News analysis for professionals in the alternative tobacco sector

High Court judge puts off Indian ban pending further hearing in May

Written by Marija Obradovic | 19th March 2019

The Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to e-cigarette vendors in India, delaying until 17th May the effects of a government circular calling for a nationwide ban on vaping...

E-cigs and HnB could get some relief from a new Estonian government

Written by Marija Obradovic | 14th March 2019

With talks still ongoing to form a government following Estonia’s parliamentary elections, there is hope for a policy change on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco in one of the most restrictive vapour...

Ferrari drops Mission Winnow team name and logo for Australian GP

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 13th March 2019

PMI and Ferrari have been forced to cancel their partnership for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, the opening race of the Formula 1 season. The Mission Winnow branding will, however, reappear for the rest of...

Japan sets aside designated HnB and vaping areas in bars and diners

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 6th March 2019

Japan’s health authorities have issued new ordinances related to smoking areas, including the first designated signs to apply to dedicated areas for the use of heated tobacco...

Spanish public backs restrictions to match limits on smoking

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 5th March 2019

A new survey reveals that more than half of Spaniards would restrict the use of vaping and novel tobacco products in public places in the same way as...

Next-generation products drive profits for British American Tobacco

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 1st March 2019

British American Tobacco’s (BAT) 2018 financial results were driven by its reduced risk portfolio, which includes products such as Vuse and Vype and Glo ...

Decree brings regulation of HnB and e-cigs to Belarus for the first time

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 18th February 2019

A new decree in Belarus regulates electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco for the first time in the country, introducing a number of restrictions after years of no...

BAT and PMI test the legal waters again with F1 sponsorships

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 14th February 2019

The now-controversial link between Big Tobacco and Formula 1 racing is being renewed, with tie-ups between two leading teams and two tobacco giants facing legal scrutiny ...

Nicotine, the US surgeon general, and the true science of addiction

Written by Barnaby Page | 11th February 2019

Is nicotine really as addictive as heroin, as the US surgeon general claims? And what does that really mean, anyway? ECigIntelligence pits the scientific evidence against the easy soundbite ...

The future is not in combustibles, as Altria’s sales continue to decline

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 1st February 2019

The 2018 results from the Altria Group revealed a slump in sales of combustibles. The company is now turning its attention to alternative sectors such as cannabis and Juul, and preparing for the US launch...

JT shows two new higher-temp HnB devices for Japan

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 21st January 2019

Japan Tobacco (JT) is launching two new heat-not-burn (HnB) devices in the Japanese market as it tries to catch up with IQOS and Glo in its home territory ...

Colombian bid to regulate vaping as smoking tied up in political numbers

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 19th December 2018

A new bill proposed in Colombia’s Senate is paving the way for the country to begin regulating heated tobacco and vaping products on a par with combustible tobacco – though the plan is tied up...

Italy reduces heat-not-burn and e-cigarette tax burden by up to 80%

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 14th December 2018

Italy has passed the much anticipated law reducing tax on e-liquids and halving duties on heated tobacco. The decree cuts the duty on nicotine-containing liquids from 50% to 10% of the tax on conventional...

New Zealand minister puts forward plan for e-cigarette regulation

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 10th December 2018

The minister charged with drawing up proposed regulation of e-cigarettes in New Zealand has done so, based on the stated belief that vaping and smokeless tobacco are “highly likely to be much less harmful than...

IQOS versus Glo: PMI takes on BAT in Japanese HnB patent battle

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 3rd December 2018

Philip Morris International (PMI) is suing British American Tobacco (BAT) in Japan for infringement of the patent for IQOS, claiming the rival company has copied the technology for its own Glo device ...

Now Indian government tells customs to seize all e-cig and HnB imports

Written by Marija Obradovic | 27th November 2018

Two weeks after the Delhi High Court decided that an advisory banning e-cigarettes was not binding on India’s states, the national government has issued a new notice calling on customs officers to seize...

