David Palacios Rubio, Author at TobaccoIntelligence

What new rules lie ahead for tobacco alternatives on the road through 2021?

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 7th January 2021 || News analysis |

The new year looks certain to become another significant one for the tobacco-alternatives industry across the globe, with a bunch of new regulations on the horizon ...

UK tobacco regulation review likely after Brexit deal signed

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 24th December 2020 || News analysis |

After the eleventh-hour agreement of a Brexit deal on Christmas Eve, one of the first key issues for the go-it-alone UK to tackle will be the review of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) ...

Norwegian coalition agrees to cut snus tax to curb cross-border purchases

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 22nd December 2020 || News analysis |

Norway’s majority coalition parties have agreed to drop 25% of the excise duties on snus in a bid to stop people buying it in from neighbouring Sweden ...

Biden names California AG to head US federal health department

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 7th December 2020 || News analysis |

US president-elect Joe Biden has unexpectedly named California attorney general Xavier Becerra as his choice for the vital role of heading the massive Health and Human Services (HHS) Department ...

Study calls for better phrased risk-reduction claims, from trusted sources

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 30th November 2020 || News analysis |

A survey has concluded that reduced-risk claims for snus are understood by smokers, but better wording and genuine statements from independent sources – not tobacco companies – would improve their credibility ...

Expected increase in HnB tax is dropped from Italy’s proposed budget for 2021

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 24th November 2020 || News analysis |

Italy’s draft budget for 2021 does not include any provision – for now – on taxing heated tobacco products, despite calls from health authorities and members of the country’s Senate ...

EU Parliament endorses Commission’s new health programme

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 13th November 2020 || News analysis |

The European Parliament approved by an overwhelming majority the EU health policy programme for the period 2021-2017 aimed at tackling some of the main health issues in Europe, including tobacco policy ...

Australian Senate committee ready to hear both sides on harm reduction

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 11th November 2020 || News analysis |

An Australian Senate committee to inquire into tobacco harm reduction strategies will meet for the first time in Canberra on Friday, and again week later in Sydney ...

Dryft purchase can give a big boost to BAT’s share of US modern oral market

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 10th November 2020 || News analysis |

The purchase by BAT of nicotine pouch brand Dryft to “strengthen” its modern oral portfolio in the US is an opportunity for both to increase their share of the market ...

Norway seeks political support to increase snus excise duties in 2021

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 2nd November 2020 || News analysis |

The Norwegian government is proposing an increase of 3.7% in the tax applied to snus from 2021 with the aim to “limit health problems”, but the minority government must find an ally in the national Parliament (Storting) to...

Brussels planning ahead for harmonised EU taxation of HnB late next year

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 21st October 2020 || News analysis |

The tax authorities in Brussels are to give a final decision on introducing a new harmonised tax scheme for heated tobacco products in a year’s time, amid calls for action from top EU institutions ...

HnB growth provides the silver lining to PMI’s declining overall earnings

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 20th October 2020 || News analysis |

While Philip Morris International (PMI)’s earnings fell slightly in the third quarter of the year due to the ongoing COVID-19 challenges, shipments of the company's heated tobacco units were up by 18.7% ...

Imperial’s tobacco-alternative revenues collapse by 30% in 2020

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 9th October 2020 || News analysis |

Imperial Brands has revealed that the company’s net revenue for its next-generation portfolio is around 30% lower than 2019, while the overall company revenue looks set to remain flat this year ...

Denmark holds back on planned flavour ban after European Commission says no

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 5th October 2020 || News analysis |

Denmark has put on hold a proposal to extend the ban on flavours in tobacco products to hookah and chewing tobacco after the European Commission issued a negative opinion on the plan ...

The doctor will sue you now: AMA joins court action against FDA on menthol

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 14th September 2020 || News analysis |

The largest doctors’ association in the US has joined a court case accusing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of failing in its duty to issue regulations to ban menthol in tobacco products ...

Deadline, 4pm Wednesday – time’s almost up for US PMTAs

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 7th September 2020 || News analysis |

The final countdown is on to Wednesday's deadline for premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs), which the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially set at 4pm Eastern Time (ET) on 9th September ...

