Market & legal data of alternative tobacco products in Europe

Ukrainian regulator takes legal action to investigate PMI’s advertising of Iqos

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 20th January 2023

The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine has taken a case against Philip Morris Sales and Distribution for violating unfair competition laws, the regulator announced earlier this month ...

Roman court to settle battle over JTI's claim low-level menthol isn't a flavour

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 11th January 2023

An upcoming court ruling in Rome could help to determine whether a European Commission directive prohibiting the addition of a “characterising flavour” to conventional cigarettes is sufficiently clear ...

A good year for Big Tobacco, alternatively speaking, while rules are tightened

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 30th December 2022

The year gone by saw phenomenal growth across the global market for tobacco alternatives, including in the oral segment, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches ...

Other tobacco giants may follow where PMI leads into the Baltic states

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 23rd December 2022

Global tobacco companies could be looking to the Baltic states, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, for expansion after having had to cut operations in Ukraine and Russia ...

Doubts galore as Russia reconsiders all its tax options for tobacco alternatives

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 21st December 2022

In its latest move to regulate the market for tobacco alternatives, the Russian government is proposing to increase excise rates on heated tobacco sticks – but there are competing proposals ...

BAT reports ‘sustainable growth’, over 3m new consumers in non-combustibles

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 19th December 2022

British American Tobacco (BAT) said its “new category” business continues to drive substantial volume, revenue, and market share growth – significantly contributing to the company’s overall performance ...

Italy’s new government reduces planned increases in heated tobacco taxation

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 8th December 2022

Excise duties on cigarettes in Italy will increase from 1st January, while those on heated tobacco and e-liquids will not rise at the rate previously laid out, under the new Italian government’s 2023 Budget Bill...

PMI ready to take Swedish Match off the stock market after completing purchase

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 30th November 2022

Philip Morris International (PMI) now owns 93.11% of shares in Swedish Match, meaning it can now begin the process of taking the company off the stock market and making it a wholly-owned PMI subsidiary ...

How heated tobacco taxes are set to rise as European nations set new parameters

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 29th November 2022

Taxes on tobacco are set to rise across Europe and may be extended to alternative products, including heated tobacco. TobaccoIntelligence analysts consider how this will apply in various different EU member states ...

PMI looks set for complete control over Swedish Match despite missed target

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 16th November 2022

Philip Morris International (PMI)’s decision to go ahead with the purchase of all offered Swedish Match shares, despite falling short of its 90% target, means it may run the business as if it owned all...

Further European launches follow Pulze success in Greece and Czech Republic

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 15th November 2022

Tobacco giant Imperial Brands has told investors that its heated tobacco device Pulze and iD consumables, continued to perform well in its pilot markets of the Czech Republic and Greece,...

Sweden's shift to the right could be good news for tobacco alternatives industry

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 15th November 2022

Sweden’s general election in September was potentially a win for the alternative tobacco products industry, with the new right-wing minority government likely to take a more lenient stance than its predecessor ...

PMI proceeds with Swedish Match offer despite falling short of take-up target

Written by Freddie Dawson | 8th November 2022

Philip Morris International (PMI) has confirmed that it will go ahead and accept all Swedish Match shares that have been tendered to it despite not achieving its 90% minimum stake threshold ...

Pouch users ‘at risk of taking in more nicotine than smokers’ – German study

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 8th November 2022

Using nicotine pouches can lead to higher nicotine intake than smoking, according to Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) ...

Big Tobacco companies on the road to leaving Russian domestic market

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 7th November 2022

Tobacco producers from around the globe plan to complete their exit from the Russian market by the end of the year by transferring business to local partners, according to recent statements made by company representatives ...

EU Commission reveals its preferences for higher taxes on tobacco products

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 3rd November 2022

Tobacco taxes will rise across Europe and be extended to novel products, according to a draft of the impact assessment for the new Tobacco Excise Directive which the European Commission is set to present in...

Heated tobacco flavours ban now official, and will apply throughout the EU

Written by Sergi Riudalbas | 3rd November 2022

Flavours in heated tobacco products will be banned throughout the EU after a Delegated Directive was published in the Official Journal, with no objection coming from either the Council of the European Union or the...

