TobaccoReporter logo

Blog

  • Malaysian Customs Seize 300K Illicit Vapes Bound for Singapore

    Malaysian Customs Seize 300K Illicit Vapes Bound for Singapore

    Malaysian Customs officers in Selangor’s Port Klang seized 300,000 e-vaporizers and components hidden in containers falsely declared as furniture, in what investigators believe was a smuggling attempt to supply Singapore’s black market. The shipment, which arrived from China on July 30, contained vapes branded “Salthub,” without mandatory Malaysian health warnings.

    A source close to the case told The Straits Times the devices were packed in green polythene bags, a common tactic used by smuggling syndicates. While vaping is legal in Selangor, legal products must meet strict packaging, labelling, and excise requirements.

    The UN Office on Drugs and Crime had previously warned that Malaysia is becoming a key maritime hub for drug and vape trafficking, with smugglers receiving illicit goods at the port and driving them to such places as Singapore.

  • Thai Survey Finds Youth Vaping on the Rise

    Thai Survey Finds Youth Vaping on the Rise

    A nationwide survey by Thailand’s Department of Health Service Support that e-cigarette use among young people is growing, with the youngest reported new user just 6 years old. Conducted online earlier this year with more than 40,000 participants, the survey found the average age of initiation was 13.

    A previous survey found a sharp rise in e-cigarette use among Thai youth, increasing from 3.3% in 2022 to 17.6% in 2025. Of those users, 37.6% are aged 19–25, followed by 16–18-year-olds at 29.3%, and 13–15-year-olds at 22.4%. Peer pressure emerged as the leading factor driving uptake, with 45.6% of respondents saying they tried vaping because of friends. Social media was also cited as a major influence, with Facebook (27.9%) and TikTok (27.6%) named as the main platforms exposing youth to e-cigarette advertising.

  • UWELL Launches Gamified Caliburn G4 Pro Koko

    UWELL Launches Gamified Caliburn G4 Pro Koko

    UWELL unveiled the Caliburn G4 Pro Koko, introducing touchscreen controls and a gamified vaping experience with five unlockable user interface themes. The device features a 2000mAh battery, up to 35W output, three vaping modes, and a 2-inch shatterproof HD screen. Compatible with GPP and G3 cartridges, it incorporates leak-proof technology and a customizable interface, aiming to blend performance with interactive design.

  • Pakistan Tobacco Board Criticized over Multinational Quota

    Pakistan Tobacco Board Criticized over Multinational Quota

    Leaders of the Ittehad Kashthkaran Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (IKKP) said a multinational tobacco company was instructed by the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) to purchase 1.5 million kg of flue-cured Virginia (FCV) from Swabi growers, guaranteeing a minimum price of Rs743 ($2.60) per kg, according to an article published today by the local e-paper Dawn.

     “An official of a multinational national company said on condition of anonymity that the quota which was given to Philips Morris International (PMI) Pakistan was actually agreed with the Swabi growers under the agreements executed with them as it was purchased by the PMI in Shergar, Mardan district, but the PTB officials bound them to buy the 1.5 million kg tobacco in Swabi,” the article credited to an unnamed correspondent said.

    In the article, IKKP leaders criticized government inaction and PTB policies, urging that remaining tobacco be purchased promptly to prevent financial losses for farmers, who rely heavily on this crop for their yearly income. They said with a large quantity remaining unpurchased, the PTB should also oblige other companies to buy the crop from the farmers on time and give up the policy of declaring the remaining tobacco surplus to be purchased from the farmers at low price.

    “The PTB has not played its due role,” Daud Jan Khan, central vice-chairman of the IKKP, was quoted. “The companies have also left no stone unturned to cause as much financial damage to tobacco growers as they could.”

  • Levity Delivers Innovative Packaging Design for Cohiba’s 2025 Spectres 

    Levity Delivers Innovative Packaging Design for Cohiba’s 2025 Spectres 

    Levity, branding specialists for consumer packaged goods,partnered with Cohiba to unveil a new packaging design for the company’s 2025 Spectre edition. The six-part packaging system blends high-end craftsmanship with precision engineering, including a sculpted wooden case, precision-crafted metal cigar tubes, a travel humidor, and a bespoke analog coreset mechanism that creates a slow, cinematic reveal.

    Matt Wilson, senior brand manager at Scandinavian Tobacco Group, said the collaboration was about “creating something exceptional, unexpected and truly luxurious.” Levity’s executive creative director, Theo van Blyenburgh, added that every detail, “from the packaging’s aesthetic to the way it moved in the hand, had to deliver on that promise.”

    Limited to just 750 units, this year’s Spectre features 10 hand-rolled cigars crafted with a rare, limited-edition blend, making it one of the most anticipated launches in the premium cigar market.

