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Category: News This Week

  • VB Distribution Appoints New CEO

    VB Distribution Appoints New CEO

    London-based VB Distribution (Vapes-Bars Ltd) appointed Natalia Gosciniak as Chief Executive Officer as part of an ongoing governance and corporate development program. Gosciniak, who has been involved in shaping the company’s strategic direction and governance framework, will oversee operations, organizational development, and commercial growth. She said the company is investing significantly in infrastructure and operations to support a more sustainable phase of expansion.

    As part of the transition, founder Adam Matliwala will become chairman, focusing on strategic oversight and long-term business development. VB Distribution supplies supermarket, wholesale, convenience, and independent retail partners, reporting more than 50,000 retail shelf placements across the UK and an annual turnover approaching £500 million. The company said the leadership change supports broader governance enhancements tied to its long-term corporate and public market ambitions.

  • Drew Estate Formalizes Innovation Department, Hires New Marketing VP

    Drew Estate Formalizes Innovation Department, Hires New Marketing VP

    Drew Estate’s Jonathan Drew Sann announced he will be filling the company’s newly created position of Chief Innovation Officer, keeping his duties as president of the company but stepping away from his role heading the marketing department. He simultaneously announced the hiring of Andrew Duncan as senior vice president of marketing.

    Sann said the company will now formally recognize an innovation department, which will focus on expanding the company’s business portfolio “around its core strengths in brand development, disruption, and consumer engagement.” The company cited recent initiatives, including the Drew Dominicana factory in the Dominican Republic and the J.Sann & Son retail division, as examples of projects emerging from this effort. CEO Glenn Wolfson said the move is intended to position Sann to focus on long-term strategic and cultural development for the company.

    Duncan joins the company from The Sazerac Company, where he served as global head of brand marketing for the company’s bourbon and American whiskey portfolio, and previously held senior marketing roles at Procter & Gamble. At Drew Estate, Duncan will oversee brand management, consumer engagement, digital marketing, and global creative, and will work with Sann to support the commercialization of innovation initiatives.

  • CBP Seizes $175M in Illicit Vapes from Maritime Cargo

    CBP Seizes $175M in Illicit Vapes from Maritime Cargo

    The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, working with the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, announced that it has seized more than 18 million vape units valued at over $175 million over the last few weeks under a targeted initiative known as Operation Red Mist. The ongoing operation focuses primarily on maritime cargo shipments originating from the People’s Republic of China and is aimed at disrupting the illicit importation, transport, and distribution of unauthorized vape products and related hazardous components.

    According to CBP, inspection teams identified shipments that were misclassified or improperly labeled to evade detection, duties, and regulatory scrutiny, and that failed to meet U.S. import requirements for tobacco products, electronics, and hazardous materials transport. Officials said all e-cigarette products seized lacked the required FDA premarket authorization, making them illegal for sale in the United States. CBP said the operation reflects a broader, government-wide effort to keep noncompliant and potentially dangerous vaping products out of U.S. commerce and away from youth, while disrupting the revenue streams that often support broader criminal activity.

    Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

  • Mancuso Takes Reins of Altria After Annual Meeting

    Mancuso Takes Reins of Altria After Annual Meeting

    Altria Group, Inc. held its 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders today (May 14), where outgoing CEO Billy Gifford addressed shareholder questions and highlighted company priorities. Following the meeting, Sal Mancuso formally succeeded Gifford as chief executive officer, marking a planned leadership transition announced at the end of 2025 after Gifford’s more than 30-year career with the Altria family of companies. Gifford said Mancuso’s decades of leadership experience, including service as chief financial officer, position him well to lead the company forward. A copy of the presentation and a replay of the webcast are available on Altria’s website.

    Shareholders elected all 10 board nominees to one-year terms, ratified the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Altria’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2026, and approved executive compensation on an advisory basis. Following the meeting, Altria’s board declared a regular quarterly dividend of $1.06 per share, payable July 10, to shareholders of record as of June 15, with the same date serving as the ex-dividend date. Final voting results will be disclosed in a forthcoming Form 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

  • Hong Kong Customs Busts $1.5M Illicit Cigarette Ring

    Hong Kong Customs Busts $1.5M Illicit Cigarette Ring

    The Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department arrested three people following a months-long investigation into an illicit cigarette distribution and money laundering syndicate that led to the seizure of about 2.2 million untaxed cigarettes and HK$11.3 million ($1.5 million) in suspected criminal proceeds. The case stems from a January raid on a remote warehouse in Ngau Tam Mei, where investigators discovered the cigarettes—valued at HK$9.9 million ($1.3 million)—along with detailed records documenting brands, storage dates, and volumes.