Japan Tobacco plans more Ploom X launches abroad after success at home

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 2nd November 2022

Japan Tobacco (JT) has posted positive figures for the first nine months of the year, boosted by continued growth in the reduced-risk product category fuelled by the success of Ploom X in Japan ...

'It will be hotly contested': what to expect from the EU debate over the new TPD

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 1st November 2022

The forthcoming debate in the European Parliament over the review of the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) could be very heated, with its outcome anything but certain ...

European Commission approves PMI's planned takeover of Swedish Match

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 1st November 2022

EU antitrust regulators have conditionally approved the takeover of Swedish nicotine pouch specialist Swedish Match by the tobacco giant Philip Morris International (PMI) for an estimated €16bn ...

Swedish Match enjoys impressive Q3 US growth thanks to smoke-free products

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 31st October 2022

Swedish Match has reported an 18% sales increase in the first nine months of the year, boosted by the smoke-free product segment. The company saw a continued impressive performance in the US market, where Zyn...

PMI reports strong Q3 results, talks smoke-free, Altria and Swedish Match

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 24th October 2022

Philip Morris International (PMI) reported strong third quarter results in terms of revenue but saw a number of setbacks in shipment volumes as it looks to meet its goal of becoming a majority smoke-free company...

Swedish Match vs. US nicotine pouch company Dryft in a litany of lawsuits

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 14th October 2022

Dryft, which contends it was forced to sell out of the US nicotine pouch market because of alleged frivolous lawsuits from major nicotine pouch producer Swedish Match, may have an edge in the upcoming court...

France links tobacco prices to inflation and plans new tax on HnB consumables

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 13th October 2022

Tobacco prices in France will soon be indexed to inflation as the government seeks to discourage smoking in a country where cigarettes kill more than 200 people a day and cost the state billions of...

Danish ‘mink’ elections mean questions for future nicotine prohibition policy

Written by Fernanda Tucunduva | 10th October 2022

The future viability of Denmark’s plans to ban anyone born in or after 2010 from accessing tobacco and nicotine products has been thrown into question after the country’s government has become the first ever to...

BAT backs German cannabis company as potential new European market beckons

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 29th September 2022

British American Tobacco (BAT) has again bet on the cannabis industry as it looks to diversify its portfolio as part of its plan to transition to a smoke-free future ...

Swedish Match awarded top marks for transformation to reduced risk

Written by Barnaby Page | 29th September 2022

Swedish Match was the clear winner in this year’s Tobacco Transformation Index, which ranks major tobacco companies on their shift toward reduced-risk products ...

Switzerland’s regions have their say on bill to ban most tobacco advertising

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 27th September 2022

The Swiss Federal Council has opened the consultation process with Switzerland’s cantons on a bill to amend the national Tobacco Products Act following a referendum on tightening advertising restrictions ...

European citizens’ petition for a tobacco-free generation by 2030 seeks signatures

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 16th September 2022

Organisers of a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) need 1m signatures across seven EU member states by next summer for the European Commission to respond to their request for measures leading to Europe’s first tobacco-free generation...

Europe's tobacconists facing big changes, with new products and new regulations

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 15th September 2022

The EU’s tobacconists will need to change their identity if they are to adapt to major regulatory changes coming soon, according to a leading trade body for tobacco retailers ...

Iceland's new regulations for pouches include 2% cap on nicotine content

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 14th September 2022

A cap of 20 mg/g will be applied to nicotine pouches in Iceland following an amendment to the law on e-cigarettes and refills that brings pouches under its remit ...

Uncertainty mixed with optimism in tobacco sector ahead of Italian elections

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 12th September 2022

Uncertainty remains high in the Italian tobacco-alternatives industry, but there is a feeling of cautious optimism as the country approaches election day on 25th September ...

While other countries have gone with a flavour ban, menthol is still big in Japan

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 29th August 2022

Japan currently has no intention of following the US and Europe with a ban on menthol-flavoured tobacco products ...

