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  • Tanzanian Tobacco Growing

    Tanzanian Tobacco Growing

    Tobacco is Tanzania’s top export for the second straight year, totaling $517.1 million in 2024, up from its previous record of $340.4 million in 2023, according to the Bank of Tanzania. Tobacco passed traditional “king” crops cashew nuts and tobacco two years ago and now accounts for more than a third of the country’s agricultural exports, as Tanzania becomes Africa’s second-largest tobacco producer behind only Zimbabwe.

    With heavy support from the government — providing significant subsidies, working with leaf companies to purchase the crop, and investing in tobacco processing infrastructure — Tanzania’s market is expected to continue its growth, projected to produce $667.9 million in 2025 and continue growing at an annual rate of 3.44% until it reaches $764.8 million in 2029.

    Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe has emphasized the importance of fair practices within the local tobacco industry. The government has initiated crackdowns on exploitative practices by cooperative leaders to ensure that farmers receive equitable compensation for their produce. There is also a $300 million cigarette factory being constructed in Morogoro to enhance the nation’s processing capacity and ensure the farmers always have a viable market.

  • Maldives Allows Police to Destroy Vapes

    Maldives Allows Police to Destroy Vapes

    Tobacco Control General Regulations published today in Maldives grant police the authority to seize and destroy vaping devices prohibited under the Tobacco Control Act. The import and use of vapes was banned in December, and while the existing law allows for fines on those who possess or sell vapes, it previously did not grant police the power to confiscate already imported devices. Under the new regulations, police can now confiscate vaping devices and related items found in possession or use.

    Individuals caught with a vape device will face a fine of MVR 2,000 ($130), while those who refuse to surrender the items to the police may be fined MVR 50,000 ($3,250). Distributing vapes for free results in a fine of MVR 10,000 ($650) and the sale of vapes incurs a fine of MVR 20,000 ($1,300). Additionally, selling vapes to individuals under 21 results in a fine of MVR 50,000.

  • Northern Ireland Moves Toward Generational Ban

    Northern Ireland Moves Toward Generational Ban

    Yesterday (February 10), Northern Ireland moved a step closer to a generational tobacco ban with Members of the Legislative Assembly voting in favor of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The bill would progressively raise the age to buy tobacco, meaning that people born after December 31, 2008 would never be able to purchase it legally.

    The bill is currently going through the Westminster legislative process, and as health is a devolved matter, each devolved legislature votes on whether they consent to pass the bill in their nation through a Legislative Consent Motion (LCM). The bill was first introduced in May 2024, however, because of the general election, had to be introduced by the new UK Government, and needed a second LCM to take place. 

    “To achieve a smoke-free UK, we also need to start the stop of smoking, ensuring that people who currently smoke have access to the support they need to quit,” Smokefree UK said in a statement. “We’ll continue to fight for this vital legislation to be implemented in Northern Ireland and across the rest of the UK and together, we can help end cancers caused by smoking.”

  • Researchers Look to Sewage for Truth on Tobacco Use

    Researchers Look to Sewage for Truth on Tobacco Use

    University of California at Merced’s (UCM) Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center has embarked on an innovative partnership with university researchers who can track an entire community’s health and habits with samples of human sewage. The project, which plans to have a pilot running by this summer, aims to determine trends and levels of nicotine use in San Joaquin Valley communities through chemicals in wastewater.

    The project will start by collecting wastewater from two cities in Merced and Stanislaus counties and from the UCM campus. Sewage samples will be analyzed for nicotine metabolites over a span of several months, allowing researchers to observe trends and patterns of use.

    “You can see if it’s increasing or decreasing at certain times of the year,” said UCM environmental engineer Professor Colleen Naughton. “You also can see if your interventions are working, based on whether concentrations rise or fall.”

    Traditional methods of collecting data about nicotine use, such as surveys and phone calls, often suffer from low response rates and difficulties in connecting with hard-to-reach populations. The data collected with this study will allow local public health agencies, community organizations, and tobacco-control researchers to make more informed decisions.

    “We continue to have significant gaps in reliable measurements of how many people smoke or use other tobacco products in the San Joaquin Valley. This could help fill those gaps,” Public health Professor Arturo Durazo said. “From there, perhaps the research could extend to other substances such as cannabis, alcohol or fentanyl.”

