European Ombudsman tells Commission to come clean over tobacco meetings

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 2nd March 2021 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

Politics & policy

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

The European Ombudsman has accused the European Commission of failing to “proactively publish” details of all its interactions with the tobacco industry ...

Croatia heading for one of the highest heated tobacco tax rates in Europe

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 24th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |

Croatia

Europe

Heated tobacco

Politics & policy

Regulatory briefing

A proposal to nearly double the tax on heated tobacco in Croatia appears to be broadly backed by lawmakers, though some are urging the government to consider scientific and economic evidence ...

Germany aims to increase HnB duty to match tax on combustible cigarettes

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 22nd February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Germany

Heated tobacco

Regulatory briefing

The German government is proposing an increased levy on heat-not-burn (HnB) consumables from 2022, bringing them under the same tax burden as traditional cigarettes ...

Ukraine’s HnB tax hike blamed for ‘inevitable’ boom in bootleg sales

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 17th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Ukraine

Heated tobacco

Regulatory briefing

Concerns have been raised in Ukraine over a sharp increase in sales of counterfeit heated tobacco products from China following the imposition of a new tax scheme in January ...

UK should take the harm reduction message to WHO conference, MPs told

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 11th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

UK

Regulatory briefing

Britain will have an “incredible opportunity” later this year to spread the word that appropriate regulation of tobacco alternatives saves lives, members of the UK Parliament have been told ...

European Beating Cancer Plan – now the parliamentary debates begin in earnest

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 8th February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

Politics & policy

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

Intense debate has begun in the European Parliament on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, presented by the European Commission last week, including suggested measures to tighten regulation of tobacco alternatives ...

Europe places anti-cancer focus on tighter HnB regulation and taxation

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 3rd February 2021 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

Heated tobacco

Politics & policy

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

The European Commission’s newly outlined Beating Cancer Plan places a focus on tobacco-alternative products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco ...

US attorneys ask the FDA to urgently ban menthol cigarettes

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 29th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

A coalition of US attorneys called on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban menthol cigarettes “in the best interest of the public” and no longer delay a process that has been on stand-by since 2018...

Hong Kong legislators raise doubts over government plans to ban heated tobacco

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 20th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |

Asia

Hong Kong

Heated tobacco

Politics & policy

Regulatory briefing

Lawmakers in Hong Kong who met to discuss the government’s long-delayed proposal to ban heated tobacco products remained divided on the issue ...

Change yes, but what change? EU given mixed messages on tobacco tax harmony

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 14th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

Heated tobacco

Politics & policy

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

Industry insiders and public health bodies agree the EU should make changes to the tax scheme for tobacco alternatives – but not all share the same view on what those changes should be ...

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

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 7th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |

Asia

Brazil

China

Denmark

EU

Europe

Ireland

Netherlands

North America

Norway

Philippines

Russia

South America

South Korea

Sweden

Switzerland

UK

Ukraine

United States

World

Heated tobacco

Politics & policy

Regulation and Legislation

Snus and oral

Regulatory briefing

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 ...

New year brings new heated tobacco taxes after Italian Senate vote

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 4th January 2021 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Italy

Heated tobacco

Regulatory briefing

Italy has gone into 2021 with new excise duties on heated tobacco after the Senate voted in favour of an amendment included in the country’s budget bill ...

Ban public use, advertising and reduced-risk claims for HnB, says WHO group

Written by Barnaby Page || 31st December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Heated tobacco

Politics & policy

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

All advertising and public use of heated tobacco systems should be banned by governments, a World Health Organization (WHO) committee has suggested ...

Filipino government issues packaging restrictions amid FDA cash scandal

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 28th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Asia

Philippines

Heated tobacco

Vapour

Regulatory briefing

A joint memorandum from several government agencies laying down rules for tobacco-alternative products in the Philippines establishes new restrictions on flavours and changes to labelling requirements ...

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

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 22nd December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Norway

Politics & policy

Snus and oral

Regulatory briefing

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 ...

Legal eagles’ report calls for reform and enforcement of India’s tobacco controls

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 17th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Asia

India

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

A report by the National Law School of India University calls for wide-ranging reforms of the country’s Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, including raising the legal age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21 ...

