Top News - Tobacco Reporter

PMI Eyes Philippines Leaf for Smoke-Free

Philip Morris International may start using Philippine tobacco in its smoke-free products following the expansion of a factory operated by a local affiliate, reports The Philippine Star.

“We’re also thinking about starting using the Philippine tobacco in the smoke-free products,” said PMI CEO Jacek Olczak during the inauguration of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Co.’s (PMFTC) factory in Tanauan City, Batangas.

Olczak stated that the quality of the Philippines’ tobacco leaves is “getting better and better.”

“They require even better quality, consistency, etc. But I believe the farmers, the tobacco growers in the Philippines can deliver on that quality,” Olczak added.

PMFTC is a 50-50 partnership between PMI and Lucio Tan’s Fortune Tobacco Corp. The expanded factory will produce PMI’s heated-tobacco sticks under the Blends brand for its smoke-free Bonds product.

PMFTC mixes local tobaccos with international varieties in its products.

“You will find the Philippine tobacco in our products in every country in which we operate,” Olczak said. “So in more than 100 markets, you will find the Philippine tobaccos in the product.”

“We’re very happy with the regulatory environment and the business environment in the Philippines, and we decided to locate this manufacturing here,” he added.

April 16, 2024

KT&G Volunteers Assist With Transplanting

KT&G volunteers transplanted tobacco seedlings to help tobacco farmers who are struggling with labor shortages.

The volunteer team consisted of 36 members from the SCM Headquarters Raw Material Business Division and the Gimcheon Factory. They visited a tobacco farm in Jangan-myeon, Boeun-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, and transplanted about 32,000 tobacco seedlings across approximately 15,000 square meters of farmland.

KT&G workers have volunteered on tobacco farms for 18 years not only helping with seedling transplantation but also supporting tobacco leaf harvesting activities during the summer, which require intensive labor in hot weather.

“KT&G has been engaging in activities that provide practical help to farmers for a long time,” said KT&G’s SCM Division Head Jeong-ho Kim in a statement. “We will continue to make efforts to grow together with the farming community and the local society.”

Additionally, KT&G has been supporting welfare improvement projects for domestic tobacco farmers. In June last year, KT&G paid KRW520 million ($372,949) for tobacco farmers’ health checkups, children’s education fees and support for devices that reduce fuel for curing barns. Since 2013, the cumulative support amount has reached approximately KRW3.85 billion, benefiting a total of 13,050 farmers.

April 16, 2024

FDA Denies Market Access to Yibo Products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on April 15 issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) to Shenzhen Yibo Technology Co. for 65 disposable e-cigarettes marketed as “MNGO Disposable Stick.”

The products involved include flavors such as tobacco, menthol, pink lemonade, strawberry mango, watermelon freeze, iced banana, and others, with each flavor offered in a range of nicotine concentrations from 2 percent to 6 percent.

According to the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), disposable e-cigarettes were the most commonly used device among current e-cigarette users, and almost 9 out of 10 current e-cigarette users reported using flavored e-cigarettes with fruit flavors being the most popular.

The MDOs also include several “Clear” flavor products that were described by the applicant as flavorless or unflavored. However, data submitted in the company’s applications showed these products contained ingredients that are flavor enhancers or are known to impart a menthol or mint flavor, according to the FDA. Based on the entirety of evidence, the agency determined that the products have a characterizing flavor.

“The onus is on tobacco companies to provide the evidence demonstrating that the necessary public health standard has been met, and when they fail to do so, FDA will appropriately deny the marketing authorization of new tobacco products,” said Brian King, director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, in a statement. “In this case, the applicant did not meet the necessary bar.”

April 15, 2024

ITCAN Launches Zonnic Awareness Campaign

Imperial Tobacco Canada (ITCAN) launched a public awareness campaign about its Zonnic nicotine pouches. The company says it aims to dispel myths and prove accurate, science-based information about nicotine-replacement therapies (NRT) and Zonnic’s potential role in reducing smoking in Canada.

“Our new Zonnic campaign fact-checks what’s being said about Zonnic nicotine pouches and reflects our dedication to harm reduction and our commitment to help reduce smoking rates in Canada,” said ITCAN President and CEO Frank Silva in a statement.

Since Zonnic’s launch in October, anti-tobacco lobby groups and the Federal Minister of Health have targeted ITCAN with accusations and inaccuracies, according to the company.

“Our intentions are clear; we want to help smokers who want to quit smoking, period,” said Silva. “This starts by distributing new and innovative options and by keeping these products available to adult smokers while ensuring that minors don’t have access to any kind of nicotine products, including NRTs. Our position is that all forms of NRT should require proof of age before purchase and be stored at retail in a way that is inaccessible to minors.

