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  • Federal Judge Allows Deceptive Claim in Zyn Case

    Federal Judge Allows Deceptive Claim in Zyn Case

    A federal judge in Florida has allowed deceptive practices claims against Philip Morris International (PMI) and its subsidiaries to move forward, according to Law360. On December 12, U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas of the Southern District of Florida denied the companies’ motion to dismiss claims brought by plaintiff Kovadis Palmer under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA).

    Palmer alleges that PMI and Swedish Match North America LLC misleadingly marketed Zyn nicotine pouches as “tobacco-free,” suggesting a lower addiction risk even though the nicotine is derived from tobacco. He claims he developed nicotine dependence as a result. While the court previously dismissed Palmer’s common-law fraud claims for failing to meet heightened pleading standards, it found that the amended FDUTPA claims advance a distinct legal theory.

    The judge ruled that FDUTPA claims do not require proof of intent to deceive and are not subject to the stricter fraud pleading rules. As a result, the court held that the claims are not merely a repackaging of dismissed fraud allegations and may proceed.

  • Bangladesh Labels Cig Filters as Single-Use Plastic

    Bangladesh Labels Cig Filters as Single-Use Plastic

    Bangladesh has become the first country in Asia to classify cigarette filters as single-use plastic (SUP), aligning the move with Article 18 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which focuses on environmental protection in tobacco production. The announcement was highlighted at a webinar yesterday (December 14), organized by PROGGA and the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA).

    The development follows Bangladesh’s participation at COP-11 in Geneva, where the government presented its tobacco control achievements and reaffirmed its commitment to amend national tobacco laws and strengthen anti-tobacco measures.

  • Nepal Says Failed Enforcement Leading to Rising ‘Tobacco Toll’

    Nepal Says Failed Enforcement Leading to Rising ‘Tobacco Toll’

    Nepal says it is facing a worsening public health crisis as tobacco-related deaths have nearly doubled in five years, despite strong laws, which it says are poorly enforced. Experts speaking at an Action Nepal event in Kathmandu said rising consumption reflects deep policy failures and strong tobacco industry influence within state institutions.

    Official data show deaths linked to tobacco rose from 24,800 in 2019 to 39,200 in 2023, costing Nepal Rs 12.2 billion ($84.2 million) annually in healthcare and draining around 1.2% of GDP through medical and productivity losses. Health experts claim that firm enforcement could save over 1.1 million lives in the next 15 years.

    Activists accused industry-linked actors of weakening regulation and raised conflict-of-interest concerns involving Industry Minister Anil Kumar Sinha over legal ties to tobacco companies. Speakers said stalled reforms, weak warning labels, and poor compliance with bans highlight urgent need for accountability and stronger action.

  • Pakistan Seizes $68M in Illicit Raw Tobacco

    Pakistan Seizes $68M in Illicit Raw Tobacco

    Pakistan’s Regional Tax Office (RTO) Peshawar sealed several warehouses in District Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and seized non-duty-paid raw tobacco as part of a tax evasion crackdown. Authorities estimate the operation exposed tax evasion worth Rs19 billion ($68.4 million), marking a major enforcement action by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

    According to an official statement, the RTO confiscated around 2.75 million kg of raw, non-duty paid tobacco from the Khyber Tobacco Company. The evaded Federal Excise Duty on the recovered stock is estimated at Rs1.1 billion ($4 million), and further action is expected against the company.

  • Philippines Simultaneously Destroys $22.8M in Illicit Vapes

    Philippines Simultaneously Destroys $22.8M in Illicit Vapes

    Today (December 15), the Philippines Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) simultaneously destroyed 448,494 illicit vape products nationwide, involving an estimated PHP1.34 billion ($22.8 million) in unpaid taxes and penalties. The destruction formed part of a three-day anti-illicit trade campaign and was publicly live-streamed to demonstrate transparency and enforcement.

    BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza said the action sends a clear message that the government will not tolerate the sale of vape products without proper excise tax stamps. He stressed that excise taxes on vape and other “sin products” are meant both to discourage consumption and to fund government healthcare programs.

    Mendoza said enforcement will intensify to remove unstamped products from the market and prevent risks to consumers.