    A follow-up financial probe found that one of the suspects used his own bank accounts, as well as those of his girlfriend, to process payments from customers buying illicit cigarettes, while a third suspect is believed to have supplied the products. Investigators identified thousands of transactions between 2021 and 2025 involving more than 1,000 third parties, with rapid fund movements and low balances characteristic of money laundering activity. The suspects have been released on bail pending further investigation. Under Hong Kong law, trafficking illicit cigarettes carries penalties of up to HK$2 million ($260,000) in fines and seven years’ imprisonment, while money laundering convictions can bring fines of up to HK$5 million ($650,000) and 14 years in prison.

  • FDA Makes ENDS PMTA Roundtable Materials Available

    FDA Makes ENDS PMTA Roundtable Materials Available

    Today (May 14), FDA released materials from its Feb. 10 Roundtable on Premarket Tobacco Application Submissions for Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Products, providing the public and industry with a detailed look at discussions between agency officials and small manufacturers. Led by Dr. Matthew Farrelly and moderated by Dr. Todd Cecil, the sessions focused heavily on product characterization, manufacturing controls, pharmacological and toxicological data, and how applicants can demonstrate adult benefit through longitudinal or randomized studies. FDA said the purpose of the roundtable was to solicit feedback on how to improve the efficiency and clarity of PMTA reviews while remaining bound by statutory requirements under the Tobacco Control Act.

    Industry participants used the forum to reiterate concerns about the lack of objective scientific benchmarks guiding ENDS applications, arguing that uncertainty around testing parameters—particularly for open-system products—and the inability to update long-pending PMTAs create significant barriers for small businesses. The Vapor Technology Association, through Executive Director Tony Abboud, said members appreciated the opportunity for dialogue but left the meeting seeking clearer standards and more predictable regulatory expectations.

    Find the FDA’s resources below:

    FDA ENDS Roundtable Hub

    FDA ENDS Roundtable Video

    FDA ENDS Roundtable Transcript

  • Dutch Authorities Seizing Large Quantities of Illicit Products

    Dutch Authorities Seizing Large Quantities of Illicit Products

    Dutch authorities seized large volumes of illicit nicotine products in a series of enforcement actions over the last two weeks, including nearly 220,000 illegal vapes, more than 50,000 boxes of banned nicotine pouches, and 23 million illicit cigarettes. The total value of the items would roughly be in the €14–20 million range.

    The seizures, carried out by the NVWA and FIOD, targeted storage sites and shipping containers across Zuid-Holland and Noord-Brabant, with officials noting the products—many of them flavored—violated national regulations. Eight suspects have been arrested in connection with the cigarette seizures, with authorities estimating potential tax losses of nearly €9 million.

  • PCA Survey Finds Stable Sales, Rising Regulatory, Cost Concerns

    PCA Survey Finds Stable Sales, Rising Regulatory, Cost Concerns

    The Premium Cigar Association’s latest annual survey shows a largely stable market heading into 2026, with a majority of both retailers and manufacturers reporting flat or improved sales, particularly during the 2025 holiday season. However, the data highlights growing operational and regulatory pressures, with respondents citing taxes, tariffs, and compliance complexity as key concerns. Retailers pointed to increasing challenges around insurance availability, competition with online channels, and the need for more practical tools to navigate state-level regulations, while manufacturers flagged rising climate-related risks to tobacco production and ongoing uncertainty tied to market participation in states like California.

    The survey also underscores gaps in industry advocacy engagement, with both groups noting limited resources and unclear pathways for participation, alongside demand for better education on policy, marketing, and operations. Overall, while business performance remains relatively resilient, the findings suggest mounting concern about long-term sustainability as regulatory, cost, and environmental pressures continue to intensify across the premium cigar sector.