“We have tried to meet with Minister Holland. Our door is always open, but he has not returned our calls. We are more than open to a fair discussion, based on facts, to keep NRTs accessible to adult smokers while keeping nicotine products out of the hands of youth. Working together, we can achieve your ministry’s goal, a goal that we share.”

April 15, 2024

Criticism Mounts as U.K. Debates Generation Ban

Criticism has been mounting ahead of a debate in the U.K. House of Commons on the government’s proposed generational tobacco ban.

Boris Johnson labeled the plans as “nuts,” according to the Daily Mail. During an appearance at a Canadian conference, the former British prime minister questioned why the party of cigar-chomping Winston Churchill wants to ban cigars.

On April 16, lawmakers are scheduled to debate a plan that would prevent anyone who is turning 15 this year or is younger from ever being able to legally buy tobacco products.

“We are, on the whole, in favor of freedom, and it is that single Anglo-Saxon idea of freedom that I think unites conservatives, or should unite conservatives,” said Johnson.

“And when I look at some of the things that we are doing now, or that are being done in the name of conservatism, I think they are absolutely nuts.”

Liz Truss, another former conservative prime minister, branded the proposal as “profoundly unconservative.”

Smokers’ rights group Forest called the legislation “ageist.”

“Given all the problems facing the country at home and abroad, it beggars belief that the prime minister has chosen to prioritize raising the age of sale of tobacco,” said Forest Director Simon Clark.

“If you are legally an adult, it’s ageist if you are denied the same rights as adults who may be only a year or two older than you are.”

Clark also cited a poll revealing that almost two-thirds (64 percent) of the public believe that if people are allowed to drive a car, join the army, possess a credit card, purchase alcohol and vote at 18, they should also be allowed to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Despite such criticism, the law is likely to pass with support from opposition parties. The legislation is backed by a high proportion of the population, with another recent poll showing that almost three-quarters of Tory voters (71 percent) support it.

April 15, 2024

Uzbekistan Plans to Ban Heated Tobacco, Vapes

Tashkent TV Tower Aerial Shot During Sunset in Uzbekistan (Credit: Lukas)

The Ministry of Health in Uzbekistan has proposed a ban on the circulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) products, e-liquids and heated tobacco products, Trend reports.

This is shown in the draft law published on Uzbekistan’s portal to discuss draft normative legal acts.

According to the law, the circulation of ENDS products on the “territory of the country is prohibited.”

The Ministry of Health also proposes to introduce administrative and criminal liability for violation of this ban—a fine in the amount of $1,000 to five years of imprisonment.

According to data from Uzbekistan’s Statistics Agency, the production volume of tobacco products in the country reached 2.1 billion pieces from January through February 2024.

From January through February 2024, the country’s exports of tobacco products reached $7.8 million, while imports amounted to $10.5 million during the same period.

April 14, 2024

Tobacco Product Prices Up in Cuba

Beginning on April 12, Cuban tobacco users experienced higher retail prices for cigarettes and cigars. The brands are the domestic tobacco products sold in local stores used by Cuban residents, not tourists.

According to the report, the prices of cigarette-style brands like Criollo, Titanes, and Popular are now CUP 30 ($1.25) per pack of 20. H. Upmann Clásico, a short cigar sold with and without filters, is CUP 50, and Popular Auténtico is now CUP 60. (It should be noted that an American dollar on Cuba’s black market averages about CUP 300 to $1; this would put the price of a 20-pack of Populars at about $0.10.)

Minister of Finance and Prices, Vladimir Regueiro, told Cuban media that the current cost does not cover all the costs and expenses related to the production and commercialization of the tobacco products.

In a press conference, he added that the measure would “contribute to reducing the fiscal deficit in the country, and new financial resources may be mobilized from the state budget to support the social expenses of priority sectors.”

He also said that tobacco is not a necessity for the population and that the responsibility of the State and the government is to guarantee an appropriate level and assortment of food products.

April 14, 2024

Nyasa Tobacco Enters Lilongwe Leaf Market

Nyasa Tobacco Co. officially launched its operations in Lilongwe, Malawi, on April 9.

Speaking during the opening ceremony, Agriculture Minister Sam Kawale noted that the participation of Nyasa Tobacco in the local market would not only increase competition but also encourage leaf production and earn much-needed foreign currency.

“Government is always interested to see more companies or stakeholders coming on the auction because the more companies joining the markets, the better the prices will be because of competition and the more our farmers benefit, and the better the economy is going to grow,” he was quoted as saying by the Nyasa Times.

