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Category: News This Week

  • Northern Ireland Moves Toward Generational Ban

    Northern Ireland Moves Toward Generational Ban

    Yesterday (February 10), Northern Ireland moved a step closer to a generational tobacco ban with Members of the Legislative Assembly voting in favor of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The bill would progressively raise the age to buy tobacco, meaning that people born after December 31, 2008 would never be able to purchase it legally.

    The bill is currently going through the Westminster legislative process, and as health is a devolved matter, each devolved legislature votes on whether they consent to pass the bill in their nation through a Legislative Consent Motion (LCM). The bill was first introduced in May 2024, however, because of the general election, had to be introduced by the new UK Government, and needed a second LCM to take place. 

    “To achieve a smoke-free UK, we also need to start the stop of smoking, ensuring that people who currently smoke have access to the support they need to quit,” Smokefree UK said in a statement. “We’ll continue to fight for this vital legislation to be implemented in Northern Ireland and across the rest of the UK and together, we can help end cancers caused by smoking.”

  • Researchers Look to Sewage for Truth on Tobacco Use

    Researchers Look to Sewage for Truth on Tobacco Use

    University of California at Merced’s (UCM) Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center has embarked on an innovative partnership with university researchers who can track an entire community’s health and habits with samples of human sewage. The project, which plans to have a pilot running by this summer, aims to determine trends and levels of nicotine use in San Joaquin Valley communities through chemicals in wastewater.

    The project will start by collecting wastewater from two cities in Merced and Stanislaus counties and from the UCM campus. Sewage samples will be analyzed for nicotine metabolites over a span of several months, allowing researchers to observe trends and patterns of use.

    “You can see if it’s increasing or decreasing at certain times of the year,” said UCM environmental engineer Professor Colleen Naughton. “You also can see if your interventions are working, based on whether concentrations rise or fall.”

    Traditional methods of collecting data about nicotine use, such as surveys and phone calls, often suffer from low response rates and difficulties in connecting with hard-to-reach populations. The data collected with this study will allow local public health agencies, community organizations, and tobacco-control researchers to make more informed decisions.

    “We continue to have significant gaps in reliable measurements of how many people smoke or use other tobacco products in the San Joaquin Valley. This could help fill those gaps,” Public health Professor Arturo Durazo said. “From there, perhaps the research could extend to other substances such as cannabis, alcohol or fentanyl.”

  • Study: Physically Activity in Children Diminishes Smoking Chances

    Study: Physically Activity in Children Diminishes Smoking Chances

    A new study published in the Journal of Behaviour Research and Therapy suggests people are less likely to initiate tobacco smoking if they engage in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) from childhood. Universities from Bristol and Exeter in the UK, and the University of Eastern Finland followed more than 2,500 children from the age of 11 until they were 24 and found that 0.6% of those who engaged in MPVAs began smoking by age 13, compared to 1.5% who began smoking that did not engage in activity. The study thus concludes MVPA reduces the risk of initiating tobacco smoking by 60% for 13-year-olds.

    The study was the largest and the longest follow-up of accelerometer-based MVPA and smoking behavior of young people in history. Physical activity intervention studies have reported reduced smoking rates among adults; however, physical activity studies in preventing smoking in children and adolescents have been inconclusive due to short study durations, small population sizes, and lack of accelerometer-measured physical activity data.

    “Stopping smoking in adulthood is good but late since a residual long-term risk of heart disease for the next thirty years still exists,” said Andrew Agbaje, physician and associate professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Child Health at the University of Eastern Finland. “Thus, preventing childhood smoking initiation is critical to lifelong health and these findings may be extrapolated to vaping and electronic cigarette use in teenagers since the same active ingredient in both smoke and smokeless tobacco is nicotine.”

    The study also found that the prevalence of smoking at ages 13, 15, and 24 years was 1.5%, 13.5%, and 26.6%, respectively.

  • Ispire Reports 2Q Earnings and Growth Initiatives

    Ispire Reports 2Q Earnings and Growth Initiatives

    Ispire Technology Inc. today (February 10) reported results for its fiscal second quarter 2025, which included a 0.3% YoY revenue increase to $41.8 million, a 23.5% gross profit increase to $7.7 million, and a 23% gross margin increase to 18.5%. Its fiscal second quarter ended December 31, 2024.

