Market & legal data of alternative tobacco products in Europe

Sweden’s alternatives advocates worried about COP10 impact on snus and pouches

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 31st January 2024

Swedish sources worry strong domestic support for products like snus will be lost when one delegation represents the EU as a whole at the upcoming COP10 international tobacco control conference ...

UK govt plans tobacco age-of-sale law and ban on sale of nicotine pouches to minors

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 29th January 2024

British prime minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans to ban sales of previously unregulated nicotine pouches to minors and of tobacco products to anyone born on or after 1st January 2009 ...

EU tobacco policy revision timeline shifts, with next steps unlikely before Q3 2024

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 26th January 2024

No further steps are expected in the revision of the EU legislative framework for tobacco control at least until this year’s second half, based on updates of the evaluation process timeline on the EC website...

BAT subsidiaries continue trying to get EU heated tobacco flavour ban annulled

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 25th January 2024

An appeal on the EU heated tobacco product flavour ban – brought by UK-based Nicoventures Trading and other BAT subsidiaries to the Court of Justice of the European Union is unlikely to succeed ...

WHO reports drop in tobacco use despite industry ‘interference’ in achieving goals

Written by Freddie Dawson | 25th January 2024

Tobacco use continues to reduce globally, according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030 ...

BAT reacts to Italian health authorities’ surprise suspension of Velo pouch sales

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 22nd January 2024

British American Tobacco (BAT) did not expect the temporary sales suspension of its Velo nicotine pouches in Italy, ordered by health authorities, and is prepared to take action to protect its rights ...

Spain joins growing list of EU countries implementing heated tobacco flavour ban

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 17th January 2024

Spain has banned flavours in heated tobacco products (HTPs), joining the list of European countries that have transposed a EU Commission (EC) directive prohibiting flavoured HTPs across the continent ...

Herbal sticks are growing in popularity, but regulators might change their future

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 10th January 2024

Herbal heated sticks are spreading worldwide as a replacement for conventional smoking as well as an alternative to heated tobacco products ...

What will the year ahead bring? Expected tobacco and nicotine regulation in 2024

Written by Freddie Dawson | 2nd January 2024

TobaccoIntelligence predicts a restrictive future for the regulation of tobacco alternative products but also growth in both the global nicotine pouch and heated tobacco markets from 2023 to 2024 ...

Spotlight on laws, bans and environment as tobacco alternatives trend up in 2023

Written by Freddie Dawson | 28th December 2023

Looking back, 2023 just might be viewed as the turning-point year in alternatives to cigarettes, but in which direction things turn remains to be seen ...

Haypp Group eyes opportunities for reduced-risk products in Europe

Written by Freddie Dawson | 14th December 2023

Haypp Group, an online retailer of reduced-risk products, will look to expand into new categories and European markets following the success of a vaping pilot in the UK ...

Still no timeline for the revision of EU tobacco framework, Commission says

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 11th December 2023

As the revision process of the EU tobacco policy framework keeps being delayed, commissioners are still not able to come up with a timeline, or even a date for the submission of the new texts...

Nicotine pouch rules single out Redmuule in Italy, but ADM says others may be next

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 6th December 2023

Packaging restrictions introduced by an Italian health ministry decree are intended to apply only to Redmuule nicotine pouches, but similar measures may be implemented for other brands too, say the ADM ...

EU heated tobacco flavour ban may just be the start for Spain’s ‘new’ government

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 5th December 2023

Spain’s newly formed government, led for the second time by socialist prime minister Pedro Sánchez, may not be good news for the tobacco and nicotine sectors ...

Could Denmark’s plan to limit youth tobacco use provoke ‘a reverse outcome’?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 24th November 2023

A new Danish government plan to curb the consumption of tobacco and nicotine among young people is facing criticism from international advocates of reduced-risk nicotine products ...

Italy allows sales of nicotine pouches by a specific brand, but with new restrictions

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 22nd November 2023

The introduction of new packaging requirements for nicotine pouches in a decree allowing sales of one pouch brand shows authorities intended for the decree to legalise the sale of all brands, says the pouch distributor...

Imperial on track with five-year plan, thanks to NGP growth and new launches

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 15th November 2023

Imperial Brands reported a performance in line with its five-year-plan expectations in the year ended 30th September 2023, with new product and market launches boosting its next-generation product (NGP) revenue ...

No tax increase on Italian HTPs in the next two years, but the rise comes in 2026

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 13th November 2023

There would be no increase in Italian excise duties on heated tobacco products for the next two years under the new 2024 Budget Bill, but the proposal does set a rate rise in 2026 ...

