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  • Philippines Busts Illegal Cigarette Factory, Rescues 11 Workers

    Philippines Busts Illegal Cigarette Factory, Rescues 11 Workers

    Authorities in the Philippines raided an alleged illegal cigarette factory in Trece Martires City, arresting two individuals and “rescuing” 11 workers, including a 17-year-old, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said. The operation targeted a facility operating out of a supposed leisure park. The suspects allegedly recruited workers from poor communities in the Visayas and Mindanao to produce counterfeit cigarettes under “questionable working conditions.”

    The rescued workers are reportedly being investigated for labor law violations, while the arrested individuals were taken to the police station for documentation. The PNP emphasized its commitment to dismantling trafficking networks and ensuring safe, dignified employment, in line with broader government efforts.

  • EU’s Tobacco Tax Harmonization Would Cost Luxembourg €1 Billion

    EU’s Tobacco Tax Harmonization Would Cost Luxembourg €1 Billion

    While the EU’s proposed Tobacco Tax Directive aims to align minimum rates across member states, experts say the harmonization would present a delicate fiscal balance for Luxembourg, where tobacco tourism funds a significant part of the budget. Cigarette prices in Luxembourg could jump from €5.10 to around €8.30, erasing its advantage over neighboring countries, costing the Grand Duchy close to €1 billion, as 95% of the country’s tobacco tax revenue comes from non-residents. At €50 million, tobacco taxes would drop from 69% to 3.5% of Luxembourg’s national budget.

    Public health officials argue the tax losses would be offset by saved healthcare costs and reduced productivity losses.

  • Indonesia Incentivizing Illegal Cigarette Makers to Go Legit

    Indonesia Incentivizing Illegal Cigarette Makers to Go Legit

    Indonesian Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa announced plans to implement a special tax aimed at curbing the circulation of illegal cigarettes, particularly from China and Vietnam, and supporting domestic legal producers. The policy will include the establishment of a Tobacco Industry Zone to encourage illegal domestic producers to legalize operations under certain tariffs, and potentially be operational by December 2025.

    Purbaya acknowledged that high cigarette taxes inadvertently fueled the black market, so that while tax revenue decreased, smoking prevalence—and the health problems associated with it—remained unchanged. 

    “If that’s the case, then what is the policy for?” said Purbaya. “We are killing the domestic legal cigarette industry, but reviving illegal cigarettes from abroad. In that case, I lose. I don’t want to lose.”

    The government will offer assistance to small illegal producers to help them enter the legal market while maintaining strict enforcement against those who continue illicit operations. Purbaya stressed that the approach balances enforcement with opportunities for legalization, ensuring domestic producers are protected while creating a more transparent and regulated cigarette market.

  • Healthcare Advocate Pleads for FCTC to Adopt THR

    Healthcare Advocate Pleads for FCTC to Adopt THR

    In advance of COP11 beginning November 17 in Geneva, South African healthcare consultant Professor Praneet Valodia, the director of Praneet Valodia Consulting, circulated a call for COP11 to adopt evidence-based, transformative policies, including the inclusion of tobacco harm reduction in global tobacco control frameworks. Valodia urged for the creation of independent scientific committees to review the evidence on non-combustible nicotine products and recommended that consumer experiences and expert opinions be considered in policy deliberations. He stressed that the COP should support local policymaking, provide reliable information to users, and align with Article 1d of the FCTC to meaningfully improve public health outcomes.

    “I am hoping that COP11 will bring about transformative change in assisting over a billion smokers throughout the world,” he wrote. “There is a lack of evidence in South Africa to show a reduction in cigarette smoking because of interventions promoted in the FCTC. Considering the low adoption of the interventions in the FCTC and MPOWER measures, and the fact that the global smoking trends have not changed substantially after the FCTC’s adoption in 2003, it is time for tobacco harm reduction to become even more important.”

    Valodia criticized past FCTC policies for their limited impact, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where conventional measures have not reduced smoking prevalence and often fail to address socio-economic realities.

  • Pakistan Sees Cigarette Revenue Fall Despite Huge Tax Hike

    Pakistan Sees Cigarette Revenue Fall Despite Huge Tax Hike

    Despite a 200% increase in duty rates, Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) reported a 4.1% drop in Federal Excise Duty (FED) collection from the cigarette sector, falling to Rs225.5 billion ($789.3 million) in FY2024-25 from Rs235 billion ($822.5 million) the previous year. Officials attributed the decline to a growing illicit cigarette market, which continues to undermine tax collection.

    The sector’s share in total FED revenue plunged from 40.7% in FY24 to 29.4% in FY25, highlighting enforcement challenges and the government’s struggle to curb illegal production and sales. Higher taxes have reportedly pushed consumers toward untaxed brands, further reducing formal industry revenue.

    FBR officials warned that without stronger enforcement against illicit cigarette trade, the formal tobacco industry will continue to shrink, depriving the government of vital revenue for development and public health programs.