Serbia’s five-year plan for a gradual increase in heated tobacco taxes

Written by Marija Obradovic || 10th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Serbia

Heated tobacco

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

The Serbian government is proposing to increase tobacco taxes, including those levied on heat-not-burn (HnB) products ...

Biden names California AG to head US federal health department

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 7th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Politics & policy

Regulatory briefing

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 ...

Danish health minister seeks to postpone labelling rules for nicotine pouches

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 4th December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Denmark

Europe

Nicotine

Snus and oral

Regulatory briefing

The Ministry of Health has proposed that the enforcement of the provisions affecting labelling and health warnings rules should be postponed by six months ...

Swiss Assembly starts debate this month on long-anticipated tobacco bill

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 2nd December 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Switzerland

Heated tobacco

Politics & policy

Regulatory briefing

The Swiss National Council is expected to debate the country’s draft Federal Tobacco Act in a few days but a final vote on the bill, which would ban tobacco sales to minors, is unlikely before summer 2021...

Future of HnB remains unclear as Taiwan debates possible e-cigarette ban

Written by Tao Hong || 26th November 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Asia

Taiwan

Heated tobacco

Politics & policy

Regulation and Legislation

Vapour

Regulatory briefing

A proposed amendment to Taiwan’s Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act could ban e-cigarettes but leave the way open for a large heated tobacco market to develop ...

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

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 24th November 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Italy

Heated tobacco

Regulatory briefing

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 ...

Netherlands bans the sale of tobacco products in supermarkets from 2024

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 23rd November 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Netherlands

Combustibles

Heated tobacco

Politics & policy

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

Supermarkets in the Netherlands will no longer be allowed to sell tobacco, including heated tobacco products, from 2024, health minister Paul Blokhuis has announced ...

Spain to unveil soon new regulations equating HnB with combustibles

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 18th November 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Spain

COVID-19

Heated tobacco

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

The Spanish Ministry of Health has prepared an amendment to the Tobacco, Act including provisions on tobacco-alternative products, but implementation will depend on the COVID-19 pandemic situation ...

EU Parliament endorses Commission’s new health programme

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 13th November 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

EU

Europe

Regulation and Legislation

Regulatory briefing

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 || Regulatory briefing |

Australasia

Australia

Politics & policy

Regulatory briefing

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 ...

Hungary set to increase tax on tobacco alternatives after EU call on cigarettes

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 6th November 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

Hungary

Heated tobacco

Snus and oral

Regulatory briefing

The Hungarian government is proposing to increase taxes on tobacco-alternative products after Brussels called on the country to apply the minimum EU threshold for excise duty on cigarettes ...

Norway seeks political support to increase snus excise duties in 2021

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 2nd November 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Norway

Snus and oral

Regulatory briefing

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...

US elections: the uncertain landscape for the tobacco-alternatives industry

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 29th October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Politics & policy

Regulatory briefing

Just a few days ahead of the US elections there is a lot of uncertainty about the approach that next White House leader will have towards the tobacco-alternatives industry ...

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

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 21st October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

Regulatory briefing

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 ...

Indonesia prepares new national standard for tobacco alternatives

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 19th October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Asia

Indonesia

Heated tobacco

Vapour

Regulatory briefing

Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry is working towards a new national standard for e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, which it beleives will benefit the tobacco-alternatives industry ...

French Assembly rejects call to reduce tax on heated tobacco from 2021

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 9th October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

France

Heated tobacco

Regulatory briefing

The Finance Committee of the French National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) has rejected a proposal to cut the taxes on heated tobacco to make tobacco-alternative products more attractive to smokers ...

Ukraine proposes to include HnB by definition in its national tax code

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 8th October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Ukraine

Heated tobacco

Politics & policy

Regulatory briefing

The Ukrainian government has proposed an amendment to the country’s tax code that would add heat-not-burn (HnB) products to the definition of traditional tobacco in a bid to build “fair tax rules” ...

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

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 5th October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Denmark

EU

Europe

Politics & policy

Regulatory briefing

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 ...