  • New Zealand’s Conflicting Awards Panned by CAPHRA

    New Zealand’s Conflicting Awards Panned by CAPHRA

    Last week, Ben Youdan of New Zealand’s Action for Smokefree 2025 (ASH NZ) received the Orchid Award at the 2025 E-Cigarette Summit in the UK for promoting evidence-based public health policy and a regulated vaping approach that has led to the country’s 60% reduction in adult smoking—down to 6.8%—negligible youth smoking, declining youth vaping, and sharp reductions in smoking among Māori women. In a press release today (December 15), the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) pointed to the striking contrast in recent recognition as New Zealand’s tobacco control work was given a “Dirty Ashtray” slight in November by the WHO FCTC at COP11.

    “This shows the world is splitting into two camps: those pursuing public health outcomes, and those pursuing pharmaceutical and billionaire interests,” said CAPHRA executive coordinator of Nancy Loucas. “This juxtaposition is perfect. The FCTC punishes New Zealand for achieving 6.8% smoking rates through harm reduction. Meanwhile, international public health leaders recognize our advocates for defending evidence-based policy against ideological capture.”

    CAPHRA accused FCTC institutions of ideological capture that are skewing policy against vaping and other harm reduction tools. The group questioned the value of FCTC membership for countries like New Zealand that are achieving strong results, warning that continued opposition to harm reduction risks undermining the treaty’s credibility and its original mandate to improve public health outcomes.

  • Czech Officials Increasing Illicit Tobacco Seizures

    Czech Officials Increasing Illicit Tobacco Seizures

    Customs officers in the Czech Republic seized thousands of unlabeled tobacco products during inspections in the Cheb region of western Czechia, uncovering large-scale violations of excise tax regulations. The haul included both conventional cigarettes and electronic cigarettes bearing invalid or no excise markings, suggesting deliberate attempts to evade tax obligations.

    At a shopping center in the town of Aš, officers discovered nearly 70,000 unlabeled cigarettes and almost one liter of liquid intended for disposable e-cigarettes. The items were found in vehicles parked behind retail premises. Authorities estimated the total value of the seized goods at more than CZK 547,000 ($26,000) with a potential excise tax loss of nearly CZK 325,000 ($16,000).

    In a separate operation at a business in Pomezí nad Ohří, customs officers confiscated 1,480 disposable e-cigarettes valued at over CZK 1.4 million ($67,000).

  • Tajikistan Moving Toward Vape Ban

    Tajikistan Moving Toward Vape Ban

    Tajikistan is preparing legislation to fully ban the use, production, and distribution of electronic cigarettes, following a directive issued today (December 15) by Majlisi Milli Speaker Rustam Emomali. The move is aimed at “protecting public health, particularly young people,” amid concerns over respiratory, cardiovascular and cancer risks linked to vape use.

    The proposed ban would align Tajikistan with neighboring Central Asian countries, where vapes are already prohibited. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have all introduced full bans in recent years, backed by fines and, in some cases, criminal penalties.

  • Cigars Expected to Miss Upcoming Nicaraguan Tariffs

    Cigars Expected to Miss Upcoming Nicaraguan Tariffs

    The U.S. government’s newly announced 15% tariff on select Nicaraguan imports is not expected to apply to cigars, according to industry sources and trade officials. The tariffs—introduced as part of a U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) investigation into Nicaragua’s human rights violations—will apply only to products not covered by the CAFTA-DR trade agreement, which shields qualifying Nicaraguan cigars that meet “Rules of Origin” requirements.

    Under the schedule, affected goods will face 0% additional tariff in 2026, 10% in 2027, and 15% in 2028, on top of an existing 18% Trump-era tariff that remains tied up in ongoing litigation. Should both apply, some products could face 33% tariffs by 2028, though cigars are widely expected to remain exempt as long as CAFTA-DR protections stand.

  • Macau to Test No-Smoking Zones

    Macau to Test No-Smoking Zones

    Two pavements (sidewalks) in Macau will become trial no-smoking zones next year, officials said, noting no penalties will apply during the test. The measure aims to assess public response as the government considers wider outdoor smoking restrictions. The Health Bureau said Macau’s narrow streets limit options for smoking booths, so authorities are planning designated outdoor smoking areas with clear markings and signage. The trial follows successful smoke-free zones recently set up near several schools.

    Smoking rates in Macau have dropped 31.4% since 2012, and the government has already banned the import, export, and sale of e-cigarettes. Officials now plan to make e-cigarette possession illegal as part of tightening tobacco-control measures.