Rise in snus use among young Swiss as government tries to curb smoking rates

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 13th November 2023

Snus is increasingly popular among Swiss consumers – particularly young male users – while cigarette smoking rates keep declining, according to the country’s latest population healthcare survey ...

King’s speech sets out UK’s ambitious plans for a smoke-free generation

Written by Freddie Dawson | 9th November 2023

King Charles said in the king’s speech that the UK parliament will try to push through its plan to prevent those born on or after 1st January 2009 from buying cigarettes ...

MEPs worry EU will bypass them to take up ‘extreme position’ on tobacco control

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 3rd November 2023

Members of the European Parliament are raising concerns over what they consider a possible plot by EU bureaucrats to endorse and implement “extreme WHO positions” on tobacco control with no previous consultation ...

Ploom X international expansion has helped to boost JTI’s Q3 performance

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 31st October 2023

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) enjoyed a solid performance in the third quarter of the year, partially related to its Ploom X heated tobacco product geographic expansion ...

New coalition government may ease taxes on tobacco alternatives in Poland

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 26th October 2023

A coalition of centre-right, liberal, and left-wing forces is the most likely to form a new government in Poland before the end of the year, following elections held on 15th October ...

Nearly half of Finns want to ban nicotine pouches amid fears of a rise in teen usage

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 26th October 2023

Three out of four people in Finland are concerned about the increasing popularity of nicotine pouches among young users, and nearly half of Finns are in favour of a ban, according to a recent survey...

EU heated tobacco flavour ban enters into force amid controversy and criticism

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 23rd October 2023

The EU’s ban on flavours in heated tobacco applies from today, amid criticism from harm reduction advocates, tobacco companies and some European politicians who believe that it could discourage smoking cessation ...

Swiss parliament may water down ban to allow tobacco advertising in print media

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 20th October 2023

Some tobacco advertising will likely be allowed to continue in Swiss print media, after legislators voted against a proposed complete ban and approved amendments suggested by SGK-S ...

PMI accelerates smoke-free growth in Q3, fuelled by Zyn nicotine pouch sales in US

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 20th October 2023

Strong sales momentum behind PMI’s Zyn nicotine pouches in the US helped drive the company’s growth in the third quarter, with US sales volume up nearly 66% on the same quarter in 2022 ...

Smoking rates down thanks to lower-risk nicotine products, UK-based study says

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 19th October 2023

Reduced-risk nicotine products are competing with combustibles and lowering smoking rates, rather than encouraging consumers towards them, according to a new international study ...

Dutch government rebuilding following collapse could affect tobacco regulations

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 17th October 2023

The nearly 18m people of the Netherlands face uncertainty following the collapse of the government this summer. The cabinet is currently overseeing the nation with a “caretaker” status until the 22nd November general election ...

Among England’s smokers, northerners are the biggest quitters, new study says

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th October 2023

The north of England has the country’s highest level of success in quitting smoking, despite being severely underserved by cessation services, according to a new analysis of quitters who self-reported sucess to the NHS ...

GTNF speakers say evidence should drive nicotine legislation, not public pressure

Written by Freddie Dawson | 12th October 2023

Public pressure can drive legislators to make populist decisions on nicotine product regulation that are not based on evidence, warned speakers at the recent Global Tobacco & Nicotine Forum (GTNF) in Seoul ...

UK generational smoking ban could lead to unintended results, harm experts say

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 10th October 2023

The UK’s plan to introduce a progressive age ban for tobacco products has been welcomed by many in the public health world, but others warn that it and other government-proposed measures might have unintended results...

UK government proposes generational tobacco ban to reach smoke-free goal

Written by Barnaby Page | 5th October 2023

The UK government is considering a generational ban for most tobacco products — but not e-cigarettes — as well as restrictions on disposable vapes and flavours, according to proposals issued this week ...

Possible EU ban on nicotine pouches may jeopardise smoke-free goal, say critics

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 5th October 2023

The European Commission (EC) reportedly wants to extend the EU-wide ban on snus to tobacco-free nicotine pouches. An EC report revealed on social media by an MEP says the oral tobacco ban has been successful...

Launch of PMI’s first non-tobacco stick raises regulatory questions

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 2nd October 2023

Philip Morris International (PMI) has launched a zero-tobacco stick called Levia for use with its heated tobacco device, Iqos. PMI is the first Big Tobacco to introduce these sticks, though others have marketed similar products...

Dutch officials foresee conservative TPD that’s unlikely to take effect before 2027

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 26th September 2023

Dutch officials believe a revised EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) will not come into force before 2027 at the earliest and, when it does, will reflect a conservative approach to novel tobacco products ...

