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  • CASAA to Cease Operations in August

    CASAA to Cease Operations in August

    The Consumer Advocates for Smoke Free Alternatives Association (CASAA) will cease operations, ending its legislative advocacy work by the end of August. Alex Clark, the group’s executive director, made the announcement to members via email. The group has been advocating for tobacco harm reduction (THR) since 2009.

    “CASAA has organized consumer opposition to restrictive laws, commented on policy issues, sent representatives to speak at hearings and public gatherings, and collected thousands of testimonials from consumers who used reduced-harm nicotine products,” wrote Jim McDonald, an industry reporter and member of CASAA board. “Due at least in part to CASAA-organized consumer opposition to proposed state and local laws, hundreds of potentially damaging bills and ordinances have been stopped across the country since 2009.” 

    McDonald pointed to a lack of funding, needed to pay for legislative-tracking software and target communications to members, as the reason for closing the non-profit organization.

  • Despite Increase, Pakistan Faces Cigarette Tax Revenue Shortfall

    Despite Increase, Pakistan Faces Cigarette Tax Revenue Shortfall

    Contrary to recent optimistic projections, Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) tax collection from documented cigarette industry is expected to fall significantly from last year, highlighting growing challenges in the sector amid rising smuggling and regulatory inefficiencies.

    For the 2024-25 fiscal year, the government budgeted revenue collected from the cigarette industry to reach PKR 285 billion ($998 million). However, industry insiders and financial analysts say that figure is not grounded in factual analysis, and PKR 250 billion ($875 million) is more realistic.

    According to Business Recorder, a major factor behind the revenue shortfall is the exorbitant imposition of Adjustable Federal Excise Duty (FED) on acetate tow, a key raw material used in cigarette manufacturing. The industry recommended an adjustable FED rate of PKR 4,000 per kg, which was intended to increase the cost of doing business for the illicit players and was supposed to be adjusted against the final tax liability improving documentation and reconciliation. However, the government imposed a FED rate of PKR 44,000 per kg, a sharp rise that has inadvertently made smuggling far more lucrative and has led to a dramatic increase in illicit activity.  

  • Companies Partner to Unite Cannabis Cultivation Process

    Companies Partner to Unite Cannabis Cultivation Process

    Cannatrol, a provider of precision-controlled drying and curing technology, announced a strategic alliance with Rhythm Cultivation Solutions & Services, a fertigation and environmental controls company. Through the partnership, data collected throughout the cultivation and post-harvest processes will provide commercial cannabis cultivators new insights into their operations and efficiency.

    “At the core of this partnership is a shared belief in making growers’ lives easier by connecting the dots across the cultivation journey,” said David Sandelman, co-founder and inventor of the Cannatrol system. “By joining forces with Rhythm, we’re enabling our customers to work smarter, not harder.”

    The two companies will integrate Cannatrol’s proprietary operating data into Rhythm’s interfact, delivering a seamless, data-rich experience for commercial cannabis cultivators. This collaboration marks a pivotal step toward unifying the entire cultivation process—from growth to post-harvest—by providing operators with a complete, end-to-end view of their facility data in one intuitive platform.

  • Al Fakher Launches MINI 3K

    Al Fakher Launches MINI 3K

    Al Fakher launched the MINI 3K, a “compact and stylish vaping device offering up to 3,000 puffs of rich, smooth flavor.” The device is equipped with a dual-pod system, allowing users to switch flavors easily while maximizing value.

    “In full compliance with the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD), the MINI 3K is a safe and legal choice for consumers across the European Union,” the company said. “Each device is clearly labeled and responsibly manufactured to meet the highest regulatory standards.”

  • PMI Execs Talk Financials

    PMI Execs Talk Financials

    Today (June 3), Philip Morris International presented at the 2025 dbAccess Global Consumer Conference, showcasing its strategic focus on smoke-free products amid a backdrop of both opportunities and challenges. The company reported strong growth in its smoke-free portfolio, while also managing a resilient combustible business through strategic price adjustments and cost management.

    PMI reported organic revenue growth between 6% and 8% and organic operating income growth of 10.5% to 12.5%. The company said it remains on course to have two-thirds of its revenue come from smoke-free products by 2030.

    PMI said its smoke-free product volume increased by more than 14%, and revenue from smoke-free products grew by over 20% organically. This category was led by its Zyn nicotine pouches, which saw over 50% growth in the U.S. during Q1 2025, and has plans for further expansion in Europe and other markets.

    IQOS experienced nearly 10% growth in Japan and over 7% in Europe despite regulatory challenges, with Veev holding the top position in five EU markets, focusing on profitable growth.

    Emmanuel Babeau, CFO of PMI, said the company plans to expand IQOS in the U.S. and enter new markets such as Turkey, Brazil, and India, and expects to reach a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 2x by the end of 2026.

  • New Technology for Nicotine Pouches May Improve Oral Health

    New Technology for Nicotine Pouches May Improve Oral Health

    A new study suggests damage to the gums and oral lining caused by products like nicotine pouches or snus may be reversed by switching to a new, gum-protective technology. A team of researchers from universities and dental clinics in Sweden, Poland, Indonesia, Moldova, and the UK—with support from the Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR) in Catania—published the results of their pilot study in Acta Odontologica Scandinavica.

    Twenty-three Swedish dentists, all regular users of snus or nicotine pouches, participated in the five-week observational study. The participants switched exclusively to using a new technology nicotine pouch featuring a plant-based inner barrier, designed to protect sensitive tissues in the mouth by reducing direct contact with the gums and the oral mucosa from the contents of the pouch. Self-reported oral health status and photographic documentation of their oral conditions were noted before and after the study.

