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  • JTI Philippines Eyes Expansion into RRP Manufacturing for Export

    JTI Philippines Eyes Expansion into RRP Manufacturing for Export

    Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Philippines said it is exploring plans to expand its manufacturing operations in Batangas to include reduced-risk products (RRPs), with an eye on exporting to more markets across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

    Currently, JTI’s facility in Malvar, Batangas, produces traditional cigarettes for at least 17 countries, mostly in Asia, according to General Manager Guilherme Silva. As demand for alternatives to combustible cigarettes rises, Silva confirmed JTI is considering producing RRPs—such as heated-tobacco products—at the Philippine facility.

    “It’s a factory that has a huge footprint, but also that still has a lot of space to be increased,” Silva said. “These new categories of RRPs are becoming more and more important, not only in the Philippines but also across different markets in the Asia-Pacific region. We’re definitely exploring which of these categories [we could] produce from the Philippines, [and how we can] export them.”

    Last year, the company introduced its heated-tobacco device Ploom X Advanced to the Philippine market, mirroring its success in Japan. While current production of Ploom’s tobacco sticks remains in Japan and Poland, JTI has signaled openness to expanding manufacturing based on market growth.

  • PMFTC Eyes Double-Digit Growth for IQOS in the Philippines

    PMFTC Eyes Double-Digit Growth for IQOS in the Philippines

    PMFTC Inc., the Philippine affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI), is targeting double-digit growth this year for its smoke-free product, IQOS, as it pushes to expand its market in the country.

    In an interview, PMFTC President Gijs de Best said the Philippines now has around 150,000 IQOS users since the product’s launch in 2020. “People don’t understand what the problem is related to smoking because in the Philippines, 60% of people believe that nicotine is the most harmful ingredient, which it is not,” he said. “It’s the burning that is causing the issue. Simply, when you use a cigarette, once it is lit, harmful chemicals are released. What our technology is all about is heating, not burning.”

    Because it was launched in the market during the COVID-19 pandemic, IQOS gained traction mainly through word of mouth. Now, PMFTC aims to accelerate growth by increasing education around the benefits of heated tobacco. To support its expansion, PMI inaugurated a ₱8.8-billion ($150 million) manufacturing plant in Tanauan, Batangas last year to produce IQOS and other smoke-free products locally. The Philippines is one of 96 global markets for IQOS, with Indonesia currently being the largest in the region.

  • $730K Worth of Smuggled Indonesian Cigarettes Seized in Philippines

    $730K Worth of Smuggled Indonesian Cigarettes Seized in Philippines

    Authorities in the Philippines intercepted a major smuggling attempt involving P43 million ($731,000) worth of Indonesian cigarettes last week off the coast of Zamboanga City, officials confirmed. Police reported two outrigger-type pump boats carrying 749 boxes of imported cigarettes were intercepted on June 18, roughly two miles from Santa Cruz Island. The six crew members, all from Sulu province, were taken into custody.

    The seized contraband was turned over to the Bureau of Customs Region 9 for proper disposition. Over the past eight months, PRO-9 units have confiscated more than 10 tons of Indonesian-branded cigarettes in multiple operations across Zamboanga Peninsula and nearby cities, including Dapitan, Dipolog, and Pagadian.

  • Local Group Pushes Jakarta to Pass Smoke-Free Zone Law in 2025

    Local Group Pushes Jakarta to Pass Smoke-Free Zone Law in 2025

    The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) is calling on the Jakarta government to fast-track the ratification of the long-delayed Smoke-Free Zone Regional Regulation, emphasizing the need to protect public health and uphold consumer rights. YLKI Chairperson Niti Emiliana cited Law No. 17 of 2023 on Health, which mandates local governments to implement smoke-free zones.

    “YLKI also calls for the regulation to include more comprehensive provisions that strengthen consumer protection from exposure to active smokers’ cigarette smoke surrounding them, such as the elderly, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers,” Emiliana said. She stressed that the regulation, currently under review by a special committee, must be passed in 2025.

    However, the draft regulation has faced pushback from the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), which argues that some provisions could impose operational burdens on businesses in the hospitality sector.

  • U.S. Supreme Court Backs RJR, Broader Legal Challenges to FDA

    U.S. Supreme Court Backs RJR, Broader Legal Challenges to FDA

    The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7–2 in favor of R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, allowing it to challenge FDA denials of e-cigarette marketing applications in the Fifth Circuit, even though the company is based in North Carolina.

    The decision effectively expands who can file lawsuits under the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, now including retailers and trade groups affected by product bans, not just manufacturers. This enables tobacco companies to approach conservative-leaning courts like the Fifth Circuit, which has frequently ruled against FDA vaping restrictions.

    The FDA argued that retailers were never meant to be included under the legislation, and that 75% of e-cigarette appeals were being filed in the Fifth Circuit through strategic partnerships with local vape shops and trade groups, undermining consistent enforcement.