  • Bhutan Raises Taxes on Tobacco, Alcohol to “Fight Health Crisis”

    Bhutan Raises Taxes on Tobacco, Alcohol to “Fight Health Crisis”

    Bhutan’s government announced it will roll out a revised tax framework on alcohol, tobacco, and related products early next year as part of efforts to curb non-communicable diseases. The changes include steep excise duties to nicotine products, including Nu 10 ($0.11) per cigarette stick, Nu 40 ($0.44) per cigar, and Nu 1,500 ($16.50) per kg of chewing tobacco. E-cigarettes and vapes will face a 100% excise tax along with customs and GST charges. The government will also tighten regulations by revising the Tobacco Control Rules to explicitly cover newer products like heated tobacco and vapes.

    Health Minister Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk said the move is part of a multisectoral strategy involving education, trade, law enforcement, and civil society. Alongside taxation, the ministry is planning stricter advertising controls and public campaigns to discourage harmful consumption.

  • Macau Considers Full Ban on E-Cigarette Possession

    Macau Considers Full Ban on E-Cigarette Possession

    The Macau Health Bureau is considering a full ban on e-cigarette possession, expanding current rules that already prohibit their sale, manufacture, and import/export. Lam Chong, head of the bureau’s Office for the Prevention and Control of Smoking and Alcohol, said authorities are also reviewing regulations on shisha and herbal cigarettes.

    The bureau plans a one-year trial of designated smoking areas in busy locations, including the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Border Gate Square, focusing first on public education before penalties are enforced. Rising youth usage is a concern, with reports showing e-cigarette use among students overtaking traditional smoking.

  • Tourists at Heart of Japan’s Cigarette Butt Problem

    Tourists at Heart of Japan’s Cigarette Butt Problem

    A new survey found cigarette butt litter around Osaka, Japan’s Namba Station to be four times higher than at Tokyo Station, highlighting challenges in enforcing the city’s street smoking ban among tourists. The survey, commissioned by the Osaka Prefecture food service industry sanitation association, revealed Namba as the worst offender among six locations nationwide. While street smoking has been banned citywide since January, limited designated smoking areas and confusion among visitors have contributed to widespread littering.

    Namba, home to popular tourist spots like Dotonbori, attracts many international visitors from countries where outdoor smoking is still permitted. Communicating Japan’s local rules to these travelers remains a hurdle, according to the officials.

  • Malaysian Ministry Slammed for Lack of Transparency on Vape Policy

    Malaysian Ministry Slammed for Lack of Transparency on Vape Policy

    Today (September 3), the Consumer Choice Center (CCC) Malaysia criticized the Ministry of Health for withholding details of a July 21 closed-door briefing on e-cigarettes and vaping from both the public and most Members of Parliament. It said, “to date, the details of this briefing have not been made available to the public or Members of Parliament beyond the [Parliamentary Special Select Committee (JKPK)]. Requests from other MPs for more information were reportedly dismissed on the grounds that the session was strictly an internal JKPK matter.”

    According to CCC Malaysia Country Associate Tarmizi Anuwar, the ministry’s lack of transparency and its plan to propose a nationwide vape ban undermine democratic accountability and risk driving consumers to illicit markets. The CCC warned that the proposed prohibition would be premature given the recent enactment of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), inconsistent across jurisdictions, and contradicted by international evidence showing bans fail to curb use.

    The group urged the government to instead form an Implementation Committee on Vape Policy with federal, state, consumer, and industry representation to ensure coherent enforcement and evidence-based regulation.

  • Georgia Judge Vacates FDA Graphic Cigarette Warning Rule

    Georgia Judge Vacates FDA Graphic Cigarette Warning Rule

    A federal judge in South Georgia struck down the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rule requiring graphic health warnings on cigarette packs and ads, siding with Philip Morris USA and Georgia retailers, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. U.S. District Judge Lisa Wood ruled that the FDA failed to disclose all raw data used in developing the 2020 rule, preventing stakeholders from offering meaningful feedback. While Wood rejected most of the plaintiffs’ arguments, she vacated the rule, citing a violation of the Administrative Procedures Act.

    The Georgia plaintiffs, including the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores, argued the rule would cost millions, force retailers to “speak against their own products,” and deter customers by making convenience stores unwelcoming. It said the FDA arbitrarily focused on certain smoking-related risks over others without explanation, and claimed it ignored countless red flags in its studies. The FDA defended its process, noting the warnings aimed to better inform consumers of smoking risks.

    The decision marks another setback in the FDA’s long-running effort to implement graphic warnings under the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. A similar case is pending in Texas, where a judge has already blocked enforcement until appeals are resolved.

    The case is likely to head to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.