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  • Fifth Circuit Affirms FDA’s Vape Rule

    Fifth Circuit Affirms FDA’s Vape Rule

    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld a 2021 rule issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requiring manufacturers seeking premarket tobacco product authorization to investigate and disclose health effects data, according to Law 360. In a unanimous opinion, the three-judge panel found the agency complied with the Regulatory Flexibility Act by reasonably certifying that the rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, affirming a February 2025 summary judgment in FDA’s favor.

    Plaintiffs, including e-liquid manufacturers and the United States Vaping Association, argued the FDA improperly relied on economic analysis from its 2016 deeming rule and failed to consider less burdensome alternatives. The court rejected those claims, holding that the 2016 assessment provided an adequate factual basis and that key requirements — such as submitting all known health-risk information — are mandated by the Tobacco Control Act and cannot be waived by regulation. The decision leaves the 2021 PMTA rule intact in Kealani Distribution LLC et al. v. FDA.

  • Expert-Led Campaign Looking for Flawed Vape Science

    Expert-Led Campaign Looking for Flawed Vape Science

    The UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) launched VapeVerify, an expert-led initiative aimed at scrutinizing vaping research amid rising public misperceptions about relative risk. The independent panel — comprising specialists in toxicology, public health, addiction medicine, and regulatory science — will assess new studies for methodological flaws, data misinterpretation, and lack of transparency, with the goal of ensuring policy debates and public understanding are guided by robust evidence. The move comes as surveys show record-high levels of misinformation, with around half of smokers believing vaping is as harmful as or more harmful than combustible cigarettes.

    “The VapeVerify panel wants to create an environment where people are armed with the facts so they can make informed decisions, because there is no public health without public knowledge,” said panellist Dr. Marina Murphy, senior director of scientific affairs at Haypp Group, who specializes in chemistry and science communications.

    The campaign launches alongside VapeWatch, a media monitoring initiative designed to challenge inaccurate or alarmist reporting on vaping and refer misleading coverage to the Independent Press Standards Organization. UKVIA Director General John Dunne said the industry is at a “crossroads,” arguing that public perception will determine whether vaping fulfils its harm reduction potential. Organizers said the expert panel members are unpaid volunteers and that the twin initiatives aim to counter what they describe as flawed science and misinformation deterring adult smokers from switching.

  • KT&G to Launch ‘Reel Able 3.0’ in Seoul

    KT&G to Launch ‘Reel Able 3.0’ in Seoul

    KT&G said it will introduce its latest cigarette-type heated tobacco device, the Reel Able 3.0, tomorrow (Feb. 28) at four locations in the Seoul metropolitan area. The new model features significantly reduced charging and preheating times, with a full charge completed in about one hour — half the time of its predecessor — and a preheating time shortened by 10 seconds.

    The device retains key Reel Able functions such as pause during use, selectable usage modes and support for three consecutive sessions. For the first time in the series, KT&G has applied metal materials and curved edges to enhance grip and design, alongside an AMOLED display showing remaining usage counts and mode settings. Reel Able 3.0 will debut in four colors, with Oud Gray and Platinum Silver released first at a retail price of 68,000 won ($47). The company said the launch supports its strategy to reinforce leadership in the heated tobacco segment through differentiated product upgrades.

  • Former China Tobacco Head Sentenced to 12 Years

    Former China Tobacco Head Sentenced to 12 Years

    Former deputy head of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration Zhang Tianfeng was sentenced to 12 years in prison for accepting more than 34 million yuan ($5 million) in bribes. The Ganzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangxi also fined Zhang 2 million yuan ($300,000) and ordered the confiscation of his illicit gains.

    The court found that between 2004 and 2023 Zhang leveraged senior roles in provincial tobacco bodies and, from 2020 to 2023, at the national administration to secure favors in project contracting, recruitment, and promotions in exchange for payments. Although the court deemed the offense serious, it granted leniency after Zhang confessed, voluntarily disclosed additional violations and returned illegal proceeds. He was placed under investigation in January 2025 and expelled from the Communist Party before being indicted.

  • Tanzania Advances Renewable Energy for Tobacco Curing

    Tanzania Advances Renewable Energy for Tobacco Curing

    The Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania (TORITA) is accelerating efforts to reduce deforestation and improve farmer incomes by promoting renewable energy solutions for tobacco curing. Historically reliant on firewood, the curing process has contributed to forest degradation in key growing regions. TORITA is now advancing solar-powered drying systems and energy-efficient curing barns designed to lower fuel costs, improve productivity, and reduce environmental impact. Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jacob Lisuma said the institute’s research is focused on practical, affordable applications that directly address smallholder challenges rather than theoretical outcomes.

