Zimbabwe’s tobacco auction floors are set to open March 4, with contract floors following a day later, as authorities express confidence in their readiness for the marketing season. Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos said inspections last week showed strong preparation across the three auction floors, which are expected to handle increased volumes following a 15% rise in planted area to about 164,500 hectares. The government is targeting 500 million kg of output by 2030 as part of plans to build a $7 billion industry, with officials projecting around 400 million kilograms this season. Floor operators, including Premier Tobacco Auction Floor and Ethical Sales Floor, said systems are in place to ensure smooth operations and prompt payments, with some farmers expected to receive funds within an hour, while the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board highlighted new biometric measures to curb side marketing.
Category: News This Week
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Vietnam Proposes Banning Tobacco Displays and Alternative Products
The Ministry of Health of Vietnam has proposed banning the display of tobacco products at wholesale and retail outlets and requiring cigarettes to be kept in closed cabinets, under draft amendments to the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms. The proposal was presented at a policy workshop in Hanoi, where Deputy Health Minister Tran Van Thuan said that despite progress over 13 years, Vietnam still has about 15.8 million smokers.
The draft amendments also call for a comprehensive ban on the production, trade, advertising, and use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and other new tobacco products. Officials said allowing cigarette displays effectively permits point-of-sale advertising and increases access for children, noting that major cities average 13 tobacco outlets near each school. The ministry said the reforms align with the World Health Organization’s WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
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Philippines Losing $425M to Illicits
The Philippines is losing an estimated P25 billion ($425 million) annually in cigarette excise taxes due to the illicit tobacco trade, according to a policy brief by the Center for Market Education (CME). The report, which compares seven ASEAN economies, found that smuggled cigarettes account for about 16% of the domestic market, with some estimates reaching as high as 21%. CME CEO Carmelito Ferlito said the foregone revenue represents a significant missed opportunity to fund public services.
The brief noted that the lost money is equivalent to 12.5% of the national health budget and 3.6% of the education budget, funds that could otherwise support hospitals, schools, and climate programs. While tobacco excise collections surged after major reforms in 2012, revenues peaked in 2021 and have declined since, raising concerns that rates may have exceeded the revenue-maximizing point on the Laffer Curve. CME urged policymakers to align tax policy with stronger enforcement, stressing that taxation is effective only when compliance is enforceable and credible.
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Indonesian Cigarette Importers Under Investigation for Bribery
Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating alleged manipulation of cigarette excise payments at the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC), saying it has secured preliminary evidence on companies suspected of involvement in illegal cigarette imports. On Feb. 27, the KPK detained and named Budiman Bayu Prasojo, head of the Intelligence Section for Excise Enforcement and Investigation at the DJBC, as a suspect in a corruption probe linked to import clearance and excise arrangements.
KPK deputy for enforcement and execution Asep Guntur Rahayu said investigators suspect certain cigarette importers provided bribes or gratuities to customs officials in connection with excise regulation. The agency previously seized Rp 5.19 billion ($300,000) in cash from a safe house believed to be linked to the suspects, money thought to be proceeds of alleged bribery. Investigators are tracing the companies and individuals involved and said further details will be disclosed once the probe is complete.
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Fifth Circuit Affirms FDA’s Vape Rule
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld a 2021 rule issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requiring manufacturers seeking premarket tobacco product authorization to investigate and disclose health effects data, according to Law 360. In a unanimous opinion, the three-judge panel found the agency complied with the Regulatory Flexibility Act by reasonably certifying that the rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, affirming a February 2025 summary judgment in FDA’s favor.
Plaintiffs, including e-liquid manufacturers and the United States Vaping Association, argued the FDA improperly relied on economic analysis from its 2016 deeming rule and failed to consider less burdensome alternatives. The court rejected those claims, holding that the 2016 assessment provided an adequate factual basis and that key requirements — such as submitting all known health-risk information — are mandated by the Tobacco Control Act and cannot be waived by regulation. The decision leaves the 2021 PMTA rule intact in Kealani Distribution LLC et al. v. FDA.
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Expert-Led Campaign Looking for Flawed Vape Science
The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) launched VapeVerify, an expert-led initiative aimed at scrutinizing vaping research amid rising public misperceptions about relative risk. The independent panel — comprising specialists in toxicology, public health, addiction medicine, and regulatory science — will assess new studies for methodological flaws, data misinterpretation, and lack of transparency, with the goal of ensuring policy debates and public understanding are guided by robust evidence. The move comes as surveys show record-high levels of misinformation, with around half of smokers believing vaping is as harmful as or more harmful than combustible cigarettes.