  • Study: Physically Activity in Children Diminishes Smoking Chances

    Study: Physically Activity in Children Diminishes Smoking Chances

    A new study published in the Journal of Behaviour Research and Therapy suggests people are less likely to initiate tobacco smoking if they engage in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) from childhood. Universities from Bristol and Exeter in the UK, and the University of Eastern Finland followed more than 2,500 children from the age of 11 until they were 24 and found that 0.6% of those who engaged in MPVAs began smoking by age 13, compared to 1.5% who began smoking that did not engage in activity. The study thus concludes MVPA reduces the risk of initiating tobacco smoking by 60% for 13-year-olds.

    The study was the largest and the longest follow-up of accelerometer-based MVPA and smoking behavior of young people in history. Physical activity intervention studies have reported reduced smoking rates among adults; however, physical activity studies in preventing smoking in children and adolescents have been inconclusive due to short study durations, small population sizes, and lack of accelerometer-measured physical activity data.

    “Stopping smoking in adulthood is good but late since a residual long-term risk of heart disease for the next thirty years still exists,” said Andrew Agbaje, physician and associate professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Child Health at the University of Eastern Finland. “Thus, preventing childhood smoking initiation is critical to lifelong health and these findings may be extrapolated to vaping and electronic cigarette use in teenagers since the same active ingredient in both smoke and smokeless tobacco is nicotine.”

    The study also found that the prevalence of smoking at ages 13, 15, and 24 years was 1.5%, 13.5%, and 26.6%, respectively.

  • NC Tobacco Growers to Vote on Assessment

    NC Tobacco Growers to Vote on Assessment

    North Carolina tobacco growers will decide this month whether to continue assessing themselves to support export promotion. It was announced today (February 11) that a referendum will take place February 19 at the Johnston County Agricultural Building, in Smithfield.

    For years, growers of flue-cured tobacco have assessed themselves to fund Tobacco Associates Inc., which seeks to promote and expand the export of U.S. leaf. If farmers approve the assessment, it will be no more than one-fifth of one cent per pound. The assessment would continue until the next vote in 2029.

  • Ispire Reports 2Q Earnings and Growth Initiatives

    Ispire Reports 2Q Earnings and Growth Initiatives

    Ispire Technology Inc. today (February 10) reported results for its fiscal second quarter 2025, which included a 0.3% YoY revenue increase to $41.8 million, a 23.5% gross profit increase to $7.7 million, and a 23% gross margin increase to 18.5%. Its fiscal second quarter ended December 31, 2024.

    “Despite challenging macroeconomic conditions, we had strong results for the quarter given the strategic advances we made in becoming a leading global innovative vaping technology and precision dosing solutions company,” said Co-Chief Executive Officer Michael Wang. “This is particularly evident as we further expanded into international markets. Our BrkFst brand recently launched in Africa, marking our first international nicotine license arrangement and product launch. The BrkFst brand has seen early success as we have quickly established a presence in over 500 retail locations across South Africa and Nigeria, including major chains like Pick n Pay and Forecourts.”

    Total operating expenses for the second fiscal quarter increased from $10.2 million in 2024 to $15.1 million in 2025. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to increased expenses associated with our increased revenue generation, continued investment in Malaysia, and increased expenses related to our product development function, the company said. It also reported a net loss of $8 million for the fiscal second quarter of 2025, double the $4 million from 2024.

    “Our financial performance this quarter demonstrates our ability to execute our strategic priorities for growth and financial management,” Chief Financial Officer Jim McCormick said. “[Our] balanced approach allows us to simultaneously invest in our growth strategies and return value to our shareholders, which we believe positions us for continued success in the evolving global nicotine product market.”

    On December 31, 2024, Ispire had a cash position of $34.4 million, as well as working capital of $6.1 million.

    “We’ve implemented a sweeping market activation strategy with brand ambassadors conducting daily events in major metropolitan areas, which has been instrumental in building strong relationships with both retailers and consumers,” Wang said. “We now plan to accelerate our expansion strategy to reach more than 2,000 stores in the next six months through additional strategic partnerships.

    “Furthermore, our IKE Tech joint venture’s component PMTA strategy represents a groundbreaking opportunity. We’ve completed a successful pre-PMTA meeting with the FDA, who indicated they would accept our component PMTA submission and consider our priority review. The legal U.S. market for electronic nicotine delivery systems is approximately $11 billion, with an additional $7 billion potential in alternative markets. This is a significant opportunity for our potentially industry-changing blockchain-based age verification technology which could help prevent youth access.”

