News analysis for professionals in the alternative tobacco sector

Nicotine alternatives were hit with bans in 2024, but markets continued to grow

Written by Freddie Dawson | 19th December 2024

The year that was 2024 saw the start of an inevitable regulatory pushback against increasing sales of nicotine alternatives, with multiple countries continuing to implement flavour bans on heated tobacco, and more restrictions on nicotine pouches...

US FDA’s plan to lower nicotine levels in cigarettes faces an uncertain timeline

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 17th December 2024

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s ambitious proposal to slash nicotine levels in cigarettes unexpectedly reached a critical new milestone as it entered the Office of Management and Budget for review on 10th December...

Minor Trump nominees could have major impact on future of US nic alternatives

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th December 2024

Several minor nominations by US president-elect Donald Trump could have a major impact on the future of nicotine alternatives in the country ...

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 ...

US surgeon general nominee vocal on vaping but not on other nic alternatives

Written by Freddie Dawson | 11th December 2024

In many ways more of a ceremonial position than a leader in policy creation, the US surgeon general has, nonetheless, had an outside impact on tobacco control for quite some time ...

Iraqi bill proposing legal ENDS definition could mark turning point for regulation

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 9th December 2024

An Iraqi bill that would define electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) – including heated tobacco devices – and bring them under the tobacco regime is now overdue for a vote ...

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? ...

EU Parliament fails to agree smoke-free restrictions as diverging views emerge

Written by Sergi Riudalbas | 3rd December 2024

The European Parliament has failed to reach a consensus on the European Commission’s proposal for a revision of the 2009 Council recommendation on smoke-free environments ...

Should the industry pin its hopes on Trump’s pick for US FDA commissioner?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 3rd December 2024

Interest from the nicotine-alternatives industry in US president-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, Martin Makary, is less about who he is and more about who he is not ...

Still no regulations on heated tobacco in Panama after ban ruled unconstitutional

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 28th November 2024

Nicotine alternatives remain unregulated in Panama following a 14th May Supreme Court decision declaring a 2022 law unconstitutional that banned e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and similar devices ...

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 ...

Imperial Brands reports earnings surge with gains in heated tobacco, modern oral

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 19th November 2024

Imperial Brands has announced 2024 full-year earnings, underscoring its strong performance in next-generation products driven by heated tobacco and modern oral nicotine innovations ...

How could newly elected US governors approach tobacco and nicotine products?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 19th November 2024

Not a single US state governorship flipped parties during the elections held on 5th November despite strong gains in the Senate for the Republican party, as well as the party’s victory in the presidential election...

Polish industry concerned over planned prohibition of synthetic nicotine pouches

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 18th November 2024

Poland’s health minister, Izabela Leszczyna, has announced that her ministry is drafting legislation to ban synthetic nicotine pouches as well as e-cigarettes with flavours ...

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 ...

Disposables and single-use filters under increasing pressure from regulators

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 12th November 2024

Increasingly stringent regulation from environmentally conscious policy-makers looks set to put the vaping and tobacco industries under even more pressure with regard to disposable e-cigarettes and combustible cigarettes ...

What to expect for US tobacco and nicotine regulation under Trump

Written by Barnaby Page | 8th November 2024

Talking about the future of the novel nicotine sector in the United States – its biggest single market by a long way – just got a whole lot harder ...

Congress passes strict regulations on tobacco and nicotine products in Peru

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 8th November 2024

Peru has taken a bold step in public health regulation with new legislation aimed at curbing the impact of tobacco and nicotine products as Congress approves strict guidelines for their use ...

Consumer demand for NGPs aids tobacco alternatives firms with strong Q3 results

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 8th November 2024

Three key players in the tobacco alternatives market have reported strong results in their most recent quarters, largely driven by performance in next-generation products as consumer demand is on the rise ...

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 ...

Amendment to Costa Rica law seeks much stricter tobacco alternatives regulation

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 6th November 2024

Costa Rica is advancing legislation aimed at strengthening its regulatory framework for the tobacco alternatives industry, with a new amendment that will comprehensively replace the existing law ...

Altria’s focus on reduced-risk products drives strong growth in oral tobacco sales

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 4th November 2024

Altria’s third-quarter results showcased significant growth in its oral tobacco products and a strategic focus on expanding reduced-risk offerings ...

JT delivers strong Q3 results, powered by Ploom sales and robust global expansion

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 31st October 2024

Japan Tobacco Group (JT) delivered a standout third quarter, fuelled by surging demand in its tobacco and heated products sectors and a significant global expansion ...

France plans to ban nicotine pouches to protect youth, new health minister says

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 31st October 2024

France may soon ban nicotine pouches as a measure to protect French youth, based on recent declarations by the country’s newly appointed minister of health Geneviève Darrieussecq ...

How Iqos revolutionised the Japanese smoking landscape in just a decade

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 30th October 2024

The November 2014 launch by Philip Morris International (PMI) of Iqos in Nagoya, Japan, and Milan, Italy, kick-started the heated tobacco sector, now worth tens of billions globally ...

