News analysis for professionals in the alternative tobacco sector

More knowledge of novel products means less fear of them among EU politicians

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 24th March 2021

How much politicians know about novel tobacco products has a major effect on their perceptions of safety and risk, new research by TobaccoIntelligence suggests ...

Dutch health officials call for warnings and stricter rules on nicotine pouches

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 22nd March 2021

The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has called for stricter regulation and public warnings about “addictive and harmful” nicotine-containing non-tobacco products ...

Value and accuracy of information on reduced risk products is a burning issue

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 18th March 2021

How much information the public receives from health authorities about tobacco harm reduction – and how much it helps – is a hot topic between the industry and the scientific community ...

EU anti-cancer plan accused of 'shutting the door' on smokers trying to quit

Written by Barnaby Page | 16th March 2021

As European health ministers met to discuss the EU’s Beating Cancer Plan, one influential organisation has pleaded for a rethink of its attitude toward alternative nicotine products ...

UK High Court revokes BAT's HnB patents and dismisses its claim against PMI

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 15th March 2021

A UK court has declared two patents held by British American Tobacco (BAT) for its heat-not-burn device Glo invalid after the company sued Philip Morris International (PMI) for infringement ...

China’s popular WeChat platform kills off 'cool' smoking soldier emoji

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 10th March 2021

China’s popular social media and messaging app WeChat has taken down an emoji featuring a smoking soldier after a Beijing-based anti-smoking organisation campaigned for its removal ...

Colombia debates tighter rules on nicotine products, including HnB

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 8th March 2021

Colombia’s Parliament is considering a bill that would impose fresh regulations on the sale and use of tobacco-alternative products, including heated tobacco ...

European Ombudsman tells Commission to come clean over tobacco meetings

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 2nd March 2021

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

Should the UK include non-tobacco pouches in tobacco laws? PHE suggests so

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 26th February 2021

A new report from Public Health England (PHE) advises that non-tobacco nicotine products should be included in the post-Brexit UK revision of the 2016 Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) ...

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

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 24th February 2021

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

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 ...

Global revenues down, but BAT enjoys 15% increase from 'new categories'

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 18th February 2021

BAT delivered similar results in 2020 to the previous year despite the pandemic and a slip in its heated tobacco portfolio – boosted by growth in its oral tobacco products in the second half of...

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

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 17th February 2021

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 ...

Swedish Match is ZYN the money as pouches keep growing in pandemic

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 15th February 2021

Swedish Match posted an operating profit of nearly SEK 7bn ($845m) in 2020, up 23% on the previous year, thanks largely to a good performance by its ZYN nicotine pouches and record US sales ...

PMI aims to double Heets production by 2023

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 12th February 2021

PMI is spreading optimism about its "beyond nicotine" portfolio, aiming to reach $1bn revenue from tobacco-alternatives in less than five years’ time, with an expected increase in the demand of heated tobacco consumables ...

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

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 11th February 2021

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 ...

JT looks to new heat-not-burn device to counter falling overall tobacco sales

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 9th February 2021

Japan Tobacco is set to launch a new heated tobacco device by the second half of the year, despite falling revenues in its home market, in a bid to strengthen its reduced-risk portfolio ...

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

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 8th February 2021

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 ...

'Impressive growth' of heated tobacco not enough to stave off drop in PMI revenues

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 4th February 2021

Demand for Philip Morris International (PMI)’s heated tobacco products rose in 2020, but that was not enough to save the tobacco giant from posting an overall 3.7% drop in net revenues over the year ...

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

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 3rd February 2021

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

US trade officials recommend banning imports of PMI’s Iqos HeatSticks

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 2nd February 2021

A patent infringement hearing at the US International Trade Commission (ITC) could result in Philip Morris International (PMI) being barred from importing its Iqos consumables into the US ...

US attorneys ask the FDA to urgently ban menthol cigarettes

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 29th January 2021

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...

Altria enjoys steady growth in nicotine pouches, while Iqos rollout continues

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 28th January 2021

Altria has posted positive numbers for the last quarter of 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic, with a good performance for its oral portfolio but unknown figures for Iqos in the US ...

Imperial Brands' five-year plan to 'dial up focus' on heated tobacco in Europe

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 28th January 2021

Imperial Brands has announced a substantial shift in strategy towards its next-generation products category, with a focus on investment in heated tobacco in Europe over the next five years ...

PMI insider Olczak set to take the reins and drive product transformation

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 26th January 2021

Philip Morris International (PMI) is to have a new CEO, with Jacek Olczak taking over from André Calantzopoulos after the annual shareholder meeting in May ...

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

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 20th January 2021

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

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 ...

US FDA hiring new contractor to design anti-tobacco social media campaigns

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 12th January 2021

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking to appoint a new company to provide public communication services to the agency’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) ...

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

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 7th January 2021

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

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

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

Looking back over TobaccoIntelligence's Year 1 – it wasn't all bad news

Written by Aidan Semmens | 30th December 2020

Apart from the obvious, what has 2020 brought us? And in particular, what has it brought to the world of alternative tobacco and tobacco alternatives? ...

Filipino government issues packaging restrictions amid FDA cash scandal

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 28th December 2020

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 ...

UK tobacco regulation review likely after Brexit deal signed

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 24th December 2020

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

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

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...

BAT awaits approval to manufacture and market nicotine pouches in Kenya

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 16th December 2020

British American Tobacco (BAT) is planning to invest up to $25m in a factory in Kenya to manufacture Lyft nicotine pouches – under regulatory scrutiny from officials in the country ...

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

Written by Marija Obradovic | 10th December 2020

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

IQOS 3 is approved for sale in the US as FDA finds 'no new concerns'

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 9th December 2020

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a marketing order authorising the sale of Philip Morris International (PMI)’s IQOS 3 holder and charger ...

Biden names California AG to head US federal health department

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 7th December 2020

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

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

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...

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

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 30th November 2020

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 ...

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

Written by Tao Hong | 26th November 2020

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

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

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

Could products combining nicotine with CBD be a way to help smokers quit?

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 19th November 2020

Nicotine and CBD are perceived as the bad guy and the good guy of health and wellness – but could putting the two together make commercial sense if it can help smokers break the habit?...

Spain to unveil soon new regulations equating HnB with combustibles

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 18th November 2020

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 ...

Imperial posts poor next-gen results, aims to expand oral nicotine in Europe

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 17th November 2020

Imperial Brands has revealed that net revenue from its next-generation portfolio declined by 27% in the year to September and announced that it will take a “more prudent approach” from now on ...

EU Parliament endorses Commission’s new health programme

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 13th November 2020

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 ...

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