Kutsaga, formerly the Tobacco Research Board, approved new agrochemicals for tobacco crops to help support farmers in producing high-quality crops for global markets, according to the Zimbabwe Independent. The new agrochemicals will boost tobacco quality, according to Kutsaga.
“As over 90 percent of the Zimbabwean tobacco crop is exported, the tobacco must meet stringent international agrochemical regulations for international acceptance and maintenance of markets, especially in an increasingly competitive global market,” Kutsaga said.
“Furthermore, compliance with global health standards, correct and safe use of crop protection agents as well as good agronomic practices in tobacco production is key to sustainable agriculture.”
A number of agrochemicals have also been recalled due to safety concerns.
Cigarette exports jumped to $47 million in the first half of this year, up 70 percent from the corresponding period in 2022, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats).
The country’s tobacco product export earnings rose 19 percent from $378 million over the period January to June 2022 to $450 million over the same period this year.
The country exports partly or wholly stemmed/stripped or not stemmed/stripped tobacco, tobacco refuse, cigars, cheroots and cigarillos tobacco, cigarettes and manufactured tobacco.
The portion of tobacco product exports accounted for by partly or wholly stemmed/stripped tobacco decreased from 91 percent in 2022 to 88 percent this year.
This was simultaneously accompanied by a three percent increase in the portion of export of cigarettes containing tobacco from seven percent last year to 10 this year.
Tobacco Farmers Union Trust President Victor Mariranyika welcomed the increase in value- added tobacco products export.
“We encourage exporters to increase value addition of our raw tobacco from the low figure of 2 percent until as a country we reach 30 percent,” he was quoted as saying. “Though this increase may not have an immediate impact on the farmer, it is a positive step in the right direction.”
Zimbabwe Tobacco Growers Association (ZTGA) Chairman George Seremwe said if the country maintains this trajectory, then the benefits will eventually improve farmers’ livelihoods and the economy at large.
The TVCTP aims to achieve a $5 billion tobacco industry by 2025.
Malawi’s Tobacco Commission (TC) is satisfied with the prices that buyers offered in the 2023 tobacco marketing season, reports Malawi24. The regulator hopes the prices will motivate farmers to grow more tobacco next season
“This year’s trade demand was at 170 million kilograms and we have supplied 120 million, which means there is a great market opportunity at our disposal,” TC Board Chair Godfrey Chapola was quoted as saying. “One of our strategic goals for the next five years is to raise our annual production to 200 million kilograms.”
The TC will also be pushing to increase scale and irrigation in tobacco farming over the next five years.
Chapola said proposed tobacco legislation currently being considered in Parliament would create a more conducive environment for all players and ensure that tobacco remains a strategic crop for Malawi.
During the 2023 tobacco marketing season, Malawi earned $282.62 million after selling more than 120 million kg of tobacco at an average price of $2.35.
Consumer advocates are calling for the next New Zealand government to support greater consumer advocacy participation in the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in Panama.
“The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has contributed to some progress in the implementation of tobacco control measures, but they need to provide honest, risk-proportionate communication and regulatory recommendations for Tobacco Harm Reduction [THR] products,” says Nancy Loucas, executive coordinator of the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA).
“While not perfect, these THR products can be a less harmful alternative to smoking and can help smokers quit. It is critical that smokers have access to accurate information about these products and that regulations are proportionate to their risks,” says Loucas.
The WHO FCTC should stop denying smokers, vapers and other tobacco users of their right to have a meaningful participation and inclusion in the formulation of policies that hugely impact them.
“The WHO FCTC should stop denying smokers, vapers and other tobacco users of their right to have a meaningful participation and inclusion in the formulation of policies that hugely impact them.”
CAPHRA is calling on the New Zealand government and next minister of health to ask all member states who will be attending COP10 to reject the prohibitionist proposals contained in COP10 provisional agenda items 6.1 to 6.4 that the organization insists will just further contribute to millions more of unnecessary deaths from smoking.
