top news
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Malta Blocks EU Tobacco Tax Overhaul in Brussels
EU finance ministers failed to reach agreement on revisions to the bloc’s Tobacco Excise Directive after Malta refused to support a compromise.
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GTNF 2027 to Take Place in Prague Sept. 8–10
GTNF organizers said registration, hotel room reservations, and speaker announcements for the 2027 event will be released soon.
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Korean Health Calls for 89% Cigarette Price Increase
The academy said cigarette prices have remained unchanged since 2015, and the current price ranks low among OECD countries.
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All JTI Russian Entities Under Temporary Administration
Russia accounts for approximately 10% of JT Group’s consolidated reported revenue and 25% of its adjusted operating profit.
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Modern Oral Spurs Turning Point’s 27% Rise in Q3
Modern Oral gross sales increased 114.2% to $93.9 million, while net sales rose 102.9% to $74.4 million.
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Arcus Launches Regulatory Monitoring Tool for Nicotine Sector
It said the tool is intended to give smaller businesses access to regulatory information traditionally available to larger companies.
Upcoming Events
Global Regulation
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Korean Health Calls for 89% Cigarette Price Increase
The academy said cigarette prices have remained unchanged since 2015, and the current price ranks low among OECD countries.
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Indonesia’s MUI Declares Vapes Haram
It also called on the government to take immediate steps to control the distribution of e-cigarettes and protect the public from their alleged negative effects.
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T&T Association Seeks 25% Tobacco Excise Tax Reduction
The TTMA is urging the government to extend to tobacco manufacturers the 25% excise tax reduction granted to the alcohol industry.
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Kenya Proposes Fine, 10-Year Prison Term for Shisha Violations
The proposed legislation would also increase penalties for smoking in prohibited places to a maximum fine of Sh100,000 ($770) and one year in prison.
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PouchSpot Maps Potential Impact of EU Pouch Tax Proposal
The company estimates that 10 countries would have to increase pouch taxes beginning in 2028 and 15 by 2032.
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Italy Accelerates Tobacco Tax Increases
According to the bill’s technical report, a pack of cigarettes would increase 10 to 13 cents per pack, depending on the price category.
Agriculture & Sustainability
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Weather Destroys More Than Half of Ecuador’s Tobacco Crop
One of Ecuador’s largest tobacco growers has told customers to expect only 25% to 35% of their orders.
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Zimbabwe Tobacco Plantings Increase 28%
Rising input and capital costs also remain a challenge for smallholder farmers.
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Zimbabwe Tobacco Research Shows Progress
One study examined the use of biofertilizers to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from tobacco production.
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ITGA Marks World Tobacco Growers’ Day
ITGA President Marcílio Drescher extended his appreciation to tobacco growers and their families, acknowledging the work and challenges involved in farming.
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ITGA Forum Examines Oriental Tobacco Markets and Regulation
ITGA estimates global tobacco production will decline about 5% in 2026 following a strong 2025 crop, with a further decrease projected for 2027.
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Zimbabwe Reports 50% Firewood Reduction in Tobacco Curing
Masuka said the government plans to begin phasing out the use of indigenous trees during the 2027-2029 seasons.
Science & Innovation
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S.Korea Releases Harmful-Ingredient Results for Tobacco Products
It found formaldehyde in all 256 cigarette products, all 104 heated-tobacco products, and 99 of the 105 e-liquids tested.
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Study Says AI Bots Flooded UK Tobacco and Vape Consultation
The researchers said the volume and consistency of the submissions suggested a coordinated campaign, but they could not establish who organized it.
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Social Media Leads Nicotine Pouch Discovery in UK, Haypp Finds
Social media is the leading source of new brand info for pouch consumers at 66%, followed by search engines at 59%, and recommendations from friends at 44%.
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Geek Bar Leads with Youth Vapers
The analysis of the 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that 5.2% of students currently vaped, while approximately 460,000 used nicotine pouches.
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NCR Voyix Integrates TruAge Digital Age Verification
NCR Voyix said the solution is designed to strengthen compliance for age-restricted purchases without adding steps for store employees.
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BAT Survey Highlights Potential Impact of UK Vape Rules on Retailers
BAT said restrictions on flavors, standardized packaging, and product displays could make it harder for retailers to manage stock and could contribute to missed sales.
Business & Finance
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All JTI Russian Entities Under Temporary Administration
Russia accounts for approximately 10% of JT Group’s consolidated reported revenue and 25% of its adjusted operating profit.
-
Modern Oral Spurs Turning Point’s 27% Rise in Q3
Modern Oral gross sales increased 114.2% to $93.9 million, while net sales rose 102.9% to $74.4 million.
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Arcus Launches Regulatory Monitoring Tool for Nicotine Sector
It said the tool is intended to give smaller businesses access to regulatory information traditionally available to larger companies.
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KT&G Launches HTPs in Kazakhstan
The launch is part of KT&G’s strategy to expand its next-generation products business internationally.
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ALP Opens Pouch Pop-Up in NYC
ALP’s CEO said the initiative marks the company’s first effort to enter the New York City market, which it had previously avoided while focusing on rural areas.
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Pyxus Announces Transaction Support Agreement
The company plans to offer up to $85 million in common stock at $2.50 per share, with certain creditors committing to backstop $80 million of the offering.
Around the Industry
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Malta Blocks EU Tobacco Tax Overhaul in Brussels
EU finance ministers failed to reach agreement on revisions to the bloc’s Tobacco Excise Directive after Malta refused to support a compromise.
-
GTNF 2027 to Take Place in Prague Sept. 8–10
GTNF organizers said registration, hotel room reservations, and speaker announcements for the 2027 event will be released soon.
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Hawaii’s Largest Vape Retailer to Close Due to Changing Regs
The company, which has operated since 2009, said the closures will result in approximately 56 layoffs.
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Japan, JTI Respond to Russian Seizure
The Japanese government formally protested to Moscow and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the measure.
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Court Returns Control of Habanos S.A. to Chen Zhi
It ruled that liquidation orders covering more than 30 entities should be discharged because the AG failed to provide admissible evidence supporting the applications.
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Putin Seizes Control of JTI’s Russian Operations
Moscow has increasingly used the measures against companies from countries it considers unfriendly because of sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.
Thought Leaders
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Why Naturally Extracted Tobacco Never Scaled
Cured leaf can be macerated directly, extracting its flavor into the base rather than recreating that flavor from aroma compounds.
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FDA Finally Issues Proposed Rule to Require Foreign Tobacco Manufacturers to Register Facilities and List Products
This rule would allow FDA to further protect public health by helping to ensure that tobacco products in the United States comply with Federal law.
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A New Direction for ENDS
Chris Allen explains the significance of FDA’s shift on flavored vapes and why it reflects a growing emphasis on evidence-based harm reduction, behavioral science and product safeguards.
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The Conglomerate Cigar Brands Are Losing Inside ChatGPT — and the Retailer Channel Is the Reason Why
Cigar Aficionado’s 2025 Cigar Insider Retailer Survey told the same story Cigar Insider has told every year for the last decade. Padrón at #1, Arturo Fuente at #2, Drew Estate…
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The FDA’s evolving approach to youth-risk mitigation
Lilian Ortega explains the latest developments from regulators across pouches and ENDS and the latest enforcement of rules in the United States.
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The Arithmetic of Harm
Why the World Cannot Afford America’s Regulatory Model By Dr. J. Preston Campbell, Cancer Researcher, Harm Reduction Scientist Heavy lifetime smoking kills approximately half of long-term users. That is not…