Latest data from the US National Youth Tobacco Survey shows nicotine use down

Written by Freddie Dawson | 28th October 2024

New data from the US National Youth Tobacco Survey shows multiple declines: not only did youth use of conventional cigarettes fall once again – to its lowest level ever – but so did e-cigarette use...

Big Tobacco lawsuit settlement in Canada poised to become largest outside the US

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 25th October 2024

Three tobacco giants may solve a long-running litigation in Canada through a mediated settlement deal that would compensate people affected by tobacco-related diseases ...

Belgian supermarkets challenge ban on tobacco-related sales in 400 sq m+ stores

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 25th October 2024

A rule banning grocery stores of 400 sq m+ from selling tobacco products, tobacco-related products and e-cigs has been called arbitrary and without justification on public health grounds in a recent court challenge ...

Convenience store giants challenge Canada’s nicotine pouch rules in court

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 24th October 2024

Two companies representing thousands of convenience stores across Canada have filed a challenge in the Federal Court of Canada, seeking to strike down new restrictions on where nicotine pouches can be sold ...

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...

PMI’s smoke-free products well on way to becoming majority share of its total sales

Written by Freddie Dawson | 23rd October 2024

Philip Morris International (PMI) highlighted the performance of its smoke-free products during its third-quarter results presentation, with the category growing to reach 38% of the company’s total net revenue ...

Trump says he’ll save vaping, but should the US alternatives industry trust him?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 22nd October 2024

Donald Trump has promised to save vaping in the US. But will policy follow rhetoric if he wins the election and what will tying e-cig regulation to his candidacy mean if he loses ...

Italian decree clarifies tax rules and restrictions for herbal heated products

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 22nd October 2024

In a significant step to restrict the online sale of nicotine products, Italy has banned online sales of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes, indicating a shift towards stricter regulations ...

PMI launches Iqos in Texas and sets the stage for the US heated tobacco market

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 21st October 2024

Philip Morris International (PMI) has launched its Iqos heated tobacco device in the US through a pilot programme called “Be the First” in Austin, Texas ...

Finland to reverse decision on nicotine pouch flavours after government scandal

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 21st October 2024

In a swift reversal, the Finnish government has scrapped a plan to allow a wider range of nicotine pouch flavours and narrowed the options to mint and menthol ...

BAT unveils Velo Plus, a new synthetic nicotine pouch to hit US markets in 2025

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 18th October 2024

In a move that could reshape the nicotine market, British American Tobacco (BAT) has announced Velo Plus – a new line of synthetic nicotine pouches ...

San Francisco lawsuit over flavoured nicotine pouch sales breeds confusion

Written by Freddie Dawson | 18th October 2024

Companies are confused by a San Francisco lawsuit on the sale of flavoured nicotine pouches but do not feel it makes business sense to fight it ...

Innovation urgently needed in smoking cessation treatments, say FDA and NIH

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 17th October 2024

Improved smoking cessation treatments and more research on e-cigarettes are urgently needed, according to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ...

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 ...

Haypp Group plans to appeal ‘unjust’ revocation of Swedish subsidiary licence

Written by Freddie Dawson | 14th October 2024

Online retailer Haypp Group will appeal a decision that will leave thousands of its customers unable to easily access reduced-risk products, while officials say the subsidiary does not verify age upon delivery of nicotine-containing goods...

Strong NGP growth keeps Imperial in line with forecasts ahead of November results

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 10th October 2024

Imperial Brands reported trading in line with expectations, driven by robust growth in its tobacco segment and next generation products, as it prepares to give its full-year results in November ...

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 ...

Banning tobacco sales to youth may curb lung cancer mortality, WHO study finds

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 9th October 2024

Policies that aim to create a tobacco-free generation may significantly prevent mortality from lung cancer across the world, according to recent research led by the World Health Organization ...

Poland to apply significant price hike on tobacco heating devices from next year

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 8th October 2024

The Polish government has unveiled plans to extend the country’s excise tax to tobacco heating devices, to be adopted by the Council of Ministers in the fourth quarter of 2024 and take effect in the...

Malaysian industry mostly favours new tobacco law, wants guidance, lower costs

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 7th October 2024

Malaysian industry groups and health associations welcomed the enactment this month of a new tobacco law that includes heated tobacco, but they expressed concern about the lack of clarity on some aspects ...

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 ...

South Africa revives bill that would put stricter regulations on tobacco products

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 27th September 2024

In a significant legislative move, the South African Parliament has revived the Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, signalling a renewed commitment to stringent tobacco and e-cigarette regulations ...

Indonesia’s tobacco industry concerned over draft plans to standardise packaging

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 25th September 2024

After years of pledging to regulate e-cigarettes and tobacco products, Indonesia has finally taken decisive action. However, a move to tighten regulations on packaging has raised concerns among industry stakeholders ...

Global tobacco industry eyes EU as it pivots towards more sustainable filters

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 23rd September 2024

The tobacco industry is shifting towards making more sustainable cigarette filters. Innovation of this kind may soon find its way into heated tobacco products, driven by regulatory changes that could ban single-use filters ...

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 ...

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