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Tag: heated tobacco

  • Oklahoma Cuts Cigarette Tax for HTPs

    Oklahoma Cuts Cigarette Tax for HTPs

    Oklahoma lawmakers approved legislation amending the state’s cigarette stamp tax law to extend a 50% tax exemption to cigarettes “intended to be heated rather than burned,” effectively lowering the excise burden on heated tobacco products. The measure revises definitions in existing statute to clarify that products designed to be heated still fall within the legal definition of a cigarette, but then carves out a partial exemption for those products from the stamp excise tax. The change applies within Oklahoma’s long-standing cigarette tax framework under the oversight of the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

    The law directs the Tax Commission to create rules to implement the exemption and ensure appropriate tax stamps are available for heated products before the act takes effect on November 1, 2026.

  • Dutch Tobacco Shops Face Scrutiny for Saying HTPs ‘Healthier’

    Dutch Tobacco Shops Face Scrutiny for Saying HTPs ‘Healthier’

    Tobacco retailers in the Netherlands are facing scrutiny after staff in specialist shops were found promoting heated tobacco products as “less harmful” or even “healthier” alternatives to cigarettes, despite strict national rules prohibiting such claims. An investigation by the consumer program Pointer documented multiple instances where employees described these products in ways that imply health benefits, with some suggesting improvements in users’ fitness or overall condition, statements experts say are not supported by scientific evidence.

    Public health authorities emphasize that while heated tobacco may expose users to fewer harmful substances than conventional cigarettes, it still carries health risks, underscoring the legal and reputational exposure for shops and staff making unverified claims at the point of sale.

    Pointer reached out to Philip Morris — which it says has close ties to many specialist tobacco shops in the country — for comment, with PMI saying it couldn’t respond to specific allegations of what was said by shop staff, but that the company remains steadfast in supporting a future without cigarettes and believes more information should be provided to smokers about alternatives.

  • KT&G Streamlines Heated Tobacco Stick Portfolio

    KT&G Streamlines Heated Tobacco Stick Portfolio

    KT&G has announced the integration of its cigarette-type e-cigarette “Lil Able” stick lineup under a unified “AIIM” brand, in a move aimed at improving product clarity and consumer accessibility. The consolidation brings together existing variants — including Real, Granula, and Vaporstick — into a more streamlined structure, enabling users to more easily navigate and select products within the portfolio.

    Under the reorganization, a total of 11 products will be incorporated into the AIIM range, complemented by four “RAIIM” variants focused on delivering a more natural tobacco flavor, bringing the total Lil Able-compatible lineup to 15 products. KT&G said the transition will be rolled out gradually as existing inventory is depleted, adding that the brand integration reflects its strategy to align product offerings more closely with evolving consumer preferences and simplify the user experience.

  • S. Carolina Looking to Cut Tax on HTPs, Add for E-liquids

    S. Carolina Looking to Cut Tax on HTPs, Add for E-liquids

    South Carolina lawmakers are considering legislation that would cut the excise tax on heated tobacco products by more than half, arguing the devices pose lower health risks than traditional cigarettes and could help smokers transition away from combustible tobacco. Republican Sen. Tom Davis, chair of the Senate Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee, said the products provide a similar experience to smoking but with fewer harmful chemicals, and argued the tax structure should reflect the relative risk compared with conventional cigarettes.  The bill, introduced last year, imposes a separate excise tax on heated cigarettes of 25 cents per pack of 20, effectively cutting the HTP tax rate by 45 cents from the combustible rate of 70 cents per pack.

    Public health groups oppose the proposal, with the American Heart Association warning that reducing taxes could encourage continued nicotine use or product switching rather than quitting. The bill would also introduce a new excise tax on vaping products of five cents per milliliter of vape liquid, as South Carolina currently has no tax on e-cigarettes. According to the state fiscal office, heated tobacco products are not currently sold in the state, though companies have marketed them there previously and could reenter the market if the legislation passes.

  • JTI Korea Rebrands Ploom Tobacco Sticks as EVO

    JTI Korea Rebrands Ploom Tobacco Sticks as EVO

    JTI Korea rebranded its heated tobacco sticks for the Ploom device, transitioning from “MEVIUS for Ploom” to the new EVO line, effective today (March 10). The name EVO, short for “evolution,” reflects the brand’s aim to “modernize and enhance the user experience.” The sticks use “CleanSeal technology to prevent tobacco residue and ActivBlend technology to deliver richer flavor with Ploom’s Heatflow system.”

    The EVO lineup features eight variants, mostly mirroring the previous MEVIUS portfolio, and retail pricing remains at 4,500 won ($3) per pack, available in Seoul and select areas of Gyeonggi Province. JTI Korea emphasized that EVO is a premium, Ploom-exclusive brand that builds on the company’s heritage while continuing to deliver evolving experiences through proprietary technologies.

  • Vietnam to Ban Vape, HTP Starting 2026

    Vietnam to Ban Vape, HTP Starting 2026

    Vietnam will prohibit the sale of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products beginning March 1, 2026, following the National Assembly’s approval of amendments to the Law on Investment, local outlet Tuoi Tre reported. The updated legislation places e-cigarettes and heated tobacco alongside other banned business sectors, including narcotics, certain hazardous chemicals and minerals, and prostitution.

    The move builds on a resolution passed last year that banned the production, trading, import, possession, transportation, and use of these products, according to Thanh Nien. Health officials say early effects are already visible. Angela Pratt, the World Health Organization’s representative in Vietnam, noted a 70% drop in e-cigarette–related emergency cases at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, along with a sharp decline in promotional activities for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco.

    Vietnam’s decision positions the country among the most restrictive markets in Asia regarding novel nicotine products, as policymakers cite rising youth use and public health concerns as key drivers of the ban.

  • Vietnam Moves to Ban E-Cigarettes and Heated Tobacco

    Vietnam Moves to Ban E-Cigarettes and Heated Tobacco

    Vietnam’s Ministry of Health proposed adding e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products to the list of prohibited business activities in the draft amended Law on Investment, aligning with National Assembly Resolution No. 173/2024/QH15, which bans production, trade, import, storage, transport, and use of these products from 2025.

    National Assembly Deputy Lê Hoàng Anh said that leaving e-cigarettes unregulated would expose youth to highly addictive nicotine products and provide a cover for criminals to smuggle narcotics. He emphasized the health risks, citing evidence that the devices contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals, and noted that teenagers using e-cigarettes are more likely to transition to conventional smoking.

    Anh urged lawmakers to include the prohibition in Article 6 of the Investment Law, framing it as a matter of public health and national responsibility.