Zimbabwe’s Cabinet approved the principles for amending the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Act, clearing the way for the first major overhaul of the legislation since 1997. The proposed reforms aim to modernize the legal framework by addressing developments in contract farming, tobacco research, corporate governance, and emerging tobacco products, while closing regulatory gaps related to contract breaches and side-marketing. Agriculture Minister Dr. Anxious Masuka said the amendments will also strengthen the regulatory role of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board, align the law with public governance and financial management legislation, and expand the mandate of the Tobacco Research Board to include research on both manufactured and unmanufactured tobacco products, alongside greater support for farmers through research, extension services, and capacity-building.
Category: Global Regulation
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Proposed UK Vape Rule Would Add £5 Deposit
A UK council backed a proposal to introduce a refundable deposit on vape devices sold in the city, aiming to improve disposal rates and reduce fires caused by discarded lithium-ion batteries. Under the plan by the Norwich City Council, consumers would pay an additional £5 when purchasing a vape and receive the money back upon returning the device. Council members said the scheme would help reduce cleanup costs, recycling contamination, and fire risks, while Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said it supports measures that encourage the safe disposal of vapes and other lithium battery-powered products.
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Cambodia’s NACD Calls for Shisha, Vape Suppression
Cambodia’s National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) called for stronger enforcement against student use of vapes and shisha, with Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Neth Savoeun directing authorities to eliminate gatherings where young people use the products in coffee shops and around schools. Speaking at the National Day Against Drugs last week, Savoeun urged provincial governors to take immediate action, warning that such activities threaten the future of Cambodia’s youth.
Savoeun also emphasized the importance of education and prevention alongside law enforcement, encouraging students to reject drugs, e-cigarettes, and other harmful products while promoting anti-drug awareness in their communities. He further instructed authorities to respond more quickly to drug-related reports submitted through the government’s “No Drug” mobile application as part of broader efforts to combat drug crime.
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Latvian Authorities Bust Illicit Cigarette Ring
Latvian authorities have dismantled an organized illegal cigarette operation, seizing 12.8 million counterfeit cigarettes, raw materials, manufacturing equipment, firearms, and luxury assets in raids centered in the Zemgale region. The cigarettes, packaged under brands including Marlboro, Winston, and NZ, were allegedly intended for the Latvian market. Police estimate the group’s activities resulted in more than €5 million in unpaid taxes. Two men have been arrested, a third suspect remains at large, and a pretrial investigation is ongoing.
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DEA Backs Cannabis’ Medical Utility at Hearings
Today (June 29), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration administrative law judge opened formal hearings to determine whether cannabis should be moved from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The proceedings, scheduled to run through July 15 with a brief Independence Day recess, stem from President Donald Trump’s December 2025 executive order and will determine whether Schedule III status should be extended to all cannabis, building on an April 2026 interim order that reclassified only FDA-approved cannabis products and state-licensed medical marijuana. A final rule extending Schedule III to all cannabis would provide broad tax relief to state-licensed operators by exempting them from the Section 280E federal tax provision.
The hearings have drawn criticism from cannabis reform advocates, who protested outside DEA headquarters after the agency limited participation to organizations and individuals opposed to rescheduling, arguing that supporters did not meet the legal definition of an “interested person.” Advocacy groups, including Students for Sensible Drug Policy and NORML, criticized the exclusion of medical experts, legal cannabis businesses, and reform organizations, while also objecting to the DEA’s decision not to livestream the proceedings. Although the agency said it will publish transcripts after the hearings conclude, critics argued that the lack of real-time public access undermines transparency.
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Imperial Warning Landlords to Police Tenants Selling Illicit Products
Imperial Brands warned commercial landlords across the UK that they could face criminal prosecution if they continue to collect rent from retail tenants selling counterfeit or illicit tobacco products. The company said it has written to landlords of multiple premises where investigations identified illegal tobacco sales despite repeated enforcement action, formally notifying them of the potential legal consequences if the activity continues.
Imperial said landlords who knowingly benefit from illegal trade could face prosecution under the UK’s Proceeds of Crime Act, in addition to penalties associated with the sale of counterfeit goods, which can carry prison sentences of up to 10 years and unlimited fines. The company cited recent case law that it says confirms landlords may be held liable if they continue accepting rent from premises involved in illicit trade.