  • Survey: New Zealanders Think Nicotine is the Problem

    Survey: New Zealanders Think Nicotine is the Problem

    A survey of more than 1,200 adults conducted on behalf of Health Coalition Aotearoa finds strong public support in New Zealand for tighter nicotine regulation, including the reintroduction of very-low-nicotine cigarettes, while also highlighting widespread concern about industry influence on policy. The research shows that over half of respondents favor bringing back low-nicotine cigarettes and roughly two-thirds believe the tobacco industry influences government decisions, while support for newer products such as nicotine pouches remains limited, with more respondents opposing than supporting their retail sale.

  • MALAYSIA VAPE INDUSTRY WARNS OF $150 MILLION ANNUAL TAX REVENUE LOSS IF 15ML PRODUCTS ARE HASTILY BANNED

    MALAYSIA VAPE INDUSTRY WARNS OF $150 MILLION ANNUAL TAX REVENUE LOSS IF 15ML PRODUCTS ARE HASTILY BANNED

    Malaysia’s local vape industry has warned that any abrupt move to ban 15ml vape products under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) could cost the country more than RM600 million ($150 million) in annual tax revenue, while putting thousands of Malaysian jobs at risk.

    Local vape companies have collectively invested tens of millions of ringgit since Act 852 was introduced, including product registration with the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), SIRIM certification, excise duty payments, establishment of local manufacturing facilities, laboratory testing, and compliance with safety and labelling standards.

    Mohamad Nizam Talib, President of the Malaysian E-Vaporizers and Tobacco Alternatives Association (MEVTA), stressed that the industry had taken significant steps to comply with every regulatory requirement since Act 852 came into force.

    “We have followed the law and made substantial investments to ensure our products meet government standards. Now, out of nowhere, there are proposals to eliminate the 15ml product category, without any reasonable transition period. This does not just affect the industry. It affects national revenue and the livelihoods of Malaysians,” he said.

    Based on current estimates, there are approximately 1.5 million vape users in Malaysia, with around 70% using liquid-based vape systems. Average consumption is estimated at roughly eight bottles per month.

    At a tax rate of RM6 per 15ml bottle, the government is estimated to collect approximately RM50 million ($12.5 million) in tax revenue each month or more than RM600 million annually from this product category alone.

    A hasty ban on 15ml products would not only risk crippling the legitimate local industry, but could also fuel a surge in smuggling, accelerate black market growth, undermine regulatory control, and open the door to untaxed and unregulated products flooding the market.

    “Consumer demand does not simply disappear when legal products are taken off the shelf. Users will turn to the black market for unregulated and untaxed alternatives that fall entirely outside the government’s oversight,” Nizam added.

    The industry also raised concerns about the patchy enforcement of Act 852, noting that online sales remain rampant, unregistered products are still readily available, and the misuse of vape products containing prohibited substances, including synthetic drugs, is on the rise.

    The real driver of vape misuse, the industry argued, is the illegal market and underground products that sit completely outside any regulatory framework, not the legitimate, registered products currently being targeted.

    At the same time, the industry highlighted what it described as a glaring policy inconsistency: open system devices remain permitted, taxes continue to be collected, and SIRIM certifications are still being approved, yet the legally manufactured vape liquids designed for use with these very devices are now being proposed for elimination.

    “If the devices are still legal, why are legitimate vape liquids being singled out for a ban? This sends deeply mixed signals to investors and the industry,particularly given the significant investments that have been made to meet all government requirements,” Nizam said.

    Malaysia’s local vape industry is estimated to employ more than 8,000 workers in manufacturing and over 15,000 in retail, with thousands more supporting jobs throughout the broader supply chain.

    A significant portion of industry players are young entrepreneurs and Bumiputera business owners who have built their businesses through legal channels over the past few years.

    Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and rising retrenchment cases across multiple sectors, any drastic action against the vape industry would further strain employment opportunities for Malaysians.

    The industry also claimed that no meaningful consultation had been conducted with the relevant economic ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), and the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), before the proposal to eliminate 15ml products was tabled.

    In light of this, the industry is calling on the Prime Minister to intervene directly to ensure that any policy changes properly account for the economic implications, national revenue, investment stability, and the risk of a growing black market that will become increasingly difficult to rein in.