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  • Monaco Expands “Zero Cigarette Butt” Campaign

    Monaco Expands “Zero Cigarette Butt” Campaign

    In its 15th year, Monaco’s “Zero Cigarette Butt” campaign has taken a creative turn with the introduction of limited-edition pocket ashtrays designed by local artist Mr One Teas. Launched by Deputy Mayor Marjorie Crovetto and Estelle Antognelli of the Directorate of Tourism and Conventions (DTC), the initiative blends civic engagement with sustainability messaging, reinforcing Monaco’s positioning as a clean and environmentally responsible destination.

    The artist’s design now serves as the campaign’s official visual identity, with ashtrays distributed at tourist information points, public institutions, and the SMEG/SMA store. Ten new MégotBox collection terminals have also been installed in key public areas, resulting in the recovery of over 80,000 cigarette butts this year—equivalent to protecting more than 35 million liters of water from contamination.

  • KT&G Stock Hits Record High

    KT&G Stock Hits Record High

    KT&G has reached a historic stock valuation milestone, climbing over 50% this year to peak at ₩144,000 ($104) per share on July 14, fueled by its aggressive global expansion, strategic share buybacks, and investor-friendly dividend policies. The tobacco and e-cigarette giant’s ascent aligns with new economic policies under President Lee Jae Myung, which have improved market sentiment and promoted private-sector investment.

    The company’s shareholder return program has been a major draw, boasting a dividend payout ratio exceeding 50%, which is well above industry norms, and a recent ₩360 billion buyback of 2.5% of its outstanding shares. A second round of buybacks is planned for later this year. Analysts cite this approach as a stabilizing and confidence-building move, especially in contrast to earlier volatility during the pandemic-driven investment surge of 2021.

    KT&G is also poised to benefit from South Korea’s ₩13 trillion in consumer stimulus coupons, which are usable at convenience stores—a key sales channel for its e-cigarette brands. KB Securities revised its domestic e-cigarette growth forecast sharply upward from –6.6% to +6%, citing the likely consumption boost from the government program.

    On the global front, KT&G continues to ramp up international output. Overseas operating profit soared by 312% in Q1 alone, supported by recent facility expansions in Kazakhstan and Turkey.

  • Pakistan Tobacco Company Expects $150M Export Windfall

    Pakistan Tobacco Company Expects $150M Export Windfall

    Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) is projecting over $150 million in tobacco product exports for the 2025–26 financial year, as the country’s tobacco crop yields a significant surplus. With national tobacco production estimated at 140 million kilograms — well above the total industry demand of 81.5 million kg — the company says it is positioned to capitalize on international markets, while reinforcing its domestic supply chain through robust farmer engagement.

    PTC’s Head of Leaf, Imaduddin, emphasized the company’s integrated farmer model, which includes guaranteed procurement, financial support exceeding Rs1 billion, and agronomic training for over 10,000 contracted farmers. With the help of nearly 150 field technicians, PTC provides end-to-end support to ensure consistent quality and sustainability in its leaf sourcing operations.  Imaduddin also clarified that the federal excise duty, set at Rs390 per kilogram, is absorbed entirely by manufacturers and does not impact grower incomes—an important distinction as fiscal pressures on the industry mount.

  • Indonesian Academic Calls for Annual 25% Minimum Tax Increase

    Indonesian Academic Calls for Annual 25% Minimum Tax Increase

    A leading academic voice from the University of Indonesia’s Center for Social Security Studies (PKJS UI) is calling for a 25% annual increase in Indonesia’s minimum tobacco tax, citing affordability and rising youth smoking rates as critical public health concerns. Speaking at a media workshop on tobacco control, PKJS UI Head Aryana Satrya argued that Indonesia’s cigarette prices — despite reaching Rp 49,900 ($3 USD) — remain among the lowest globally, enabling widespread access, especially among minors.

    Citing internal research, Satrya claimed that raising prices to Rp 60,000–70,000 could compel 60–70% of smokers to quit. The call for tax hikes is tied to a broader push for stricter allocation of tobacco tax revenue toward cessation services, public health education, enforcement of smoke-free areas, and anti-illicit trade initiatives. PKJS UI recommends mandating that at least 40% of shared tobacco tax revenues (DBH CHT) and 25% of regional cigarette taxes (PRD) directly fund tobacco control programs.

    Meanwhile, government officials reaffirmed that Rp 6.39 trillion in DBH CHT will be distributed across 27 provinces in 2025, with health receiving 40% of that allocation. However, pressure is mounting to direct a larger and more consistent share toward demand-reduction strategies.

    Data from the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey shows that the country now has 63.1 million active smokers, including a troubling 7.4% of youth aged 10–18. Even more alarming is the emergence of smoking behavior among children aged as young as 4, with 2.6% of child smokers falling into the 4–9 age group.