Plain packaging and usage restrictions among Dutch plans for e-cigs

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 26th November 2018

The Dutch government is proposing to insist on plain packaging for e-cigarette products from 2022. That is one of the startling measures proposed in the long-awaited National Prevention Agreement ...

PMI hopes to ‘make an impact’ with IQOS store in South Africa

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 23rd November 2018

Philip Morris International (PMI) is to open an IQOS flagship store in Johannesburg, South Africa next year – with a welcome from the local e-cig industry ...

Court of Justice rejects Swedish Match bid to overturn European snus ban

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 22nd November 2018

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has upheld the ban on the sale of snus which has applied since 1992 in the whole EU except Sweden, which was granted an exemption under the 2014 Tobacco Products Directive (TPD)...

China Tobacco launches new HnB system on South Korean market

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 14th November 2018

China Tobacco is taking on Philip Morris International (PMI), British American Tobacco (BAT) and KT&G in South Korea with the launch of a new heated tobacco device, the Mok ...

EU tells Belgium it can’t make up all its own rules on HnB

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 13th November 2018

Attempts by Belgium to impose new strict regulations on heated-tobacco products may run into problems with the European...

Dutch health minister Blokhuis plans crackdown on e-cigs and HnB

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 8th November 2018

Dutch health secretary Paul Blokhuis is to reveal this month a proposed new set of regulations on heated tobacco and e-cigarettes, part of the National Prevention Agreement on smoking, obesity and alcohol ...

Belgium moves to add HnB devices to the ban on online sales

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 6th November 2018

Internet sales of heated-tobacco devices will shortly be banned in Belgium, where selling e-cigarettes online has been illegal since 2016 ...

Government survey finds one in five young Germans has tried vaping

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 5th November 2018

The number of people vaping in Germany is rising, with those aged between 16 and 29 particularly drawn to e-cigarettes, according to the federal government’s latest drug and addiction report ...

Czech Republic HnB tax is likely to be applied early next year

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 31st October 2018

The Czech parliament is considering a bill to introduce an excise tax next year on heated tobacco products. Under the plan, the tax rate would be set at CZK2.236 (€0.09) per gram of tobacco ...

UK budget includes new tax on heated tobacco at higher than expected rate

Written by Barnaby Page | 30th October 2018

The UK will next year introduce one of Europe’s highest taxes for heated tobacco (heat-not-burn) products, following an announcement in the Chancellor’s...

IQOS global upgrades announced; dual consumables for Japan

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 24th October 2018

PMI has announced the worldwide launch of two new IQOS devices during a series of events in Japan. The iQOS 3 and iQOS Multi feature quicker charging and longer battery life ...

Good but could be better – 2018 no longer looks quite as rosy for BAT

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 17th October 2018

British American Tobacco (BAT) has lowered its expectations of its heated tobacco and vaping products this year – but still anticipates continuing growth ...

PMI sues Korean government over claim HnB is as harmful as smoking

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 15th October 2018

The South Korean government has declared e-cigarettes and heated tobacco to be no safer than smoking – a statement that has led to legal action by Philip Morris International...

PMI predicts a big future for IQOS – ‘30% of our sales by 2025’

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 12th October 2018

PMI confidently expects to shift more heated tobacco devices and consumables in the next few years as a fall is anticipated in sales of combustible cigarettes ...

COP8 fails to bring parties together on the crucial risk/benefit question

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 9th October 2018

COP8 closed its doors in Geneva with governments struggling to regulate e-cigarettes due to the lack of scientific proof on potential risks or benefits ...

No softening likely in WHO’s antagonism to e-cigs and HnB

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 4th October 2018

The rhetoric coming out of the eighth Conference of the Parties (COP8) in Geneva suggests the World Health Organization is unlikely to give vaping products or HnB a role in its anti-tobacco policies any time...

EU urges WHO to focus on heated tobacco, suggests advertising bans

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 3rd October 2018

The EU is calling on the World Health Organization to become more involved in regulating heated tobacco – and is urging tight advertising restrictions on the category ...

