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  • Cambodia Reinforces Ban on E-Cigarettes and Shisha

    Cambodia Reinforces Ban on E-Cigarettes and Shisha

    Cambodia issued a directive today (October 22) enforcing bans on e-cigarettes and shisha pipes, “aiming to safeguard public health and maintain social order.” Prime Minister Hun Manet said the move comes in response to the widespread use of these products among children and youth, which he described as a threat to both health and social stability.

    The directive prohibits the import, distribution, sale, advertisement, use, possession, production, and storage of electronic smoking devices and shisha in all forms. Hun Manet also instructed the Ministry of Education to ensure these products are banned in and around schools, teacher training institutions, dormitories, community learning centers, gyms, and sports facilities.

    Cambodia first restricted shisha and e-cigarettes in 2014, citing serious health risks. The Ministry of Health warns that e-cigarettes contain high levels of nicotine and can be used with marijuana and other drugs, while shisha contains significant toxins.

  • Indonesian DM Calls for Worker Protection Amid Tobacco Industry Regulation

    Indonesian DM Calls for Worker Protection Amid Tobacco Industry Regulation

    Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Manpower, Afriansyah Noor, said the country needed new regulations in the tobacco industry that prioritized the welfare of workers and farmers. Speaking today (October 22), Noor said the industry must deliver tangible benefits to the nation and its workforce, rather than serving only business interests.

    Highlighting the sector’s labor-intensive nature, Noor pointed out that millions of workers are involved, from farmers to factory employees. He stressed that any policy changes causing layoffs must guarantee workers’ rights, severance pay, and social protection. Noor also proposed allocating a portion of cigarette excise tax funds to create a social protection scheme for tobacco workers affected by industrial shifts.

    Addressing emerging products like e-cigarettes, Noor emphasized that regulations must ensure workers are not sidelined by market changes. He called for inter-ministerial coordination in drafting tobacco industry policies that balance economic, health, agricultural, and labor considerations, ensuring the sector remains sustainable while safeguarding livelihoods.

  • Ireland to Introduce Europe’s Highest Vape Tax

    Ireland to Introduce Europe’s Highest Vape Tax

    Beginning November 1, the Irish government will impose a new €0.50 per milliliter tax on all vaping e-liquids—regardless of nicotine content—making it the highest vape tax in the European Union. The measure comes alongside planned restrictions on flavors, packaging, advertising, and disposable vapes. Officials say the tax aims to curb youth vaping and strengthen prevention efforts following Ireland’s 2023 ban on vape sales to minors. However, public health and harm reduction advocates argue the policy will backfire, driving consumers toward the black market and undermining Ireland’s stalled “Tobacco Free Ireland” goal of reducing smoking to below 5% by 2025.

    Advocates from the New Nicotine Alliance Ireland (NNAI) warn the new tax will make quitting smoking harder for low-income groups, with prices for a typical 10ml e-liquid expected to triple from €3 to €9. They argue vaping has been a key tool in helping smokers quit—38% of quitters in Ireland reportedly used vapes—yet misinformation and punitive taxes have reversed progress. Addiction specialist Dr. Garrett McGovern criticized the policy for equating vaping’s risks with those of smoking, calling it “a dreadful public health policy.” Research shows that vape restrictions and higher costs often lead to increased smoking rates, a trend advocates fear could repeat in Ireland if affordability and access continue to shrink.

  • Swedish Innovator Eyes U.S. Launch with Fast-Acting Nicotine Pouch

    Swedish Innovator Eyes U.S. Launch with Fast-Acting Nicotine Pouch

    As nicotine pouch use soars in the United States, Swedish biotech firm Emplicure AB announced plans to seek U.S. regulatory approval for its patented nicotine delivery system, Seratek. Designed to deliver nicotine more rapidly at lower strengths, the company says the technology could mark a new chapter in smokeless alternatives for adult nicotine users.

