Blog - Articles, news and information around the nicotine sector

Study results could keep panic at bay over arrival of HTPs and nic pouches in the US

Written by Barnaby Page | 12th December 2024

A new study sheds some welcome and thought-provoking light on US CDC data, which ought to help to forestall undue panic about the arrival of nicotine pouches and heated tobacco ...

How will Trump’s Covid-sceptic nominees approach nicotine alternatives in the US?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 5th December 2024

A degree of Covid scepticism unites Trump’s picks for health positions. Will this beget an open mind in other areas of policy and research or will sensationalist science hold sway? ...

Heated tobacco and nicotine pouches lead the global shift to safer nicotine products

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 21st November 2024

A major new report shows a pivotal shift in the global smoking landscape, highlighting the growing use of safer nicotine products, such as heated tobacco and nicotine pouches ...

A look at trends and shifts in nicotine product regulations in Southeast Asia

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 14th November 2024

Southeast Asia is experiencing significant regulatory shifts in the tobacco and nicotine product sectors, as countries in the region adopt varied stances on products like heated tobacco, nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes ...

Can UK bill curb youth uptake and also let adults choose alternatives to smoking?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 7th November 2024

As the UK Tobacco and Vapes Bill re-enters Parliament, there is a palpable sense of urgency surrounding the country’s evolving approach to vaping and tobacco alternatives ...

Big Tobacco’s secret brand-building sauce spices up heated tobacco more than vapes

Written by Freddie Dawson | 24th October 2024

November will mark ten years since Iqos was launched in Japan. And as the third-quarter results of Philip Morris International show, the last ten years have been quite the story in the product’s global brand-building...

Spain’s People’s Party challenges the country’s strict nicotine product laws

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 17th October 2024

Spain’s regulatory battle over nicotine products is heating up, but the centre-right People’s Party faces significant hurdles in pushing its proposed amendments through Parliament ...

Funding and conflicts of interest – from Big Tobacco to social media companies

Written by Freddie Dawson | 10th October 2024

A new body for judging social media complaints has been launched in the EU using money originating from Meta, the parent company of Facebook ...

What is the outlook on health policies under the incoming EU Commission?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 1st October 2024

Some fear healthcare and food safety will not be among the main concerns of the next European Commission after the Commission president unveiled the new commissioners’ respective tasks ...

The latest revision of the EU TPD – what’s in it for alternative nicotine products?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 19th September 2024

There is still little concrete information on what the EU will do in its next revision of the Tobacco Products Directive, though the primary focus will likely be emerging tobacco products ...

Give the people what they want in heated products – as long as that’s not banned

Written by Freddie Dawson | 12th September 2024

Brands that find a way to successfully deliver flavour while appealing to diversifying consumer desires will be best poised for success in a maturing heated tobacco market ...

Is the Czech government out of sync with its own addiction-prevention strategy?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 5th September 2024

Just over a year after the Czech government unveiled a new, ambitious action plan to fight addictions, doubts are being raised over the government’s alignment with its own declared war on addictions ...

Nic pouches in Latin America: market opportunities, regulatory challenges

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 22nd August 2024

As the global nicotine pouch market continues to expand, Latin America is emerging as a key region of interest, with the recent surge in vaping and nicotine pouch popularity creating dynamic opportunities for market players...

Nicotine and flavour delivery innovations driving nicotine pouch evolution globally

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 15th August 2024

From innovative flavour formulations to extended-release mechanisms and eco-friendly packaging, the globally expanding nicotine pouch industry is undergoing a transformative phase ...

Big Tobacco pleased about growth but mum on impact from regulatory changes

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 8th August 2024

All Big Tobacco companies reported growth in their smoke-free segments, reflecting a trend towards diversification from traditional cigarettes, though none have addressed the regulatory environment and its potential impact on future earnings ...

With the US governorship race underway, how do candidates view nic alternatives?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 25th July 2024

Though debate about US president Joe Biden’s potential replacement dominates headlines on the November elections, down-ballot races in many states may impact the future of nicotine alternatives in the country ...

