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  • PMI Study Puts EU Economic Contribution at €343 Billion From 2021 to 2025

    PMI Study Puts EU Economic Contribution at €343 Billion From 2021 to 2025

    Philip Morris International (PMI) contributed nearly €343 billion to the European Union economy from 2021 through 2025, including €22.3 billion in spending with European suppliers, €27.4 billion invested across its European operations, and €39.5 billion in exports, according to an economic footprint study prepared by EY-Parthenon and released Oct. 15. The study also found that PMI’s European value chain supported nearly 164,000 jobs in 2025, including about 22,500 direct jobs, and that the company invested €422 million in research and development in Europe. PMI reported an additional approximately €2.2 billion in R&D activities in Switzerland.

    PMI said the figures reflect its manufacturing, supply-chain, research, and commercial activities across the region. The company reported that more than half of its net revenues in Europe came from smoke-free products in the fourth quarter of 2025. Since 2008, PMI has invested more than $16 billion globally in developing, scientifically assessing, and commercializing smoke-free products, including heated-tobacco devices, nicotine pouches, and e-vapor products.

    The report is the second edition of PMI’s EU Economic Footprint Study and covers the period from 2021 to 2025. PMI Europe President Marco Hannapel said the company’s investments and industrial operations contribute to the region’s economic activity and called for regulatory frameworks that support investment and innovation. The full EU Economic Footprint Study is available from PMI.

  • Eight EU Countries Seek Broad Nicotine Restrictions

    Eight EU Countries Seek Broad Nicotine Restrictions

    Eight EU member states — the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, France, Hungary, Latvia, Slovenia, and Spain — are urging the European Commission to significantly expand the bloc’s tobacco and nicotine rules as part of the review of the Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive. In a letter to Health Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, the countries called for maximum nicotine limits, standardized products and devices, plain packaging, and broad flavor restrictions across authorized nicotine categories. They also want the regulatory framework to allow individual countries to ban nicotine pouches and disposable e-cigarettes.

    The governments are also seeking a ban on advertising for nicotine products, including influencer and creator content, along with restrictions on cross-border online sales. Their proposal would prohibit new nicotine and nicotine-like products, as well as nicotine-free products designed to resemble nicotine products, from entering the EU market. The countries said the revised framework should keep pace with product and marketing developments and support the EU’s goal of becoming smoke-free by 2040.

  • Netherlands Calls for EU ‘Market Freeze’ on New Nicotine Products

    Netherlands Calls for EU ‘Market Freeze’ on New Nicotine Products

    Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans is calling on the European Commission to prevent new products containing nicotine or nicotine-like substances from entering the EU market, as part of a joint proposal with seven other member states. The countries are also seeking mandatory plain packaging for nicotine products, an EU-wide flavor ban, stricter requirements for social media platforms to remove tobacco advertising, and tighter controls on cross-border purchases.

    The initiative comes as the Netherlands prepares to further restrict domestic tobacco sales, with specialty tobacco shops set to become the only legal retail outlets for tobacco from 2032. Hermans also wants tighter rules on advertising in tobacco shops, while the Dutch regulator has raised concerns about tobacco companies providing financial support for specialty-store renovations that could promote nicotine products.

  • Report Finds EU Lagging in Fight Against Illicit Tobacco

    Report Finds EU Lagging in Fight Against Illicit Tobacco

    The European Court of Auditors (ECA) says the European Union lacks reliable data on the size and impact of the illicit tobacco market and that fragmented national rules and weak coordination are leaving gaps that criminal groups can exploit. Euractiv reported that the auditors estimate the illicit tobacco trade costs the EU and its member states about €13 billion in lost revenue annually, although the ECA cautioned that the estimate should be treated carefully. Euractiv also highlighted the ECA’s criticism of limited transparency around bilateral agreements between EU governments and tobacco companies to combat illicit trade.

    EUobserver reported that the ECA found one in 10 cigarettes made in the EU is either illegally produced or smuggled, while vapes and heated tobacco products account for 13% of the illicit market by value. EUobserver also said the European Anti-Fraud Office helped prevent €178 million in lost tax revenue in 2025 and that the European Commission has accepted most of the ECA’s recommendations but rejected some proposals, including a coordinated EU monitoring system and a framework for assessing member states’ effectiveness in fighting illicit tobacco.

  • Swedish Election Threatens EU Tobacco Tax Talks 

    Swedish Election Threatens EU Tobacco Tax Talks 

    According to a Euractiv article today (Aug. 31), EU diplomats expect limited progress on the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED) at the September 14 meeting, as Sweden’s national election the day before could leave Stockholm without a firm position while coalition negotiations take place. The proposed TED would raise tobacco taxes across the EU and is linked to plans to generate €11.2 billion annually for the bloc’s next long-term budget. The file stalled after Sweden objected to proposed taxation of nicotine pouches, with Stockholm seeking to protect its traditional snus market. 

    Prolonged talks could also complicate Ireland’s efforts to secure a Council agreement in October and potentially lead Sweden to abstain from a key vote expected at the October 9 ECOFIN meeting. According to Euractiv, Ireland expects September discussions to focus mainly on technical issues rather than resolving political differences. The next Swedish government is likely to face continued pressure over snus and nicotine taxation, while EU officials remain focused on the bloc’s longer-term ambition to become both smoke-free and nicotine-free. 