    TORITA is strengthening its impact through partnerships with academic and regional research bodies, including Nelson Mandela African University, the Tobacco Research Board, and Malawi’s Research and Agricultural Technology Institute. Collaboration with regulators such as the Tanzania Fertiliser Regulatory Authority and the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticide Authority supports the development of improved inputs alongside alternative energy technologies. Funded through government backing and industry levies, the institute’s initiatives aim to align sustainability with profitability, offering smallholder farmers lower curing costs while contributing to long-term environmental protection.

  • Malaysian Illicit Cigarette Rate Still Above 54%

    Malaysian Illicit Cigarette Rate Still Above 54%

    The Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers (CMTM) said the latest Illicit Cigarettes Study conducted by NielsenIQ shows illicit cigarette incidence in Malaysia remains high at 54.4% in 2025, a marginal 0.6%-point decline from 2024. CMTM credited enforcement agencies, including the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), for intensified border controls and supply chain disruption efforts.

    However, the association flagged rising concern over cigarettes bearing fake tax stamps (FTS), with national incidence increasing by 1.7 percentage points year-on-year and wider penetration reported in Johor, Penang, Melaka, Terengganu and Kelantan. The group urged stronger action to remove such products from the market and reaffirmed its commitment to working with authorities to protect regulatory integrity as illicit trade tactics evolve.

  • Concerns Loom Over S. Africa Tobacco Control Bill

    Concerns Loom Over S. Africa Tobacco Control Bill

    South Africa’s tobacco policy debate sharpened this week after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana used his Budget speech to warn that illicit trade is inflicting serious damage on the economy, while hours later the Department of Health faced pointed pushback in Parliament over whether its Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill adequately addresses that crisis. Appearing before the Portfolio Committee on Health, officials defended the Bill’s public health rationale, arguing it does not ban cigarettes and that smoking imposes greater economic costs than it generates. However, MPs from multiple parties pressed the Department on estimates that as much as 70% of the cigarette market may be illicit, questioning whether the proposed measures meaningfully target the dominant illegal segment.

    Lawmakers repeatedly raised concerns about enforcement capacity, proportionality, and the risk that additional regulatory burdens — such as plain packaging and stricter penalties — could further advantage criminal syndicates if illicit trade remains unchecked. The Department leaned on international precedent and South Africa’s obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, while some MPs called for greater differentiation between combustible and non-combustible products and more realistic alignment with local enforcement realities.

  • FDA COO Says Balance is the ‘Gold Standard’

    FDA COO Says Balance is the ‘Gold Standard’

    In an open letter today (Feb. 26), FDA Deputy Commissioner for Operations and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Barclay Butler underscored the FDA’s dual mandate to promote regulatory transparency while rigorously safeguarding sensitive commercial and personal data submitted by regulated industries. Titled, “Why Protecting Confidential Information is Key to the FDA’s ‘Gold Standard,’” his remarks highlighted the agency’s role as both public health watchdog and custodian of proprietary information, emphasizing that while the Freedom of Information Act supports disclosure, statutes such as the Trade Secrets Act and Privacy Act require strict confidentiality around trade secrets, confidential commercial information (CCI), personal health data, and law enforcement materials.

    Barclay reiterated that manufacturing processes, product formulas, financial data, and other proprietary submissions remain legally protected, a subject of particular importance tobacco and nicotine product companies navigating the FDA’s premarket review pathways. He also stressed the importance of shielding adverse event reports, inspection records, and internal deliberative documents to preserve investigative integrity and candid scientific review. Barclay said that improper disclosure can carry criminal liability and undermine market fairness, particularly given the market-moving potential of regulatory decisions. He said the FDA’s strict ethics and insider trading safeguards are central to maintaining trust, institutional integrity, and a level playing field across regulated sectors.

  • Altria Declares $1.06 Quarterly Dividend

    Altria Declares $1.06 Quarterly Dividend

    Altria Group, Inc. today (Feb. 26) announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $1.06 per share, payable on April 30, to shareholders of record as of March 25. The ex-dividend date is March 25.

  • W. Australia Moves to Strengthen Penalties for Illicits

    W. Australia Moves to Strengthen Penalties for Illicits

    Australia’s Cook Government advanced priority amendments to the Tobacco Products Control Act 2006, with the Legislative Assembly passing the changes and the Legislative Council set to debate them next. The legislation introduces some of the toughest penalties in Australia for businesses caught selling illicit tobacco and vaping products, including fines of up to A$4.2 million ($3 million) for individuals and A$21 million ($14.9 million) for companies, alongside 15 years’ imprisonment. New provisions also allow for store closure orders of up to 90 days while investigations are conducted, giving compliance officers a direct enforcement mechanism to shut down illegal operations.

    Premier Roger Cook emphasized that the laws aim to protect Western Australians, eliminate criminal activity, and target dangerous trades, while Health Minister Meredith Hammat highlighted the role of the expanded Tobacco and Vape Compliance Unit, which recently uncovered nearly 100,000 illicit cigarettes and 37 kilograms of loose-leaf tobacco in regional operations.