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  • VTA Poll Finds Support for Science-Based Vape Regulation Reform

    VTA Poll Finds Support for Science-Based Vape Regulation Reform

    A nationwide survey in the United States commissioned by the Vapor Technology Association (VTA) found broad bipartisan support for reforming the FDA’s regulatory framework for vaping products, with particularly strong backing among President Donald Trump’s voters. Conducted by pollster Kellyanne Conway among 1,204 registered voters, including an oversample of 200 Trump voters, the survey found 71% support replacing the current FDA PMTA framework with science-based standards and 77% favor allowing vapor products with pending FDA applications that do not target youth to remain on the market while a revised system is implemented.

    The poll also found 65% of respondents support FDA reforms that would allow flavored vaping products for adults while maintaining youth protections, and 67% said regulations should reflect adult consumer demand for flavored products. At the same time, respondents strongly supported youth access restrictions, with 86% supporting robust age verification for all vape purchases, 84% favoring tougher penalties for retailers who sell to minors, and 80% supporting bans on youth-oriented marketing and product designs.

    VTA said the findings demonstrate public support for a streamlined, science-based regulatory pathway that differentiates adult access from youth prevention and promotes U.S.-based manufacturing. The association argued the current FDA regulatory system should be replaced with clearer scientific benchmarks that allow adult smokers access to authorized alternatives while enabling smaller manufacturers to compete alongside larger tobacco companies.

  • RJR Seeks to Overturn $34.5M Verdict

    RJR Seeks to Overturn $34.5M Verdict

    R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. asked Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal to overturn a $34.5 million wrongful death verdict awarded to the widow of a smoker who died at age 38, arguing the plaintiff failed to prove the smoker relied on any fraudulent statements by the company regarding the health risks of cigarettes. Reynolds contends Florida Supreme Court precedent requires Engle-progeny plaintiffs pursuing fraud-based claims to demonstrate reliance on specific misleading statements, and that the evidence presented at trial did not meet that standard.

    The appeal is the latest in a series of post-Engle tobacco cases in Florida, where cigarette manufacturers continue to challenge large jury awards on issues including fraud, jury instructions, and comparative fault. Recent appellate decisions have shown Florida courts closely scrutinizing whether trial courts properly instructed juries and whether plaintiffs satisfied the evidentiary requirements for fraudulent concealment claims, making the outcome of the appeal potentially significant for future Engle litigation.

  • BAT Bangladesh Appoints New Managing Director

    BAT Bangladesh Appoints New Managing Director

    British American Tobacco Bangladesh appointed Kakhaber Benidze as managing director, effective May 1, 2026, succeeding Monisha Abraham. A BAT veteran since 2001, Benidze brings more than 25 years of FMCG experience, including senior leadership roles across marketing, supply chain and general management in markets spanning Europe, the Middle East, and the Caucasus. Most recently, he served as general manager of BAT Switzerland and the BAT Austria Cluster.

    BAT Bangladesh said Benidze’s experience in business transformation, portfolio development, and commercial growth positions him to lead the company’s next phase of expansion. Benidze said he aims to build on BAT Bangladesh’s 116-year presence in the country, strengthen business performance, and continue contributing to the national economy.

  • South African Health Officials Call for Harm Reduction

    South African Health Officials Call for Harm Reduction

    Former South African Parliamentary Health Portfolio Committee Chair Sibongiseni Dhlomo urged policymakers to incorporate tobacco harm reduction into the country’s Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, arguing that the government should apply the same public health principles used in HIV prevention and other risk-reduction programs. Speaking at a health policy event in Johannesburg, Dhlomo said regulation should distinguish between combustible cigarettes and smoke-free nicotine products, noting that public consultations and scientific evidence had changed his views on the continuum of risk associated with different nicotine products.

    The comments come as Parliament prepares to begin clause-by-clause deliberations on the tobacco bill following approval of its desirability in June. Other speakers, including Gauteng Health MEC Faith Mazibuko and former Health MEC Dr. Bandile Masuku, also endorsed harm reduction as a broader public health strategy, while Philip Morris International said science should guide tobacco regulation and that adult smokers who are unable or unwilling to quit should be encouraged to switch completely to less harmful non-combustible alternatives.

  • FDA Authorizes Four New on! Nicotine Pouches

    FDA Authorizes Four New on! Nicotine Pouches

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the authorization of four additional on! nicotine pouch products through the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway: Rich Berry 2 mg, Cappuccino 2 mg, Cappuccino 4 mg, and Autumn Spice 2 mg. Manufactured by Helix Innovations LLC, the products were reviewed under the FDA’s nicotine pouch pilot program, which is designed to streamline PMTA reviews and improve review efficiency. The agency said lessons from the pilot are now being applied to other PMTA reviews.