  • Senate Confirms New FDA Commissioner

    Senate Confirms New FDA Commissioner

    Last week the U.S. Senate confirmed former Johns Hopkins surgeon and professor Dr. Marty Makary to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by a 56-44 vote. During his confirmation hearing, Makary said his goals for the agency were “more cures and meaningful treatments for Americans,” and offered several insights as to how he would achieve those goals throughout the hearing.  

    In the past, Makary has been critical of the FDA, in 2021 calling for “fresh leadership at the FDA to change the culture at the agency and promote scientific advancement, not hinder it.” Reporting to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Makary’s leadership of the FDA also includes its Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). However, it’s not yet clear how he will approach CTP’s looming issues of reviewing premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs), the illicit vape market, and other tobacco-related issues.

    Much of the confirmation hearing centered around past problems, including those with Covid-19 vaccines, the pharmaceutical industry, and various other issues that have often gained headlines of late, but he did not commit to specifics in that venue.

    “I have no preconceived plans on mifepristone policy except to take a hard look at the data and to meet with the professional career scientists at the FDA who have reviewed the data,” he said at his hearing. “We now have a generational opportunity in American healthcare. President Trump and Secretary Kennedy’s focus on healthy foods has galvanized a grassroots movement in America. Childhood obesity is not a willpower problem, and the rise of early-onset Alzheimer’s is not a genetic cause. We should be, and we will, be addressing food as it impacts our health.”

    When asked about the backlog of cases the FDA has across all departments, Makary did not rule out leveraging artificial intelligence and making other regulatory changes to streamline the drug review process. He suggested FDA reviewers could use AI “to help reviewers in the review process—not to replace human reviews, but to improve efficiency.”

    National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) Executive Director David Spross told CSP on Friday that “NATO looks forward to working with Dr. Makary and the team at FDA on tobacco and nicotine product regulatory issues, including for the FDA is to support tobacco harm reduction policies by authorizing more PMTA vapor and nicotine pouch product applications that provide adult smokers with more choices.”

    Spross added that there is a “need for more transparency from the agency by providing retailers more information on illicit products, specifically in the vapor and nicotine pouch categories.”

    Makary is a surgical oncologist and health policy researcher who has spent more than 20 years at Johns Hopkins.

    “I am pleased to congratulate Dr. Makary on his new role as FDA commissioner,” said Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels. “We are fortunate to have one of our senior faculty members at the School of Medicine undertake this critical service to the nation.

    “An accomplished clinician and widely published health policy researcher, Dr. Makary has had a storied career at Johns Hopkins that reflects the research and clinical acumen and openness to different ideas and approaches undergirded by academic freedom that are the hallmark of our great institution,” said Daniels.

    Makary founded the Johns Hopkins Center for Surgical Trials and Outcomes Research and co-developed a surgical safety checklist used in operating rooms worldwide. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles and three New York Times bestselling books on healthcare.

    Senate also confirmed Jay Bhattacharya as the new director of the National Institutes on Health.

  • Farmers Encouraged to Focus on Quality

    Farmers Encouraged to Focus on Quality

    Tobacco farmers in Zimbabwe have been encouraged to prioritize crop quality in order to combat expected price decreases, according to The Herald.

    The 2025 tobacco marketing season is expected to see an increase in production due to favorable weather conditions, expanded hectarage, and an increase in farmers. However, the anticipated increase in supply along with other global market dynamics are expected to put downward pressure on prices, especially for middle-grade to low-grade leaf.

    “China, the world’s largest tobacco producer and consumer, continues to show strong demand for top-end grades, which may help stabilize prices for high-quality tobacco,” said Tapiwa Masedza, a tobacco trading expert.

    “While the increased production is a positive development, farmers must brace for potential price declines,” Masedza said. “To mitigate these challenges, we emphasize the importance of improving crop quality through better handling, curing, and presentation. Mixing grades in bales, excessive moisture, and moldy tobacco can lead to discounts or rejections, ultimately affecting profitability.

    “In the long term, farmers are encouraged to invest in energy-efficient curing infrastructure, adopt precision farming techniques, and implement improved agronomic practices.

    “These measures can help reduce operating costs, enhance yield, and ensure better returns despite fluctuating prices.”

    The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board is developing a new price matrix for contract tobacco sales in order to establish a more representative minimum price for the marketing season. The new system is expected to be implemented in the upcoming selling season beginning April 5.

    Under the new system, the day’s minimum price will be based on the previous day’s average price of all tobacco sold, at auction and through contract, across all grades.

    Tobacco is Zimbabwe’s largest single foreign currency earner following gold.

  • Smoking Increases in Croatia

    Smoking Increases in Croatia

    The number of smokers in Croatia is increasing, according to Croatia Week, citing a study from January 2025 carried out by JA Trgovac magazine and Hendal, a global market research agency.