  • Zimbabwe Sees Steep Decline in Registered Tobacco Farmers for Next Season

    Zimbabwe Sees Steep Decline in Registered Tobacco Farmers for Next Season

    Zimbabwe’s Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) announced that 82,965 farmers registered to grow tobacco for the 2025/26 season, with the registration deadline closing October 31. Both new and returning growers are required to pay a $10 registration fee before starting production. Farmers who miss the deadline now face penalties — ranging from $10 to $90, depending on how late they register.

    According to The Herald, the TIMB announced more than 126,000 registered tobacco growers for the 2024/25 season.

    TIMB said registration is crucial for industry planning, forecasting, and maintaining market stability. The board uses the data to estimate crop size, monitor trends, and ensure smooth marketing operations. Zimbabwe remains Africa’s largest producer of flue-cured tobacco, with this year’s output reaching 355 million kilograms worth $1.2 billion.

  • Korea Enforces New Law Regarding Tobacco Ingredients

    Korea Enforces New Law Regarding Tobacco Ingredients

    Starting November 1, South Korea began requiring tobacco companies to test and disclose harmful substances in their products under the new “Act on the Management of Harmfulness of Tobacco.” All manufacturers and importers — including those of cigarettes, heated tobacco, and e-cigarettes — must test products through certified labs every two years and submit results by October 15 annually. Existing products must be tested by January 2026, with public disclosure of results expected in the second half of next year.

    Health Minister Chung Eun-kyung said the system will support evidence-based smoking prevention, while Food and Drug Safety Minister Oh Yu-kyoung pledged transparent communication with the industry to ensure smooth rollout.

  • Vapers’ Alliance Challenges WHO Ahead of COP11

    Vapers’ Alliance Challenges WHO Ahead of COP11

    As the World Health Organization’s COP11 tobacco-control conference approaches, the World Vapers’ Alliance (WVA) is calling for consumers to be heard, projecting messages onto the venue demanding inclusion in policy discussions. WVA Director Michael Landl criticized the event as “an echo chamber stuck in outdated, anti-science thinking.”

    “Harm reduction isn’t a marketing ploy, it’s a public health necessity supported by hard data,” Landl said. “Consumers’ lives matter more than ideology or the views of wealthy WHO donors like Michael Bloomberg. It’s time consumers got a real seat at the table.”

    The group warned that WHO proposals to ban flavored vaping, cap nicotine levels, and raise taxes ignore scientific evidence that vaping and nicotine pouches are less harmful alternatives for smokers. WVA’s Liza Katsiashvili cautioned that bans and high taxes would only drive consumers to cigarettes or black markets, urging delegates to “listen to the facts, not ideology.” The WVA’s “Voices Unheard – Consumers Matter” campaign calls for governments to prioritize evidence-based regulation and give consumers a voice in global tobacco policy.

  • Celanese to Close Belgium Acetate Tow Plant by 2026

    Celanese to Close Belgium Acetate Tow Plant by 2026

    Celanese Corp. announced plans to cease operations at its acetate tow facility in Lanaken, Belgium, during the second half of 2026, citing declining demand, regulatory uncertainty, and high operating costs. The company has begun formal consultations with local union representatives, noting that the closure could affect around 160 employees in manufacturing and support roles.

    Celanese said it will continue to meet customer obligations and engage with authorities and the local community to ensure a smooth and responsible transition.

  • Luxembourg Tightens Rules on Tobacco Products, Pulls Pouches In

    Luxembourg Tightens Rules on Tobacco Products, Pulls Pouches In

    Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies adopted Bill No. 8333 on tobacco control yesterday (October 31), introducing stricter regulations for both traditional and emerging nicotine products. While the law transposes EU Directive 2022/2100, its most notable feature is the formal inclusion of nicotine pouches under tobacco-style rules, a category previously unregulated. Health authorities have welcomed the measure, whereas business groups have expressed concerns over potential economic impacts.

    Under the new law, nicotine pouches are now subject to advertising bans, sales restrictions to minors, labelling and notification requirements, and a strict nicotine cap of 0.048 mg per pouch or per gram. Additives such as caffeine and CBD are also prohibited. The use of these products will be restricted in public spaces, particularly in areas frequented by young people. These measures aim to curb access and prevent the perception of nicotine pouches as harmless alternatives.

    The new bill also “bans flavorings for heated tobacco products and requires health warnings on their packaging. It also sets out the rules for the labelling, presentation, and marketing of these products, including electronic cigarettes and nicotine-free liquids. Vending machines will now have to display health warnings and will no longer be allowed to display promotional graphics. Cigarette packs may only be sold in multiples of five, a measure aimed at limiting fragmented sales and making consumption less accessible to younger people,” according to Delano.

    Public health organizations hailed the legislation as a necessary step to protect youth and curb addiction; however, the Chamber of Commerce criticized the rules as overly restrictive, warning that the low nicotine limit could function as a de facto ban, potentially fostering black market sales and cross-border purchases. The law will take effect on the first day of the month following its publication in the Journal Officiel, with vending machine display requirements delayed by three months.