TobaccoReporter logo

Blog

  • Growers: Pakistan Government to Establish New Tobacco Board

    Growers: Pakistan Government to Establish New Tobacco Board

     Representatives of farmers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan, petitioned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government to establish the Pakhtunkhwa Tobacco Board through legislation to protect and safeguard the rights and interests of poor growers in the province.

     “According to Pakistan’s Constitution, agriculture is a provincial subject,” said Liaqat Yousafzai, central president of the Tobacco Growers Association Pakistan. “However, the federal government had illegally and unconstitutionally taken control of it. Now, under the downsizing policy, the federal government has decided to either abolish or transfer certain government departments and institutions to the provinces, including the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB).”

    He urged the provincial government to seize the opportunity and set up the Pakhtunkhwa Tobacco Board to stop the ongoing exploitation of growers at the hands of existing PTB and the multinational and national tobacco companies. Local leaders have long argued control of tobacco should be handed over to the province as per the constitution.

    The Tehreek-e-Ittehad Kashtkaran Pakhtunkhwa leaders, including TIKP’s chairman Arif Ali Khan, senior vice-chairman Dawood Jan Khan of Ismaila, vice-chairman Iqbal Khan of Shewa, general secretary Asfandyar Khan, joint secretary Shahab Khan, Ahmad Jan Kaka of Marghuz and others also attended the meeting.

    “Now that the federal government has decided to withdraw from it and transfer the Pakistan Tobacco Board to the province, it is the responsibility of the KP government to move forward and take the control of the province’s most lucrative crop, tobacco, into its own hands,” Khan said.

    The speakers said the existing PTB was established in 1968 but did not include any provisions for the protection of the interests of tobacco farmers. Some protections for farmers were added over time, however, “due to the federal government’s lack of interest and at the behest of tobacco companies, the implementation of these laws had not been carried out in recent years, and the tobacco crop has been under the control of multinational companies,” they said. 

  • FDA Authorizes 20 ZYN Pouch Products

    FDA Authorizes 20 ZYN Pouch Products

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of 20 ZYN nicotine pouch products through the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway following an extensive scientific review. This is the first time the agency has authorized products commonly referred to as nicotine pouches, which are small synthetic fiber pouches containing nicotine designed to be placed between a person’s gum and lip. 

    The FDA determined that the specific products receiving marketing authorization met the public health standard legally required by the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. This standard considers the risks and benefits of products to the population as a whole.

    “As a public health scientist and former Director of the Office of Science at FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, I couldn’t be more excited for public health with FDA’s decision today,” Matt Holman, vice president of U.S. Scientific Engagement and Regulatory Strategy at PMI said on X. “Authorizing products that can help the nearly 30 million smokers in the United States switch to a better form of nicotine has the potential to save countless lives.”

    Among several key considerations, the agency’s evaluation showed that, due to substantially lower amounts of harmful constituents than cigarettes and most smokeless tobacco products, such as moist snuff and snus, the authorized products pose a lower risk of cancer and other serious health conditions than such products. The applicant also provided evidence from a study showing that a substantial proportion of adults who use cigarette and/or smokeless tobacco products completely switched to the newly authorized nicotine pouch products.

    “To receive marketing authorizations, the FDA must have sufficient evidence that the new products offer greater benefits to population health than risks,” said Matthew Farrelly, Ph.D., director of the Office of Science in the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “In this case, the data show that these nicotine pouch products meet that bar by benefiting adults who use cigarettes and/or smokeless tobacco products and completely switch to these products.”

    Additionally, the FDA found that the applicant showed these nicotine pouch products have the potential to provide a benefit to adults who smoke cigarettes and/or use other smokeless tobacco products that is sufficient to outweigh the risks of the products, including to youth. As part of its evaluation, the FDA reviewed data regarding youth risk and found that youth use of nicotine pouches remains low despite growing sales in recent years. For example, the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey showed that 1.8% of U.S. middle and high school students reported currently using nicotine pouches.

    “It’s critical that the manufacturer market these products responsibly to prevent youth use,” said Brian King, Ph.D., M.P.H., director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “While current data show that youth use remains low, the FDA is closely monitoring the marketplace and is committed to taking action, as appropriate, to best protect public health.”

