The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to eight retailers for selling unauthorized nicotine pouches and dissolvable tobacco products designed to resemble candy, breath strips, and cough drops, raising concerns that the items could both appeal to children and be accidentally ingested by young kids. According to the agency, the products’ labeling, advertising, and design mimic everyday consumer goods, “disguising” them and making it easier for youth to conceal their use from adults.
Acting Center for Tobacco Products Director Bret Koplow said no tobacco product should look like candy and described the practice as a tactic to mask the products’ true nature. The retailers were cited for violating the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by selling products without FDA authorization and were ordered to correct the violations or face potential penalties, including seizures, injunctions, and/or fines. The action follows recent FDA guidance outlining enforcement priorities for unauthorized electronic nicotine delivery systems and nicotine pouch products, part of a broader push to remove youth-appealing products from the market.
The agency noted it has now issued more than 800 warning letters to manufacturers and distributors and over 1,000 to retailers over unauthorized tobacco sales, and reminded retailers to consult its updated list of legally marketed products and use available compliance materials.
A survey of 1,973 U.S. adults commissioned by Haypp Group, parent of Nicokick.com and Northerner, found most respondents do not distinguish between the health risks of cigarettes and non-combustible nicotine products. According to the Nicotine Product Harm Perception Report 2026, 73% said vaping is as harmful as, or more harmful than, smoking; 60.6% said the same of nicotine pouches, and 64.9% incorrectly believed nicotine causes cancer.
While 68.9% of respondents said they feel informed about nicotine risks, many answers conflicted with established evidence that combustion, not nicotine, is the primary cause of smoking-related disease. The survey also found that younger adults perceive smoking as more culturally visible, with 36.3% of those aged 25–34 saying smoking is “back in fashion,” even as U.S. smoking rates have fallen to about 9.9% in 2024.
Nicokick and Northerner announced a promotion offering a 35% discount to verified GOVX members in recognition of Military Appreciation Month. The offer, available from May 20 through May 25 on both retailers’ websites, expands on an existing year-round 25% discount program for eligible adults aged 21 and over, including military personnel, veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, and government employees who use nicotine products.
The companies said the promotion will be automatically applied at checkout for verified users, with eligibility confirmed through GOVX at no cost. The initiative is positioned as an extension of ongoing discount programs aimed at public service workers, with the temporary discount intended to coincide with Memorial Day observances.
South Korea will ban online sales of liquid e-cigarettes made with synthetic nicotine starting this week, as part of broader regulatory changes under the revised Tobacco Business Act, the finance ministry announced. The update expands the definition of tobacco to include nicotine—whether natural or synthetic—bringing these products under full tobacco regulation.
Manufacturers and importers will now be required to obtain government approval, register with local authorities, and comply with taxation rules, including a temporary 50% tax reduction for two years. Sales to minors, promotional activities, and product modification for resale will also be prohibited, while use of these products will be banned in designated non-smoking areas.
The rules also mandate graphic health warnings, ingredient disclosure, and regular testing for harmful substances. Vendors must be licensed as tobacco retailers to sell directly to consumers, while authorities are also reviewing how to regulate emerging “nicotine analog” products not yet formally classified as tobacco.
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences identified the complete biochemical pathway responsible for nicotine formation in wild tobacco, publishing the findings in Cell. Led by Prof. Li Dapeng, the work clarifies long-unknown steps in nicotine’s biosynthesis and provides new insight into how plants build complex alkaloids, with potential implications for synthetic biology and controlled production of high-value natural compounds.
Working in Nicotiana attenuata, the researchers uncovered a five-enzyme “dynamic metabolon” that coordinates the final assembly, stabilization, and transport of nicotine inside plant cells. Using multi-omics analysis, the group identified key enzymes and a transporter that enable a tightly controlled glycosylation and deglycosylation process, allowing the plant to safely produce and store nicotine without self-toxicity.
Black Buffalo Inc. announced that it has been named the “Official Dip of Major League Fishing” under a yearlong marketing partnership spanning the Bass Pro Tour, Fishing Clash Team Series, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, Toyota Series, and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. The agreement integrates the brand across MLF’s social, broadcast, livestream, newsletter, and on-site event channels, including logo placement on 2026 Team Series boat wraps and a major presence at REDCREST 2026 and the Outdoor Sports Expo at Table Rock Lake near Springfield.
Executives from both organizations said the partnership aligns with the outdoor lifestyle of MLF’s fanbase and Black Buffalo’s adult consumer audience aged 21+, with brand visibility planned across the league’s 360-degree media platform throughout the 2026 season.
FRE Nicotine Pouches partnered with Taylor Reimer Racing as the Official Nicotine Sponsor for four marquee events in the 2026 ARCA Menards Series season. FRE will serve as the primary sponsor for Taylor Reimer at Talladega Superspeedway (April 25), Berlin Raceway (June 20), Elko Speedway (June 27), and Phoenix Raceway (October 17), with branding featured on the car, driver suit, and helmet. The company said the collaboration aligns its performance-focused nicotine pouch brand with one of stock car racing’s rising drivers, extending beyond race weekends into integrated content and appearances.