    According to a 2025 pharmacokinetic study, Seratek released 80% of its nicotine within five minutes under controlled conditions, outperforming existing pouch brands even at lower strengths. In a consumer taste test in Sweden, 123 adult pouch users preferred Seratek over international leaders for flavor, comfort, and discretion. Emplicure says it will file a Premarket Tobacco Application (PMTA) to authorize sales in the U.S.

    Emplicure CEO Mattias Josander, a former executive at Swedish Match, Red Bull, and L’Oréal, said the company’s goal is to “accelerate the transition to a smokeless world.” He added, “If vaccines were the breakthrough of the 20th century, nicotine pouches could represent the public-health breakthrough of the 21st.”

  • Nicaraguan Cigars Could Face 100% Tariff

    Nicaraguan Cigars Could Face 100% Tariff

    The U.S. is considering imposing new tariffs of up to 100% on imports from Nicaragua or revoking the country’s benefits under a free trade deal, the White House’s Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced yesterday (October 20). According to Reuters, the report cites Nicaragua’s “abuses of labor rights, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and dismantling of rule of law” as creating a burden on U.S. commerce. Nicaragua and its President Daniel Ortega have faced international scrutiny for cracking down on dissidents, local journalists, and non-governmental organizations in recent years. The proposed tariffs stem from a “Section 301” unfair trade practices investigation initiated during the final days of the Biden administration, with President Trump set to make the final decision.

    The proposed tariffs could have a significant impact on the cigar market, as Nicaragua is the largest exporter of handmade cigars to the United States. Currently, these cigars face an 18% tariff, but a 100% tariff would sharply raise costs for U.S. importers and consumers. According to Cigar Aficionado, industry analysts estimate the price increase could range from 50 cents to $1 per cigar, with higher increases in states with additional tobacco taxes. This could affect consumer demand and shift purchasing behavior, potentially slowing sales of Nicaraguan cigars in the U.S.

    Cigar companies have indicated that current supply deals may remain unaffected in the short term, but price increases are likely once tariffs are implemented, according to Halfwheel. The industry is closely monitoring the situation as the public consultation period on the proposed tariffs concludes November 19, after which the final decision is expected.

  • BAT Launches Tender Offer for €1 Billion Hybrid Securities

    BAT Launches Tender Offer for €1 Billion Hybrid Securities

    BAT announced a cash tender offer for its €1 billion Perpetual Subordinated Fixed-to-Reset Rate Non-Call 5.25 Year Securities, carrying a 3% coupon and a first optional redemption date in late 2026. The company is offering to purchase all of the securities at 100.375% of face value, plus accrued interest. The move is part of BAT’s plan to proactively manage its hybrid capital portfolio, alongside the planned issuance of new euro-denominated hybrid capital securities. The tender offer runs until October 28 at 4 p.m. BST, with settlement expected on October 31.

    If BAT purchases 75% or more of the outstanding securities, it may exercise its option to redeem the remaining notes at par. Securities acquired in the offer will be cancelled. The transaction is not open to U.S. investors and remains subject to a New Financing Condition linked to the success of the new bond issuance.

  • PMI Reports Strong Q3 Based on Smoke-Free Surge

    PMI Reports Strong Q3 Based on Smoke-Free Surge

    Today (October 21), Philip Morris International reported strong third-quarter 2025 results, with adjusted diluted earnings per share rising 17.3% to $2.24, while reported EPS increased 13.2% to $2.23. The company said it achieved record smoke-free gross profit, supported by higher volumes and favorable pricing. Net revenues grew 5.9% on an organic basis, and adjusted operating income rose 7.5%, driven by strong performance in smoke-free products, despite a 3.2% decline in cigarette volumes.

    PMI’s smoke-free portfolio continued to expand rapidly, now accounting for 41% of total net revenues and 42% of gross profit. Volumes of smoke-free products rose 16.6%, led by the IQOS heated tobacco line and ZYN nicotine pouches. IQOS strengthened its market share across Europe and Asia, while ZYN’s U.S. offtake surged 39% following its return to full availability. The e-vapor brand VEEV also posted a 91% jump in shipments, solidifying PMI’s diversified presence across smoke-free categories.