Slovakia justifies 50% HnB tax increase proposal amid broad opposition

Written by Lenka Hajnovicova || 2nd October 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Slovakia

Heated tobacco

Regulatory briefing

Concern within the industry and other areas of government could lead the Slovak Ministry of Finance to water down a proposal to increase excise duties on heated tobacco by 50% ...

UK to set new post-Brexit limit on HnB duty-free purchases from January

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 24th September 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

UK

Heated tobacco

Politics & policy

Regulatory briefing

The UK government is to impose a cap from next year on the number of heated tobacco consumables that air passengers can import into the country – including from countries within the European Union ...

German Bundesrat passes outdoor and cinema ads ban without further ado

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 21st September 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

Germany

Heated tobacco

Vapour

Regulatory briefing

After years of discussions within the governing coalition and campaigning by health bodies, Germany is to further restrict tobacco advertising after the Bundesrat approved the new rules without further debate ...

UAE launches app to crack down on non-compliant tobacco products

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 18th September 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Asia

United Arab Emirates

Heated tobacco

Regulatory briefing

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has created a phone app to help consumers detect non-compliant tobacco products in a bid from Emirati authorities to counter tax evasion and commercial fraud as well as to protect public health ...

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

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 14th September 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Combustibles

Regulatory briefing

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 ...

Netherlands set to brings HnB under its restrictions on tobacco

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 10th September 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Netherlands

Heated tobacco

Snus and oral

Regulatory briefing

The Dutch government has announced that it is planning to amend the Tobacco Act to include heat-not-burn (HnB) product under the definition of “smokeless tobacco products and related products” ...

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

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 7th September 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

North America

United States

Politics & policy

Regulatory briefing

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 ...

Nigeria considers a switch from smoking to tobacco alternatives by 2024

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 3rd September 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Africa

Nigeria

Combustibles

Heated tobacco

Politics & policy

Regulatory briefing

The Nigerian government is currently studying a new policy for regulations aimed at achieving a transition from combustibles to tobacco alternative products by 2024. ...

Taiwan leaves the door open to include HnB in its Tobacco Hazards Act

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 31st August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Asia

Taiwan

Heated tobacco

Politics & policy

Regulatory briefing

A revised draft amendment to Taiwan’s Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act could include regulations for heated tobacco products, TobaccoIntelligence has learned ...

Health claim or no, nicotine pouches are viewed in Canada as ‘medical devices’

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 27th August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Canada

North America

Nicotine

Snus and oral

Regulatory briefing

Health Canada appears to have changed its mind about nicotine pouches, declaring that they should be regulated as drugs even if no “explicit” claim is made for any health benefit ...

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

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 25th August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Australasia

Australia

Heated tobacco

Nicotine

Politics & policy

Regulatory briefing

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 ...

Californian bill banning flavours will not allow any exemption for snus

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 21st August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

California

North America

United States

Snus and oral

Regulatory briefing

California is edging closing to banning flavoured tobacco products – and despite industry lobbying, state lawmakers will not make an exception for tobacco-alternative products that have modified-risk approval ...

Latvia moves to limit tobacco alternatives and ban tobacco-free nicotine

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 18th August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Europe

Latvia

Heated tobacco

Nicotine

Snus and oral

Regulatory briefing

Lawmakers in the Latvian parliament (Saeima) want a ban on tobacco-alternative products and have submitted a draft law that would crack down on nicotine pouches and heated tobacco devices ...

PHE questions whether new UK cigarette brands violate EU menthol ban

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 13th August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

EU

Europe

UK

Combustibles

Politics & policy

Regulatory briefing

Public health authorities in England have launched an investigation into a number of cigarette products for possible violation of the menthol ban that came into force in May ...

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

Written by David Palacios Rubio || 7th August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Australasia

New Zealand

Snus and oral

Regulatory briefing

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 ...

Belarus implements “necessary” sale restrictions for tobacco-free snus

Written by TobaccoIntelligence || 6th August 2020 || Regulatory briefing |

Belarus

Europe

Nicotine

Snus and oral

Regulatory briefing

The Belarus government has made a first firm step towards restricting the sale of tobacco-free nicotine-containing products, including tobacco-free snus (sometimes known as "white pouch"), to minors and in some retailing spaces ...