Category: News This Week

  • Boebert Introduces Bill to Abolish ATF

    Boebert Introduces Bill to Abolish ATF

    On January 10, 2025, Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) announced the introduction of legislation aimed at abolishing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The bill, co-sponsored by Representative Eric Burlison (R-MO), seeks to eliminate the agency responsible for enforcing federal laws related to alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives, and arson.

    In a statement, Boebert expressed concerns that the ATF undermines constitutional freedoms, particularly the Second Amendment rights of American citizens. She stated, “I cannot imagine under any circumstance or administration where the ATF serves as an ally to the Second Amendment and law-abiding firearm owners across America.”

    The proposed legislation has garnered support from several Republican lawmakers who share similar concerns about the ATF’s role and its impact on constitutional rights. The bill is currently under consideration in the House of Representatives.

  • BAT Partners with Mali’s State Firm Sonatam

    BAT Partners with Mali’s State Firm Sonatam

    British American Tobacco has entered into an agreement with Mali’s state-owned tobacco company, Sonatam, to produce and distribute BAT’s Dunhill International cigarettes within the country. This collaboration aims to enhance the availability of BAT’s premium products in the Malian market, leveraging Sonatam’s established distribution network. The partnership is expected to strengthen both companies’ positions in the regional tobacco industry.

  • Nicotine Pouch Use in Great Britain at 1%

    Nicotine Pouch Use in Great Britain at 1%

    Recent research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London, in collaboration with Action on Smoking and Health, indicates that approximately 1% of both adults (aged 18 and over) and youths (aged 11-17) in Great Britain currently use nicotine pouches. The study also reveals that the lifetime usage of these pouches has doubled over the past four years, reaching 5.4%.

    Nicotine pouches, which are placed between the lip and gum to release nicotine without involving tobacco combustion, have been available in the UK market since 2019. Their use is predominantly observed among younger and middle-aged men who have a history of smoking and currently use other nicotine products. Despite their growing popularity, the overall prevalence of nicotine pouch use remains relatively low.

    The UK government is considering regulatory measures to address the increasing use of nicotine pouches, especially among youths. Health campaigners have called for a ban on the sale of these products to individuals under 18, highlighting concerns about potential health risks and the lack of age restrictions.

  • FDA Proposes Landmark Rule to Limit Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes

    FDA Proposes Landmark Rule to Limit Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes

    The FDA is preparing to propose a rule to cap nicotine levels in cigarettes and certain other tobacco products to make them minimally or non-addictive. This effort aligns with the Biden administration’s broader public health goals to significantly reduce smoking rates, particularly among youth, and to curb tobacco-related illnesses and deaths. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., accounting for approximately 480,000 deaths annually.

    The proposed rule, part of the FDA’s comprehensive tobacco control strategy, is expected to face strong opposition from the tobacco industry and some policymakers. Critics argue that the move could unintentionally boost the black market for cigarettes and may not address existing addiction among smokers. Proponents, however, emphasize the measure’s potential to save millions of lives and reduce healthcare costs in the long term.

    This regulation, if implemented, would mark a historic step in tobacco control, as no other country has yet enforced nicotine limits in cigarettes to this degree. The FDA has been exploring such measures since 2009 when Congress gave it authority to regulate tobacco products under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. While the proposal is still in its early stages, public health advocates view it as a critical milestone in reducing the public health burden of smoking.

  • Maine Governor Proposes Tobacco Tax Hike

    Maine Governor Proposes Tobacco Tax Hike

    Maine Governor Janet Mills has proposed a budget plan to address a projected $250 million shortfall. The proposal includes increasing the state’s cigarette tax by $1 per pack, bringing it to $4.50, aligning with New York’s rate—the highest in the nation. Additionally, the plan suggests a 5% reduction in funding for the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees Medicaid and other health programs. These measures aim to balance the budget while maintaining essential services. However, they have sparked debate among lawmakers and public health advocates. Supporters argue that higher tobacco taxes could deter smoking and generate revenue, while opponents express concern about the impact on low-income residents and potential reductions in health services.

  • Tesco Reports Record-Breaking Christmas Sales Amid Price Cuts

    Tesco Reports Record-Breaking Christmas Sales Amid Price Cuts

    Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, delivered its “biggest ever” Christmas performance by lowering festive prices and attracting shoppers from competitors. Tesco’s wholesaler division, Booker, faced challenges with a 2.6% decline in Q3 sales, but improved during Christmas with a 1.4% rise, despite weaknesses in tobacco sales and the fast-food market serviced by Best Food Logistics.

    While Christmas sales were strong, Tesco’s like-for-like growth over the broader third quarter was slower, with a 2.8% increase.

    Looking ahead, Tesco expects full-year adjusted group operating profits to reach £2.9 billion (US$ 3.57bn).