    The study showed that 37 percent of people used tobacco products in January of this year, four percentage points higher than the previous year. In two years, the number of tobacco users has increased by 12 percent.

    Of all tobacco users, 74 percent smoke cigarettes, an increase of 6 percent from January 2023.

    Hrvatski Duhani, a BAT-owned company, purchased more than 4,500 tonnes of tobacco last year from 250 growers in the Podravina and Slavonia regions, marking a 41 percent increase from 2023. According to Hrvatski Duhani, the company paid tobacco producers more than €20 million last year.

  • Taiwan: Legislator Criticizes Enforcement of E-Cig Ban

    Taiwan: Legislator Criticizes Enforcement of E-Cig Ban

    Since the March 2023 amendment to Taiwan’s Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act, which prohibits the sale, demonstration, and use of e-cigarettes, enforcement has been notably insufficient, according to one Taiwanese legislator. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Wan Mei-ling highlighted that out of 500,000 e-cigarette-related cases, only 1,247 resulted in fines—a mere 0.25%.

    The fines issued include 251 for selling e-cigarettes, 619 for selling heated tobacco devices, and 404 for illegal use. Additionally, between July and September 2024, authorities confiscated 681 “zombie vapes” containing the anesthetic etomidate, averaging 227 per month. Etomidate, classified as a Category 2 narcotic, poses significant health risks, including adrenal insufficiency and impaired concentration, potentially leading to accidents.

    Wan[MM1]  emphasized the health dangers of e-cigarettes, particularly for adolescents, citing risks to brain development, lung damage, and increased cancer susceptibility. She called for enhanced inspections and public awareness campaigns to mitigate the societal impact of e-cigarettes and associated substances.

    In response, the Executive Yuan [MM2] reported that the High Prosecutors’ Office convened meetings with relevant ministries to discuss e-cigarette prevention and control. Efforts include intensified investigations into e-cigarettes laced with illegal drugs, collaboration with e-commerce and social media platforms to identify sellers, suspension of illegal websites, and tracking financial transactions to enforce the ban more effectively.

     [MM1]Is that the proper way to do the name?

     [MM2]Who? IS that a full name?

  • Belgium First in EU to Ban Disposable Vapes

    Belgium First in EU to Ban Disposable Vapes

    Belgium will ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes as of Jan. 1 on health and environmental grounds in a groundbreaking move for European Union nations.

    Health minister Frank Vandenbroucke said the inexpensive e-cigarettes had turned into a health threat since they are an easy way for teenagers to be drawn into smoking and get hooked on nicotine.

    “Disposable e-cigarettes is a new product simply designed to attract new consumers,” he said in an interview, according to NPR.

    Because they are disposable, the plastic, battery and circuits are a burden on the environment. On top of that, “they create hazardous waste chemicals still present in what people throw away,” Vandenbroucke said, adding that he wants tougher tobacco measures in the 27-nation bloc.

    “We are really calling on the European Commission to come forward now with new initiatives to update, to modernize, the tobacco legislation,” he said.

    There is an understanding of Belgium’s decision, even in some shops selling electronic cigarettes, and especially on the environmental issue.

    Once the cigarette is empty, “the battery is still working. That’s what is terrible, is that you could recharge it, but you have no way of recharging it,” said Steven Pomeranc, owner of the Brussels Vapotheque shop. “So you can imagine the level of pollution it creates.”

    A ban usually means a financial loss to the industry, but Pomeranc thinks it will not hurt too much.

    “We have a lot of alternative solutions which are also very easy to use,” he said. “Like this pod system, which are pre-filled with liquid, which can just be clipped into the rechargeable e-cigarette. So we will simply have a shift of clients towards this new system.”

  • On Jan. 1, New Illinois Vape Laws go Into Effect

    On Jan. 1, New Illinois Vape Laws go Into Effect

    New Illinois laws that go into effect Jan. 1, will place more restrictions on electronic cigarettes.

    One law prohibits the advertising, marketing or promoting of an electronic cigarette in a manner that is likely to cause a person to mistake it for an object that is anything other than what it is, a tobacco product.

    State Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Lake Forest, said some e-cigarettes are designed to look like school supplies, like highlighters, erasers and pencil sharpeners.

    “This law will prohibit tobacco companies from pulling the wool over the eyes of educators and guardians whose job it is to keep kids safe,” said Morrison.

    Elizabeth Hicks with the Consumer Choice Center said the assault on vaping may push some Illinoisans back to regular combustible cigarettes, leaving taxpayers to pick up the tab, according to media reports.

    “Taxpayers unfortunately also suffer in addition to consumers,” said Hicks. “The annual Medicaid costs for smoking-related illnesses in Illinois is over $2 billion, which is one of the highest throughout the country.”

    Another law prohibits electronic cigarettes purchased by mail, online or through other remote sale methods from being shipped to anyone in the state other than a distributor or retailer.