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Category: News This Week

  • Black Buffalo Tabs Booth as Chief Legal Officer

    Black Buffalo Tabs Booth as Chief Legal Officer

    Black Buffalo Inc. announced the appointment of Kellsi Booth as its Chief Legal Officer. Booth joins the Black Buffalo executive team with over a decade of experience in heavily regulated industries, with a focus on nicotine and tobacco. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs at Turning Point Brands, where she oversaw regulatory strategy and compliance for a portfolio of established consumer brands, including Zig-Zag and Stoker’s. Prior to that, she held a series of progressive roles at Juul Labs, Inc., where she drove initiatives in regulatory, quality, and policy matters.

    “Kellsi brings an unmatched depth of experience in regulatory affairs, legal strategy, and quality oversight,” said Matthew Hanson, Chief Growth Officer of Black Buffalo. “Her leadership will be pivotal as we continue our responsible, rapid growth within leading retail chains across the United States.”

    Booth has built a career navigating complex regulatory frameworks and advocating for responsible innovation within the industry. She is actively involved in several industry trade associations, including the Coalition of Manufacturers of Smoking Alternatives, and serves as one of the co-founders and board members of OWNiT (Organization of Women in Nicotine & Tobacco) — an initiative dedicated to empowering women across the nicotine and tobacco space.

  • Study: Charcoal-Free Shisha Significantly Less Harmful

    Study: Charcoal-Free Shisha Significantly Less Harmful

    In what the company calls “the world’s first charcoal-free shisha product,” OOKA announced the results of a study conducted by ASL Analytic Service Laboratory GmbH in Germany that found emissions from its heated system showed zero detection of many of the most harmful by-products of combustion, including carbon monoxide, benzene, toluene, and benzo[a]pyrene – substances typically found in both cigarettes and charcoal-heated shisha. The peer-reviewed study was published today (April 30) in Nature’s Scientific Reports. 

    “As the first electronically heated shisha system, OOKA represents a major advancement in inhalation technology, providing a charcoal-free, smoke-free experience without compromising flavor or ritual,” the company said in a press release. “The product’s multi-patented design eliminates combustion-related toxicants while offering consumers a consistent and premium experience.

    “The study provides substantive new evidence that OOKA is a breakthrough in harm reduction, delivering one of the cleanest inhalation experiences currently available without any compromise on flavor and experience for users

    The study tested emissions from OOKA across 37 toxicants and showed that emissions of key aldehydes—including acrolein, acetaldehyde, and formaldehyde—were reduced by up to 96% in the charcoal-free device compared to traditional shisha. When typical real-world consumption is factored in, toxicant exposure was estimated to be up to 100 times lower than cigarette smoking.

    “These findings have significant implications, not just for public health but also for shisha regulation and consumer understanding,” Dr. Ian Fearon, study co-author and a leading global expert in the scientific basis for tobacco harm reduction, said. “Misconceptions around waterpipe use have gone unchallenged for too long, and studies like this help bring clarity and credible data to a rapidly evolving category.”

    OOKA is one of six shisha/hookah brands under AIR (Advanced Inhalation Rituals).

  • Malawi Confiscates 170 “Nested” Tobacco Bales

    Malawi Confiscates 170 “Nested” Tobacco Bales

    Malawi’s Tobacco Commission (TC) confiscated at least 170 nested tobacco bales in the three weeks of sales. Nesting is the concealment of stems, scraps, loose leaves, or any object within a bale to deceive a buyer on quality or quantity.

    “Out of 170 bales, 140 have been confiscated at Lilongwe Floors, 25 at Chinkhoma, and two at Limbe Floors,” TC public relations officer Telephorus Chigwenembe said.  

    Chigwenembe said the confiscated bales have been sent to grading companies for rehandling. Proceeds from the sale of the rehandled bales will be forfeited to the Commission, whereas in years past, the TC split the money with the tobacco owners.

  • Philippines Files Tax Evasion Case Against Vape Brands 

    Philippines Files Tax Evasion Case Against Vape Brands 

    The Philippines Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed tax evasion complaints against several vape brands due to alleged evasion of over P8.7 billion ($157 million) in taxes. The complaint was filed by BIR Commissioner Romero Lumagui Jr. before the Department of Justice on Tuesday (April 29), against vape firms carrying the brand names Flava, Denkat, and Flare.