  • Hong Kong: Bill Would Strengthen Tobacco Control, Hurt Pubs

    Hong Kong: Bill Would Strengthen Tobacco Control, Hurt Pubs

    Hong Kong Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said an amendment bill to strengthen tobacco control will be submitted to the Legislative Council in April that would impact virtually every product, all on different timelines. He said a potential ban on flavored non-menthol-flavored cigarettes could begin as early as next year, with menthol-favored-cigarettes then following, but with no specific timeline given.

    “Menthol cigarettes have a longer history, which is why we hope the policy can be implemented gradually,” Lo said, pointing out that 40% of smokers use flavored cigarettes and of those more than 50% use menthol. “We want to start with non-menthol as a pilot.

    “We’ve seen significant opposition [about the flavor ban], especially from tobacco companies, which shows that this hits their core interests.”

    The bill would extend the flavor ban to water pipes and also include increased penalties for illegal tobacco, updated rules cigarette labeling rules, and new rules for travelers with tobacco. Lo also said that e-cigarettes, which have been banned from import and sale since 2022 but can still be owned, may be facing a complete ban by mid-2026.

    The Long Term Tobacco Policy Concern Group polled 514 customers at popular nightlife districts in Hong Kong recently and found that 80% of bar-goers would have less desire to frequent pubs if a flavor ban was put in place, and that 70% would consider patronizing establishments on the mainland instead. Pub operators predicted a 30% loss of patrons if the government proposal was approved.

    “This is pulling out the last straw in such a terrible situation,” said Ben Leung Lap-yan, charter president of the Licensed Bar and Club Association of Hong Kong, which represents more than half of the city’s 1,300 licensed venues. “Should so many measures be put forward in the current poor economic environment in such a tough and aggressive way?”

  • Korean Bill Stalls in Defining “Tobacco”  

    Korean Bill Stalls in Defining “Tobacco”  

    Today (February 10), a bill in South Korea that includes liquid-type electronic cigarettes in the legal definition of “tobacco” did not pass the Economic and Financial Subcommittee of the National Assembly. Some members raised concerns about the credibility of the government’s findings, noting that synthetic nicotine is harmful, similar to existing tobacco products, and opposed the bill. There were also arguments that decisions should be deferred considering the survival rights of the liquid tobacco industry.

    The main point of the amendment is to expand the definition of “legal tobacco” to include liquid-type electronic cigarettes that use synthetic nicotine as a primary ingredient. Under current law, tobacco is defined as “the leaves of the tobacco plant.” Electronic cigarettes containing synthetic nicotine are not classified as legal tobacco.

    The issue, critics say, is that liquid-type electronic cigarettes have a similar addictive quality to existing tobacco products and are effectively used as tobacco, however, because of the legal definition question, they escape various regulations and taxation.

    Last December, the Economic and Financial Subcommittee held a public hearing related to the amendment of the Tobacco Business Act where both ruling and opposition party members reached a consensus that liquid-type electronic cigarettes should be regulated legally as if they were tobacco. However, in a closed-door meeting later that day, differing concerns were raised regarding the government’s findings.

    “There is a consensus among ruling and opposition party members to define and regulate liquid-type electronic cigarettes as tobacco,” one of the members of the Economic and Financial Subcommittee said. “However, additional discussions are needed on how to flexibly apply the Tobacco Business Act considering the survival rights of sales vendors.”

  • Kutsaga Celebrates 75 Years, Looks to Expand in Zimbabwe

    Kutsaga Celebrates 75 Years, Looks to Expand in Zimbabwe

    As Kutsaga Research celebrated its 75th anniversary by hosting a tobacco seed and variety field day in Zimbabwe, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary  Obert Jiri said the organization needs to continue its good work and spread to the southern part of the nation (regions four and five).

    “The tobacco value chain is currently positively impacting the lives of over 120,000 smallholder farmers; however, these are predominantly in the northern and middle parts of the country,” Jiri said. “Kutsaga should learn from the challenges and success of the Tobacco Value Chain Transformation Plan that ends this year to spearhead the development of climate-smart drought adaptive varieties, research into eco-friendly tobacco curing fuels such as liquid petroleum gas, biogas, and solar energy.”

    The country is recovering from the devastating effect of last year’s El Nino-induced drought that cut production, but this year hopes to match 2023’s record-high 296 million kilograms produced.

    Kutsaga board chair Aaron Denenga said the company was committed to transforming into a self-sustaining agricultural research hub over the next 25 years, leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, 3D printing, genetic engineering, and quantum computing.