Sweden’s stance on snus and cigarettes seen in upcoming tax cuts and hikes

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 19th September 2023

The Swedish government has proposed a tax reduction on snus of about 20% while increasing the tax on cigarettes and smoking tobacco by 9% ...

Russia starts implementing changes as part of its tobacco regulatory overhaul

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 15th September 2023

Suppliers of novel nicotine products to the Russian market face new licensing requirements and tax increases over several years as the government overhauls its regulatory system ...

PMI ups its investment in its Romanian plant for smoke-free products to $730m

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 13th September 2023

Global tobacco group Philip Morris International (PMI) is scaling up the investment in its Romanian smoke-free product factory to $730m (€680m) ...

UK smoking rates keep decreasing while vaping on the rise, national survey says

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 12th September 2023

Less than 13% of adults smoke cigarettes in the UK, the lowest figure ever recorded by the country’s Office for National Statistics (ONS). This represents a small decrease from the 13.3% recorded for 2021 ...

No tobacco tax hike in France for 2024, but ‘other measures’ are on the horizon

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 4th September 2023

France will not include a tax increase in its tobacco control plan for 2024, prime minister Élisabeth Borne has promised, though she said “other measures” would be taken ...

Italy implements EU HTP flavour ban, but ambiguity could cause misinterpretation

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 1st September 2023

Italy’s parliament has passed a law implementing the EU ban on flavours in heated tobacco – but ambiguity in its definition of the category may lead to difficulties in interpretation ...

Lithuania works on draft nicotine pouch legislation amid shadow market fears

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 29th August 2023

Nicotine pouch sales are currently banned in Lithuania, but that could soon change, as amendments are in the works to the country’s Law I-1143 on the control of tobacco, tobacco products and related products ...

F1 Velo sponsorship in the Netherlands: is McLaren pulling a fast one?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 23rd August 2023

Health organisations in the Netherlands are protesting against promotion of the nicotine pouch brand Velo by the UK's McLaren Formula 1 team ...

UK government launches consultation on inserts in tobacco products

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 17th August 2023

The UK government has launched a public consultation on adding inserts to cigarette packs to encourage smokers to quit ...

White House opposes bill preventing FDA's proposed menthol ban in the US

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 17th August 2023

The US government is opposing a bill that would prevent the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from enforcing a ban on menthol cigarettes it proposed last year ...

22nd Century adjusts its 2023 revenue outlook after a rocky second quarter

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th August 2023

22nd Century will focus on streamlining operating costs and making the marketing and sales push for its VLN cigarette products more cost efficient to address issues that have forced it to revise full-year profit guidance...

With new law Italy is set to prohibit the direct online sale of nicotine pouches

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 14th August 2023

Italy has stepped back at the last minute from imposing a formal permanent ban on the online sale of nicotine pouches ...

Are herbal heated sticks set to replace heated tobacco products in Europe?

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 7th August 2023

Tobacco-free herbal sticks are expected to continue growing in popularity thanks to potential price and flavour range advantages over heated tobacco products ...

Where does political deadlock in Spain leave alternative tobacco product laws?

Written by Laura Garay Gómez | 4th August 2023

Spain’s surprise inconclusive election result has left the future of alternative tobacco product and vaping regulation in the country up in the air, with everything depending on what government eventually emerges ...

LATEST ALERTS

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 31st January 2024

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 29th January 2024

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 26th January 2024

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 25th January 2024

Written by Freddie Dawson | 25th January 2024

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 22nd January 2024

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 17th January 2024

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 10th January 2024

Written by Freddie Dawson | 2nd January 2024

Written by Freddie Dawson | 28th December 2023

Written by Freddie Dawson | 14th December 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 11th December 2023

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 6th December 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 5th December 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 24th November 2023

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 22nd November 2023

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 15th November 2023

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 13th November 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 13th November 2023

Written by Freddie Dawson | 9th November 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 3rd November 2023

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 31st October 2023

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 26th October 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 26th October 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 23rd October 2023

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 20th October 2023

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 20th October 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 19th October 2023

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 17th October 2023

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th October 2023

Written by Freddie Dawson | 12th October 2023

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 10th October 2023

Written by Barnaby Page | 5th October 2023

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 5th October 2023

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 2nd October 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 26th September 2023

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 19th September 2023

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 15th September 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 13th September 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 12th September 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 4th September 2023

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 1st September 2023

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 29th August 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 23rd August 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 17th August 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 17th August 2023

Written by Freddie Dawson | 16th August 2023

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 14th August 2023

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 7th August 2023

Written by Laura Garay Gómez | 4th August 2023

Sign up to our newsletter

Start your FREE trial