    While today’s actions permit these specific tobacco products to be legally marketed in the U.S. to adults 21 and older, it does not mean these tobacco products are safe, nor are they “FDA approved.” There is no safe tobacco product; youth should not use tobacco products and adults who do not use tobacco products should not start. 

    The FDA will closely monitor the marketing and use of these products. To reduce the potential for youth exposure to advertising of these products, the authorizations impose stringent marketing restrictions for digital, television, and radio, including measures to ensure ads are carefully targeted to adults ages 21 and older and the demographics of the audiences reached by the ads are tracked and measured by the manufacturer. The company also stated that they intend to implement additional measures to restrict youth access, reduce youth appeal, and limit youth exposure to their labeling and advertising, such as: not using mass-market advertising on radio and TV; employing actors/models for marketing that are no younger than 35 years old, or styled to appear under 35; and avoiding any content designed to target youth, including characters, images or themes. The agency may suspend or withdraw a marketing granted order issued under the PMTA pathway for a variety of reasons if the agency determines the continued marketing of a product no longer meets the necessary public health standard, such as if there is a notable increase in youth initiation.

    The products for which the FDA issued marketing granted orders are the following, each with two nicotine strengths (3 milligrams and 6 milligrams): ZYN Chill, ZYN Cinnamon, ZYN Citrus, ZYN Coffee, ZYN Cool Mint, ZYN Menthol, ZYN Peppermint, ZYN Smooth, ZYN Spearmint and ZYN Wintergreen. Importantly, today’s actions are specific to these products only; the authorizations do not apply to any other nicotine pouch or other ZYN products. Additionally, the authorization does not allow the company to make reduced-risk claims about the authorized products, which would require a modified-risk tobacco product application.

    Today’s actions are the latest of many the FDA has taken to ensure all new tobacco products marketed in the U.S. undergo science-based review and have received marketing authorizations by the agency. To date, the FDA has received applications for nearly 27 million products and has made determinations on more than 26 million of those applications. This includes authorization of other flavored oral tobacco products, including nicotine mints and chews in 2021 and mint smokeless tobacco in 2015. To find a list of tobacco products that may be legally marketed and sold in the U.S., visit the FDA’s Searchable Tobacco Products Database.

  • Wisconsin Targets Menthol

    Wisconsin Targets Menthol

    On January 15, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) launched a targeted digital education campaign highlighting the dangers of menthol tobacco products. The campaign targets groups the department feels have been “disproportionately targeted” by menthol marketing, including Blacks and other people of color, youth, young adults, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

    The DHS and other health officials say the commercial tobacco industry is using tactics like high-density advertising – such as sponsorships of events and music festivals – retail promotions, and the sale of flavored products to get people addicted to smoking.

    “Over generations, menthol in tobacco has had a catastrophic health impact on Wisconsinites,” said State Health Officer Paula Tran. “Each year 7,900 Wisconsinites die from tobacco use. National studies have shown that if menthol cigarettes were no longer available in Wisconsin, an estimated 17,200 adults in the state would quit smoking.”

    The DHS says menthol is used by nine of 10 Black Wisconsinites who smoke, contributing to the three leading causes of death in the community: heart disease, cancer, and stroke. It also said the prevalence of smokers in Black communities is “sometimes nearly twice as high compared to other communities across the state.”

    “The result will be that we will continue to see generations of people dying from smoking-related illnesses or suffering long-term addictions,” said Vicki Huntington, section manager with the DHS Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Treatment Program. “Through this awareness campaign, we want to inform people about the harm that comes from menthol tobacco use and call attention to the tactics that the industry is using to get people addicted.”

  • BAT Shifts Voting Rights

    BAT Shifts Voting Rights

    British American Tobacco (BAT) announced a change in the voting rights composition involving The Capital Group Companies, Inc., which now holds 15.075429% of the voting rights, up from a previous 14.040509%. This adjustment in holdings indicates a notable change in the company’s stakeholder landscape, potentially impacting its governance and decision-making processes.

    The Los Angeles-based Capital Group is BAT’s largest shareholder, growing from a 13% stake in July 2024 and 14% stake in December 2024.Capital Group is the world’s largest active fund manager, with $2.7 trillion AuM (assets under management).