    The prevalence of self-reported snus lesions decreased from 95.7% to 69.6%. The severity of these lesions also decreased by 52%, with 39% of moderate-to-severe lesions completely disappearing by the end of the study. Self-reported cases of gingivitis (gum inflammation) were eliminated, and gingival irritation decreased by 90%.

    “Not all nicotine pouches are created equal. This is a positive step forward for tobacco harm reduction,” said Prof. Riccardo Polosa, founder of CoEHAR. “This development marks real progress in tobacco harm reduction. By engineering products that minimize risk and help smokers quit, we achieve an unequivocal win for public health.”

    The findings support the idea that technological innovation can make nicotine products less harmful, especially for adults seeking alternatives to smoking.

  • Malaysian Vapers: Ban is Not the Solution

    Malaysian Vapers: Ban is Not the Solution

    With Malaysian states working ahead of the federal government regarding tobacco control, the Malaysian Vapers Alliance (MVA) implored policymakers in state governments not to ban the sale of vape products and instead work together with the federal government to ensure they are properly regulated. Various proposals that would stop the issuance of business licenses to sell such products are being considered.

    “Banning the sale of vape products by stopping the issuance of business licences for local traders will only create negative consequences, especially when the federal government has already enacted laws to regulate vape products,” said Khairil Azizi Khairuddin, president of the MVA. “Consumers want access to regulated products. But this situation will cause negative consequences where consumers will be forced to seek products from alternative sources, including illegal channels. This will then create a situation where illegal vape products and the underground market will flourish.”

    MVA said the proposal to ban the sale of vape products by stopping the issuance of municipal council business licenses does not solve the issue at hand, which is the misuse and abuse of banned substances. MVA further added that access to products laced and infused with drugs are not sold in vape shops but instead are sold via online platforms, including social media channels.

    “Clearly, the ban on vape shops is not the right solution,” said Khairil. “Instead, the authorities need to work towards ensuring only regulated vape products are available for sale in vape shops, increase enforcement efforts against the sale of products laced and infused with drugs on those channels, and impose heavy penalties including mandatory jail terms for those involved.

  • Illinois Increases Taxes on Tobacco, Sports Books

    Illinois Increases Taxes on Tobacco, Sports Books

    Needing to raise an additional $500 million in revenue to balance its budget, Illinois legislators voted to increase taxes on tobacco, vapes, and sports gambling, and expand taxes on out-of-state income for businesses. The budget saw a 3.9% spending increase to $55.3 billion, with the Democratic majority receiving heavy criticism for providing next to no time for public review of the massive spending plan and other major bills, pushing through a previously unseen 3,000 pages of bills in the final 48 hours, according to ABC News.

    The state intends to raise tax rates on any “product that is made from or derived from tobacco,” including cigarettes, chewing tobacco, vaping products and nicotine gum, according to legislators. The tax rate will be raised from 36% of the wholesale price of the products to 45%, according to the legislation, but will not be applied to smoking cessation products, according to the text of the bill.

  • CAPHRA Issues Report on Suppressing, Distorting Information

    CAPHRA Issues Report on Suppressing, Distorting Information

    A new report from the Coalition of Asia Pacific Tobacco Harm Reduction Advocates (CAPHRA) raised concerns about the long-term consequences of suppressing or distorting scientific information during public health crises. Titled “The Cost of Concealment: The People Pay the Price,” the report examines how failures in transparency and accountability can erode public trust and compromise health outcomes. 

    The report identifies a recurring pattern in which political pressures, institutional interests, and reputational concerns have influenced how critical health information is communicated. This pattern, the report suggests, has been evident in past events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and more recently in the restructuring of the National Institutes of Health in the United States, and Argentina’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization.

    “In times of crisis, the public depends on officials and scientists to provide clear, objective, and timely information,” said Nancy Loucas, executive coordinator for CAPHRA. “When this duty is compromised, the consequences are measured not just in lost trust, but in lost lives.”

    The report emphasizes that limited transparency and selective reporting can have global ramifications, empowering misinformation, weakening public institutions, and leading to ineffective policy responses. It concludes with a call for renewed commitment to ethical standards, transparency, and scientific independence, and urges officials, researchers, and institutions to prioritize public welfare over political or personal interests.

    “When science is manipulated or dissenting views are silenced, it ceases to be a tool of discovery and becomes a tool of conformity,” said Clarisse Virgino, CAPHRA’s representative in the Philippines.

    Read the entire report here. 

  • South Africa Working to “Combat Tobacco Use”

    South Africa Working to “Combat Tobacco Use”

    Through the proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, South Africa is actively working “to combat tobacco use,” including e-cigarettes and hookahs, according to the Deputy Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla.  

    “We want to make sure we regulate these upcoming products because currently they’re not covered,” Phaahla said. “That is, e-cigarettes and the hubbly bubblies [hookahs]. We want to make sure they are properly regulated because currently they are everywhere.” 

    Phaahla said the proposed Bill seeks to implement significant changes to tobacco regulation, including the introduction of plain packaging, the expansion of smoke-free zones, stricter controls on emerging tobacco products, regulation of e-cigarettes, and enhanced support for tobacco cessation programs.

    The bill is expected to proceed to Parliament, with the government confident it will pass despite pushback from those pushing for harm reduction.