Imperial is urging landlords to enforce lease provisions prohibiting illegal activity, cooperate with enforcement authorities, and evict non-compliant tenants where necessary. Deirdre Healy, Head of Corporate and Legal Affairs at Imperial Brands UK, said landlords “cannot turn a blind eye” to illicit tobacco sales, adding that the company is prepared to pursue legal remedies, including injunctions and support for criminal investigations, against landlords who fail to act.
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Maldives to Launch Program to Move People Away from Tobacco
The Maldives is advancing a series of tobacco policy changes, with a parliamentary committee approving a bill to reduce cigarette import duties while President Mohamed Muizzu announced plans for a nationwide tobacco cessation program. The cigarette duty bill passed the Committee of the Whole House without amendments and now moves to the next stage of the legislative process after lawmakers unanimously declined to propose any changes, despite debate over the government’s rationale for lowering the tax following the country’s ban on vaping products.
Separately, Muizzu said the government will launch a national cessation initiative through civil society organizations, with funding and incentives linked to their success in helping people quit tobacco. He also said import duties on smoking cessation products will be eliminated once the program begins to make them more affordable, adding that the proposed reduction in cigarette duties is part of a broader tobacco control strategy aligned with recommendations from the World Health Organization.
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FDA Proposal Would Allow Oversight of Foreign Manufacturers
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed a rule requiring foreign tobacco product manufacturers to register their manufacturing facilities and list the tobacco products they sell in the U.S., closing a regulatory gap that currently exempts overseas manufacturers from requirements already imposed on domestic companies. The agency said the proposal would strengthen its ability to identify and take action against illegal tobacco products—particularly unauthorized disposable e-cigarettes—and create a more level playing field for U.S. manufacturers.
If finalized, the rule would require both foreign and domestic manufacturers to register their establishments, submit detailed product information, and update registrations annually and product listings twice a year. Foreign facilities would also become subject to FDA inspections, giving the agency greater oversight of products before they enter the U.S. market. Manufacturers would also be required to maintain records of labeling, advertising, and consumer information for at least four years.
According to the FDA, the proposal would improve enforcement by providing more comprehensive information on tobacco products manufactured for the U.S. market and expanding oversight of foreign producers. Acting Center for Tobacco Products Director Bret Koplow said the rule would help ensure all companies selling tobacco products in the U.S. operate under the same standards while strengthening the agency’s ability to keep illegal products out of the marketplace. Public comments will be accepted through Sept. 14.
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Korea Subjects Synthetic Nicotine to Tobacco Rules
South Korea announced that it has begun full enforcement of revised tobacco regulations that classify all nicotine-containing products—including synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes—as tobacco products. Following a two-month transition period after amendments to the Tobacco Business Act took effect in April, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and local governments launched nationwide inspections on June 24, targeting compliance in non-smoking areas and cigarette vending machine operations. Individuals caught using cigarettes, heated tobacco products, or liquid e-cigarettes in designated non-smoking areas can face fines of up to 100,000 won ($65).
The revised law expands the legal definition of tobacco from products made from tobacco leaves to all nicotine-containing products, bringing synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes under existing restrictions on use, advertising, sales, and health warnings. Authorities are also inspecting vending machines to ensure compliance with age-verification and youth-access requirements. The regulatory changes come as e-cigarette use continues to rise in South Korea, with government data showing liquid e-cigarette use increased from 4% to 4.5% over the past year and by more than 70% over the past seven years. The government said the new framework is intended to strengthen public health protections and close regulatory gaps involving synthetic nicotine products.
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Moldova Aligning New Smoking Bans with EU Standards
Moldova enacted comprehensive new anti-smoking regulations effective June 24, expanding smoking and vaping restrictions as part of its effort to align tobacco-control policies with European Union standards. The legislation prohibits the use of cigarettes, heated tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and hookahs in a range of additional public spaces, including sports facilities, beaches, water parks, zoos, underground pedestrian passages, passenger boarding areas, and many common areas of residential buildings. The law also bans smoking and vaping within 10 meters of public building entrances and ventilation systems.
The new framework introduces significantly higher penalties for individuals, businesses, and property managers who fail to comply with the rules. Individuals caught smoking in prohibited areas face fines of €89 to €115 or community service, while businesses and administrators can face fines exceeding €700 equivalent and potential suspension of operations for repeated violations. The legislation also prohibits the sale of oral nicotine pouches, including synthetic nicotine variants, and imposes penalties on retailers that sell tobacco products to minors. Moldovan health officials said the measures are intended to reduce youth nicotine use and exposure to secondhand smoke while bringing national regulations closer to EU tobacco-control standards.