Switzerland finds smoking down, use of alternatives up in 30-year survey results

Written by Freddie Dawson | 18th July 2024

Swiss authorities have released results of a 30-year study on smoking and tobacco use in the country, tracking answers to a health survey conducted from 1992 to 2022 ...

EC smoke-free recommendation revision (probably) arriving this year after delays

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 11th July 2024

Previous delays and European health commissioner describing the work as “particularly challenging” could indicate that the European Commission’s proposal for revising its smoke-free environment recommendation is at risk of further postponement ...

Ten lessons learned over a decade of covering the novel nicotine industry

Written by Barnaby Page | 4th July 2024

In this part of a series of articles celebrating the tenth anniversary of Tamarind Intelligence, our editorial director shares ten things he’s learned about the sector in the last ten years ...

Lessons learned from the thought-provoking Global Forum on Nicotine

Written by Barnaby Page | 21st June 2024

The Global Forum on Nicotine was in Warsaw again last week, and once again proved to be one of the most thought-provoking events on the tobacco harm reduction calendar ...

With a right-leaning EU Parliament, what is the future of novel tobacco products?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 13th June 2024

The result of the latest European Union elections is a clear twist to the right, signalling a potential shift towards a more business-friendly and deregulated environment for the vaping and heated tobacco industries ...

Can a WHO witch hunt stop the next generation from getting hooked?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 6th June 2024

The World Health Organization (WHO) chose to dedicate this year’s World No Tobacco Day to exposing practices used by the tobacco industry to “hook the next generation” into becoming its customers for life ...

Ireland looking to have 21 be the new 18 when it comes to legal age for tobacco use

Written by Freddie Dawson | 23rd May 2024

Ireland will look to raise the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 21, affecting heated tobacco products but not (yet) nioctine pouches or vapour products ...

Compromise is key for the future of novel products and harm reduction in Europe

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 16th May 2024

The next European Parliament may feature a new mix of members who are likely to change Europe’s conservative stance on novel products and include harm-reduction strategies as part of the debate ...

With another White House menthol ban delay, is it just politics in an election year?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 9th May 2024

The US government has once again dropped its plans to issue an immediate ban on menthol cigarettes, despite efforts from numerous civil rights organisations and medical associations urging for a ban to protect targeted communities...

Balancing between adult harm reduction and youth addiction – the debate goes on

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 2nd May 2024

The debate over the approach healthcare providers should take when it comes to suggesting alternative products to help adult patients quit smoking has been ongoing for quite some time, but it’s still controversial ...

Survey results on nicotine usage rates among young Finns beg further digging

Written by Freddie Dawson | 18th April 2024

Use of alternative nicotine products among younger consumers in Finland is on the rise, but their tobacco use has stayed the same, a survey by the Finnish Association for Substance Abuse Prevention recently found ...

Spain’s long-overdue anti-smoking plan is finally approved but not yet in force

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 11th April 2024

Three years after the expected date, the Spanish government has finally approved the country’s new anti-smoking plan, which will now need to be implemented through different laws across the country ...

PMI could be looking to help keep Austin weird and well-stocked in heated tobacco

Written by Freddie Dawson | 4th April 2024

The city of Austin, in Texas, will be where Philip Morris International (PMI) first tests its Iqos 3 in the US, with testing set to go ahead within the next three months ...

Where will tax hikes and court rulings take the alternative tobacco market?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 21st March 2024

A recent CJEU ruling confirmed it was OK for Germany to increase duties on heated tobacco sticks to the equivalent of 80% of the tax applied to conventional cigarettes on public health grounds ...

No clear guidance on pouch marketing in Europe, so advertisers should be cautious

Written by Freddie Dawson | 14th March 2024

Rules on how companies can market nicotine pouches in Europe are no clearer, but criticisms of practices have started and are only going to increase as what can and cannot be done in major European...

Signing a petition for change? Don’t expect that to affect UK tobacco policy

Written by Freddie Dawson | 7th March 2024

It looks like nicotine pouches are gearing up to be the latest battleground for tobacco alternatives, with opposition to pouches springing up in the UK and the US ...

Europe’s respiratory specialists don’t support harm reduction: is this news?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 22nd February 2024

No smoking and no nicotine consumption at all is better for your health than quitting cigarettes without quitting nicotine, says the European Respiratory Society, stating the obvious ...

