Category: Featured

  • Habanos Presents 2024 Upmann Magnum Finite LE

    Habanos Presents 2024 Upmann Magnum Finite LE

    The launch of the H. Upmann Magnum Finite Limited Edition 2024 vitola took place in one of the most iconic locations in the Spanish capital—the arches and inner gates of the Las Ventas bullring, a space filled with charm, history and culture.

    Habanos S.A., the distribution arm of Cuban cigars, together with its partner and exclusive distributor for the Spanish market, Tabacalera S.L.U., presented the new vitola at the event organized by the Club Pasion Habanos under the name El ruedo de H. Upmann.

    “The H. Upmann Magnum Finite Limited Edition 2024 (53 ring gauge x 130 mm length) stands out not only for its elegance but also for its exclusivity. It is a vitola designed for aficionados seeking a unique and sophisticated experience, combining the heritage and brand’s tradition, its refined Habanos, with a light to medium strength, and the characteristic aging of at least two years for limited editions,” a Habanos release states. “H. Upmann Magnum Finite is the result of a meticulous crafting process, using wrapper, filler and binder leaves from the Vuelta Abajo plantations, where the world’s best tobacco is produced, in Pinar del Rio region, Cuba.”

    Magnum Finite comes in an exclusive box of 25 units. The flavor is creamy, woody, toasted and earthy with vegetal and mineral hints, ripe fruit, sweetness and light spices, leaving a finish of hay, smoked cedar, damp earth, moss, iodine hints, dried plum, vanilla, nutmeg and molasses.

    Its aroma is tobacco, woody, toasted, herbal, ripe fruit, spicy and sweet, smoked cedar, leather, raisin, coffee, cocoa, clove, vanilla and molasses.

  • Catania to Host Conference on Harm Reduction

    Catania to Host Conference on Harm Reduction

    Image: CoEHAR

    The Center of Excellence for the acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) will host its national conference on Oct. 30 at the University of Catania, Italy.

    The 2024 edition will host 25 speakers from prestigious research centers and international universities, including the Moffitt Cancer Center, Dartmouth College, George Washington University and the Milken Institute School of Public Health.

    “Scientific research on harm reduction strategies has reached a critical turning point, where information about new frontiers represented by modified-risk devices can no longer be ignored,” said CoEHAR founder Riccardo Polosa in a statement.

    “This year’s gathering with our colleagues from the harm reduction scientific community will allow us to capture the current state of research, providing even more important answers on the health benefits that modified-risk devices can bring to dental health, vision and diabetes management. There will also be a focus on new technologies and the application of artificial intelligence systems in smoking cessation therapies.”

    The full program can be downloaded here.

  • Macedonian Growers Demand Higher Prices

    Macedonian Growers Demand Higher Prices

    Photo: Taco Tuinstra

    Tobacco growers in North Macedonia are meeting Minister of Agriculture Cvetan Tripunoski today to discuss leaf prices, reports Sloboden Pecat. A meeting with buyers is scheduled for Nov. 4.

    “We are not satisfied with the current price, which is at last year’s level, i.e., MKD375 [$6.58] for the first, MKD300 for the second and MKD260 for the third-class purchased tobacco,” said Kiro Risteski, president of the Union of Tobacco Growers Associations of Macedonia.

    “On Monday, we have a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Cvetan Tripunoski. We think that we will find good cooperation, and on Nov. 4, we will have a meeting with the buyers. Our goal is to achieve a higher price for tobacco, to maintain production, to keep young people working in tobacco, because according to statistics, the average age of tobacco producers is over 50 years old,” said Risteski.

    Tobacco growers in North Macedonia expect to bring about 17 million kg of good-quality tobacco to market this season. Buyers, however, had signed contracts with farmers for 26 million kg.

    The market opens following a mixed growing season. Too much moisture at the start of the production process delayed planting. Subsequent drought boosted quality but reduced yield. Rains toward the end of the production season again boosted volume. Growers planted more than 13,000 hectares this year.