Reynolds submits last-minute PMTA application for its oral Velo Lozenges

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 26th August 2020 || News analysis |

Reynolds American has submitted a premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Velo nicotine lozenges to remain on the market after September ...

It’s still ‘poison’: Australia confirms the permanent prohibition of heated tobacco

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 25th August 2020 || News analysis |

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued a final decision not to amend the country’s Poisons Standard – a decision which leaves the sale of heated tobacco products banned in the country ...

PMI starts roll-out of KT&G heated tobacco products in Russia

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 19th August 2020 || News analysis |

KT&G heated tobacco products are available outside South Korea for the first time after Philip Morris International (PMI) began marketing them in Russia ...

JTI prepares to increase prices of HnB consumables as company revenues drop

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 10th August 2020 || News analysis |

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) is to increase the price of some of its heated tobacco consumables in Japan from 1st October ...

New Zealand lawmakers reject bid to legalise tobacco-free nicotine pouches

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 7th August 2020 || News analysis |

A proposal to allow the sale of non-tobacco nicotine pouches in New Zealand was left out of the final version of a new bill regulating vaping products that was adopted in parliament ...

BAT’s modern oral portfolio increases 74% in a year

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 31st July 2020 || News analysis |

BAT’s revenue from its smokeless portfolio increased by 5.7% to £9.4bn ($12.3bn) in the first six months of the year, helped by higher revenue in the modern oral segment ...

Oral tobacco gives a boost to Altria; announces IQOS expansion in the US

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 28th July 2020 || News analysis |

Altria has reported net revenue to be down by 3.8% in Q2 2020 due to the decrease of the traditional tobacco business, though a further drop was prevented thanks to the good performance of its smokeless products in...

IQOS saves PMI’s numbers in Q2 2020 as lockdown hits overall earnings

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 21st July 2020 || News analysis |

PMI’s earnings fell in the second quarter of 2020 due to retail and travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this was partially offset by higher heated tobacco unit volumes ...

‘Level playing-field’ for tobacco taxation on EU Council agenda

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 13th July 2020 || News analysis |

The upcoming presidencies of the Council of the European Union have agreed to include the revision of the Directive 2011/64 on the structure and rates of excise duties applied to manufactured tobacco in their strategic agenda ...

US FDA grants modified risk orders to PMI’s Iqos and Marlboro HeatSticks

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 7th July 2020 || News analysis |

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Philip Morris International (PMI) modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) status for Iqos and its associated HeatSticks ...

Germany votes on outdoor ad ban that will cost estimated €2.27m a year

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 2nd July 2020 || News analysis |

Germany’s anticipated decision to ban outdoor advertising of tobacco, including heat-not-burn (HnB) and vapour products, could cost the public finances an estimated €2.27m a year ...

Italian lawmakers propose HnB tax increase to help out health service

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 22nd June 2020 || News analysis |

Representatives from different political parties in Italy have put forward various proposals to increase tax on tobacco-alternative products as the government seeks urgent financial responses to the COVID-19 crisis ...

Australia looks like keeping the door shut on ‘poisonous’ heated tobacco

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 11th June 2020 || News analysis |

Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has issued an interim decision against amending the country’s Poisons Standard on nicotine – leaving heated tobacco banned as dangerous poison ...

Council of Europe stamps tobacco product tax harmonisation ‘Urgent’

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 3rd June 2020 || News analysis |

The Council of the European Union considers it “urgent and necessary” to harmonise the definitions and tax treatment of novel tobacco products such as heated tobacco and vaping products ...

World No Tobacco Day 2020: opposing views on tobacco alternatives

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 31st May 2020 || News analysis |

World No Tobacco Day provides a good opportunity to consider the approach that public health authorities, policymakers, and advocates around the world have towards the role of tobacco-alternative products ...

Nations urge European Commission to include HnB in revised EU tax directive

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 28th May 2020 || News analysis |

EU nations are to recommend to the European Commission that heat-not-burn products should be included in the forthcoming revised structure and rates of tax applied to manufactured tobacco products ...

Indian state of Uttar Pradesh partially lifts ban on nicotine-free pan masala

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 26th May 2020 || News analysis |

India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, has partially lifted its ban on the oral product pan masala following industry pressure and due to the state government’s need for cash ...

