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Category: News This Week

  • Philip Morris Pushes for Arbitration in Washington MSA Dispute

    Philip Morris Pushes for Arbitration in Washington MSA Dispute

    Philip Morris USA (PM USA) urged a King County Superior Court judge in Washington State to compel arbitration in its dispute with R.J. Reynolds (RJR) and other tobacco companies. 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 a 2017 agreement. They argue PM USA is improperly interfering in a deal it is not directly part of.

    This week, in response, PM USA submitted a 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. The outcome of this procedural motion could significantly influence the future of tobacco payment disputes under the MSA—either moving them out of public courtrooms or keeping them subject to private arbitration panels.

  • WHO Wants Pakistan to Raise Cigarette Taxes

    WHO Wants Pakistan to Raise Cigarette Taxes

    The World Health Organization (WHO) criticized Pakistan’s Federal Cabinet’s decision to keep its Federal Excise Duty (FED) on cigarettes unchanged in the 2025–26 budget, saying it will likely boost consumption and undermine public health. According to a WHO analysis, FED rates haven’t increased since February 2023, while inflation has surged 26%, resulting in declining real prices and even greater affordability.

    For fiscal year 2024–25, WHO estimated cigarette production in Pakistan reached 37 billion sticks, generating Rs 208 billion ($728 million) in FED revenue. With excise duty unchanged, cigarette output is projected to rise to 38 billion sticks in 2025–26, yielding Rs 217.6 billion ($762 million) in revenue.

    WHO says a Rs 39 ($0.14) per pack FED increase would reduce smoking by 10.7%, lower production to approximately 34 billion sticks, and increase revenues by 20.9%.

  • Elfbar and Lost Mary Touting 281-Point Safety Testing Protocols

    Elfbar and Lost Mary Touting 281-Point Safety Testing Protocols

    The same week a report was released by UC Davis saying several large vape brands released more toxic metals than traditional cigarettes, Elfbar and Lost Mary announced a major expansion of their product safety measures, claiming they now follow an extensive 281-point testing protocol, including 142 tests on e-liquids, 22 on aerosols, 86 on device materials, and 31 reliability assessments.

    The brands reported completing 11,637 in-house tests in May 2025, following more than 120,000 tests conducted throughout 2024, with all products routinely tested to ensure compliance with UK, EU TPD, and AFNOR standards. “This comprehensive safety upgrade underscores both brands’ commitment to innovation and consumer protection in the vape market,” the companies said in a release.

  • Study: (Non-FDA-Approved) Vapes Emit More Toxic Metals Than Cigarettes

    Study: (Non-FDA-Approved) Vapes Emit More Toxic Metals Than Cigarettes

    A study from UC Davis, published in ACS Central Science, raised alarms about the safety of popular disposable e-cigarettes, revealing that some devices emit higher levels of toxic metals—notably lead, nickel, and antimony—than traditional cigarettes. Tests confirmed that toxic metals stemmed from leaded bronze components and degrading heating coils, with early detection of antimony even in unused e-liquids.

    Researchers tested seven disposable devices across three major brands—Elfbar, Flum Pebble, and Esco, which are not FDA-authorized for use in the U.S. but are widely sold by retailers—simulating 500–1,500 puffs per device. The report said one device released more lead in a single day’s use than nearly 20 packs of cigarettes. Four of the devices emitted nickel and lead at levels surpassing safety thresholds for neurological and respiratory damage. Two exceeded cancer risk limits due to antimony content.

  • Irish PM Says Big Tobacco Using Old Playbook for Vape

    Irish PM Says Big Tobacco Using Old Playbook for Vape

    Speaking at the World Conference on Tobacco Control, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin urged governments worldwide to adopt “the strongest possible measures against vaping,” warning that e-cigarette manufacturers are replicating the “predatory playbook” of the traditional tobacco industry—particularly by targeting youth.

    “All the same issues we had to deal with in respect of cigarettes, we have to deal with vaping,” said Martin. “We’re catching up a bit later in Ireland with that.”

    Ireland’s new restrictions on flavorings, product placement, and packaging design are scheduled to be enforced in February 2026, based on legislation introduced by the previous government. Youth vaping is accelerating across Europe—10.8% of adolescents aged 13–15 now use some form of tobacco, including e-cigarettes.

    The rise in youth vaping spurred the European Commission to update its Recommendation on Smoke-Free Environments to explicitly include vapes and heated tobacco products, urging member states to ban vaping wherever smoking is prohibited, and is now further considering flavor bans, restrictions on online sales, and heavier taxation.

  • Pakistan Ordered to Reopen Vape Shops 

    Pakistan Ordered to Reopen Vape Shops 

    Pakistan’s Lahore High Court granted interim relief to vape shopkeepers in Punjab by ordering the reopening of shops closed by the provincial administration. The decision follows a petition by 74 vape dealers, arguing the closures were illegal and without notice.