COP8 tackles ‘growing challenge’ of vaping and ‘industry interference’

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 1st October 2018

E-cigarettes and other tobacco alternatives are making it tougher for regulators and those who administer tobacco laws to do their jobs, the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) says in a...

Imperial Brands confirms Pulze for Japan, announces Nixx e-liquid

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 28th September 2018

Imperial Brands has confirmed the launch of its first heated tobacco product, Pulze, in early 2019 in Japan, which is proving a fertile market for heat-not-burn (HnB) ...

ENDS and means up for debate at WHO’s COP8 gathering

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 27th September 2018

The role of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco will again be discussed next week at the eighth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP8) to the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control...

European Commission told: we don’t want an EU e-cig tax

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 25th September 2018

Most respondents to the European Commission’s consultation on tobacco excise duties do not want a European tax on e-cigarettes. Almost 70% said the best level of tax on e-cigarettes would be no more than the...

Chinese HnB exhibitors make a mark at Korea’s first Vape Expo

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 18th September 2018

The different cultural and regulatory regimes surrounding vaping and heated tobacco in South Korea were on display at the country’s first vaping show ...

Tax hikes and usage restrictions will impact on HnB in Japan

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 11th September 2018

Tax on products in Japan’s growing heated tobacco market will go up on 1st October, as part of a staggered series of rises up to 2022, that will bring the levies on them closer to...

India: central government asks states to ban e-cigs and heated tobacco

Written by Marija Obradovic | 28th August 2018

India’s Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare has issued an advisory to all states to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco ...

Israel bans Juul with nicotine limit, prepares tighter e-cig regulation

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 23rd August 2018

Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signed an administrative order prohibiting the import and marketing of any e-cigarette product with a nicotine concentration higher than 20...

MPs back easing of e-cig regulation – but leave the door open to taxes

Written by Freddie Dawson | 17th August 2018

Conclusions and recommendations from the Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee investigation into e-cigarettes have confirmed yet again the UK’s status as the most vape-friendly major...

Chinese authorities arrest 30 suspects in two HnB smuggling cases

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 10th August 2018

A total of 30 suspects have been arrested in a joint anti-smuggling operation by Chinese law enforcement. China Tobacco Ningbo, Ningbo municipal police department and Ningbo municipal anti-smuggling bureau joined forces ...

Why BAT could get two HnB devices to the US market before IQOS

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 1st August 2018

British American Tobacco (BAT) may get two heated-tobacco products onto the US market before IQOS can be launched there, thanks to its decision to take a different route to FDA approval ...

Advantage BAT in the race to open up US for heated tobacco

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 30th July 2018

British American Tobacco (BAT) has a chance to steal a march on its Big Tobacco rivals in the heated-tobacco market after the company became the first to receive approval to sell a heat-not-burn device in...

PMI runs into trouble with UK government over IQOS ads

Written by David Palacios Rubio | 24th July 2018

Philip Morris International (PMI) is seeking an “urgent meeting” with the UK Department of Health after being told to stop advertising its heated tobacco device...

UK’s tax plans include a new category for heated tobacco

Written by Freddie Dawson | 9th July 2018

Heated-tobacco products are to receive their own taxation category and rate in the UK. A rate and commencement date for the duty on tobacco consumables for heat-not-burn (HnB) products will be announced in the autumn...

HnB and e-liquids bring manufacturing boost to Eastern Europe

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 4th July 2018

E-cigarette manufacturers and tobacco giants are increasing investment in Central and Eastern Europe, building new plants or expanding existing ones to meet growing demand for new tobacco alternatives ...

Japanese firm launches independent rival device to heat IQOS Heets

Written by Freddie Dawson | 4th July 2018

A new heated-tobacco device which uses PMI’s tobacco consumables Heets will be officially launched on the Japanese market later this month by Jouz, a new independent...

Scots to consult on their vision for a tobacco-free future

Written by Freddie Dawson | 27th June 2018

The Scottish government will consult on a range of new regulations for reduced-risk products, including further restrictions on e-cig advertising, banning some flavours in Hnb products, and banning their public...

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