
Former China Tobacco Head Sentenced to 16 Years
Ling Chengxing was sentenced to 16 years in prison, fined $560K, and ordered to return $6 million, found guilty of accepting bribes and abusing power.

Zimbabwe Tobacco Production up 21%
The TIMB said 190.3 million kg, worth $641.5 million, had been sold by contract growers, while 10.3 million kg, worth $36.7 million, was sold through auction.

Universal Announces Dividend Increase, Sets Annual Meeting
Universal declared a quarterly dividend of $0.82 per share, and set the company’s Annual Meeting for August 5.

Poland’s Bill to Ban Sale of Vapes, Pouches to Minors Moves Forward
The bill will also restrict the use of non-nicotine vapes in public, mirroring the regulations applied to traditional tobacco products and e-cigarettes with nicotine.

Black Buffalo Appoints New CFO
Loren Eggleton brings over two decades of experience leading high-growth companies through transformative milestones across public and private markets

FDA and CBP Seize $34M in Illegal E-Cigarettes in Chicago
The team uncovered shipments of various illegal e-cigarette products, almost all of which originated in China and were intended for shipment to various U.S. states.

Survey: Two-Thirds of U.S. Healthcare Practitioners are Mistaken About Nicotine
A new survey found 47% of U.S. healthcare practitioners mistakenly believe nicotine is a carcinogen, while 19% are unsure.

CVA Says Vape Numbers are Being Misrepresented
“Certain anti-vaping organizations continue to misrepresent data, inflating perceptions of youth vaping prevalence to justify restrictive policies.”

PMI India Pushing T&T to Curb Illicit Trade
Similar systems have been successfully deployed in UK, Russia, Jordan, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Hungary Dismantles $67M Illegal Cigarette Network
Authorities confiscated 156 tons of tobacco, 1 million packs of counterfeit cigarettes, and three full cigarette production lines.

Pakistani Tobacco Exporters Urge for Competitive Tax Model
Pakistani tobacco exporters warned that the current tax structure “poses a challenge,” especially for smaller players.

Thoughts on FDA Reform
Prioritizing Education on Smoke-Free Alternatives By Dr. Tom Price The recent marketing authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of 20 Zyn nicotine

Survey: Two-Thirds of U.S. Healthcare Practitioners are Mistaken About Nicotine
47% mistakenly believe nicotine is a carcinogen and 19% are unsure, despite scientific consensus that the harms of smoking are from the burning of tobacco.

GWI Study: Majority of Vapers Support Disposable Vape Ban
31% of smokers say they are using vapes to reduce cigarette smoking, while 21% say they are using vapes to help quit smoking altogether.

Philippines Eyes Tobacco Tax Changes as Illicits Worsen
“One vape product is not the same as the consumption of one pack of cigarettes. The government will be losing a lot as vape is consumed for a longer period of time.”

Nepal to Require 100% Warnings on Tobacco Packaging
Warning messages in Nepali and “fatal” color images will be printed on the inside and outside of boxes, packets, wrappers, cartons, parcels, and packaging materials.

Scandinavian Reports Q1 Results
Net sales for the first quarter 2025 increased 1.3% to DKK 2 billion ($300 million) with a negative organic net sales growth of 8.8%.

Malaysian State Gets Aggressive with Ads as it Eyes Vape Regs
Officials have been instructed to immediately seize and confiscate advertisements related to e-cigarette products in the state.

Vietnam Seeks Feedback on Cambodian Tobacco Import
This item will be eligible for a special preferential import duty rate of 0% when imported into Vietnam.

Reno Reporters Stumble into Counterfeit Zyn
The tested product only contained 4.5mg of nicotine, contrary to the 6mg advertised, and additionally contained six methyl nicotine, an additive that should not have been in there.

Koplow Tabbed New CTP Chief
Koplow has been with the FDA since 2011, serving as senior counselor to the commissioner in the Immediate Office of the Commissioner since early 2020.

U.S. Tops List for Importing Dominican Cigars
Purchasing power, culture, and relatively low tariffs have 74% of Dominican cigars going to the U.S. market.

Trucking Company Sued for Overcharging Smokers
Numerous class-action suits have been filed against employers alleging that health plan surcharges related to tobacco use violate federal compliance requirements.

Online Retailer Acquires Wholesaler
Best Cigar Prices, an online retailer, brought wholesaler Alliance Cigar under its fold.

Maldives Warned Generational Ban Fraught with Problems
The bill would prohibit tobacco sales to anyone born on or after 1 January 2007, making it the first generational smoking ban in the Asia-Pacific region.