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  • Former CSTMA Deputy Chief Indicted

    Former CSTMA Deputy Chief Indicted

    Today (November 4), Zhang Tianfeng, the former deputy chief of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, was indicted on charges of accepting bribes, according to the Supreme People’s Procuratorate. Zhang is accused of taking advantage of his various posts in the tobacco system to seek benefits for others, while illegally accepting significant amounts of money and gifts in return.

    The case has been filed by the People’s Procuratorate of Ganzhou City, East China’s Jiangxi province, to the city’s intermediate people’s court.

  • Drew Estate Names GRE German Distributor

    Drew Estate Names GRE German Distributor

    Drew Estate announced that, effective January 1, 2026, its cigars will be distributed in Germany by GRE Trade GmbH, part of Czech company DanCzek Teplice A.S. GRE Trade. GRE, led by Olaf Ruf, who previously managed Davidoff’s German operations, recently became the distributor of Gurkha cigars.

    Drew Estate, formerly distributed in Germany by Scandinavian Tobacco Group, said the partnership aligns with its focus on innovation and premium quality. CEO Glenn Wolfson expressed optimism about expanding the brand’s presence in the German market with GRE Trade.

  • Universal to Report Q2 Fiscal 2026 Results

    Universal to Report Q2 Fiscal 2026 Results

    Universal Corporation announced it will release its second-quarter fiscal 2026 results after market close on November 5, followed by a conference call at 10 a.m. ET on November 6. The call will be webcast live on www.universalcorp.com and available for replay through February 6, 2026. The call will be “listen-only.”

  • Expert Urges Nigeria to Embrace THR for Health, Economy

    Expert Urges Nigeria to Embrace THR for Health, Economy

    Nigeria could become a hub for Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) product development and export, supporting economic diversification and public health, says Professor Nnanyelugo Martin Ike‑Muonso of ValueFronteira Ltd., stressing that a balanced regulatory framework would protect minors, ensure product quality, and promote responsible marketing, unlocking both health and economic benefits for the country.

    In Nigeria, the 2015 Tobacco Control Act regulates traditional tobacco but does not cover alternative nicotine products, creating regulatory gaps that allow illicit trade and hinder public health progress. Ike‑Muonso argues that structured THR regulation could boost MSME entrepreneurship, generate tax revenue, and expand Nigeria’s non-oil industrial base, while aligning the country with global best practices.

    Ike‑Muonso points to global evidence that shows THR strategies have driven record declines in smoking rates in countries such as the UK, New Zealand, Japan, and Norway. Adult smoking in the UK dropped to 12.9% in 2022, while Norway’s daily smoking rate fell to 7% in 2023, largely due to regulated alternative nicotine products.

  • Bhutan Implements 115% E-Cigarette Tax

    Bhutan Implements 115% E-Cigarette Tax

    Bhutan’s Ministry of Health (MoH) announced a major fiscal crackdown on e-cigarettes, introducing a combined 115% tax on vaping products, including 100% excise, 10% customs duty, and 5% GST, all effective January 2026. Devices will also face a 20% excise tax alongside customs duty and GST.

    The MoH said the move aims to curb rising youth use of e-cigarettes and align vaping products with traditional tobacco under the country’s regulatory framework. The Tobacco Control Rules and Act are also being updated to explicitly cover e-cigarettes, vapes, and heated tobacco products.

    The government continues to enforce bans on advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of all tobacco and nicotine products.

  • PM to Pay Washington $66M Under MSA Deal

    PM to Pay Washington $66M Under MSA Deal

    The state of Washington said it expects to receive about $66 million from Philip Morris to settle long-running disputes tied to the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). The payment represents the state’s decision to resolve the dispute rather than continue prolonged arbitration, freeing funds held in escrow and ending years of uncertainty. The settlement addresses a portion of the state’s claim under the MSA tied to adjustments and enforcement issues, specifically covering obligations through 2015; arbitration will continue for subsequent years.

    The new agreement follows a similar $277 million settlement in April 2025 with R.J. Reynolds and other tobacco manufacturers. Together, these settlements resolve years of arbitration over provisions requiring enforcement against companies that never joined the MSA. Washington has received roughly $3.8 billion in MSA payments since 1998.

  • Maldives Implements First Generational Tobacco Ban

    Maldives Implements First Generational Tobacco Ban

    The Maldivian government enacted landmark amendments to its Tobacco Control Act, introducing a generational ban on tobacco use. Effective immediately, individuals born on or after January 1, 2007, are prohibited from using tobacco, and vendors are barred from selling tobacco to anyone under 21 or within the generational cutoff. Maldives becomes the world’s first nation to permanently prohibit a generation from smoking.

    The legislation also imposes a nationwide ban on electronic cigarettes and vaping products, including their use, possession, importation, and manufacture. President Mohamed Muizzu said the measures reflect his vision of fostering a “competent, morally upright, and diligent citizenry.”

  • Bloomberg Donates $5M to Support Denver Flavor Ban

    Bloomberg Donates $5M to Support Denver Flavor Ban

    Billionaire Michael Bloomberg has contributed $2.2 million in recent weeks to bolster Denver’s pro-Referendum 310 campaign, which seeks to preserve the city’s ban on flavored tobacco and nicotine products, according to campaign finance reports. Bloomberg has now reportedly provided nearly $5 million of the campaign’s $5.8 million total fundraising, dwarfing opposition efforts by the “Citizen Power!” group, which has raised about $646,000.

    The referendum asks voters whether to keep the ordinance banning most flavored tobacco, including menthol cigarettes and vapes, within city limits. Supporters cite youth protection and addiction prevention, while opponents argue the ban harms local retailers, reduces city tax revenue, and limits adult choice.

  • PMI Targets Net-Zero Emissions by 2040

    PMI Targets Net-Zero Emissions by 2040

    Philip Morris International released its Climate Transition Plan 2025, presenting an updated and integrated strategy to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2040. The plan includes near-term targets for 2030, such as a 50% reduction in direct emissions (scopes 1 and 2) and significant cuts in supply chain emissions (scope 3). PMI plans to achieve carbon neutrality for its direct operations by the end of 2025, using measures like renewable energy, energy efficiency, low-carbon fleets, and supplier engagement. The company emphasizes that sustainability and business growth can go hand-in-hand.

    “By focusing on material climate risks and opportunities, implementing cost-effective interventions, and maintaining robust disclosure practices, we are strengthening PMI’s ability to deliver sustained, long-term value,” said CEO Jacek Olczak.

  • WVA Holds Light Protest Ahead of COP11

    WVA Holds Light Protest Ahead of COP11

    The World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) staged a light show protest by projecting messages on the Geneva International Conference Centre, home to the upcoming COP11 meetings that begin November 17. The WVA said it was drawing attention to what the group calls misinformation and exclusion of consumer voices in global tobacco control debates. The WVA criticized the World Health Organization’s stance on vaping and nicotine alternatives, arguing that restrictive policies could undermine harm reduction efforts, particularly in the Caribbean.

    The protest is part of the WVA’s “Voices Unheard – Consumers Matter” campaign, which urges Caribbean governments to pursue evidence-based approaches rather than blanket bans.