  • EU Tobacco Use Falls to 16.5% in 2025

    EU Tobacco Use Falls to 16.5% in 2025

    Daily use of tobacco and related nicotine products in the European Union declined to 16.5% of people aged 16 and older in 2025, down from 17.5% in 2022, according to new Eurostat data. Men continued to use tobacco and nicotine products at higher rates than women (20.8% versus 12.6%), while adults aged 35-49 recorded the highest daily use at 21.3%. More than three-quarters (77.5%) of EU residents reported not using tobacco or related products—including e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products—during the previous 12 months.

    Among member states, Bulgaria (26.3%), Sweden (23.9%) and Croatia (23.6%) recorded the highest rates of daily use, while the Netherlands (9.9%), Ireland (11.7%), Belgium (13.6%) and Luxembourg (13.8%) had the lowest. Daily use declined in 17 EU countries between 2022 and 2025, with the largest reductions in Spain and Luxembourg, while Croatia and Lithuania posted the biggest increases.

  • EU: Italy, Greece Oppose Irish Bill on Nicotine Products

    EU: Italy, Greece Oppose Irish Bill on Nicotine Products

    According to Generation Sans Tabac, Italy and Greece submitted detailed opinions to the European Commission under the EU’s TRIS notification procedure opposing Ireland’s proposed legislation to tighten regulation of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. The Irish bill would ban non-tobacco flavors, prohibit flavor-related product names, introduce plain packaging, restrict retail and online product displays, and extend these measures to nicotine pouches. Both countries argued that the proposals could create barriers to trade and conflict with the EU’s ongoing revision of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD).

    Italy questioned the proportionality of measures such as flavor bans, plain packaging, and display restrictions, arguing that less restrictive alternatives — including stronger age verification and market surveillance — should be considered. Greece raised concerns over increased compliance costs and market fragmentation, particularly for manufacturers and exporters of nicotine products. The detailed opinions extend the standstill period for Ireland’s draft law until October 7, delaying its potential implementation while the European Commission reviews the objections.

  • ALP Plans Expansion into 11 International Markets

    ALP Plans Expansion into 11 International Markets

    ALP Pouches announced that it will launch online sales for its nicotine pouches in 11 international markets starting in July, CEO Lorenzo De Plano told Reuters. De Plano said ALP, co-owned by Tucker Carlson and Turning Point Brands, is currently the fourth- or fifth-largest nicotine pouch brand in the United States with roughly 2% market share, and plans to expand its European presence to become the second-largest brand in the European Union by 2030. The rollout will begin in Britain, Ireland, Greece, Switzerland, and Romania in July, followed by additional launches across the Czech Republic, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Denmark later in 2026, with in-store retail expansion in the U.K. targeted for 2027.

    The company said it has secured manufacturing capacity in Lithuania for 20 million units in 2026 and 50 million units in 2027, and is also expanding supplier agreements to support production and distribution growth. ALP also entered a marketing partnership with former UFC champion Conor McGregor to support international expansion efforts.

  • PMI Urges EU to Ensure ‘Fair Treatment’ of Tobacco in Review

    PMI Urges EU to Ensure ‘Fair Treatment’ of Tobacco in Review

    Philip Morris International called on the European Union to ensure that the tobacco sector receives the same regulatory treatment as other legal industries as policymakers prepare revisions to the Tobacco Excise Directive (TED) and the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). In a letter to Ursula von der Leyen, published by PMI’s Europe President Massimo Andolina, the company argued that current EU policies are shaped by bias against the tobacco industry and fail to recognize its economic contribution. PMI said the sector supports more than two million jobs across Europe, contributes approximately €180 billion in annual tax revenue, and maintains a significant regional manufacturing and supply chain footprint.

    The company also highlighted its investment in smoke-free products and harm-reduction innovation, arguing that forthcoming regulatory decisions will influence Europe’s ability to attract investment and maintain competitiveness in the sector. PMI called for future tobacco regulation to be guided by evidence, transparency and inclusiveness, while EU institutions continue to review potential changes to tobacco taxation and product rules across the bloc.

  • National Rally Set to Oppose EU Tobacco Tax Report

    National Rally Set to Oppose EU Tobacco Tax Report

    France’s Jordan Bardella confirmed that National Rally will vote against a European Parliament report on the revision of the EU’s Tobacco Excise Directive (TED), despite the measure being drafted by Czech MEP Tomáš Kubín from the party’s own Patriots for Europe alliance.

    According to Euractiv, the report rejects the European Commission’s proposal for higher taxes on newer nicotine products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches, while supporting higher taxation of traditional cigarettes. Most members of Patriots for Europe, along with the European People’s Party and European Conservatives and Reformists, are expected to support the text, while Socialists, liberals, Greens, and the Left oppose it.

    Bardella said National Rally would vote against the report because it could lead to additional taxation in France, citing concerns about consumer purchasing power. Euractiv reported that the party’s opposition could jeopardize the narrow majority needed for Parliament to adopt an official position on the file, as National Rally controls around 30 seats in the chamber.

    If the report fails, it could strengthen the European Commission’s position in future negotiations by leaving Parliament without a formal stance on the tobacco tax overhaul. The Commission is seeking higher excise taxes on emerging nicotine products and additional revenue for the EU budget, while several member states argue reduced-risk products should be taxed less heavily than cigarettes. According to Euractiv, Bardella’s position could therefore have the unintended effect of aiding efforts to increase EU-wide taxes on vaping and other smoke-free products.