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  • RJR Seeks Dismissal of ‘Carbon Neutral’ Vape Lawsuit

    RJR Seeks Dismissal of ‘Carbon Neutral’ Vape Lawsuit

    R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. has asked a California federal judge to dismiss a proposed class-action lawsuit accusing the company of misleading consumers by advertising its Vuse e-cigarettes as “the world’s first carbon neutral vape brand.” In its filing with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the company said its statements were backed by independent third-party certifications from Verra and Vertis Environmental Finance Ltd., insisting that its carbon-neutral claims were accurate, verified, and aligned with recognized environmental standards. R.J. Reynolds argued that it did not exaggerate its emissions data and said plaintiffs failed to prove any economic loss tied to the marketing claim.

    According to ClassAction.org, the lawsuit, filed on May 28, 2025, seeks $5 million in damages and alleges that British American Tobacco (BAT) and its subsidiary R.J. Reynolds misled consumers with a deceptive sustainability campaign. Plaintiffs argue that the “carbon neutral” label relied on flawed carbon offset projects, including Uruguay’s Guanaré Forest Plantations Project, which an independent review found had no measurable climate benefit. The complaint claims the company continued to use the “carbon neutral” slogan even after learning of issues with the offset program, calling the campaign a marketing strategy aimed at enhancing brand loyalty rather than environmental responsibility.

    A BAT spokesperson previously said that Vuse’s carbon-neutral status was independently verified in 2021 and that related marketing materials were discontinued by the end of 2023, according to Law360.

  • Malawi: Agricultural Center Opens to Help Tobacco Farmers Diversify

    Malawi: Agricultural Center Opens to Help Tobacco Farmers Diversify

    Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi announced the opening of its new Global Action Agricultural Transformation Centre, designed to help smallholder farmers transition from tobacco cultivation to “more sustainable and profitable crops” like soybeans, groundnuts, and sunflowers. The facility was a gift from Global Action to End Smoking.

    Because Malawi is heavily dependent on tobacco, with the crop representing a significant portion of Malawi’s gross domestic product and roughly half of the country’s exports, farmers are particularly exposed to the negative impact of decreasing demand for tobacco as global smoking rates continue to drop, as well as the impact of volatile weather. Global Action estimates that 800,000 Malawian farmers have begun diversifying crops as a layer of insurance.  

    “Reducing demand for tobacco without supporting farmers would result in serious economic consequences,” said Dr. Candida Nakhumwa, vice president and country director for Global Action in Malawi. “That’s why Global Action’s approach includes agricultural transformation as a critical part of the global public health response.”

  • 22nd Century Expands VLN to 140 C-Stores in Illinois

    22nd Century Expands VLN to 140 C-Stores in Illinois

    22nd Century Group, Inc. announced the launch of its VLN reduced-nicotine content cigarettes with 140 Circle K locations in Illinois, marking another step in the company’s nationwide rollout. The products, designed to contain 95% less nicotine, are now authorized for sale in 45 states, with approvals in the remaining five expected soon.

    Chief Executive Officer Larry Firestone said the expansion returns the brand to its first launch market. “We know there are VLN smokers who will appreciate the new branding and product rollout in Illinois,” Firestone said. “Once we achieve authorization and distribution in all 50 states, we will demonstrate the large-scale feasibility of our VLN low-nicotine products and alignment with the FDA’s new low-nicotine mandate.”

  • Vaping Advocates Say B.C.’s Bill 24 is ‘Irresponsible’

    Vaping Advocates Say B.C.’s Bill 24 is ‘Irresponsible’

    British Columbia’s proposed Bill 24, the Vaping Products Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, is drawing sharp criticism from harm reduction advocates, medical experts, and the vaping industry, who argue the legislation could jeopardize one of the most effective tools to help smokers quit. The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) said the government failed to consult key stakeholders before introducing the measure, warning it could devastate small businesses and mislead the public.

    “Tobacco and opioids have been proven to kill and cause irreparable harm. Vaping has not killed a single Canadian,” said Sam Tam, president of the CVA. “It would be irresponsible for the B.C. government to require vaping companies, including trade associations, to pay a fabricated cost without considering their ability to help far more British Columbians.” 

    The bill would allow the province to recover healthcare costs from vaping manufacturers—treating regulated vaping products like tobacco and opioids—despite federal evidence showing that vaping is far less harmful than smoking.

  • Turning Point to Host Q3 Call on November 5

    Turning Point to Host Q3 Call on November 5

    Turning Point Brands, Inc. announced it will host a conference call November 5 at 8:30 a.m. EST to review Q3 2025 results. Listeners in the U.S. can call 800 715-9871, while international listeners call +1 646 307-1963. The event ID is 6640134.

    Participants should call at least 10 minutes in advance and follow the audio prompts to register. The call will also be broadcast live as a listen-only webcast from the investor relations section of the company’s website. The replay of the webcast will be available on the site two hours following the call.

  • Taiwan NGOs Accuse Tobacco Firm of Breaking Law Over Labeling

    Taiwan NGOs Accuse Tobacco Firm of Breaking Law Over Labeling

    Today (October 22), more than a dozen non-governmental organizations in Taiwan accused a “major tobacco company” of deliberately violating Taiwan’s Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act by failing to label nicotine content on its newly released heated tobacco products, according to CNA English News. While the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) has not officially banned the media from disclosing the company’s name, news sources are withholding it to avoid inadvertently promoting the brand and violating advertising restrictions under the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act.