  • Philippines: Industry Advocates Tax Moratorium to Curb Smuggling

    Philippines: Industry Advocates Tax Moratorium to Curb Smuggling

    The Philippine Tobacco Institute (PTI) has proposed a pause in excise tax hikes on tobacco, arguing it would deter consumers from buying smuggled cigarettes and stabilize prices for legitimate products. PTI President Jericho B. Nograles highlighted this during a Senate hearing on the illicit tobacco trade, suggesting that a moratorium could also bolster enforcement efforts against smuggling.

    Currently, excise taxes in the Philippines are set at P60 per pack of cigarettes, with vape products taxed at P54.60 (US$0.93) per milliliter for salt nicotine and P63 per 10 milliliters for classic nicotine. Despite collecting P130.91 (US$ 2.24bn) billion in tobacco excise taxes in the first 11 months of 2024, the Bureau of Internal Revenue remains short of its P185.34 billion target for the year.

    Nograles pointed to Singapore’s tax moratorium as a successful precedent and urged the government to simplify the tax system by standardizing rates for all vapor products. He also called for aggressive action from the Department of Justice against smugglers and illicit traders.

    Additionally, Republic Act No. 12022, signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., classifies agricultural smuggling, hoarding, and profiteering as acts of economic sabotage. Violators face severe penalties, including life imprisonment and fines up to five times the value of smuggled goods.

    Nograles emphasized that the illicit tobacco trade undermines legitimate industry players and creates inequities in the market.

  • Dutch Psychologists Push for Tobacco 21

    Dutch Psychologists Push for Tobacco 21

    Addiction psychologists from the Dutch Institute of Psychologists (NIP) are calling for an increase in the minimum age for purchasing tobacco and vaping products to 21. They cite rising smoking and vaping rates among youth as a growing concern, despite the Netherlands’ National Prevention Agreement, which aims to create a smoke-free generation by 2040.

    The NIP emphasizes that vaping poses significant health risks similar to smoking and advocates for complementary measures such as public awareness campaigns, higher taxes, and stricter sales restrictions to support the age increase. The proposal is part of broader efforts to curb youth addiction and achieve the country’s public health goals.

  • India Faces EU Sustainability Hurdles

    India Faces EU Sustainability Hurdles

    India has become the world’s largest tobacco exporter, with shipments worth $1.2 billion in FY 2023-24—a 19.46% increase from the previous year. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announced that tobacco exports, including unmanufactured tobacco and processed products, reached a record-breaking ₹12,005.8 crore ($1.5 billion). However, the industry faces mounting challenges as stringent European Union (EU) sustainability standards loom.

    The EU, a key importer of Indian tobacco, is set to enforce regulations under frameworks like the European Green Deal and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism by 2026, with full implementation by 2030. These measures aim to ensure sustainability, climate neutrality, and transparency. Experts warn that nearly 50-60% of India’s farm exports, including tobacco, could be impacted due to gaps in technology, training, and resources needed to comply with the EU’s rigorous standards.

    Indian farmers, many of whom are unaware of the impending changes, rely heavily on guidance from the Tobacco Board and the Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI). While efforts like promoting organic farming and reducing pesticide use are underway, the industry has yet to develop a comprehensive action plan. Tobacco Board Chairman Yashwant Kumar Chidipothu stresses the need for a gradual transition to meet global standards without jeopardizing the livelihoods of millions of farmers dependent on tobacco cultivation.

    As Europe tightens regulations, experts warn of potential domestic market disruptions, including declining export prices and increased local tobacco consumption. With time running out, the industry must navigate a delicate balance between sustainability and economic survival to retain its position in the global market.

  • Washington Lawmakers Renew Push to Ban Flavored Tobacco

    Washington Lawmakers Renew Push to Ban Flavored Tobacco

    Washington legislators are reviving efforts to ban flavored tobacco products, citing concerns over youth addiction and the targeted marketing practices of tobacco companies. Advocates, including Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards, argue that flavors like menthol and fruit disproportionately appeal to minors, with the CDC reporting that 80% of tobacco-using teens prefer flavored options.

    Supporters say the ban is essential to reducing addiction and protecting public health. “These industries are creating customers for life,” said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. Advocacy groups like “Flavors Hook Kids” back the proposal, which follows a temporary ban on flavored vape sales enacted in 2019 during a surge in vaping-related lung injuries.

    Small business owners, however, warn of economic fallout. Chris Ward, owner of Torch Vape Shop, says flavored products make up 90% of his sales. “If this ban passes, it will kill my business,” he said, calling the legislation hypocritical compared to leniency on other harmful industries.

    The bill, which has failed in prior sessions, could gain momentum when the legislative session begins on January 13. Lawmakers argue it’s time to prioritize public health over profits, framing the ban as a necessary step to protect Washington’s youth.