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Tag: tobacco control

  • PA Defends Flavored Vape Law in Constitutional Challenge

    PA Defends Flavored Vape Law in Constitutional Challenge

    Pennsylvania is urging a federal court to allow enforcement of its statewide restrictions on most flavored electronic cigarettes, arguing that similar laws have repeatedly been upheld by federal appeals courts and are consistent with states’ authority to regulate tobacco and nicotine products. In a recent court filing, the commonwealth said the plaintiffs are unlikely to succeed on their constitutional claims, citing multiple appellate decisions that have upheld comparable restrictions against challenges based on equal protection, due process, and the Commerce Clause.

    Pennsylvania maintains that the law serves legitimate public health objectives and that courts have consistently recognized broad state authority to regulate e-cigarettes, positioning the litigation as another test of the expanding patchwork of state-level vaping regulations.

  • Philippines Requires Nicotine Companies to Register Brands

    Philippines Requires Nicotine Companies to Register Brands

    The Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) gave manufacturers, importers, and exporters of tobacco and vapor products six months to register their brands and product variants under Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 86-2026, published July 31. The requirement covers cigarettes, heated tobacco products, vapor products, novel tobacco products, cigars, smoking tobacco products, and chewing tobacco products, with companies that fail to comply subject to penalties.

    The updated BIR registry includes 192 entries across 14 manufacturer, importer, and exporter classifications, including 84 vapor product entries, 43 cigarette-related entries, and listings for heated tobacco, novel tobacco products, cigars, chewing tobacco, and smoking tobacco. The BIR said registered products must also comply with graphic health warning requirements and, where applicable, the affixing of BIR tax stamps, although IRSIS stamps are not yet available for novel tobacco products, cigars, smoking tobacco, and chewing tobacco products.

  • Experts Call for Stronger Tobacco Control Across Africa

    Experts Call for Stronger Tobacco Control Across Africa

    Public health experts, policymakers, researchers, and civil society advocates from 12 African countries are meeting in Lagos, Nigeria, for a five-day Tobacco Industry Monitoring course focused on “countering tobacco industry interference” in public health policy. The program, organized by the Africa Center for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research, is training participants to monitor industry activity, conduct research, and support implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

    The course covers tobacco taxation, industry document research, political mapping, social media investigations, legal accountability, and the tobacco industry’s evolving harm reduction agenda. ATIM Director Olalekan Ayo Yusuf said multinational tobacco companies increasingly view Africa as a growth market and urged governments to strengthen policies before tobacco use rises. Participants from Kenya, Nigeria, Benin, Botswana, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Senegal and Zimbabwe are taking part.

  • Nigeria’s Public Health Advocates Want 2,200% Increase for Tobacco Control

    Nigeria’s Public Health Advocates Want 2,200% Increase for Tobacco Control

    Public health groups are urging Nigeria’s federal government to increase annual tobacco-control funding from N13 million ($9,490) to at least N300 million ($219,000), saying current funding is insufficient for enforcement, public education, research, cessation services, and monitoring of the tobacco industry. Allocations increased from N4.7 million ($3,431) in 2023, but advocates say the program remains heavily dependent on international donors.

    The Nigerian Tobacco Control Alliance, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids are calling for a dedicated funding mechanism, potentially through earmarking part of tobacco tax revenues for tobacco-control programs. They cited an estimated N526.4 billion ($384 million) in tobacco-related healthcare costs in 2019, and WHO estimates Nigeria has more than 3.5 million tobacco users.

  • Vietnam Advances Ban on New Nicotine Products

    Vietnam Advances Ban on New Nicotine Products

    Vietnam is amending its Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms to strengthen restrictions on new nicotine products. The government has endorsed a ban on the production, trading, storage, transportation, advertising, promotion, sponsorship, and use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and other novel tobacco products, along with a ban on tobacco-product displays at wholesale and retail outlets.