“New Zealand should prioritize science-based inclusive policy making, including at the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. It is essential that policy making is based on the best available evidence and that all stakeholders—including consumer advocates are included in the decision-making process,” said Loucas.
The share of leading tobacco producers in the Russian market dropped by 2.5 percentage points in the first half of 2023, according to research from the National Research Center of Competencies Against Illegal Turnover of Industrial Products reported by Tass.
“According to results of the survey, the market share of products of the top 4 (country’s largest) manufacturers dropped by 2.5 percentage points,” the center said. “It stood at 83.3 percent.”
Product share not related to the top 4 companies in the region was 16.7 percent compared to 14.2 percent in the previous year’s research. Counterfeit product share totaled 3.2 percent.
“The decline in the share of illegal turnover of such products by 8 percent was also registered,” according to the center. “The overall share of the illegal turnover of tobacco products across the country stands at 13.3 percent in terms of the total number of smokers in the country.”
Following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine in 2022, tobacco multinationals vowed to withdraw from Russia or substantially scale back their operations, although some have found it difficult to do so as Moscow tightened restrictions on such transactions.
Truth Initiative has named Kathy Crosby as its new CEO and president effective Oct. 2, 2023. Crosby is succeeding Robin Koval, who has served as CEO and president since 2013 and is retiring after a decade. “Kathy’s impressive background, extensive experience and passion for public health make her an exceptional choice to lead our organization,” said Truth Initiative board chair Mike Moore in a statement.
Crosby joins Truth Initiative from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), where she served as director of the Office of Health Communication and Education for the past 12 years. In this role, she spearheaded impactful public education, research and evaluation, and regulatory communication programs that have been instrumental in advancing the successful implementation of the Tobacco Control Act. With a 25-year career in behavior change marketing and advertising, Crosby brings a wealth of experience from both private and nonprofit sectors where she held various senior leadership roles; prior to her tenure at the FDA, she served as senior vice president and group campaign director of the Washington office of the Ad Council and as vice president of strategic planning at Arnold Worldwide, where she helped launch Truth Initiative’s iconic truth campaign.
Crosby’s career at the FDA includes roles within the executive leadership team responsible for shaping national policies aimed at reducing tobacco-related disease and death. Her contributions encompass diverse areas, such as policy development, cutting-edge social science research, regulatory actions, communications and strategic outreach. Notable accomplishments under her guidance include her involvement in the formulation of health warnings for cigarette packages and advertisements, groundbreaking research on health equity, regulations for emerging tobacco products and the implementation of stringent marketing restrictions on newly authorized tobacco products.
As the first director of health communication and education at the FDA’s CTP, Crosby oversaw vital initiatives that contributed significantly to reducing tobacco use. These include the creation of a comprehensive communication office, development of tailored advertising campaigns targeting at-risk populations, establishment of the Tobacco Education Resource Library, execution of a robust conference exhibit program and the launch of the FDA’s Vaping Prevention and Education Resource Center.
“I’ve dedicated the last 25 years to using public education communications as a means of creating behavior changes that will help people live healthier lives—a passion that began when I worked on the first truth campaign,” said Crosby. “Leading Truth Initiative feels like I’m coming home, and I can’t think of a better time or place to continue advocating for positive change. The opportunity has never been greater to help people leave tobacco behind, and I eagerly look forward to the work ahead.”
Koval said, “Kathy is an exceptional leader with a proven track record in public health communication, social science research and tobacco prevention. With her highly relevant experience and accomplishments, Kathy is well poised to lead Truth Initiative into the future, build on the organization’s lifesaving legacy and continue to make a significant impact on the health and well-being of our nation’s youth.”
ITC has released its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.
Excluding the company’s agriculture business, gross revenue was up 10.6 percent year-over-year; profit before tax was up 18.2 percent year-over-year.
The company saw continued strong performance by the cigarettes segment. Net segment revenue was up 10.9 percent year-over-year. Deterrent actions by enforcement agencies and relative stability in taxes helped sustain volume clawback from illicit trade.