    “It was confirmed that the excise [taxes] on these products were not paid. All of them are illicit,” Lumagui said. “This is what happens when you keep violating our tax laws. We are continuing our monitoring of the vape industry, so you can expect that this will not be the last time we file a case.”

    He also said that with the continued proliferation of illicit vape products in the market, the government’s total loss is probably billions more. The BIR said that it seized 560,000 units of vape products in 2024, representing P415 million ($7.5 million) in unpaid taxes. 

    In addition to tax evasion, the charges filed also include the illegal possession of vape products without the required excise tax under Section 263 of the National Internal Revenue Code, as well as failure to submit excise tax returns. 

  • Macao Considers Expanded Outdoor Smoking Bans

    Macao Considers Expanded Outdoor Smoking Bans

    The head of Macao China’s Health Bureau, Lo Iek Long, says the government is considering changing the smoking law in Macao to include more outdoor areas where smoking is prohibited, such as the entrances of kindergartens and schools. According to multiple local media reports, the authorities are also looking to establish smoke-free zones in large spaces such as public squares and streets, with smoking only allowed in designated areas.

    The possibility of tightening smoking regulations has been an ongoing discussion this year. In January, the prospect of banning smoking while walking was brought up. Last month, TDM (local television channel) interviewed tourists and locals, who agreed that such behavior was antisocial and expressed concern for health hazards.

    Officials have deferred taking further action however, saying that the issue was complex. While acknowledging that it had also received many complaints and concerns about pedestrians smoking, the Macau United Citizens Association acknowledged that enforcing bans would be difficult.

    The Health Bureau said half of 2024’s smoking violations were committed by tourists, most coming from mainland China.

  • Study: 60% Tax Hike Would Lower Smoking, Raise Revenue in Uruguay 

    Study: 60% Tax Hike Would Lower Smoking, Raise Revenue in Uruguay 

    In Montevideo, Uruguay, a Universidad de la República (Udelaar) study projected that a 60% increase in cigarette taxes from 2025 to 2028 would reduce smoking by 19% (49,000 people) and yet increase tax revenue by 24%. The research, led by Patricia Triunfo and Zuleika Ferre, analyzed data from 1997 to 2022, confirming that Uruguay’s anti-smoking policies since 2010 have significantly lowered consumption.

    The study highlights a price elasticity of -0.47, indicating tax hikes effectively reduce demand. Smoking accounts for 15% of adult deaths in Uruguay, 16.7% of health expenditure, and 50% of smokers die prematurely.

     “Evaluating public policies is a challenge because of how they are implemented, sometimes in simultaneous layers,” said Triunfo. “The big drama is to demonstrate causality between policies and reduction of smoking.”

    The study used aggregate data on legal cigarette sales, combined with variables such as prices, income, and regulations. Their work included collaborations with Jeffrey Harris of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and funding from the Bloomberg Foundation.

  • PMI Hosting Annual Meeting Webcast May 7

    PMI Hosting Annual Meeting Webcast May 7

    Philip Morris International Inc. announced it will host a live audio webcast of its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 9 a.m. EST. The meeting will be in a virtual format and can be accessed at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PM2025. Presentation slides, script, and an archived recording of the webcast will be available at the same link. The recording will be available for one year from the date of the meeting.

    During the meeting, André Calantzopoulos, Chairman of the Board, and Jacek Olczak, Chief Executive Officer, will address shareholders and answer questions. Only shareholders of record with a valid 16-digit control number will be allowed to ask a question or make a comment.

    The audio webcast may also be accessed on mobile devices by downloading PMI’s free Investor Relations App at www.pmi.com/irapp.

  • Maldives Requiring Tobacco Sellers to Check IDs

    Maldives Requiring Tobacco Sellers to Check IDs

    Last year, Maldives passed laws that raised the age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21, set a generational ban so that no one born after January 1, 2007, could ever buy tobacco products, and banned the import of vape products. This week, Kinbidhoo MP Ali Ashrag proposed an amendment requiring tobacco sellers to request official government identification if there is any doubt about a buyer’s age, placing extra responsibility and potential punishments on the vendor.

    The new amendment is part of the government’s plan to establish a tobacco-free generation.

    “This is a matter of national urgency, especially for a small population like Maldives,” President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said. “Those born since January 1, 2007, make up 30.1% of the current population of 411,741.”