    The measures aim to curb rising use among young people. Health officials also cited the emergence of nicotine pouches and argued that a sale-only ban would be insufficient. Resolution No. 160/NQ-CP endorses the policy framework, with the amended law expected to define regulated products, restrictions and enforcement responsibilities clearly.

  • Iceland Proposes Plain Packaging, Tighter Controls

    Iceland Proposes Plain Packaging, Tighter Controls

    Iceland proposed plain packaging for all tobacco products and new restrictions on nicotine products under a draft bill from the Health Minister. The measures would standardize packaging, set a maximum nicotine content, allow restrictions on flavored nicotine products, and tighten online, cross-border, and home-delivery sales.

    The bill would align rules for cigarettes and e-cigarettes, strengthen penalties, and expand restrictions on where tobacco and nicotine products can be used, with exemptions for some nursing-home residents and hospital patients. The proposal follows Norway’s 2018 plain-packaging rules, although research cited in the draft material found little or no measurable effect from the policy.

  • Filipino Leaders Press for Smoke-Free Bill

    Filipino Leaders Press for Smoke-Free Bill

    A coalition of Philippine local government leaders is urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify House Bill 9603, the Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Environment Bill, as urgent legislation. The proposed measure would establish a nationwide ban on smoking and vaping in indoor public spaces and workplaces, building on smoke-free ordinances already adopted by several cities and provinces.

    Supporters say the bill would strengthen enforcement, expand smoke-free zones, fund cessation programs, and create incentives for local governments that effectively implement tobacco and vaping control measures.

  • Indonesian Tobacco Groups Oppose New Controls

    Indonesian Tobacco Groups Oppose New Controls

    Indonesian tobacco industry groups are urging President Prabowo Subianto to delay implementing regulations under Government Regulation No. 28/2024, warning that proposed measures such as plain packaging, limits on tar and nicotine, and restrictions on additives could lead to job losses, lower sales, and increased illicit trade. The Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) said it supports measures including a ban on underage tobacco sales, raising the minimum purchase age to 21, and requiring health warnings to cover 50% of packaging, but argued that standardized packaging for cigarettes and e-cigarettes would undermine legitimate businesses and reduce government excise revenue.

  • Macau Tightens Tobacco Control Regs

    Macau Tightens Tobacco Control Regs

    Macau’s Legislative Assembly approved a bill expanding outdoor smoke-free areas, with the new law set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. The legislation prohibits smoking in designated public areas, including parts of Alameda Dr. Carlos d’Assumpção, the Border Gate checkpoint, and the Ruins of Saint Paul’s. Also, it bans smoking within 10 meters of entrances to hospitals, schools, and childcare facilities. Designated smoking areas will still be permitted in certain locations.

    The law also strengthens restrictions on alternative nicotine products and tobacco packaging. Possession and use of e-cigarettes in public areas will be prohibited from July 1, 2027, alongside higher fines for the use of nicotine pouches, herbal cigarettes, and water pipes. In addition, tobacco packaging will be required to display health warnings covering 85% of the front and back surfaces (70% for cigars) beginning July 1, 2028.

  • Spain Moves Forward with Stronger Tobacco Control Laws

    Spain Moves Forward with Stronger Tobacco Control Laws

    Yesterday (July 21), Spain’s Council of Ministers approved a draft tobacco control law that expands smoke-free areas, bans tobacco use among people under 18, and applies stricter rules to e-cigarettes and other nicotine products. The reform updates Spain’s 2005 tobacco law and includes bans on smoking and vaping on hospitality terraces, beaches, public pools, sports facilities, national parks, work vehicles and public event venues, while creating 15-meter protection zones around entrances to schools, hospitals, and other public buildings. The bill treats e-cigarettes, including nicotine-free devices, as well as shisha and other smoking alternatives, under the same restrictions as traditional tobacco, with tighter controls on sales, advertising and sponsorship. The legislation now moves to parliament, where further amendments could be introduced before final approval.