    This year, 10 licensed companies will be buying tobacco.

  • Taiwan Worried About ‘Zombie Vapes’

    Taiwan Worried About ‘Zombie Vapes’

    Image: Pavelkant

    Taiwan authorities are concerned about the growing popularity of “zombie vapes,” e-cigarettes containing etomidate, reports The Taipei Times.

    According to health experts, etomidate is a type of central nervous system depressant that can induce anesthesia. Abusing etomidate could lead to irritability, disorganized behavior, tremors, twitching or even death, explained Lin Yi-ching, a pediatrician at Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital.

    From July to October, authorities seized 14,128 zombie vape cartridges, along with e-liquid and powders that could be made into more than 1.83 million cartridges worth about NTD4.6 billion ($143.33 million).

    While etomidate is listed as a Category 3 narcotic, a review committee will consider whether to upgrade the drug to Category 2, Ministry of Justice Department of Prosecutorial Affairs Director-General Kuo Yung-fa said.

    Overall e-cigarette use among junior high school students in Taiwan increased from 1.9 percent in 2017 to 3.9 percent in 2021, a HPA survey reported by Taiwan News showed. Among senior high school students, the rate rose from 3.4 percent to 8.8 percent during the same period.

    Taiwan outlawed vapes in 2023, with violators risking fines of up to NTD10,000.

  • TIMB Joins GlobalG.A.P.

    TIMB Joins GlobalG.A.P.

    Photo: Taco Tuinstra

    Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has joined GLOBALG.A.P. to help tobacco farmers diversify their operations, reports The Sunday Mail. As part of the government’s Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan, the agency aims to ensure that 30 percent of tobacco farmers’ income comes from alternative crops by 2025.

    GLOBALG.A.P. is an international membership network designed to promote sustainable and safe agricultural practices across the food supply chain.

    Members include producers, retailers, food service companies and other stakeholders who align with the organization’s vision of responsible farming. The community offers opportunities for members to collaborate on setting and refining standards for food safety, sustainability and animal welfare.

    Through the GLOBALG.A.P. Academy, the TIMB has trained certified trainers to build farmers’ capacity in meeting international market standards.

    Additionally, the TIMB now offers GLOBALG.A.P consultancy services to exporting farmers. The agency is also working to develop markets for alternative crops such as sweet potatoes and butternut.

  • Nepali Lawmaker Uncovers Privatization ‘Plot’

    Nepali Lawmaker Uncovers Privatization ‘Plot’

    Scandalously scheming (Photo: Taco Tuinstra)

    A Nepali lawmaker has uncovered “a plot” to privatize the Janakpur Cigarette Factory, reports The Rising Nepal.

    Bimalendra Nidhi, a senior leader of the Nepali Congress party, said that while government officials had informed him that they were in the process of renewing the company’s license, he had heard rumors that the factory was in fact being prepared for privatization.

    Nidhi reminded reporters that the Janakpur Cigarette Factory is the property of Madhes Province and that his party would protest any plans for privatization because it would contravene the principle of federalism.

  • Pakistan Announces New Crackdown on Illicit Trade

    Pakistan Announces New Crackdown on Illicit Trade

    Photo courtesy of Syed Rashid Ali

    Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will significantly step up its crackdown on illicit cigarette sales, starting in January, reports the Associated Press of Pakistan. The government agency plans to hire additional enforcement personnel to support its efforts.

    According to the FBR’s projections, tackling illicit sales could generate between PKR200 billion and PKR250 billion in additional revenue annually, from PKR300 billion to more than PKR500 billion.

    The Action to Counter Illicit Trade (ACT) Alliance welcomed the FBR’s announcement, adding that collaboration across government agencies, provincial authorities and law enforcement was essential in achieving Pakistan’s economic goals.

    “We call on all stakeholders to support FBR’s efforts, reinforcing measures that strengthen tax compliance and encourage economic integrity,” ACT Alliance National Convenor Mubahsir Akram said.

    Seventy percent of cigarettes sold in Pakistan currently evade taxation.