    Reflecting this momentum, PMI raised its full-year adjusted EPS guidance and boosted its quarterly dividend by 8.9% to $1.47 per share. CEO Jacek Olczak said the company’s smoke-free business “continues to outgrow the industry by a clear margin,” adding that PMI is “on track to exceed” its 2024–2026 growth targets. Despite regulatory challenges in some markets, the company remains focused on transitioning adult smokers toward smoke-free alternatives and expanding its portfolio in 100 markets worldwide.

  • CVA Urges Education Over Prohibition as Youth Vaping Declines

    CVA Urges Education Over Prohibition as Youth Vaping Declines

    The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) is calling on federal and provincial health ministers to prioritize youth prevention and education programs over restrictive vaping bans, warning that prohibitionist policies could fuel the illicit market and push adult smokers back to cigarettes. CVA President Sam Tam said measures such as flavor bans would undermine harm-reduction efforts that have helped millions quit smoking, noting that tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in Canada. The group emphasized that prohibition “leaves adult smokers with nowhere to turn except back to tobacco use,” threatening Canada’s goal of reducing smoking rates below 5% by 2035.

    Citing new Statistics Canada data, the CVA said youth vaping rates among Canadians aged 12–17 have fallen to 7.2% in 2025, nearly half the 2019 peak, crediting education-focused initiatives such as Health Canada’s “I Quit for Me” program. The association also highlighted research showing that flavored vaping products are crucial in helping adults switch from cigarettes, referencing studies by McGill University, Public Health England, and the Public Health Agency of Canada. The CVA warned that banning legal, regulated products would drive consumers to the black market, where unregulated, high-strength nicotine products are easily accessible to youth. Instead, the group urged governments to back evidence-based regulation, support enforcement, and expand youth cessation resources rather than pursuing prohibitionist approaches.

  • Indonesia Offers Amnesty to Bring Illicit Tobacco Makers into Fold

    Indonesia Offers Amnesty to Bring Illicit Tobacco Makers into Fold

    Indonesia’s government dropped plans to raise tobacco excise taxes and is instead offering amnesty to illegal cigarette manufacturers, signaling a major policy shift away from years of punitive enforcement. Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa said the new strategy aims to bring unregistered producers into the formal economy, where their output can be monitored and taxed. The move comes as the government acknowledges that repeated excise hikes and raids under the previous “Gempur Rokok Ilegal” campaign failed to meaningfully reduce demand, while pushing small manufacturers underground.

    The policy rethink reflects a more pragmatic response to weak purchasing power and slow job creation, with officials noting that tobacco remains Indonesia’s single largest source of excise revenue and a vital employer across the supply chain—from farmers to factory workers and small retailers. Purbaya emphasized that the industry’s economic role must be balanced with health goals, warning that overregulation during a fragile labor market could trigger widespread job losses.

    By formalizing more players in the industry, the government hopes to expand its tax base, stabilize employment, and strengthen oversight—marking a strategic pivot from symbolic crackdowns toward sustainable regulation and fiscal recovery.

  • Small Tobacco Firms Sue Virginia Over Flavored Vape Restrictions

    Small Tobacco Firms Sue Virginia Over Flavored Vape Restrictions

    Two Virginia-based vape distributors — NOVA Distro Inc. and Tobacco Hut and Vape Fairfax, Inc. — filed a federal lawsuit last week challenging the state’s upcoming restrictions on flavored vapor products. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, names Attorney General Jason Miyares and other state officials as defendants.

    The companies argue that Virginia’s new law, which bars the sale of any nicotine or vapor product not listed on an official state directory and effectively bans flavored vapes, is unconstitutional. According to the complaint, the measure unlawfully delegates federal regulatory powers over tobacco products—reserved for the Food and Drug Administration—to state authorities, violating the Supremacy Clause.

    The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to block the law before it takes effect on December 31, warning that enforcement would force small businesses to pull most of their inventory from shelves. The case, NOVA Distro et al. v. Miyares et al., is among the first legal challenges to a state-level vape directory law, setting up a potential test of federal preemption in the regulation of nicotine products.