    Justice Amy Coney Barrett, writing for the majority, said that retailers are “adversely affected” because they lose potential sales or risk penalties by selling unapproved products. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in dissent, warned the ruling contradicts Congress’s intent, allowing companies to bypass venue restrictions meant to streamline regulation.

    The case specifically involved menthol-flavored Vuse vapes, which the FDA had denied for failing to meet public health standards. The ruling now returns the case to the Fifth Circuit for further review.

  • BAT Bangladesh Forced to Relocate Headquarters

    BAT Bangladesh Forced to Relocate Headquarters

    British American Tobacco (BAT) Bangladesh will move its registered office from Mohakhali to Ashulia by mid-July 2025, following a Supreme Court ruling that rejected its appeal to extend the lease on its Mohakhali premises. The company must vacate the site it has leased from the Dhaka Cantonment Board since 1964.

    The relocation also involves shutting down BAT’s Dhaka factory, though operations will continue at its Savar, Manikganj, and Kushtia facilities. A spokesperson acknowledged potential disruption but emphasized preparations were in place to minimize the impact and protect shareholder interests. BAT Bangladesh earned Tk9,597 crore in Q1 2025.

    The company had been leasing the factory on 30-year terms, with a maximum duration of 90 years. BAT applied for the final renewal, but was denied by the board, which initiated the legal proceedings. Environmental groups had long called for the factory’s relocation, citing pollution concerns.

  • Davidoff Reports $663M in Revenue Amid Planned Cutbacks

    Davidoff Reports $663M in Revenue Amid Planned Cutbacks

    Oettinger Davidoff AG reported CHF 541.7 million ($662.8 million) in global revenue for 2024—an increase of 0.9% over the previous year, despite a significant decrease in production volume. In total, the company produced 38.5 million cigars across its Dominican Republic and Nicaraguan facilities, down 21% from 2023’s 48.8 million cigars. The company said the reduction was intentional, due to pre-emptive production ahead of the European Union’s new track and trace requirements that took effect in May 2024.

    “The year 2024 was another strong year in the 150-year history of our family-owned company,” said Beat Hauenstein, CEO of Oettinger Davidoff AG, in a press release. “The solid 2024 results prove that our investments in our brands, retail and shopping experiences have paid off and that we are well set up to successfully continue writing the next chapter of our longstanding history.”

    Despite lower production, Davidoff said it is expanding capacity at its Diadema Cigars de Honduras S.A. factory in Danlí, Honduras, following the completion of an expansion in the Dominican Republic last year. Among individual brand performances, Zino grew 28.1%, while the flagship Davidoff brand rose 15%. The company did not disclose results for AVO, Camacho, or other brands.

  • Despite Ban, 1-in-9 Brazilian Teens Vape

    Despite Ban, 1-in-9 Brazilian Teens Vape

    Despite a national ban on electronic cigarettes, one in nine Brazilian teenagers now uses e-cigarettes, according to a new survey conducted by the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp).

    The findings, released this week, are part of the Third National Survey on Alcohol and Drugs (Lenad 3), which surveyed around 16,000 people aged 14 and up across Brazil. The results show that e-cigarette use among teens is five times higher than traditional cigarette smoking, indicating a major shift in youth nicotine consumption.

    Dr. Clarice Madruga, a professor of psychiatry at Unifesp and the study’s lead author, says that easy online access to e-cigarettes—despite the national prohibition—has fueled the trend.

    “We had a major success story with policies that led to a steep decline in smoking,” Madruga said. “But a new challenge has completely disrupted that progress. Today, we’re seeing much higher consumption rates—especially among teenagers—which remain largely invisible.”

  • South Australia Shuts Down 5 Stores Under New Tobacco Laws

    South Australia Shuts Down 5 Stores Under New Tobacco Laws

    Five CBD stores have been shut down for selling illicit tobacco and vapes under South Australia’s tough new laws. Four stores received 28-day closure orders, and one was closed for 3 days after raids by the Consumer and Business Services task force. Officials had given stores a grace period but warned that there would be zero tolerance once the laws went into effect on June 5.

    The new laws allow for up to 12-month closures and fines ranging from A$700,000 ($455,000) for an individual to A$6.6 million ($4.3 million) for a “large commercial” business. Landlords may also face penalties if they allow illegal sales on their premises.

    Since July 1, authorities have seized A$34 million ($22.1 million) in illegal products during over 500 inspections.

  • Pakistan to Fund University with Tobacco Levy

    Pakistan to Fund University with Tobacco Levy

    Pakistan’s federal government plans to impose a levy on tobacco products to help cover the operational costs of the upcoming Daanish University in Islamabad. The decision was discussed during a project review meeting led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on June 18.

    The university is being funded by £190 million returned by the UK in a corruption case, with the new tobacco levy intended to support its ongoing expenses. Bids for design and implementation were recently opened, mainly involving firms from China and Turkiye.

    PM Sharif emphasized global education standards, calling for smart boards, e-libraries, and a world-class digital library. He also urged fast-tracking the project and expanding Daanish schools across underserved regions.