    “Despite challenging macroeconomic conditions, we had strong results for the quarter given the strategic advances we made in becoming a leading global innovative vaping technology and precision dosing solutions company,” said Co-Chief Executive Officer Michael Wang. “This is particularly evident as we further expanded into international markets. Our BrkFst brand recently launched in Africa, marking our first international nicotine license arrangement and product launch. The BrkFst brand has seen early success as we have quickly established a presence in over 500 retail locations across South Africa and Nigeria, including major chains like Pick n Pay and Forecourts.”

    Total operating expenses for the second fiscal quarter increased from $10.2 million in 2024 to $15.1 million in 2025. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to increased expenses associated with our increased revenue generation, continued investment in Malaysia, and increased expenses related to our product development function, the company said. It also reported a net loss of $8 million for the fiscal second quarter of 2025, double the $4 million from 2024.

    “Our financial performance this quarter demonstrates our ability to execute our strategic priorities for growth and financial management,” Chief Financial Officer Jim McCormick said. “[Our] balanced approach allows us to simultaneously invest in our growth strategies and return value to our shareholders, which we believe positions us for continued success in the evolving global nicotine product market.”

    On December 31, 2024, Ispire had a cash position of $34.4 million, as well as working capital of $6.1 million.

    “We’ve implemented a sweeping market activation strategy with brand ambassadors conducting daily events in major metropolitan areas, which has been instrumental in building strong relationships with both retailers and consumers,” Wang said. “We now plan to accelerate our expansion strategy to reach more than 2,000 stores in the next six months through additional strategic partnerships.

    “Furthermore, our IKE Tech joint venture’s component PMTA strategy represents a groundbreaking opportunity. We’ve completed a successful pre-PMTA meeting with the FDA, who indicated they would accept our component PMTA submission and consider our priority review. The legal U.S. market for electronic nicotine delivery systems is approximately $11 billion, with an additional $7 billion potential in alternative markets. This is a significant opportunity for our potentially industry-changing blockchain-based age verification technology which could help prevent youth access.”

  • Hong Kong: Bill Would Strengthen Tobacco Control, Hurt Pubs

    Hong Kong: Bill Would Strengthen Tobacco Control, Hurt Pubs

    Hong Kong Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said an amendment bill to strengthen tobacco control will be submitted to the Legislative Council in April that would impact virtually every product, all on different timelines. He said a potential ban on flavored non-menthol-flavored cigarettes could begin as early as next year, with menthol-favored-cigarettes then following, but with no specific timeline given.

    “Menthol cigarettes have a longer history, which is why we hope the policy can be implemented gradually,” Lo said, pointing out that 40% of smokers use flavored cigarettes and of those more than 50% use menthol. “We want to start with non-menthol as a pilot.

    “We’ve seen significant opposition [about the flavor ban], especially from tobacco companies, which shows that this hits their core interests.”

    The bill would extend the flavor ban to water pipes and also include increased penalties for illegal tobacco, updated rules cigarette labeling rules, and new rules for travelers with tobacco. Lo also said that e-cigarettes, which have been banned from import and sale since 2022 but can still be owned, may be facing a complete ban by mid-2026.

    The Long Term Tobacco Policy Concern Group polled 514 customers at popular nightlife districts in Hong Kong recently and found that 80% of bar-goers would have less desire to frequent pubs if a flavor ban was put in place, and that 70% would consider patronizing establishments on the mainland instead. Pub operators predicted a 30% loss of patrons if the government proposal was approved.

    “This is pulling out the last straw in such a terrible situation,” said Ben Leung Lap-yan, charter president of the Licensed Bar and Club Association of Hong Kong, which represents more than half of the city’s 1,300 licensed venues. “Should so many measures be put forward in the current poor economic environment in such a tough and aggressive way?”

  • Troutman Pepper Locke Officially Launches

    Troutman Pepper Locke Officially Launches

    Troutman Pepper and Locke Lord have merged to form Troutman Pepper Locke LLP, a law firm with more than 1,600 attorneys across 33 offices in the United States and Europe.

    “This merger is a strategic leap forward, allowing us to offer an even broader and deeper suite of services to help clients solve complex legal challenges,” said Tom Cole, chair of Troutman Pepper Locke. “The increased scale strengthens our ability to handle matters across an expanded geographic footprint and underscores our continued commitment to client service, efficiency, and innovation.”

    The new firm is led by Cole, with David Taylor and Ashley Taylor serving as vice chairs. Amie Colby serves as managing partner.