    Justice Anwar Hussain said the government failed to justify the crackdown legally and issued a stay order halting further action until a final decision is made. The Punjab government has until July 3 to submit a formal reply.

    The vape shops were sealed following a provincial ban on e-cigarettes announced on June 3 by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to “protect youth health.” Petitioners claim the ban is unconstitutional and violates their right to lawful business.

  • Caliburn G4 Pro: ‘The Vaping Industry’s First Full Touchscreen Pod System”

    Caliburn G4 Pro: ‘The Vaping Industry’s First Full Touchscreen Pod System”

    Today (June 26), UWELL launched the Caliburn G4 Pro, the brand’s first device to feature a 2.51-inch full touchscreen. “Combining advanced technology with user-centric design, the G4 PRO offers a premium, personalized experience while maintaining simplicity and accessibility,” the company said.

    The device’s full touchscreen interface offers one-tap access to wattage adjustment, output mode switching, puff counter reset, and a swipe-down Smart Hub that offers easy customization and intuitive navigation.

    “With the G4 PRO, we’ve reimagined what a pod system can be,” said a UWELL spokesperson. “It’s not just a device—it’s a personalized, premium experience that makes advanced vaping technology effortless and enjoyable for users around the world.”

  • FDA Issues Reminder to Update Tobacco Product Listings

    FDA Issues Reminder to Update Tobacco Product Listings

    Twice every year – by June 30 and Dec. 31 – registered tobacco product manufacturers are required to report to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration their tobacco product listings if they have made certain changes, the FDA reminded in a statement.

    If a manufacturer made any of the following changes, they must be reported:

    • Introduced any tobacco products for commercial distribution that were not included in a previous listing;
    • Discontinued manufacturing, preparation, compounding, or processing any tobacco products for commercial distribution;
    • Resumed manufacturing, preparation, compounding, or processing any tobacco products previously listed as discontinued; or
    • Made any required or voluntary material change to any listing information previously submitted, such as a name, labeling, consumer information, or advertisement changes.

    Information previously submitted to FDA should not be resubmitted.

    Updates can be submitted using the new “Tobacco Registration and Listing Module Next Generation (TRLM NG).”  If you are unable to submit online using TRLM NG, you can mail the appropriate Registration & Listing PDF form (FDA Form 3741) or, for deemed establishments, (FDA Form 3741a) to CTP’s Document Control Center.

    For resources on product listing submissions, go to the Tobacco Registration and Product Listing – Next Generation (TRLM NG) Instructions page. Manufacturers can also read the Registration and Product Listing for Owners and Operators of Domestic Product Establishments page for more information. 

  • Dominican Cigar Production Tops 8 Billion Units

    Dominican Cigar Production Tops 8 Billion Units

    The Dominican Republic remains the world’s top exporter of cigars, producing over 8.4 billion cigars each year, according to Iván Hernández Guzmán, director of the Dominican Tobacco Institute (Intabaco). Of this total, more than 181 million are handcrafted, while over 8.2 billion are made using machinery.

    Speaking at the Dominican Cigar Expo 2025 in Santiago, Hernández Guzmán highlighted tobacco’s vital role in the national economy, saying the industry contributes 10% of the country’s exports and generates more than $1.34 billion annually—second only to gold. It is the largest employer in free trade zones, creating over 40,000 jobs in that sector and more than 110,000 jobs nationwide. There are 160 tobacco-processing companies across 15 provinces, yielding over 330,000 quintals of tobacco each year.  

    For its premium cigar exports, 88% go to the United States and 10% to the European Union.

  • Samsung Back on $10.9M Hook for Vape Battery Explosion

    Samsung Back on $10.9M Hook for Vape Battery Explosion

    Samsung Electronics America Inc. must pay $10.9 million to a Georgia man who said he was seriously injured when the company’s battery inside an e-cigarette device in his pants pocket exploded, the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled Monday (June 23).

    Jordan Brewer sued Samsung in July 2020, and a county judge held Samsung liable by default in September 2020 after the company failed to respond to Brewer’s complaint. In December 2020, Samsung asked the court to set aside the default judgment, but the court said, “Samsung’s action in pursuing its company protocol in response to similar lawsuits as ‘a failed legal strategy’ that was ‘willful and deliberate and done with indifference to the correct legal process or else was gross negligence.’”

    In 2022, however, Samsung filed a motion with a new judge, who set aside the judgment, citing unclear damages and a lack of a hearing transcript. Brewer appealed, arguing Samsung didn’t meet its burden to justify overturning the judgment.

    This week, the Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that the trial court improperly shifted the burden of proof to Brewer and should not have set aside the judgment based on an incomplete record. The court vacated the order, setting aside the judgment and remanded for reconsideration under the correct legal standard. Since that judgment is now vacated, Samsung’s related appeal trying to open the default was ruled premature and dismissed.