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  • ELFBAR Reports Low Harmful Constituents in its ELFA

    ELFBAR Reports Low Harmful Constituents in its ELFA

    ELFBAR is highlighting a new peer-reviewed study published in iScience reporting that aerosols from its ELFA pod system contained undetectable or substantially lower levels of harmful constituents compared with cigarette smoke under standardized laboratory testing. According to the company, 10 of 17 cigarette smoke-related analytes — including carbon monoxide, tobacco-specific nitrosamines, benzene, and 1,3-butadiene — were undetectable or below quantifiable levels, while formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were up to 99.9% lower than in cigarette smoke.

    The company also said detectable metal emissions, including lead, chromium and nickel, were well below established safety thresholds, with cadmium and arsenic not detected. ELFBAR said the findings support evidence that adult smokers who completely switch to its ELFA pod system could significantly reduce or eliminate exposure to many harmful constituents associated with combustible cigarettes.

  • Canadian Court Certifies Class Action Against Juul, Altria

    Canadian Court Certifies Class Action Against Juul, Altria

    The Supreme Court of British Columbia certified a nationwide class action against Juul Labs and Altria Group, allowing claims to proceed on behalf of individuals in Canada who purchased or used Juul products for personal use between August 2018 and July 15, 2026. The lawsuit alleges the companies marketed e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to cigarettes while contributing to nicotine addiction among a new generation of consumers. The ruling is procedural and does not determine liability.

    The court rejected several arguments raised by Juul and Altria regarding certification, allowing the case to move forward. The action is one of two legal proceedings against Juul in Canada, alongside a separate lawsuit by the government of British Columbia seeking recovery of healthcare costs associated with the company’s products. Juul and Altria may appeal the certification decision.

  • Retail Groups Urge Processors to Revise Vape Enforcement Policies

    Retail Groups Urge Processors to Revise Vape Enforcement Policies

    The National Association of Convenience Stores and several retail and tobacco trade associations urged Global Payments and Mastercard to revise policies that penalize retailers for selling certain electronic nicotine delivery system products, according to CSP. In letters to the companies, the groups argued the payment processors’ enforcement standards do not reflect the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s updated enforcement priorities, which allow enforcement discretion for certain products with pending premarket tobacco product applications.

    The letters, also signed by the National Association of Tobacco Outlets, Energy Marketers of America, and the Convenience Distribution Association, expressed support for removing illicit vaping products from the market but said responsible retailers should not face penalties that exceed current FDA policy. The request follows updated FDA guidance issued in May and comes after a coalition of state attorneys general urged major payment networks to take action against merchants selling unauthorized vaping products.

  • Turning Point Brands Announces Dividend

    Turning Point Brands Announces Dividend

    The board of directors of Turning Point Brands, Inc. announced a regular quarterly dividend of $0.08 per common share. The dividend is payable on October 9 to shareholders of record on the close of business on September 18.

  • Kenya Overturns Enforcement of Shisha Ban

    Kenya Overturns Enforcement of Shisha Ban

    Kenya’s High Court ruled that the country’s 2017 shisha regulations are no longer legally enforceable, finding the government failed to correct procedural defects within the nine-month period ordered by the court in 2018. Justice Bahati Mwamuye declared that continued enforcement of the ban, including government directives and press releases issued in 2025, was unlawful and unconstitutional.

    The ruling prevents authorities from enforcing the 2017 shisha regulations against members of the Novel Tobacco Products Association and invalidates recent government crackdowns based on those rules. The court also held that tobacco products cannot be prohibited through subsidiary legislation that fails to comply with statutory requirements, effectively lifting enforcement of Kenya’s longstanding shisha ban until valid regulations are enacted.

  • Tennessee Increases Penalties for Fake IDs for Nicotine

    Tennessee Increases Penalties for Fake IDs for Nicotine

    A new Tennessee law will increase penalties for people under 21 who use fake identification to purchase nicotine or hemp products, imposing fines of $10 to $50. The measure also allows courts to order up to 50 hours of community service or participation in a court-approved program for repeat violations within one year, while parents or guardians of minors may also face financial penalties.