    “We are thrilled about the opportunities this match brings,” David Taylor said. “Our firms have the same sweet spot — the middle market. And together, we are doubling down on our commitment to high performance, collaboration, and excellence.”

    “Law firm mergers are certainly on the rise, but ours is about strategic growth to create more value for our clients,” said Ashley Taylor. “This value will flow from our combined strength in key industries, regions, and practices.”

    The combined firm boasts offices in 18 U.S. states, as well as the U.K. Troutman Pepper Locke offers more than 600 lawyers in the Northeast, with a significant presence in Boston, Philadelphia, and the New York metro area. In the South, the firm’s bench is particularly deep, with nearly 700 lawyers in locations including Texas, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia. The combination has strengthened resources in California and the Midwest, including Chicago.

  • PMI Posts Strong Fourth Quarter Behind ZYN Demand

    PMI Posts Strong Fourth Quarter Behind ZYN Demand

    Philip Morris International (PMI) posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter results with net sales rising 7.3% to $9.71 billion, topping the $9.44 billion estimated. The company also forecasted adjusted annual earnings per share in the range of $7.04 to $7.17, above analysts’ estimates of $7.03. The positive news sent company shares up nearly 8% yesterday (February 5).

    Analysts say the strong quarter was driven by strong demand for PMI’s smoking alternatives such as ZYN nicotine pouches. In January, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave PMI a formal license to market ZYN in the country, saying it poses a lower risk of serious health conditions due to substantially lower amounts of harmful constituents.

    In the quarter, oral inhalable smoke-free products volumes grew by 25% in cans from a year earlier, fueled by ZYN nicotine pouch growth in the U.S., where shipments reached nearly 165 million cans, representing a growth of nearly 42% from the prior year.

  • Universal Corporation Announces Quarterly Dividend

    Universal Corporation Announces Quarterly Dividend

    Universal Corporation announced that the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of eighty-one cents ($0.81) per share on the common shares of the Company, payable May 5, 2025, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on April 14, 2025.

    Universal Corporation is a global agricultural company with more than 100 years of experience supplying products and innovative solutions to meet customers’ evolving needs and precise specifications. Universal works with farmers and partners across more than 30 countries on five continents.

  • Lithuanian Customs: Huge Increase in Counterfeit Cigarettes from Latvia

    Lithuanian Customs: Huge Increase in Counterfeit Cigarettes from Latvia

    Lithuania’s State Border Guard Service says it has already intercepted half a million packs of illegal cigarettes coming into the country from Latvia, after only confiscating 111,000 illegal packs last year. Lithuanian customs officials say there has been a huge increase in the production of counterfeit cigarettes in Latvia, which are ending up on the Western European market.  

    “Illegal cigarette production in Latvia was particularly active last year, and the scale is really impressive as 30 truckloads were intercepted at the end of last year,” said Darius Zvironas, director general of the Lithuanian Customs Department. “Not the total amount produced, but the amount waiting to be shipped out. These are huge figures.

    “The flow of such cigarettes from Latvia goes through Lithuania, mainly towards Western Europe, and some of them end up in Lithuania.”

    Earlier this week, a shipment of smuggled cigarettes from Latvia worth €620,000 was intercepted in the Raseiniai District.

  • Nepal Goes All-In on Health Packaging

    Nepal Goes All-In on Health Packaging

    The Global Tobacco Treaty (formally called the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control or WHO FCTC) called on governments to implement strong pictorial health warnings to “help save lives from deadly tobacco.” Nepal took that to heart, announcing that beginning August 17, all cigarette packs will be required to have 100% pictorial health warnings on both the front and back of the packaging.

    Since 2014, Nepal had 90% graphic health warnings on both sides of its packaging, the most in the world behind only Timor-Leste and Turkiye, which both had 85% coverage on the front and 100% on the back. In August Nepal will move to No. 1.

    “Nepal has set a global benchmark by adopting 100% pictorial health warnings on tobacco packaging,” said Dr. Tara Singh Bam, Asia Pacific Director (Tobacco Control) Vital Strategies. “This policy is a powerful tool to prevent smoking among youth and children, encourage tobacco users to quit, and raise public awareness about the dangers of tobacco use. It is a highly cost-effective intervention that not only saves lives and reduces healthcare costs, but also helps to denormalize tobacco in our communities. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the strong political commitment and timely actions of the Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal.”