California quitline offers free nicotine patches during coronavirus crisis

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 20th May 2020 || News analysis |

Smokers in the US state of California can get free nicotine patches by mail to help them quit, as part of a research project on public health during the COVID-19 crisis ...

Altria moves On! with PMTA in 10-year plan to lead on non-combustibles

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 18th May 2020 || News analysis |

Altria has submitted premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for 35 varieties of its On! nicotine pouches ...

US FDA requests four-month delay on graphic cigarette health warnings

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 11th May 2020 || News analysis |

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked a judge to postpone the effective date of its new rule imposing graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging ...

Altria expects a hit from COVID-19, BAT set for heated tobacco decline

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 30th April 2020 || News analysis |

Big Tobacco manufacturers are expecting the effects of COVID-19 to hit hard in the second half of the year, despite a strong performance in the first quarter ...

France limits sale of nicotine patches as study hints at COVID-19 treatment

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 28th April 2020 || News analysis |

The French government is temporarily restricting sales of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products following research suggesting nicotine patches could be used in treatment for COVID-19 ...

BAT takes action over heated tobacco patent in bid to ‘win race’ with PMI

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 27th April 2020 || News analysis |

British American Tobacco is suing Big Tobacco rival Philip Morris International in the US and in Europe for allegedly infringing its patents with its popular heated tobacco device IQOS ...

PMI lowers expectation of IQOS uptake by half as lockdown hits Heets sales

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 22nd April 2020 || News analysis |

Philip Morris International is braced for a significant dip in sales and use of its heated-tobacco device IQOS over the rest of 2020, with retail and travel restrictions currently imposed in nearly every country ...

Kentucky senators reject proposed tax increase for snus and snuff

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 15th April 2020 || News analysis |

Lawmakers in Kentucky have passed a new bill setting out taxes for tobacco products – but a proposal to increase tax on smokeless products was left out of the final wording ...

US FDA prepares to extend PMTA deadline – if court agrees to it

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 31st March 2020 || News analysis |

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has requested a 120-day extension to the deadline for premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) due to the challenges that the coronavirus outbreak is posing to companies ...

India’s most populous state bans oral tobacco mix amid coronavirus fear

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 26th March 2020 || News analysis |

The Food Safety and Drug Administration in Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest state by population, has temporarily banned pan masala, a traditional oral product popular throughout India, to try to stem the spread of COVID-19 ...

US trade commission is called in to decide on nicotine pouch patent row

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 19th March 2020 || News analysis |

The US International Trade Commission (USITC) is looking into a possible infringement of the patent for a nicotine pouch product, following a claim led by Swedish Match North America ...

Dutch health secretary calls for a ban on public use of heated tobacco

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 16th March 2020 || News analysis |

Dutch health secretary Paul Blokhuis has called for heated tobacco and any future new tobacco product to be banned from public use in order to help achieve the target of a “smoke-free generation” ...

BAT reports 273% revenue increase in a year for its modern oral portfolio

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 28th February 2020 || News analysis |

British American Tobacco (BAT)'s "modern oral" portfolio has been one of the main drivers helping the company achieve good results in 2019 for its next-generation products category, which overall increased globally by 36.9% ...

Norway and Denmark give up the smoking habit, turn to snus instead

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 20th February 2020 || News analysis |

Snus is booming in popularity in Norway and Denmark – especially among the young – while cigarette-smoking appears to be losing its appeal fast ...

Altria investment value in Juul drops by 65% in a year

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 31st January 2020 || News analysis |

The investment value of Altria in e-cig company Juul fell by 65% in almost a year due to the recent developments in the US affecting the brand ...

US Senate raises legal purchasing age for tobacco products from 18 to 21

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 20th December 2019 || News analysis |

The US Senate has passed an act which raises the minimum sale or purchase age for tobacco products from 18 to 21 nationwide ...

EU Commission delays e-cig and HnB tax scheme decision to 2020

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 13th December 2019 || News analysis |

The European Commission is delaying evaluating tobacco tax rates and the possible introduction of a new harmonised tax scheme for e-cigs and heated...

LATEST ALERTS