    Last week, the HPA ordered eight product types from the same company pulled from shelves on their first day of sale after inspectors found the required nicotine labeling missing. Lin Ching-li, director of the Tobacco Control Division at the John Tung Foundation, questioned why the company “would prefer being fined NT$5 million ($162,600) rather than labeling the nicotine content and complying with the law.”

    Health Minister Shih Chung-liang said the company submitted samples for pre-market review that did include nicotine labels, and authorities are now investigating why the approved samples differed from retail products. Shih said fines would be imposed once responsibility is determined and noted that the products are being tested to confirm whether their nicotine content meets the legal limit of 1 milligram per stick. Research cited at the press conference by Dr. Guo Fei-ran of National Taiwan University Hospital found that heated tobacco products in other countries contained an average of 4.7 milligrams of nicotine per stick, well above Taiwan’s legal threshold.

    Lin suggested the company may have intentionally avoided labeling because the products exceed legal nicotine limits, calling it an “unspeakable secret.” She added that multinational tobacco firms generate around NT$180 billion annually in Taiwan’s tobacco market, making the NT$5 million fine insignificant by comparison. The NGOs urged tougher enforcement to prevent companies from exploiting loopholes and to ensure that public health laws are upheld.

  • UK Vape Ban Fails as Black Market Booms, New Report Reveals

    UK Vape Ban Fails as Black Market Booms, New Report Reveals

    A new report from Haypp shows that the UK’s disposable vape ban, introduced in June 2025, is failing to curb use, with 62.5% of vapers still using the banned devices. Among 25–34-year-olds, that figure jumps to 82%, while 35% of disposable vape users admit they are still buying them, pointing to a widespread black market.

    The data reveals that illegal sales are not limited to underground sellers, with 55% of users buying disposable vapes from local corner shops, 37% from vape stores, and 34% from supermarkets, and 28% online. Experts warn that this shows a thriving illicit trade involving mainstream retailers, making enforcement increasingly difficult.

    Safety concerns are also growing, as 78.5% of users report using vapes purchased before the ban, meaning that products may now be unstable due to aging batteries and poor storage. Haypp’s Markus Lindblad said the findings prove “the ban is not yet working as expected” and welcomed government plans for a retail licensing scheme to help tackle the illegal market.

  • BAT to Raise Prices of Heated Tobacco Sticks in Japan

    BAT to Raise Prices of Heated Tobacco Sticks in Japan

    BAT announced that it will increase the retail selling prices (RSPs) of its Lucky Strike and Kent heated tobacco sticks in Japan by ¥20 ($0.13) beginning January 1, citing higher manufacturing costs rather than tax-related reasons. Designed exclusively for use with the glo Hyper series, the adjustments will apply to 11 Lucky Strike and five Kent variants, setting new prices at ¥450 and ¥500 ($2.97 and $3.30), respectively.

    Prices for BAT’s other heated tobacco lines — Neo and Virto, for exclusive use with the glo Hilo series — will remain unchanged at ¥500 and ¥580 ($3.83). The company says that even after the increase, Lucky Strike will continue to be the lowest-priced tobacco stick among the three major heated tobacco platforms in Japan: IQOS, glo, and Ploom.

    The upcoming change follows a series of price revisions in recent years. Lucky Strike, originally launched at ¥450, was reduced to ¥400 ($2.64) in October 2023 and restored to ¥450 in April 2024. Kent, initially ¥500, dropped to ¥450 in August 2023 before rising to ¥480 ($3.17) in October 2024. Analysts suggest that the latest increase reflects BAT’s renewed confidence in its market position, emphasizing product innovation and the success of the glo Hilo series and Virto sticks, rather than relying on price competition.

  • Detroit Bans Smokeless Tobacco Use in Sports Venues, Vapes Not Included

    Detroit Bans Smokeless Tobacco Use in Sports Venues, Vapes Not Included

    Yesterday (October 21), the Detroit City Council voted 7–2 to ban the use of smokeless tobacco products, including chewing tobacco and nicotine pouches, inside the city’s sports venues. Violations will be treated as a misdemeanor offense with a $100 fine, though offenders will first be given the chance to stop before being penalized.

    Supporters said the move is part of the national “Knock Tobacco Out of the Park” campaign, which has the backing of the Detroit Tigers. Detroit now joins 18 other U.S. cities with full smokeless-tobacco bans in professional sports venues, according to the Michigan Chronicle.

    Council members Coleman A. Young II and Gabriela Santiago-Romero opposed the measure, citing enforcement concerns and arguing that adults should have the freedom to use tobacco products. Santiago-Romero said that tobacco use is already prohibited at venues such as Ford Field and Little Caesars Arena, but those rules are rarely enforced. “I just don’t see the enforcement,” she said. “There are many other things we should be doing.”

  • Dagestan Proposes Retail Vape Ban as Part of Russian Pilot Project

    Dagestan Proposes Retail Vape Ban as Part of Russian Pilot Project

    The Republic of Dagestan may become one of the first regions in Russia to ban the retail sale of vapes, as part of an experimental pilot program. The proposal was made by the republic’s head, Sergey Melikov, in an address to the State Duma, according to the administration’s press service on Telegram.

    “I believe that such a measure will reduce the level of diseases associated with the use of vapes,” Melikov said. He also noted that President Vladimir Putin has supported initiatives allowing regions to impose restrictions on vape sales, paving the way for Dagestan to participate in the program.