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.
Category: Global Regulation
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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.
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FDA Reports Efforts Prevented 450K Youth from Vaping
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published new information in a special issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine highlighting the measurable public health impact of its youth tobacco prevention efforts, particularly the “The Real Cost” campaign. According to studies featured in the issue, the campaign is estimated to have prevented roughly 444,252 U.S. youth from initiating e-cigarette use between 2023 and 2024, while also reducing an estimated $42 million in illegal e-cigarette sales that would have otherwise been consumed by minors. The findings are based on peer-reviewed research and analyses conducted by FDA scientists and external collaborators, reinforcing the campaign’s effectiveness in shaping youth behavior at scale.
FDA officials, including leadership from the Center for Tobacco Products, emphasized that the results demonstrate how sustained, evidence-based public education can materially shift youth attitudes and reduce nicotine initiation. The special journal issue compiles 12 studies examining campaign reach, audience segmentation, behavioral impact, and cessation engagement. One analysis found that roughly three-quarters of surveyed youth reported exposure to at least one prevention ad, with especially strong reach among higher-risk groups, while another showed more than 253,000 visits driven to the SmokefreeTeen cessation platform, including over 11,000 completed quit plans.
The FDA’s broader claim is that “The Real Cost” campaign — launched in 2014 for cigarettes and expanded in 2018 to address vaping — has become a long-running model for data-driven prevention messaging. Officials argue that its demonstrated impact on youth behavior and attitudes provides a foundation for expanding educational efforts, including potential messaging aimed at influencing adults who smoke toward cessation and harm reduction, while maintaining a continued focus on preventing youth initiation.
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FDA: Youth Tobacco Use Remains Near Historic Lows
Today (June 23), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported continued declines in youth tobacco use, releasing findings from its 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey showing that current use of tobacco products among middle and high school students fell between 2022 and 2025 across overall tobacco products, combustible products and e-cigarettes. Earlier this year, the FDA released raw NYTS data without comment.
In 2025, approximately 2 million students, or 7.2% of U.S. middle and high school students, reported using any tobacco product in the past 30 days, while 2.7% reported using multiple tobacco products and 2.6% reported using combustible products.
E-cigarettes remained the most commonly used category at 5.2%, followed by nicotine pouches at 1.7% and cigarettes at 1.4%. While nicotine pouch use increased among high school students over the 2022-2025 period, FDA said overall youth use remained low and was stable between 2024 and 2025. The agency said the findings support ongoing youth prevention efforts, including enforcement against unauthorized tobacco products and educational campaigns, while continuing to inform regulatory reviews of new tobacco and nicotine products.
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Philippines Urged to Lead ASEAN Effort Against Growing Illicit Tobacco Trade
The Philippines has been urged to spearhead a coordinated ASEAN response to illicit tobacco trade as it assumes the bloc’s chairmanship, with government and industry representatives warning that tobacco smuggling has evolved into a sophisticated regional criminal enterprise. Speaking at the Third International Tobacco Summit in Pasig City, participants called for harmonized enforcement and regulatory strategies across Southeast Asia to prevent transnational syndicates from exploiting gaps between national markets.
According to Euromonitor International, illicit tobacco in the ASEAN-6 markets—comprising the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore—resulted in an estimated $12.6 billion in lost government revenue over the past two years, with illicit volumes projected to grow from 145 billion sticks in 2025 to 170 billion sticks by 2028. Domestically, the Philippine Tobacco Institute estimated the country’s illicit tobacco market at P141 billion ($2.3 billion) and called for stronger regional collaboration to combat increasingly sophisticated smuggling networks. Industry representatives also advocated greater use of artificial intelligence tools to improve cargo screening and identify suspected tobacco smuggling operations. Japan Tobacco International regional anti-illicit trade director Valentin Dinca said the Philippines ranks among the strongest markets globally in combating illegal tobacco trade, while noting further opportunities to enhance enforcement capabilities and reduce illicit market activity.