Will there be an upcoming ‘Zynsurrection’ in the US, or is it much ado about nothing?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 15th February 2024

With calls for a whole “Zynsurrection” in support of Zyn nicotine pouches, opposition to the rise of Zyn could end up being nothing more than a lot of noise ...

Which way should you turn to follow the EU tobacco policy revision process?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 8th February 2024

European authorities seem unsure on the timeline for the next step in the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) review and laissez-faire about keeping anyone up to date on developments for it ...

WHO reports drop in tobacco use despite industry ‘interference’ in achieving goals

Written by Freddie Dawson | 25th January 2024

Tobacco use continues to reduce globally, according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030 ...

What’s in a name? Plenty, when we can’t seem to agree on industry terminology

Written by Barnaby Page | 18th January 2024

Perception is often at least as important as reality in forming policy-makers’ and the public’s opinion where novel nicotine products are concerned, but there’s a persistent problem with terminology ...

Herbal sticks are growing in popularity, but regulators might change their future

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 10th January 2024

Herbal heated sticks are spreading worldwide as a replacement for conventional smoking as well as an alternative to heated tobacco products ...

The curious case of Smokie’s Redmuule nicotine pouches and an Italian law

Written by Freddie Dawson | 14th December 2023

The decision to first specifically ban and then permit the Redmuule nicotine pouch brand to be sold on the Italian market makes one wonder how rulemaking can be done in such an ad hoc fashion...

EU tobacco policy framework revision: when will MEPs be able to fight over it?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 23rd November 2023

This time last year, the start of a debate within the European Parliament on the revisions to the EU tobacco policy framework was imminent, but now it is not even part of the parliamentary schedule...

What about the adults? US FDA tobacco campaigns may be lacking data support

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 16th November 2023

The latest nationwide survey on tobacco product consumption among US youth showed that high school students in the country are ditching vaping, which is definitely good news ...

The tricky partnership of tobacco companies and research funding

Written by Freddie Dawson | 9th November 2023

The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World has ended its relationship with Philip Morris International, bringing to a close one of the tobacco company’s many efforts to distance itself from its own best-selling products ...

How might major companies deal with the EU heated tobacco flavour ban?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 19th October 2023

A recent TobaccoIntelligence report highlights just how important avoiding the EU heated tobacco flavour ban is to companies that provide such products and what they might do about it ...

Who benefits and who loses out in case of an EU-wide ban on nicotine pouches?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 12th October 2023

A ban on nicotine pouches in the EU does not seem far from becoming reality, as a “leaked” report from the European Commission’s bureaucrats shows they apparently want to extend the EU-wide ban on snus...

Herbal sticks are Big Tobacco’s flavour of the moment, but what’s the end-game?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 5th October 2023

It looks like herbal sticks for heated tobacco devices have really hit the big time. And by big time, read Big Tobacco. Both BAT and PMI have launched a nicotine-containing tobacco-free stick ...

Reading between the fault lines in the FDA’s approach to tobacco regulation

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 21st September 2023

The difficulties the US FDA faces regulating novel nicotine are most obvious with e-cigs, rather than other categories, partly due to the sheer number of companies and products involved, and the issue of youth usage...

UK ASA not a fan of influencers peddling nicotine, but where’s the regulation?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 14th September 2023

Social media influencers to market nicotine pouches has been drawing media attention, but the marketing of pouches in the UK remains rather unregulated ...

Is the FDA clearing up misperceptions – or is it sending mixed signals?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 7th September 2023

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seems to be looking for the right words to educate smokers about reduced-risk tobacco and nicotine products ...

Dutch tobacco law loophole leads to Formula 1 confusion and confrontation

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 31st August 2023

The Netherlands has been praised by the World Health Organization for its tobacco control policies, but a legal loophole has been fuelling harsh confrontation between local health organisations and a Formula 1 team ...

The pollution problem – the latest culprits, who’s to blame and is it solvable?

Written by Barnaby Page | 18th August 2023

The vast volumes of waste and litter attributable to vaping have become a major issue in recent months, and even if some of the media coverage seems biased, the underlying problem is real enough ...

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