Agribusiness segment revenues were up 31 percent year-over-year, excluding wheat exports. Strong customer relationships and agile execution in leaf tobacco and value-added agri-products drove growth and margins.
Amid a challenging operating environment and high base effect in some of its operating segments, the company sustained its strong growth momentum during the quarter driven by focus on customer centricity, accelerated digital adoption, execution excellence and agility.
Gross revenue stood at INR168.43 billion, representing a de-growth of 7.3 percent year-over-year while profit before tax, at INR65 billion, grew by 18.2 percent year-over-year. Profit after tax grew by 17.6 percent year-over-year to INR49.03 billion.
In an article published in Addiction magazine, Brian King, director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), explores the chances and considerations for informing adults who smoke cigarettes about the relative dangers of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. He collaborated with Benjamin Toll, director of the Medical University of South Carolina Tobacco Treatment Program and co-director of the Lung Cancer Screening Program.
The commentary highlights the findings of a recent survey about misperceptions of tobacco product harms, including cigarettes and e-cigarettes. The survey found that only about 20 percent of adults who smoke cigarettes believed e-cigarettes contain fewer harmful chemicals than cigarettes. While there are no safe tobacco products, the available scientific evidence indicates that tobacco products exist on a continuum of risk, with cigarettes being the most harmful.
The commentary notes that opportunities exist to educate adults who smoke about the relative risks of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. However, these efforts should be accompanied by efforts to prevent youth tobacco product use; encourage first-line use of FDA-approved cessation therapies; and for adults who both smoke and use e-cigarettes, reinforce the importance of completely transitioning to e-cigarettes.
The commentary further emphasizes that any education efforts on the relative risks of tobacco products must be evidence-based. In particular, it is important to assess the benefits among the intended population (i.e., adults who smoke) and risks among unintended populations (e.g., youth). Currently, FDA is in the early stages of a research effort to assess messaging about the continuum of risk of tobacco products among adults who smoke.
Last week, the FDA announced a virtual listening session opportunity to verbally provide open public comment on the development of the new strategic plan, including proposed strategic goals. After introductions, the center will begin the listening session with an overview of the process used to develop the CTP’s strategic plan, including proposed goal areas.
Registration is open for the virtual listening session on the development of the CTP’s five-year strategic plan, which will take place on Aug. 22 beginning at 10 a.m. EDT.
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Secretariat has warned participants in the 10th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the FCTC and the third Meeting of the Parties (MOP3) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products against tobacco industry offers of travel and technical support.
The convention Secretariat insists there is a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry’s interests and public health policy interests. In a statement on its website, the convention Secretariat reiterated its invitation to parties to observe Article 5.3 of the FCTC and urged them to be mindful of the recommendations 4.9 and 8.3 of the guidelines for implementation of FCTC Article 5.3.
COP10 will take place Nov. 20–25 in Panama City. MOP3 will take place Nov. 27–30.
Ispire Technology has appointed Michael Wang as its co-chief executive officer. Wang previously served as chief financial officer. Concurrently, Daniel J. Machock was appointed as the new chief financial officer.
Wang has assumed the role of co-chief executive officer alongside Tuanfang Liu. This strengthened leadership structure is designed to refine Ispire’s strategic direction and spearhead the company’s future growth. Ispire’s decision to elevate Wang stems from his record in strategic and financial leadership.
“Having been deeply involved with Ispire’s progress, I look forward to partnering with Tuanfang to further the company’s growth and expansion,” said Wang in a statement. “Together, we share a mutual vision of global development and pioneering innovation within the company.”
With extensive 25-year experience in financial strategy, including at Appetize Technologies and Chrome River Technologies, Ispire expects Machock to bolster its financial footing.
“I am honored to take on the role of CFO at Ispire,” said Machock. “Eager to harness my financial expertise, I deeply value the company’s unwavering dedication to innovation in the cannabis vaping arena and am committed to contributing to its continued success.”