Czech Republic could be facing nicotine cap and other restrictions on pouches

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 24th August 2022

The Czech Republic Ministry of Health is preparing to introduce restrictions on the strength, marketing and production of nicotine pouches ...

Lack of solid science stokes fears and doubts over safety of nicotine pouches

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 16th August 2022

While nicotine pouches are growing in popularity fast, the state of science on their safety remains threadbare ...

Clampdown and tax on tobacco products may never reach Spanish parliament

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 11th August 2022

The fate of two laws feared by Spain’s tobacco and vaping industries is in doubt due to a tight political calendar and uncertainty over future regulation at EU level ...

Welsh strategy for a smoke-free future leaves out the question of alternatives

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 4th August 2022

Heated tobacco and the possible legalisation of snus are not specifically addressed in a new tobacco control strategy for the devolved UK region of Wales ...

Revenue, not harm reduction, the driving force behind Romania's increased taxes

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 2nd August 2022

Romania increased taxes on conventional cigarettes, heated tobacco and vaping products on 1st August, purely in an attempt to secure additional tax revenue ...

BAT confident Hyper X2 can add to its Glo-ing performance in HnB and oral

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 28th July 2022

British American Tobacco (BAT) saw revenue from its new products category portfolio rise by 45% in the first half of the year, with good returns from its modern oral and heated tobacco portfolio ...

‘Misleading and irresponsible’ – UK ASA rules on ads for cigarette flavour additive

Written by Freddie Dawson | 26th July 2022

A new way to add flavours to conventional cigarettes has gained publicity after being criticised by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ...

Banner ads booked by algorithm are not exempt from ban, Danish paper told

Written by Freddie Dawson | 25th July 2022

It is a publisher’s responsibility to ensure tobacco ads do not appear on a newspaper website through automated or algorithmic banner ad purchases, according to a ruling by the Danish Consumer Ombudsman ...

Continuing strong growth in nicotine pouches keeps Swedish Match on the up

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 25th July 2022

Swedish Match has reported a 17% sales increase in the first half of the year, driven by smoke-free products, with solid growth for its Zyn nicotine pouches in both the US and Scandinavian markets ...

PMI releases promising results for first half of year, boosted by heated tobacco

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 22nd July 2022

Philip Morris International (PMI) has raised its full year outlook after it saw decent numbers over the first half of 2022 ...

EC sets out to assess big response to call for evidence towards new tobacco plan

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 18th July 2022

More than 24,000 responses were received to a European Commission call for evidence on plans for the legal framework that will shape the future revised Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) and Tobacco Advertising Directive ...

EU heated tobacco flavour ban possibly delayed to extend scrutiny period

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 15th July 2022

A ban on flavoured heated tobacco products in the EU may be delayed after the Permanent Representatives Committee recommended that the Council of the European Union extend the scrutiny period by two months ...

Huge disparities in access to stop-smoking services across England

Written by Freddie Dawson | 8th July 2022

Public health in the north of England continues to be ignored in favour of supporting more affluent and Tory-leaning areas in the south and Midlands, according to a new survey ...

Sting-free shield keeps pouches in the forefront of nicotine innovation

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 7th July 2022

Pouches with integrated “shields” on one side that reduce stinging and gum irritation are the latest example of how the category is leading the way in innovation among alternative nicotine products ...

Collapse of Bulgarian government won't bring any change in heated tobacco tax

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 6th July 2022

Tax rates on heated tobacco products in Bulgaria will not change following the resignation of prime minister Kiril Petkov and his cabinet after they lost a vote of confidence ...

European heated tobacco users about to lose taste with latest flavour prohibition

Written by Laura Garay Gómez | 1st July 2022

A flavour ban for heated tobacco products has been confirmed following the EU Commission’s publishing of a delegated directive amending the Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU, commonly known as the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) ...

Are flavours in pouches set to be the next battleground for tobacco alternatives?

Written by Freddie Dawson | 30th June 2022

Flavours in nicotine pouches could become the next contentious issue for tobacco alternatives, following a similar route to e-liquid flavours, experts say ...

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