“The VapeVerify panel wants to create an environment where people are armed with the facts so they can make informed decisions, because there is no public health without public knowledge,” said panellist Dr. Marina Murphy, senior director of scientific affairs at Haypp Group, who specializes in chemistry and science communications.
The campaign launches alongside VapeWatch, a media monitoring initiative designed to challenge inaccurate or alarmist reporting on vaping and refer misleading coverage to the Independent Press Standards Organization. UKVIA Director General John Dunne said the industry is at a “crossroads,” arguing that public perception will determine whether vaping fulfils its harm reduction potential. Organizers said the expert panel members are unpaid volunteers and that the twin initiatives aim to counter what they describe as flawed science and misinformation deterring adult smokers from switching.
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KT&G to Launch ‘Reel Able 3.0’ in Seoul
KT&G said it will introduce its latest cigarette-type heated tobacco device, the Reel Able 3.0, tomorrow (Feb. 28) at four locations in the Seoul metropolitan area. The new model features significantly reduced charging and preheating times, with a full charge completed in about one hour — half the time of its predecessor — and a preheating time shortened by 10 seconds.
The device retains key Reel Able functions such as pause during use, selectable usage modes and support for three consecutive sessions. For the first time in the series, KT&G has applied metal materials and curved edges to enhance grip and design, alongside an AMOLED display showing remaining usage counts and mode settings. Reel Able 3.0 will debut in four colors, with Oud Gray and Platinum Silver released first at a retail price of 68,000 won ($47). The company said the launch supports its strategy to reinforce leadership in the heated tobacco segment through differentiated product upgrades.
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Former China Tobacco Head Sentenced to 12 Years
Former deputy head of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration Zhang Tianfeng was sentenced to 12 years in prison for accepting more than 34 million yuan ($5 million) in bribes. The Ganzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangxi also fined Zhang 2 million yuan ($300,000) and ordered the confiscation of his illicit gains.
The court found that between 2004 and 2023 Zhang leveraged senior roles in provincial tobacco bodies and, from 2020 to 2023, at the national administration to secure favors in project contracting, recruitment, and promotions in exchange for payments. Although the court deemed the offense serious, it granted leniency after Zhang confessed, voluntarily disclosed additional violations and returned illegal proceeds. He was placed under investigation in January 2025 and expelled from the Communist Party before being indicted.
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Tanzania Advances Renewable Energy for Tobacco Curing
The Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA) is accelerating efforts to reduce deforestation and improve farmer incomes by promoting renewable energy solutions for tobacco curing. Historically reliant on firewood, the curing process has contributed to forest degradation in key growing regions. TORITA is now advancing solar-powered drying systems and energy-efficient curing barns designed to lower fuel costs, improve productivity, and reduce environmental impact. Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jacob Lisuma said the institute’s research is focused on practical, affordable applications that directly address smallholder challenges rather than theoretical outcomes.
TORITA is strengthening its impact through partnerships with academic and regional research bodies, including Nelson Mandela African University, the Tobacco Research Board, and Malawi’s Research and Agricultural Technology Institute. Collaboration with regulators such as the Tanzania Fertiliser Regulatory Authority and the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticide Authority supports the development of improved inputs alongside alternative energy technologies. Funded through government backing and industry levies, the institute’s initiatives aim to align sustainability with profitability, offering smallholder farmers lower curing costs while contributing to long-term environmental protection.
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Malaysian Illicit Cigarette Rate Still Above 54%
The Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers (CMTM) said the latest Illicit Cigarettes Study conducted by NielsenIQ shows illicit cigarette incidence in Malaysia remains high at 54.4% in 2025, a marginal 0.6%-point decline from 2024. CMTM credited enforcement agencies, including the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), for intensified border controls and supply chain disruption efforts.
However, the association flagged rising concern over cigarettes bearing fake tax stamps (FTS), with national incidence increasing by 1.7 percentage points year-on-year and wider penetration reported in Johor, Penang, Melaka, Terengganu and Kelantan. The group urged stronger action to remove such products from the market and reaffirmed its commitment to working with authorities to protect regulatory integrity as illicit trade tactics evolve.