    The FDA concluded that the newly authorized products contain lower levels of most harmful and potentially harmful constituents than traditional oral and smokeless tobacco products. The agency said adults 21 and older who completely switch from cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to FDA-authorized nicotine pouches may reduce their exposure to harmful chemicals, while noting that dual use does not provide the same level of risk reduction. With the latest authorizations, the FDA has now authorized 30 nicotine pouch products through the PMTA pathway.

  • Turning Point’s Modern Oral Boosts Q2 Growth

    Turning Point’s Modern Oral Boosts Q2 Growth

    Turning Point Brands reported second-quarter net sales increased 22.6% to $142.9 million, driven by continued momentum in its modern oral nicotine business. Modern oral gross revenue surged 149% to $87 million, while net sales rose 128% to $68.4 million, accounting for 48% of total company net sales compared with 26% a year earlier. The company said growth in its FRE and ALP nicotine pouch brands supported stronger retail distribution and market penetration, prompting it to raise its full-year modern oral sales guidance.

    Despite the strong top-line performance, net income fell 75.2% to $3.6 million and adjusted EBITDA declined 50% to $15.2 million as the company increased sales and marketing investments to support its expanding nicotine pouch business. Turning Point now expects 2026 modern oral gross sales of $330 million to $350 million, up from its previous forecast of $280 million to $300 million, and modern oral net sales of $260 million to $270 million, reflecting confidence in continued category growth.

  • AOI Launches Climate-Resilient Tobacco Seeds in Tanzania

    AOI Launches Climate-Resilient Tobacco Seeds in Tanzania

    Alliance One International introduced a portfolio of proprietary tobacco seed varieties in Tanzania aimed at improving crop yields, leaf quality, and resilience to drought and disease. Developed at the company’s research center in Brazil, the government-approved Alliance One Varieties (AOV) were introduced following a three-year evaluation process and include AOV 212, AOV 405, and AOV 815. Field trials showed yields of up to 3,270 kg per hectare — about 30% higher than traditional seed varieties — while demonstrating improved resistance to environmental stress.

    The company said the new varieties are designed to support more sustainable tobacco production and improve farmer income through higher productivity and better crop quality. Alliance One is supporting the rollout through agronomic training and technical assistance for contracted growers and said it plans to expand access to its climate-resilient tobacco seed portfolio to additional tobacco-producing countries as part of its long-term agricultural development strategy.

  • Drought Delaying NC Tobacco Crop

    Drought Delaying NC Tobacco Crop

    Improving rainfall eased drought conditions across North Carolina, but tobacco growers continue to face delayed crop development and higher production costs after months of dry weather disrupted planting. Wilson County extension officials said tobacco plants are running three to four weeks behind normal growth, with insufficient moisture reducing transplant survival, limiting herbicide effectiveness, and increasing weed pressure. Farmers are also encountering challenges with sucker control as uneven plant development complicates field management.

    The delays have raised concerns over harvest timing for North Carolina’s largest cash crop, which contributes nearly $13 billion annually to the state’s economy and generated $818 million in agricultural exports in 2024. With tobacco typically harvested beginning around early July, growers now face a compressed harvest window before the first frost, increasing the risk of yield losses while adding labor and irrigation costs that could further pressure farm profitability.

  • Côte d’Ivoire Implements Plain Packaging for Tobacco

    Côte d’Ivoire Implements Plain Packaging for Tobacco

    Côte d’Ivoire has become the second African country, joining Mauritius, to implement plain packaging requirements for tobacco products, with all cigarettes sold from Aug. 3 required to comply with the new rules. The measure completes implementation of the country’s 2019 Tobacco Control Act and aligns with recommendations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control by requiring standardized packaging and prohibiting logos, branding and other promotional elements.

  • Pakistan Senate Panel Expands Probe Into Alleged Cigarette Smuggling Case

    Pakistan Senate Panel Expands Probe Into Alleged Cigarette Smuggling Case

    A Pakistani Senate subcommittee widened its investigation into the seizure of 11 trucks allegedly carrying smuggled cigarettes, while rejecting what it described as a media campaign linking committee members to the case. The panel ordered the Federal Board of Revenue to identify officials responsible for media briefings following a July 20 hearing and directed the Federal Investigation Agency to investigate what it called targeted smear campaigns against lawmakers.

    The committee also questioned Customs’ handling of the seizure, including its jurisdiction, the legal basis for the case, conflicting valuations of the seized cargo, and delays in producing arrested truck drivers before a court. As part of a broader review of tobacco tax evasion and smuggling—estimated at about $1 billion annually—the panel called for additional information on tax-exempt imports, quota registrations, and customs procedures, saying it intends to expand scrutiny of potential irregularities across customs posts, dry ports, and revenue agencies.