    The law expands Tennessee’s existing restrictions on underage purchases of nicotine and hemp products. Nashville Thrives, a substance use prevention coalition, said it also supports creating a state nicotine retail licensing system, arguing it would strengthen enforcement and help reduce illegal sales to minors.

  • EU-ASEAN Business Council Calls for Regional Action Against Illicits

    EU-ASEAN Business Council Calls for Regional Action Against Illicits

    The EU-ASEAN Business Council urged ASEAN members to strengthen regional cooperation to combat illicit trade, describing it as a growing threat to economic growth, government revenues, and supply chain resilience. In a report released ahead of the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairship, the council called for greater intelligence sharing, harmonized regulatory frameworks, expanded use of digital customs tools, stronger public-private collaboration, and closer engagement with dialogue partners, including India.

    The report identified illicit tobacco trade as a longstanding challenge and highlighted the need for coordinated enforcement and supply chain oversight. Philip Morris India Managing Director Navaneel Kar said illicit tobacco trade undermines revenue collection, market transparency, and the rule of law, adding that the company supports efforts including market intelligence, research, and voluntary track-and-trace initiatives to strengthen lawful trade.

  • Australia Tightens Import Controls on Nicotine Pouches

    Australia Tightens Import Controls on Nicotine Pouches

    Australia strengthened regulation of nicotine pouches under new rules that took effect over the weekend, placing the products under the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s therapeutic goods framework. The changes restrict the import of unapproved nicotine pouches, extending Australia’s strict regulatory approach beyond nicotine vaping products to another smoke-free nicotine category.

    The new rules do not prohibit all nicotine pouch use but require products to meet regulatory approval requirements before they can be legally imported or supplied. The move aligns nicotine pouches with Australia’s existing controls on nicotine products and reflects the country’s continued focus on regulating emerging nicotine alternatives through therapeutic product oversight.

  • PMI U.S. Opens $1.2 Billion Colorado Manufacturing Campus

    PMI U.S. Opens $1.2 Billion Colorado Manufacturing Campus

    Philip Morris International’s U.S. businesses announced the official opening of its $1.2 billion manufacturing campus in Aurora, Colorado, expanding domestic production capacity for Zyn nicotine pouches and strengthening the company’s U.S. supply chain and export capabilities. The 780,000-square-foot facility, located on a 148-acre site, began full commercial production in July 2026 and represents PMI U.S.’s first greenfield manufacturing complex in the United States. The campus integrates production, packaging, warehousing, distribution, and operations, and will support markets across Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

    The investment, originally announced as a $600 million project in 2024, doubled in planned capital expenditures through 2028, including manufacturing equipment, infrastructure, facility development, and future production expansion. “Aurora represents an important milestone for PMI U.S. and our continued investment in our business here,” said Stacey Kennedy, CEO of PMI U.S. “This facility expands our production capacity, strengthens our supply chain, and enhances our ability to serve growing demand in the United States and around the world.”

    The facility is expected to directly employ approximately 500 people and contribute to broader economic activity in Colorado, with PMI estimating the site will support around 1,000 indirect jobs.

  • Godfrey Phillips India Profit Falls 44% After Tax Hike

    Godfrey Phillips India Profit Falls 44% After Tax Hike

    Godfrey Phillips India reported a 44% decline in first-quarter profit as higher excise duties introduced in January pressured margins. Consolidated net profit fell to 1.98 billion rupees ($19.8 million) from 3.56 billion rupees ($35.6 million) a year earlier.

    The company, which manufactures and sells Marlboro cigarettes in India under license from Philip Morris International, said cigarette, tobacco and related product revenue more than doubled to 37.8 billion rupees ($378 million). However, excise duty expenses surged nearly eightfold to 26 billion rupees ($2.6 billion) after India introduced higher cigarette taxes ranging from 2,050 to 8,500 rupees ($205 to $850) per 1,000 cigarettes in February.