Konrad Buckle, chairman of the Nyasa Group of Companies, expressed satisfaction with the government’s commitment to tobacco farmer and promised to help farmers get a fair value for their leaf.

“Our main vision is to try and establish market presence on behalf of the government and make sure farmers get fair value,” he said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the official opening of Malawi’s 2024 selling season, Buckle said Malawi’s tobacco farmers had been getting an unfair deal due to the low prices offered to them, suggesting that competition from his company would help remedy that situation.

“We are here to stay,” he was quoted as saying in a separate Nyasa Times article. “And we want to make difference to the growers.”

Nyasa entered the leaf market toward the end of the marketing season last year. It has been manufacturing cigarettes in Malawi for more than a decade.

Tobacco Reporter profiled Nyasa Manufacturing in it June 2017 issue.

April 12, 2024

‘Quit Like Sweden’ Global Effort Takes Off

International health experts rallied behind a major new global effort to replicate Sweden’s success at eradicating smoking by embracing a comprehensive approach that could prevent millions of premature deaths globally.

Quit Like Sweden (QLS), launched at a conference in Brazil featuring medical professionals, politicians and policymakers, aims to motivate and support countries worldwide to emulate the example of Sweden, which is set to become the first nation to attain official “smoke-free” status later this year.

“Sweden has achieved this remarkable feat by ensuring that safer alternatives to smoking are accessible, acceptable and affordable,” said QLS founder Suely Castro, a Brazil-born harm reduction advocate in a statement.

“A country where 49 percent of men used to smoke regularly has virtually wiped out this scourge by allowing its smokers to switch to products that pose just a fraction of the risks, such as snus [traditional smokeless tobacco] and other smoke-free alternatives like vapes and nicotine pouches.

“Swedes are reaping the health dividend with significantly lower cancer cases and mortality rates compared to their European counterparts. Now, Quit Like Sweden will amplify this message globally, leveraging expertise and fostering collaboration across stakeholders to help countries replicate the Swedish experience.”

Sweden is winning the war against smoking with a comprehensive approach to tobacco control that supplements traditional cessation and preventive measures with an all-important added element: giving smokers the opportunity to switch to safer alternatives.

Anders Milton, former chair of the World Medical Association and former secretary general of the Swedish Medical Association.

Castro was joined at the launch of her platform by leading harm reduction experts who unveiled new research showing that Brazil could save 1.36 million lives by 2060 by adopting the Swedish approach.

Earlier research has shown that 3 million more Europeans would be alive today if other countries had implemented Sweden’s comprehensive approach to helping smokers quit.

Meanwhile, a study of low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) shows that, through the adoption of Swedish-style policies, Kazakhstan could prevent 165,000 premature deaths in the next four decades while South Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan could save 320,000; 920,000 and 1,200,000 lives, respectively.

“Sweden is winning the war against smoking with a comprehensive approach to tobacco control that supplements traditional cessation and preventive measures with an all-important added element: giving smokers the opportunity to switch to safer alternatives,” said research co-author Anders Milton, a former chair of the World Medical Association and former secretary general of the Swedish Medical Association.

“It has set out a policy roadmap that should be treated as a gift to global public health and, potentially, one of the greatest ever breakthroughs in tackling noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

“That’s why QLS is so important. By spreading the message of the Swedish experience to all corners, many millions of premature deaths—including almost 1.4 million here in Brazil—could be prevented in the next four decades.”

April 12, 2024

SATTA Urges Action Against Illicit Trade

The South African Tobacco Transformation Alliance (SATTA) has called for stronger action against the smuggle, manufacture and sales illicit products.

Last year, South Africans smoked 37 billion cigarettes, but the South African Revenue Service (SARS) taxed only 13 billion. “Illicit tobacco is “the biggest fight we face now,” said Edward Kieswetter, SARS commissioner.

“Government should allocate more resources to Sars to pursue these complex crimes,” said SATTA spokesperson Zachariah Motsumi in a statement. “As the commissioner pointed out, illicit tobacco products account for 60 percent to 70 percent of cigarette sales and causes tremendous damage to the fiscus.”

The national fiscus is not the only area affected by the illicit trade. “Cigarette producers like BATSA has to retrench tobacco factory workers and about 500 jobs are currently at risk in third-party logistics companies that transport their products,” said Motsumi. BATSA has already cut 584 jobs due to a 40 percent decrease in [legal] cigarette sales from 2020.

“People are not smoking less—it is the sale of legal cigarettes that decreased,” said Motsumi. “The net effect of this is twofold: It has devastated tax collection and decimated the legal tobacco sector.”

April 12, 2024

Category: Top News