  • China: Former Tobacco Head Pleads Guilty on Bribery Charges

    China: Former Tobacco Head Pleads Guilty on Bribery Charges

    Ling Chengxing, former director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration of China, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse on charges of bribery and abuse of power in a Changchun court today. He was charged with illegally accepting property worth over 43.1 million yuan ($5.9 million).

    Previously, Ling also held several other high-level positions, including vice-governor of Jiangxi province, the Party committee member of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and general manager of China National Tobacco Corporation.

    According to accusations by the procuratorate in Changchun, between 2006 and 2023, Ling took advantage of his positions to seek benefits for certain units and individuals in project contracting, business operations, and job adjustments. He was also accused of malpractice and abuse of power during the facilitation, review of related investments, and acquisition of equity, causing significant losses to state-owned companies and resulting in particularly severe damage to national interests.

    The court will conclude the trial at a later date.

  • Report: E-Cig Market to Reach $23B by 2029

    Report: E-Cig Market to Reach $23B by 2029

    The E-cigarette market is projected to grow from its current $18.98 billion to $23.15 billion by 2029, an increase of 3.4%, that according to the “E-Cigarette Market Research Report 2020-2029” that was released today.

    The global e-cigarette market is highly competitive, characterized by the presence of key players such as Altria Group, British American Tobacco (BAT), Imperial Brands, and Japan Tobacco International (JTI). With the declining sale of traditional cigarettes due to increasing health awareness and regulatory pressures, such companies have aggressively entered the e-cigarette market, pushing innovation and technology.

    The global e-cigarette market continues to see user-friendly products introduced that are popular with beginners, as well as open systems including mods that offer greater customization options for experienced vapers. Advancements in battery technology and improvements in e-liquid formulation have likewise helped advance the vaping experience.

    Governments, non-profit organizations, and healthcare providers have for decades been pushing awareness against the health risks of smoking, which is positively impacting the e-cigarette market.

  • Zimbabwe farmers nearing shisha tobacco target

    Zimbabwe farmers nearing shisha tobacco target

     Cavendish Lloyd Zimbabwe’s chief executive officer, Dr. Rebecca Manford, welcomed the government’s extension of the seedbed destruction date to January 15, saying it would allow more farmers to continue transplanting as the nation approaches its shisha tobacco target.

     “For the 2024-25 season, the target is 514 hectares, and so far, 450 have been planted, making the set goal achievable,” Manford said. “Cavendish Lloyd has contracted 149 growers to produce a target yield of 775,000 kilograms, and with the ongoing support to farmers, we are optimistic of achieving this goal while ensuring a high-quality crop.”

    Now in its third year in production in Zimbabwe, Manford said the nation could become a significant player in the global shisha tobacco market with the crop driving economic growth and farmer empowerment. For this to happen, the farmers need the government to continue with its incentives which include expanding irrigation infrastructure, helping secure new export markets, and investing in research to develop high-yielding varieties, as well as subsidized inputs, loans, or grants. Cavendish Lloyd is currently the only registered and licensed shisha merchant by the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB).

    Statistics from TIMB show commercial shisha production rose from 110 hectares in 2022-23 to 407 hectares in 2023-24, totaling nearly 400,000 kilograms worth US$1.3 million.

    Prolonged dry spells and insufficient irrigation facilities made farmers hesitant to jump into full-scale production, however, recent rains have made a positive impact on the crop. Cavendish Lloyd has begun an awareness campaign to attract more growers, that includes technical training and engagement with stakeholders to promote sustainable production solutions.

  • Texas Judge Blocks FDA’s Warning Label Requirements

    Texas Judge Blocks FDA’s Warning Label Requirements

    A federal judge in Texas sided with R.J. Reynolds and other tobacco companies in finding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) went beyond its authority by requiring packaging and advertising to contain 11 specific warnings.

    U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker, in Tyler, Texas, blocked the FDA from enforcing a looming requirement that cigarette packages and advertisements contain graphic warnings illustrating the health risks of smoking. He said those warnings go above and beyond the nine that Congress specified when in 2009 it passed the Tobacco Control Act, which gave the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products and mandated adoption of the graphic warnings.

    Barker said not only did the FDA adopt two extra warnings beyond the nine the law required, but it only used the exact text Congress required for two of the remaining nine.

    The FDA argued it has the authority to adjust the format, type, and text of any required labels, but Barker said that power was limited, and even if the FDA was allowed to adjust the nine warnings, it could not add the extra two.