  • Gurkha, Davidoff Settle “Year of the Dragon” Lawsuit

    Gurkha, Davidoff Settle “Year of the Dragon” Lawsuit

    Last week, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida approved the request from both sides’ attorneys to dismiss the case of Gurkha Cigar Group Inc. v. Davidoff of Geneva USA Inc. in the battle over the Year of (the) Dragon name. Judge William P. Dimitrouleas dismissed the case with prejudice, however, little is known about the settlement other than both parties agreed to pay for their court costs.

    Halfwheel reported that Davidoff did not reply to a request for comment, but Bianca Lopez, director of marketing for Gurkha, said, “It was an amicable agreement that was reached.”

    Gurkha has an arrangement to license the trademarks from K. Hansotia & Co., Inc., a company presumably named after Gurkha’s owner Kaizad Hansotia. Those trademarks include a variety of dragon-related words within the cigar industry, including dragon, dragon fire, dragon lord, dragonslayer, imperial dragon, red dragon, and royal dragon. The company also filed for a trademark on “Year of Dragon,” which Davidoff & Cie SA opposed.

    “It’s unclear what impact the settlement will have on the trademark process, which was suspended due to this lawsuit, which Gurkha filed in late 2023,” Charlie Minato wrote for Halfwheel. “In late 2023, Davidoff released the Davidoff Limited Edition 2024 Year of the Dragon cigar as part of its long-running Zodiac Series, which is named after the various symbols on the Chinese zodiac calendar. Davidoff was hardly alone. Asylum, De Los Reyes, Drew Estate, El Septimo, General Cigar Co., Habanos S.A., J.C. Newman, JM Tobacco, La Galera, Oliva, Maya Selva, Plasencia, Rocky Patel, United Cigars, and Vega Fina also introduced Year of the Dragon-themed cigars. There’s no evidence that any other company was sued other than Davidoff.”

    “Gurkha released its own dragon-themed cigars, five different blends using the Year of the Dragon name. Both companies—as well as a host of others—also released Year of (the) Snake cigars. K. Hansotia & Co. has a trademark on Year of Snake.”

  • Zimbabwe “Will Reach 280M KG,” Hopes to Process More Domestically

    Zimbabwe “Will Reach 280M KG,” Hopes to Process More Domestically

    Zimbabwe’s 2025 tobacco marketing season is underway, with 85 million kilograms of the crop, valued at $292 million, having gone under the hammer. Farmers are happy but expect prices to continue firming as the season progresses.

    “While the season started slowly, we are witnessing a rise in tobacco deliveries and we are confident we will reach our target of 280 million kg this season,” Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB)’s acting chief executive officer Emmanuel Matsvaire said. “The highest price offered to date has been $6.30/kg, with the average price sitting at $3.43/kg as of April 17. 

    “TIMB is proud to announce a significant milestone in the decentralization of tobacco production in Zimbabwe. For the second consecutive season, tobacco is being successfully grown in Marula, Mangwe district, Matabeleland South. This is an important step in expanding the crop beyond its traditional strongholds in Manicaland and Mashonaland provinces, [with] 122 small-scale farmers growing 84 hectares of Natural Cured Virginia (NCV) tobacco under a contract arrangement with Atlas Agri. The contractor has since established a local tobacco sales floor, which was inspected and approved by TIMB and will operate this marketing season.”

    Despite the overall positives, stakeholders are concerned about side-marketing issues that continue to threaten the industry.

    “Side marketing remains a challenge in the industry,” Matsvaire said. “Some growers sell their tobacco to middlemen, others sell tobacco produced under contract at auction floors using other farmers’ grower numbers. This practice undermines structured markets, while negatively affecting debt and revenue collection, and exposes growers to low value and exploitation.”

    TIMB is also working toward keeping more tobacco processing in the country, as it loses billions of dollars of revenue by exporting semi-processed tobacco. 

    “The target was to increase value addition and beneficiation of tobacco into cut rag and cigarettes production from 2% of total tobacco produced to 30% to increase of exports of cigarettes by 2025, and to date we have achieved 10.15%,” Matsvaire said. “More effort is being put by the government and private partners to increase value addition. Ten cigarette manufacturers with a combined production capacity of around 4.4 billion cigarette sticks per annum are operating in the country.”