  • PCA and Cigar Academy Partner in Education

    PCA and Cigar Academy Partner in Education

    Photo: PCA/CA

    The Premium Cigar Association (PCA) and The Cigar Academy announced a strategic partnership to offer comprehensive educational programs and certifications for cigar industry professionals and enthusiasts. This collaboration gives PCA members a new way to learn about the cigar industry and its processes through online modules and in-person workshops.

    The Cigar Academy’s educational program has been designed and endorsed by cigar makers and professionals from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras and Mexico.

    “We firmly believe in the power of education to protect and grow the cigar industry. This partnership with The Cigar Academy will bring immense value to our retail members and our newly formed alliance,” said PCA CEO Joshua Habursky in a statement. “This partnership is part of a slate of new programs and partnerships where the association works with existing stakeholders rather than reinventing the wheel.”

    Founded by Ricardo Carioni and Thomas Gryson, The Cigar Academy is committed to delivering accessible and rigorous cigar education. “For all cigar lovers seeking authentic knowledge about the cultural heritage and artisanal traditions of the cigar world, The Cigar Academy is the ultimate source,” said Carioni. “Shared and accessible knowledge is power. Through this partnership, we aim to provide education for everyone—from cigar and nontobacco businesses to policymakers and aficionados—while ensuring that the true cigar culture is preserved and protected from misguided regulations.”

    “Our mission is to offer everyone direct access to knowledge and expertise through courses crafted together with those who run factories and farms of renowned cigar companies, done with precision and care,” said Gryson. “We are honored to have the endorsement of legendary cigar makers, and our goal is to lead individuals toward formal certification through their knowledge and guidance.”

  • Contractors Required to Supply Tree Seedlings

    Contractors Required to Supply Tree Seedlings

    Photo: Joao Bispo

    Starting this season, tobacco contractors operating in Zimbabwe will be required to supply their growers with tree seedlings to establish woodlots, reports The Herald. The goal is to provide tobacco farmers with a sustainable source of curing fuel.

    The shift from commercial tobacco farming to small-scale production in Zimbabwe has put considerable pressure on the country’s forest cover, given that smallholders tend to use wood rather than coal in their operations.

    As Zimbabwe aims to increase tobacco cultivation under the government’s Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan, it is at pains to minimize the environmental impact of growth.

    The requirement to provide seedlings is part of a number of Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) initiatives to promote sustainability.

    TIMB acting CEO Emmanuel Matsvaire said his organization was promoting best agricultural practices, environmental management and social and human rights to improve socioeconomic conditions for tobacco growers and their communities.

  • N. Ireland: Eight Out of 10 Vapers Never Age-Verified

    N. Ireland: Eight Out of 10 Vapers Never Age-Verified

    Image: CupOfSpring

    Around 80 percent of vapers say they have never been asked for age verification in Northern Ireland, reports The Irish News, citing new research. The share is the highest in the U.K., where on average 45 percent of surveyed vapers said they had never been asked to prove their age.

    Belfast, Norwich and Plymouth are the top cities that fail to ask vapers for ID during purchase while Newcastle, Southampton and Birmingham ask the most. The survey of 1,000 e-cigarette users also showed that females are asked for age verification more frequently than males.

    Supermarkets performed the worst, with 48 percent of respondents in the U.K. stating that they have never been asked to prove their age when purchasing a vape in such venues.

    The U.K. Tobacco and Vapes Bill aims to crack down on underage sales. Under the legislation, retailers risk fines of up to £2,500 if found to have sold vapes to minors.

    “As the Tobacco and Vapes Bill rolls out, it is vital that retailers take more responsibility to ensure vaping products do not end up in the hands of children,” said David Phillips from Vape Superstore, which commissioned the survey.

    “Our survey shows that, on the whole, e-cigarette users support stricter age verification, which suggests everyone believes that safeguarding children during this process is a top priority.

    “E-cigarettes are meant to help aid adult smokers quit, not encourage children to start nicotine-replacement therapy.”