    “Courts are not free to second-guess policy decisions expressed in the plain text of the congressional enactments,” Barker wrote.

    The judge delayed the rule’s effective date pending further litigation, preventing the FDA from proceeding to enforce it starting in February 2026. It marked the second time Barker has blocked the FDA’s warning label rule. In 2022, the judge concluded the requirement violated the companies’ speech rights under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.

  • St. Louis: Veto Overturned in Tobacco Sale Flap

    St. Louis: Veto Overturned in Tobacco Sale Flap

    Some tobacco sales can continue near schools in St. Louis (Missouri) County after the county council overrode a veto from County Executive Sam Page. The issue goes back to a 2019 ordinance that banned new tobacco licenses in the county from stores within 1,000 feet of a school. Existing stores that sold tobacco were exempt from the ordinance, but if the owner sold the business, the new owner would be barred from getting a new license.

    The goal was to phase out all tobacco sales near schools but the county council overturned the law in 2023, allowing businesses to pass on the tobacco licenses to new owners. Page vetoed that move by the county council but now the council overrode the veto.

    Councilwoman Shalonda Webb says the move by the council allows existing tobacco licenses to be transferred to new owners when a store near a school is sold but it does not allow new licenses to be issued to different businesses. The St. Louis County Health Department has defended a total ban of tobacco products near schools but companies argue a total ban is unfair because they say businesses without a tobacco license are less valuable.

  • FDA Proposes Limiting Nicotine Levels

    FDA Proposes Limiting Nicotine Levels

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued a proposed rule that, if finalized, would make cigarettes and certain other combusted tobacco products minimally or nonaddictive by limiting the level of nicotine in those products. If finalized, the United States would be the first country globally to take such a stand. The FDA first announced its intent to propose such a rule in 2018, and now intends to seek input on the proposal, including through public comment and the FDA’s Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee.

    Nicotine is the primary addictive chemical in tobacco products that keeps people using the products. In the case of combusted products, such as cigarettes, nicotine addiction leads to users being repeatedly exposed to a toxic mix of chemicals in the smoke that cause disease and death. Based on the scientific evidence outlined in the proposed rule, the proposed nicotine level for cigarettes and certain other combustible tobacco products would be low enough to no longer create or sustain addiction. Importantly, a large body of research also shows that reduced nicotine content cigarettes do not lead smokers to compensate for lower nicotine by smoking more.

    “Multiple administrations have acknowledged the immense opportunity that a proposal of this kind offers to address the burden of tobacco-related disease,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “Today’s proposal envisions a future where it would be less likely for young people to use cigarettes and more individuals who currently smoke could quit or switch to less harmful products. This action, if finalized, could save many lives and dramatically reduce the burden of severe illness and disability, while also saving huge amounts of money. I hope we can all agree that significantly reducing the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S. is an admirable goal we should all work toward.”

    Based on the FDA’s population health model, by the year 2100, this nicotine product standard could prevent approximately 48 million U.S. youth and young adults from starting smoking. The model also projects that more than 12.9 million people who smoke cigarettes would stop doing so one year after the rule becomes effective, including those who would completely switch to noncombusted tobacco products; this estimate increases to 19.5 million people within five years of the rule being finalized. Additionally, the model estimates that by the year 2060, the product standard would result in 1.8 million tobacco-related deaths averted, rising to 4.3 million deaths averted by the end of the century.

    The proposed rule would not ban cigarettes or any other tobacco products. The FDA is proposing to cap the nicotine level at 0.7 milligrams per gram of tobacco in cigarettes and certain other combusted tobacco products, which is significantly lower than the average concentration in these products on the market today. The FDA’s proposal would apply to cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, roll-your-own tobacco, most cigars (including little cigars, cigarillos, and most large cigars), and pipe tobacco. The proposed rule does not include e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, noncombusted cigarettes (such as heated tobacco products that meet the definition of a cigarette), waterpipe tobacco (hookah), smokeless tobacco products, or premium cigars.

    “Today, we’re taking a critical step in the rulemaking process by providing the public with a proposal they can review and engage on,” said Brian King, Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “This proposal allows for the start of an important conversation about how we meaningfully tackle one of the deadliest consumer products in history and profoundly change the landscape of tobacco product use in the United States.”