Blog - Tobacco Reporter

Philippines Government Ends Illegal Online Sales

The Philippines government is set to remove 15,000 more noncompliant electronic cigarette sellers in online marketplaces, reports The Philippine Star.

“We have monitored almost 15,000 sellers online,” said Ruth Castelo, trade undersecretary. “We’ve advised platforms to remove almost 15,000 we observed that were noncompliant. These sellers all have cases already.”

Unregistered vapor products are subject to the Vape Law, which came into effect Dec. 28, 2022, and prohibits flavors, colorful caricatures on packaging and selling products within 100 meters of schools, among other restrictions.

“If online platforms would just strictly follow, there is no need to remove the sale of this product from them,” said Castelo. “It’s already indicated which products they can’t sell, but some still evade detection.”

April 28, 2023

Zimbabwe Farmers Happy with Shisha Sales

The newly initiated shisha tobacco marketing season in Zimbabwe has been successful so far, with farmers selling 263 bales worth $97.9 million at an average price of $4.40 per kg and the highest price at $5.40 per kg, reports The Herald.

Some farmers have expressed that they will increase their hectarage next season based on the positive sales so far this season.

“I recommend farmers to grow this type of tobacco; no curing using firewood,” said Victor Mariranyika, president of the Tobacco Farmers Union Trust. “Hence it is cheap to cure. Farmers need to maximize production since air is the major source of the drying energy. Shisha tobacco production is a welcome development.”

Special handling of shisha tobacco is required, however. “The tobacco needs very special attention because the plant or the leaf is very thin, so if you don’t carefully handle it, the leaf itself breaks,” said Jayson Scott, a Marondera farmer. “I have delivered 15 bales, and if everything goes well, I will increase hectarage.”

The Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) has licensed Cavendish Lloyd Tobacco to support shisha production in the country.

This season has been a chance to learn and develop a better shisha crop, according to Chelesani Tsarwe, a TIMB public affairs officer. Tsarwe said the target is to expand shisha production in slow-growing areas and to encourage more growers to produce shisha as it presents better opportunities.

“Desirable shisha tobacco should have a clean leaf, but the produce from fast-growing regions tends to have spots,” Tsarwe said. “Growers in these areas should take agronomic advice seriously in order to improve leaf quality and fetch better prices. Good agronomic practices are key to quality and better productivity.”

April 28, 2023

Belgium Experts Call for EU-Wide Filter Ban

Filtered cigarettes are equally as unhealthy as unfiltered cigarettes, a Superior Health Council analysis showed, according to The Brussels Times.

The analysis also stated that filters cause a false sense of security and can cause more carcinogenic substances in cigarette smoke.

“Filters in cigarettes do not actually reduce the harmful health effects of smoking. From a public health perspective, they do not offer any benefit while they pollute the environment,” said the report by the Superior Health Council.

Banning filters could make smoking less attractive as well, as filters are said to have a more “pleasant” mouthfeel, reduce sensory irritation in the airways and prevent tobacco from entering the mouth.

“Instead of protecting against lung cancer, the filters have mainly promoted a shift in lung cancer type over the years,” the Superior Health Council concluded, adding that filters are therefore a “false solution” to the health problem caused by smoking.

The Superior Health Council is asking that filters be considered nondegradable single-use plastic products like disposable plastic bags. The council is also suggesting that a filter ban be implemented across the European Union to give it the best chance of success.

April 28, 2023

Tobacco Regulation Not Violation of Rights

Malaysia’s anticipated tobacco control bill will not deprive citizens of personal liberties and equality, according to the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC), reports Malay Mail.

The anti-smoking council found that the bill, which aims to end cigarette consumption for those born after 2007, is constitutional after former Chief Justice Tan Sri Zaki Azmi lobbied against the bill.

“Nicotine addiction is not distinguishable from addiction to other drugs,” the council said in a statement. “If the country can ban or regulate other drugs, it can also regulate nicotine. It must also be emphasized that nicotine is more addictive than opium; if we can stage a war on opium, why not on nicotine?

“The main objection to the state initiative in this area is that the law will be difficult to enforce. That is indeed true. But admittedly, the challenges surrounding enforcement accompany all laws.”

Azmi stated that the bill could infringe on constitutional freedoms, but the MCTC stated that Article 5(1) of the Constitution does not give an absolute right to liberty, which, according to the MCTC, can be deprived only in accordance with the law.

“As long as there is a valid law, and the executive acts under it, there is no unconstitutional violation of personal liberty,” the MCTC said after seeking advice from constitutional experts.

April 28, 2023

UKVIA Publishes ‘Greenprint’

The U.K. Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) has published a comprehensive “Greenprint for Sustainable Vaping” following an industry-wide consultation.

The development of a green action plan was developed with input from leading players in the waste industry, regulators, the retail sector, vape manufacturers and experts in consumer behavior. It comes as the industry has faced increased scrutiny regarding the environmental impact of vapes, particularly single-use products known as disposables.

