North America: Market data & legal analysis of the nicotine sector

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 ...

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? ...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

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) ...

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 ...

Reduced-nicotine policies more effective if flavoured vapes stay, suggests US study

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 18th September 2024

Banning popular flavours to discourage youth vaping may jeopardise efforts to curb smoking rates in adults at risk, according to a study published earlier this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association ...

US teens’ use of pouches stays stable despite increase in sales, survey finds

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 12th September 2024

The use of pouches among US teenagers remained stable in the past year despite the constant increase in their sales, based on the recently released National Youth Tobacco Survey ...

What would a Harris White House look like for US tobacco and nicotine policies?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 9th September 2024

US Republicans and their supporters are going to try to tie Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris to the record of outgoing president Joe Biden, including on the menthol ban proposed by the current administration ...

Prior to US elections, Trump’s stance on nicotine alternative products has evolved

Written by Freddie Dawson | 6th September 2024

Republican US presidential nominee Donald Trump’s position towards vaping evolved over the course of his former presidential term, and his position on other nicotine alternatives is unclear ...

US FDA’s new rule bolsters youth tobacco safeguards without any major disruption

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 5th September 2024

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a new rule that increases age restrictions on tobacco and e-cigarette sales, continuing its mission to protect young people from tobacco addiction ...

What changes are in store for nicotine alternatives in a post-cessation world?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 3rd September 2024

It’s beginning to look like the well of smokers who have not tried vaping is running dry, and this has dramatic implications for the sector, its approach, and the way others interact with it ...

PMI invests $277m in US plant expansion to increase Zyn pouch production by 40%

Written by Freddie Dawson | 30th August 2024

Potential production capacity numbers indicate Philip Morris International (PMI) expects a massive hike in US demand for nicotine pouches ...

E-cig retail licence rules may affect youth tobacco consumption, US study finds

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 30th August 2024

Laws requiring licences for retailers to sell vaping products might not be effective in reducing youth access to e-cigs, but they may affect youth tobacco consumption behaviour, a US study has found ...

Canadian health minister puts pouches behind the counter and restricts flavours

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 26th August 2024

In a bid to discourage young people from using nicotine pouches, Canada is imposing tough new restrictions, including limiting sales to pharmacies and flavours to mint and menthol ...

Researchers look into impact of smoking and vaping to uncover effects of dual use

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 23rd August 2024

Is smoking and vaping worse than just smoking, or is it potentially beneficial for those addicted to combustible tobacco use, who may, at some point, quit it completely? ...

Lead next-gen innovation with consumer rather than regulatory focus, advises CRO

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 23rd August 2024

Businesses that lead product innovation with what the consumer wants will be one step ahead when it comes to taking a next-generation product to market – particularly when making PMTAs in the US ...

JT’s acquisition of Vector Group in the US: strategic expansion or short-term boost?

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 22nd August 2024

While the acquisition of US tobacco company Vector by Japan Tobacco (JT) Group will add profit and cashflow to JT’s business immediately, its longer-term significance may be more strategic ...

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...

US Republican VP nominee keeps views on tobacco alternatives under his hat

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th August 2024

Republican nominee for vice-president JD Vance has been curiously silent on tobacco alternatives, even though common Washington Beltway gossip says Vance’s staff are some of the most nicotined up in all of Congress ...

US Democratic VP nominee unlikely to be an ally to the tobacco alternatives sector

Written by Freddie Dawson | 12th August 2024

New Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz is unlikely to be a friend to the tobacco alternatives and vaping industries. As governor of the state of Minnesota, he's taken a strong line on nicotine products ...

US study suggests vaping combined with smoking may increase risk of lung cancer

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 8th August 2024

Tobacco smokers who also use e-cigarettes may be exposed to higher health risks than those who only use traditional cigarettes, but scientists are reluctant to put the blame on vaping ...

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 ...

Altria beefs up On! brand as oral tobacco products continue to shore up revenue

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 1st August 2024

Oral tobacco continued to significantly contribute to Altria’s numbers in the first half of the year, with encouraging results from its On! nicotine pouch brand and positive On! Plus growth prospects ...

Does research indicate nicotine caps on nic products could benefit public health?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 31st July 2024

Lower nicotine content levels make tobacco products less addictive, but in vapes, they may lead users to compensate their intake by increasing the pace and intensity of their puffs, according to a recent study ...

KT&G and PMI to work together for US FDA approval on heated tobacco products

Written by Freddie Dawson | 31st July 2024

Philip Morris International (PMI) will help KT&G on its US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) for its Lil heated tobacco products ...

Minnesota takes on Big Tobacco to get alleged millions owed for the US state

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 29th July 2024

Tobacco companies are trying to get out of obligations to pay agreed settlements over illicit marketing practices, officials in Minnesota allege, and the state is taking companies to court over attempts to minimise payments ...

BAT’s numbers buoyed up by modern oral segment, with significant growth in US

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 25th July 2024

British American Tobacco reported a drop in first-half revenue, offset by the continued growth of new categories. BAT expects new-category revenue to be weighted in the second half of 2024, driven by phased launches ...

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 ...

PMI’s Zyn and Iqos see robust growth, despite supply issues and EU flavour ban

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 23rd July 2024

Philip Morris International recorded an outstanding second-quarter and first-half performance, with strong contributions from Iqos and Zyn – despite supply constraints and the EU flavour ban ...

GINN and Labstat partner to establish standards for novel nicotine products

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 18th July 2024

The UK-based Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN) has launched a partnership with Labstat International, an independent testing laboratory that mainly operates in the US and Canada ...

Election of Sheinbaum spells trouble for Mexico’s tobacco alternatives industry

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 17th July 2024

The election of Claudia Sheinbaum as Mexico’s president is seen as a negative result for the tobacco alternatives sector, given her support for a constitutional ban on vapes and similar devices ...

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