Japan Tobacco (JT) submitted an application to Japan’s Minister of Finance yesterday (January 27) seeking approval to revise the retail list prices of cigarettes, aligned with the government’s review of the heated tobacco taxation system effective April 1. The application covers all 37 variants of Plume tobacco sticks and Wiz tobacco capsules, marking a comprehensive price adjustment across JT’s heated tobacco portfolio. JT said the proposed revisions are intended to help maintain product quality and brand value while continuing to meet consumer expectations amid changes to the tax framework. If approved, the new retail prices will take effect from April 1, with the company acknowledging the added cost to consumers while committing to further improvements in product quality and customer service.
Category: News This Week
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RJR Loses Fla. Engle Case, Damages 5% of Sought Sum
A Florida jury on Tuesday awarded $675,000 to a longtime Newport cigarette smoker who developed severe lung disease and ultimately required a lung transplant, delivering a far smaller sum than the $14 million sought by plaintiffs against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. The case is part of Florida’s long-running Engle progeny litigation, which allows individual smokers to sue tobacco companies using findings from a landmark class action that established cigarettes are addictive and cause disease.
While the jury found Reynolds liable for the plaintiff’s injuries, the verdict, according to Law 360, highlights the mixed legal risk tobacco companies still face in Florida: ongoing exposure to adverse findings, but with damages frequently falling well below plaintiffs’ demands, potentially tempering financial impact on manufacturers despite persistent litigation.
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Pangea Cigars Joins Premium Cigar Market
Today (January 27) marked the official launch of Pangea Cigars, a new premium cigar manufacturer founded by industry veterans Ibis Luis and Anna Ayupova. “Built around a philosophy of disciplined growth, refined craftsmanship, and understated luxury, the brand positions itself as performance-driven rather than trend-led,” the new company said in a press release.
According to the Miami-based company, the name Pangea draws on the ancient supercontinent to symbolize connection and unity, reflecting the founders’ view of cigars as a shared cultural experience. Luis brings more than 15 years of experience across premium cigar retail, brand development, and manufacturing, including a six-year tenure with Plasencia Cigars, while Ayupova contributes a global background in luxury hospitality, executive leadership, and cigar and wine curation. As part of its debut, Pangea is collaborating with Indiana Ortez of Casa de Ortez on its inaugural product, with blend details and a release timeline to be announced as the company establishes its foundation and visual identity.
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Hara Brands Targets Argentina’s Growing Accessories Market
Hara Brands announced the expansion of its flagship smoking accessories brand Hemper into Argentina through an exclusive distribution partnership with Buenos Aires–based Tabacalera Sarandí, marking a further step in the company’s international growth strategy. Under the agreement, Tabacalera Sarandí will distribute a curated range of Hemper products—including rolling papers, cones, tips, quick hitters, and select glass accessories—via online channels and selected retail outlets nationwide. The move targets Argentina’s growing smoking accessories market, valued at an estimated $65.5 million in 2024 and projected to exceed $106 million by 2033, driven by sustained demand for roll-your-own products.
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EU Suspects ‘Coordinated’ Interference in Tobacco Tax Feedback
The European Commission suspects that a surge of pro-industry submissions opposing its proposed overhaul of the EU Tobacco Tax Directive was likely coordinated and intended to distort public consultation feedback, according to comments from Commission tax official David Boublil as reported by Politico. Thousands of largely anonymous responses promoting tobacco industry arguments, along with what are believed to be fake submissions attributed to public health experts, were filed in the final hours of the consultation period.
While the Commission did not identify who was behind the activity, Boublil described industry lobbying on the issue as “gigantic.” The proposal would raise the EU-wide minimum excise duty on cigarettes from €90 to €215 per 1,000 cigarettes, a move opposed by several member states. The scrutiny comes amid broader upcoming EU reviews of tobacco taxation and regulation, including plans to extend tobacco control rules to e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches from 2026.
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Filtrona Names Sand-Kristensen New CFO
Filtrona announced the appointment of Tom Sand-Kristensen as Chief Financial Officer, where he will oversee the company’s global finance, legal, corporate governance, IT, and enterprise resource planning functions, with Filtrona streamlining internal responsibilities to strengthen accountability, financial discipline, and digital integration. He brings extensive international leadership experience from senior roles at Faerch Group, ROCKWOOL, and Carlsberg, spanning packaging, construction, healthcare, and food and beverage sectors. Filtrona says the appointment supports its long-term growth strategy and ongoing transformation of its specialty filters business, as Sand-Kristensen succeeds Tue Saabye.
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RJR Closes Arguments in $14M Smoker Lawsuit
A Florida jury heard closing arguments on Monday (January 27) in a lawsuit seeking $14 million in damages from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. for the pain and suffering of a former smoker who later required a lung transplant. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that the company should be held liable for 14 years of debilitating health consequences caused by smoking-related disease, including severe respiratory failure that ultimately led to the transplant.
The case is part of Florida’s long-running Engle progeny litigation, which allows individual smokers or their families to pursue damages against tobacco companies. R.J. Reynolds disputed the damages claim, arguing that the smoker was aware of the risks associated with cigarettes and continued smoking despite widespread public health warnings. The jury is expected to decide whether the company is legally responsible and, if so, the appropriate level of compensation.
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UK Retailers Bearing Brunt of Disposable Vape Ban
UK convenience vape sales fell sharply following last year’s disposable vape ban, with unit sales down 20.8% and value sales down 12.7% nearly eight months after implementation, according to data from Clarity by Talysis. Tracking EPoS data from thousands of independent and symbol-group stores, Talysis said the ban has delivered a “triple whammy” of reduced footfall, lower turnover, and higher operational complexity, as reusable and pod-based formats have failed to replace disposable sales fully.
While overall vape consumption has not declined, shifts to multi-pod and “big puff” reusable products—offering significantly more liquid per purchase—have reduced store visits and transaction frequency, leaving retailers with lower income and more complex stock management amid a surge of new product SKUs. The agency added that tobacco and smoking alternatives’ share of the convenience market has fallen to 30.3%, with vaping no longer offsetting declines in traditional tobacco sales.
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Indonesia’s First Prosecution for Discarded Cigarette Butt
An Indonesian man was sentenced to six hours of community service and fined RM300 ($0.02) by the Sessions Court in Alor Star yesterday (January 26), after pleading guilty to discarding a cigarette butt in a public area, marking the first prosecution in Kedah under amended littering provisions of Malaysia’s Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007. The defendant, 39-year-old construction worker, admitted to the offence committed near Alor Star Tower shortly after midnight on January 1, where he was found disposing of the cigarette butt outside a designated bin. The amended law introduces mandatory community service for littering offences, allowing fines of up to RM2,000 ($0.12) and up to 12 hours of community service.
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Taiwan Island Rewarding Tourists for Cleaning Up Butts
Authorities on Taiwan’s Xiaoliuqiu island have launched a cigarette-butt cleanup incentive program aimed at promoting responsible tourism and reducing marine pollution, according to reports by CNA and other local media. The Dapeng Bay National Scenic Area Administration, working with Haiyong Studio, is encouraging visitors to collect discarded cigarette butts—often overlooked litter that can be washed into the ocean—by offering postcards and small rewards in exchange.
Officials said the initiative builds on earlier beach cleanups and targets cigarette filters specifically because their plastic fibers do not biodegrade and pose long-term environmental risks. Cleanup tools are available at three locations on the island, and the program also includes stamp-based rewards for completing additional eco-friendly activities, with organizers saying the effort is designed to engage families and raise awareness among smokers about the impact of improper disposal.