“Whilst entry-level single-use devices are responsible for record numbers of adult smokers switching to vaping due [to] their ease of use and convenience, the industry realizes that much more must be done to safeguard against their impact on the environment,” said UKVIA CEO John Dunne. “The fact is that disposables have been around for a while but have become hugely popular in the last couple of years, particularly with those on low incomes who are amongst the most prevalent smokers.

“The Greenprint aims to mobilize environmental action to support a sustainable vaping sector in the future. It covers the development of recycling infrastructure, which is fit for the vaping industry, new vape innovations that make products more recyclable and reusable as well as the support that needs to be put in place to encourage greater retailer and consumer participation in the environmentally conscious disposal of vape products.”

April 27, 2023

TPSAC to Discuss Proposed Rule

The Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) will hold a meeting to discuss the Requirements for Tobacco Product Manufacturing Practice proposed rule on May 18, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The proposed rule is open for public comment until Sept. 6, 2023.

The TPSAC meeting will be available via a free webcast. Electronic or written comments on the meeting must be submitted by May 11 for consideration by the committee.

April 27, 2023

WITCO Eyeing Vaping Market

The West Indian Tobacco Company (WITCO) is planning to introduce vaping products and is researching cannabis use, reports Trinidad Express.

“The research is clear, [vaping is] 95 percent safer than cigarettes, so the same risk profile does not exist,” said Raoul Glynn, WITCO’s managing director. “That is why you have Public Health in the United Kingdom giving vaping products to 1 million consumers in the U.K. We saw it in T&T for Carnival, where people felt more comfortable vaping than smoking cigarettes.”

“It’s not one or the other because we will continue to have cigarettes for consumers who want to smoke, but we also want to have the vaping products for those consumers as well,” Glynn said.

Glynn said WITCO is actively researching the effects cannabis can have on users. “It has very relaxing elements and then you have some elements that do not have a positive effect on people. So we have to be careful, and WITCO would not bring something to market that would put people at risk. The group has done extensive research and concluded one in the U.K. with consumers. We will take those learnings and see if it is ready to go to market, but at this stage, I think it is a bit far off,” he said.

April 27, 2023

Government Denies Cig Tax Increase Rumors

No new taxes will be imposed on any goods or services in Jordan, including cigarettes and tobacco, according to the Income and Sales Tax Department, reports Jordan News.

The department said rumors of an increase are unfounded.

Previously, Finance Minister Muhammad Al-Ississ confirmed the government’s commitment not to impose any new taxes or increase taxes.

Al-Ississ expects non-tax revenues to grow by 6.6 percent compared to the re-estimation for 2022.

April 27, 2023

Vietnam: Worry About Student Vaping

Vietnam’s health ministry is concerned about rising incidents relating to student vaping, according to VietnamPlus.

According to the ministry’s Department of Medical Service Administration, there have been many incidents of students requiring emergency medical attention due to nicotine poisoning and other chemicals present in e-cigarettes and heated cigarette products.

The department believes that e-cigarettes and heated cigarettes pose risks and contribute to drug abuse and other addictive behaviors, which adversely affect the health and lifestyle of adolescents.

The department urges more communication and awareness-raising efforts about the dangers of these products, suggesting that health departments advise the People’s Committees of provinces and cities to issue directives to regularly propagate the harmful effects of ordinary cigarettes, e-cigarettes and heated cigarettes and that regulations should be promptly enforced and inspection activities enhanced.

April 27, 2023

Altria Reports First-Quarter Results

Altria Group reported net revenues of $5.72 billion in the first quarter of 2023, down 2.9 percent from the comparable 2022 quarter. Revenues net of excise taxes declined 1.2 percent to $4.76 billion.

“We are off to a strong start and believe our businesses are on track to deliver against full-year plans,” said Altria CEO Billy Gifford in a statement. “Our tobacco businesses performed well in a challenging macroeconomic environment. We delivered strong adjusted diluted EPS growth of 5.4 percent, and we announced exciting progress toward our vision.

“We reaffirm our guidance to deliver 2023 full-year adjusted diluted EPS in a range of $4.98 to $5.13. This range represents an adjusted diluted EPS growth rate of 3 percent to 6 percent from a $4.84 base in 2022.”

During the quarter, Altria Group entered into an agreement to acquire Njoy Holdings for approximately $2.75 billion in cash at closing and up to an additional $500 million in cash payments that are contingent upon regulatory outcomes with respect to certain Njoy products.

In March, Altria exchanged its entire minority economic interest in Juul Labs for a nonexclusive, irrevocable global license to certain of Juul’s heated-tobacco intellectual property. As a result of the 2023 Juul transaction, Altria recorded a noncash, pretax loss of $250 million on the disposition of its Juul equity securities for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Altria determined that the fair value of the intellectual property was not material to its financial statements. As a result, it did not record an asset associated with this intellectual property on its condensed consolidated balance sheet on March 31, 2023.

“The primary drivers of this conclusion were (i) our rights to the intellectual property being nonexclusive, (ii) there being no product or technology transferred to us associated with the intellectual property and (iii) there being no connection between the intellectual property and our current product development plans,” Altria wrote in a press note.

April 27, 2023