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EU: TobaccoIntelligence has today launched its third Survey on New Nicotine Products in the EU. We are asking Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) about their views on e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches and their regulation. Consolidated results will be published, comparing the results with similar surveys carried out in the past two years. This year’s survey is especially relevant given the current policy debates on the topic. In both previous surveys, there was a clear correlation between higher levels of knowledge about novel nicotine products and lower perceived risk. Though the exact degrees of correlation varied by product category, the overall picture was consistent: those who were aware of and had some knowledge of a given category considered it less risky, compared to smoking combustibles, than those unfamiliar with it.

Costa Rica: A bill imposing neutral packaging for tobacco products, including heated tobacco, has received the approval of the Legislative Assembly Social Affairs Committee, press reports. The bill, which would also ban advertising and increase the size of health warnings from 50% to 80% of the package area, will now go to the full Assembly to be voted on in two debates.

Iceland: Following the presentation of the Budget for 2023, including a 7.7% increase in tax on heated tobacco products, the Ministry of Finance is to introduce an amendment to the Act on Taxes on Alcohol and Tobacco, no. 96/1995, increasing the applicable excise duty from ISK30.15 (€0.22) to ISK32.45 (€0.23) per g of tobacco.

US - Portland Oregon metropolitan area: Washington County’s Ordinance 878 – which passed last November, has been on hold since January, was ratified by voters in May, but kept on hold by a preliminary injunction in July – has now been struck down by a circuit court judge, who decided the county had no authority to enact a local ban on the sale of flavoured tobacco products. The county has issued a statement disagreeing with the ruling and saying it will consider options for an appeal.

US - California: The city of Chula Vista has unanimously voted to ban the sale of flavoured tobacco products – including menthol – from 1st January 2023, local media reports. With a population of over 275,000, Chula Vista is the second-largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area.

Chile: President Gabriel Boric has placed an “urgent” priority (“urgencia simple”) on Bill 12632-11, currently being discussed by the Chamber of Deputies Health Committee. The bill, which already has Senate approval, would initially have regulated heated tobacco and e-cigarettes like traditional tobacco products. However, in March the Health Committee approved the removal of references to vaping products. The president’s order requires the Chamber to reach a decision on the bill by 26th October.

India: The Delhi High Court has annulled a set of notifications issued by the Delhi Commissioner of Food Safety from 2015 to 2021 banning the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of gutka, pan masala, flavoured tobacco, kharra and similar products in the state on the grounds that the commissioner had exceeded his powers. The court said it “agrees that tobacco and nicotine are injurious to health”, but added: “It has never been the intention of the Parliament to impose an absolute ban on manufacture, sale, distribution and storage of tobacco and/or tobacco products. The intention of the Parliament is to regulate the trade and commerce of tobacco and tobacco products.”

France: The government is implementing its plan to tie the price of tobacco to inflation. The social security financing bill was presented to the Council of Ministers on Monday, when prime minister Elisabeth Borne announced: “I confirm that the price of a pack will increase with inflation. It would be quite paradoxical for the increase in cigarettes to be lower than inflation.” The government is proposing adapted tax scales for heated tobacco: from 1st March 2023 an ad valorem rate of 45.3% plus €44 per 1,000 units will apply; this will rise in 2024 to 47.4% and €45.50 per 1,000 units, and in 2025 to 49.4% and €46.40 per 1,000. The bill will be debated in parliament from 20th October.