This technology is also an indication of the role innovation may serve in the effort to protect young people from threats posed by nicotine use and addiction while helping to enable [the] availability of an expanded array of flavored options for adults who smoke who may use these products to completely switch away from regular cigarettes.”

    The FDA emphasized that marketing must be targeted to adults and that the company must monitor and report on youth prevention measures, while noting that authorization could be withdrawn if compliance requirements are not met or if youth usage increases.

  • WSJ Reports Trump Pressuring FDA to Move on Flavored Vapes

    WSJ Reports Trump Pressuring FDA to Move on Flavored Vapes

    According to The Wall Street Journal, President Donald Trump has criticized FDA Commissioner Marty Makary for not moving quickly enough to approve flavored vaping and nicotine products, raising the issue in recent discussions with advisers. The report, citing people familiar with the matter, said Trump sought input on the role of flavored products among key voter groups and questioned the pace of regulatory decisions, with some advisers describing the FDA’s approach as an obstacle to the administration’s stated position on vaping.

    The FDA has so far authorized only 41 vape products for sale in the U.S., all in tobacco or menthol flavors, maintaining a requirement for strong evidence that flavored products provide benefits to adult smokers that outweigh youth risks. According to the report, Makary has discussed the possibility of adjusting the agency’s stance, with some sources indicating he may be considering a more open approach to flavored product approvals, though no formal policy change has been confirmed.

  • Zimbabwe Suspends Tobacco Buyer Over Pricing Concerns

    Zimbabwe Suspends Tobacco Buyer Over Pricing Concerns

    Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) suspended Country Agro International (Pvt) Ltd from all tobacco buying activities over suspected pricing irregularities during the 2026 selling season. In a May 4 notice, the regulator said it had identified concerning pricing patterns that could distort competition and harm grower viability, prompting a precautionary suspension pending further review. The company has been given five days to respond, as TIMB steps up enforcement efforts following recent action against unlicensed contractors in the sector.

  • Pakistani Tobacco Growers Want FBR Raids Stopped

    Pakistani Tobacco Growers Want FBR Raids Stopped

    Tobacco growers and traders in Pakistan called on the government to halt Federal Board of Revenue raids and reduce what they describe as unjust taxes during a convention held in Swabi yesterday (May 4). Participants alleged harassment during enforcement actions and demanded the withdrawal of law enforcement personnel from tobacco processing units, while also calling for interest-free loans and more supportive policies for farmers. Representatives from multiple political parties attended the gathering, where participants also discussed potential actions, including blocking a major motorway, to press their demands.

  • CORESTA Hosting Tobacco Plant Breeding Webinar June 24

    CORESTA Hosting Tobacco Plant Breeding Webinar June 24

    CORESTA announced that it is hosting a tobacco plant breeding webinar on June 24 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. CET, moderated by Mitchell Richmond, a professor and extension specialist from the University of Tennessee.

    The webinar will provide an overview of plant breeding, focusing on how new tobacco varieties are developed. According to CORESTA, it will cover basic terminology, key methods, and the timelines involved, along with the importance of understanding crop characteristics such as growth, disease risks, and end use. The session also explains how new varieties are tested in the field, including how trial design changes depending on the type of tobacco and stage of development, building on concepts introduced in a previous webinar on tobacco field research. Click here to register.

  • Tennessee Amends Penalties for Underage Tobacco Use

    Tennessee Amends Penalties for Underage Tobacco Use

    Tennessee enacted new penalties for minors purchasing or possessing tobacco products under legislation signed by Governor Bill Lee on April 27 and approved as a Public Chapter yesterday (May 4). The law allows courts to impose a range of measures, including up to 50 hours of community service, completion of a court-approved education program, and/or civil fines between $10 and $50. Fines for minors younger than 18 may be levied on a parent or guardian.

    The legislation also introduces escalating consequences for repeat violations, including a 90-day informal adjustment period for first offenses and up to six months of probation for subsequent violations, alongside mandatory community service and participation in programs focused on the risks of tobacco and vapor products. The law will take effect July 1.

  • Turning Point Announces Quarterly Dividend

    Turning Point Announces Quarterly Dividend

    Turning Point Brands, Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per common share, payable on July 10 to shareholders of record as of June 19. The company said it will continue its regular dividend program as part of its shareholder return strategy.

  • Dutch Flavor Ban Backfires: Report  

    Dutch Flavor Ban Backfires: Report  

    A report by advocacy group Prohibition Does Not Work (PDNW) claims the Netherlands’ 2024 ban on flavored vaping “backfired,” with over half of consumers reportedly shifting to illicit or cross-border sources. The report states that youth vaping rates increased from 3.7% in 2023 to 7.6% in 2024, while adult vaping declined from 3.86% to 2.3% by 2026. It also cites data indicating that 27% of users purchased products abroad, 31% used illicit online sellers, and 33% continued to access products through local retail channels despite the ban.

    According to the report, cigarette consumption rose by approximately 1% in 2024, equivalent to around 60 million additional cigarettes, while 27% of former vapers reported increased smoking or initiation after the policy change. The findings also note that 42% of inspected retailers were non-compliant and that most consumers reported ease of access to flavored products. PDNW said the data reflects a shift toward unregulated channels following the restriction, with implications for enforcement and market oversight.

  • Nicokick, Northerner Expand GOVX Discount for Military Appreciation Month

    Nicokick, Northerner Expand GOVX Discount for Military Appreciation Month

    Nicokick and Northerner announced a promotion offering a 35% discount to verified GOVX members in recognition of Military Appreciation Month. The offer, available from May 20 through May 25 on both retailers’ websites, expands on an existing year-round 25% discount program for eligible adults aged 21 and over, including military personnel, veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, and government employees who use nicotine products.

    The companies said the promotion will be automatically applied at checkout for verified users, with eligibility confirmed through GOVX at no cost. The initiative is positioned as an extension of ongoing discount programs aimed at public service workers, with the temporary discount intended to coincide with Memorial Day observances.

  • 22nd Century Announced May 7 Financial Call

    22nd Century Announced May 7 Financial Call

    22nd Century Group, Inc. announced that it will host a webcast on May 7 at 8 a.m. ET to discuss its first-quarter 2026 financial results, which are scheduled to be released earlier that day. Company executives, including CEO Larry Firestone and CFO Dan Otto, will review performance, outline progress during the quarter, and provide an update on plans for the remainder of 2026.

    The webcast will be available live and archived on the company’s investor relations website, with participants encouraged to register in advance.