Counsel for several Malaysian public health organizations told the High Court that former health minister Dr. Zaliha Mustafa acted unlawfully in 2023 when she removed liquid nicotine from the Poisons Act list, arguing the move was made without meaningful consultation with the Poisons Board. A lawyer for the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control, the Malaysian Green Lung Association, and Voice of the Children, said the exemption left vape products effectively unregulated and accessible to minors for nearly 17 months, until the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 took effect in October 2024.
Government counsel argued the case is now academic because the 2024 law regulates vaping and smoking products, and said the minister acted within powers granted under Section 6 of the Poisons Act after consultation with the board. Opposing attorneys countered that the issue remains live because the court must determine whether the minister erred at the time, adding that consultation must be substantive rather than procedural. The applicants are seeking declarations that the 2023 exemption order was irrational, unlawful, and beyond ministerial authority. The court set May 15 for its decision.
Cigarette smuggling continues to rank among the most serious economic threats facing Malaysia, with the illicit cigarette market estimated to be worth up to RM5 billion ($1.3 billion) annually, underscoring the scale of the shadow economy that remains deeply entrenched in the system.
The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has reported that Malaysia lost approximately RM1.4 billion ($350 million) in unpaid taxes over the past five years, partly due to cigarette smuggling activities. According to MOF data, unpaid duties linked to illicit cigarettes were recorded as follows:
** Jan-Sep 2025
These figures not only reflect significant revenue leakage but also point to the presence of well-organized and resilient smuggling networks capable of adapting to escalating enforcement pressure.
According to security and defense analyst Zaki Salleh, the illicit cigarette problem should be viewed as a strategic threat to national economic security, rather than merely a border enforcement issue.
“National borders are not just geographical lines. They are the frontline of economic defense. As long as weaknesses exist at the borders, the shadow economy will continue to thrive,” he said.
Zaki noted that enforcement efforts by agencies such as the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM) remain critical and deserve recognition. In 2025 alone, JKDM successfully foiled 2,742 attempted cigarette smuggling cases, reflecting a high level of operational intensity and commitment.
However, he stressed that enforcement effectiveness must be assessed against overall market outcomes, not just operational activity.
“These efforts deserve praise, but they remain small when measured against the size of Malaysia’s illicit cigarette market. Without more comprehensive coordination, the impact is unlikely to be sustainable,” he said.
Zaki added that border control approaches can no longer rely solely on conventional methods, as smuggling syndicates have become increasingly sophisticated and operate in a highly coordinated manner.
“Today’s smugglers use technology, modern logistics systems and alternative routes to avoid detection. Their operations span land and waterways, including areas that are difficult to monitor physically,” he said.
Beyond enforcement, Zaki pointed to structural market factors as the core challenge. The significant price gap between legal and illegal cigarettes continues to sustain demand among both consumers and retailers.
“This price difference creates strong economic incentives for illicit cigarettes to keep circulating, especially in a challenging cost-of-living environment. Under such conditions, enforcement alone becomes increasingly difficult to curb demand comprehensively,” he said.
As long as demand remains unaddressed, he cautioned, the shadow market will continue to adapt even as enforcement is intensified.
In this context, Zaki said the government needs to explore broader policy reforms aimed at narrowing the demand gap for illicit cigarettes. He noted that the existing policy framework should be objectively evaluated to ensure a better balance between public health objectives, revenue collection and market realities.
At the same time, he emphasized the importance of fully operationalizing the Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) as the central coordinating body for border control, to reduce overlaps and improve inter-agency efficiency.
In addition to coordination, Zaki highlighted the need for more aggressive deployment of technology, including drones, infrared sensors, AI-enabled smart cameras and GPS-based vehicle tracking systems, to strengthen detection capabilities and close persistent border vulnerabilities.
Without a consistent and integrated approach, he warned, the illicit cigarette market will continue to erode national tax revenues and weaken Malaysia’s economic resilience over the long term.
San Francisco secured a $1 million settlement with online tobacco retailer Lucy Goods, Inc., requiring the company to stop shipping flavored nicotine products into the city, City Attorney David Chiu announced yesterday (January 8). The settlement stems from a 2024 lawsuit alleging that several online retailers violated San Francisco’s comprehensive flavored tobacco ban by selling flavored nicotine pouches directly to city residents.
Under the stipulated judgment and injunction entered by San Francisco Superior Court this week, Lucy Goods must pay $1 million in civil penalties and attorneys’ fees, prohibit the use of San Francisco addresses in shipping or billing fields, and post clear notices on its website stating that flavored tobacco products cannot be sold in the city. The agreement follows earlier settlements with Rogue Holdings LLC, Swisher International Inc., and Northerner Scandinavia Inc., bringing total penalties from the case to nearly $4 million.
San Francisco banned all flavored tobacco products in 2019, including nicotine pouches, citing evidence that flavors increase youth appeal and addiction risk.
