News analysis for professionals in the alternative tobacco sector

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 ...

US menthol ban expected to be delayed not halted by tobacco industry lawsuits

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 23rd January 2024

Tobacco industry legal challenges to the proposed US ban on menthol-flavoured conventional cigarettes are expected but will only likely delay rather than reverse the ban, according to a legal expert ...

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 ...

What’s in a name? Plenty, when we can’t seem to agree on industry terminology

Written by Barnaby Page | 18th January 2024

Perception is often at least as important as reality in forming policy-makers’ and the public’s opinion where novel nicotine products are concerned, but there’s a persistent problem with terminology ...

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 ...

US Senate Democrats call on Biden administration to finalise menthol ban

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 16th January 2024

A group of US Senate Democrats is trying to push the Biden administration to take action on banning menthol-flavoured cigarettes and all flavoured cigars as soon as possible ...

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 ...

Latin America hopeful for a 2024 with eased tobacco alternatives restrictions

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 2nd January 2024

Industry associations in Argentina, Mexico, Panama and other Latin American nations are hopeful that 2024 will bring eased restrictions that have complicated sales and consumption of tobacco alternatives ...

New study showing pouches fail to replace cigarettes has limited focus

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 2nd January 2024

A new study by researchers at Ohio State University that looks at the effectiveness of oral nicotine pouches (ONPs) to curb smoking actually says little about their effectiveness ...

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 ...

Delay of US menthol cigarette ban by White House frustrates health groups

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 15th December 2023

The Biden administration will take more time to review the US FDA's proposed rule to ban menthol cigarettes, which is now to be delayed until at least 2024, raising concerns among public health groups and others...

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 ...

Canada wants to bill industry CAD66m for control of tobacco and vape products

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 13th December 2023

The Canadian government has tabled legislation for a new tobacco cost-recovery system in a bid to recoup the money it spends each year on tobacco and vaping control ...

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 ...

‘We were duped’: health minister vows to stop sales of nicotine pouches in Canada

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 6th December 2023

Canadian health minister Mark Holland is vowing to stop the sale of nicotine pouches across the country “as fast as possible”, accusing the tobacco industry of misrepresenting the product when it applied to Health Canada...

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 ...

Argentina’s heated tobacco market is optimistic after libertarian Milei elected

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 4th December 2023

The recent election of president Javier Milei in Argentina is considered encouraging for the South American country’s e-cigarette and heated tobacco market, industry leaders told TobaccoIntelligence ...

Repeal of New Zealand’s smoke-free laws is ‘massive step back’, say health experts

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 1st December 2023

New Zealand’s radical smoke-free plans look likely to fall victim to savings designed to fund tax cuts by the new government, who are looking to repeal amendments to the Smokefree Environments Act ...

Sale of 22nd Century's hemp/cannabis business shifts revenue focus to tobacco

Written by Freddie Dawson | 29th November 2023

US-based 22nd Century will sell its hemp/cannabis subsidiary, GVB Biopharma, to an entity affiliated with current GVB employees and will use the sale proceeds to pay off debt and further deleverage its balance sheet ...

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 ...

Chile set to bring HTPs under similar regulation to tobacco by May 2024

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 23rd November 2023

Heated tobacco and vaping products will be regulated in a similar way to tobacco products in Chile – regardless of their nicotine content – with outlining regulations expected to be issued by May 2024 ...

Demand for KT&G’s next-gen products contributes to record-high Q3 revenues

Written by Freddie Dawson | 22nd November 2023

KT&G reported record-high quarterly revenues for the third quarter of 2023, with a significant contribution from its next generation product (NGP) category, as part of its release on the quarter's financial results ...

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...

Malaysia pushes for tobacco control law as it looks to lead ASEAN ahead of COP10

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 21st November 2023

Malaysia will press forward with its tobacco control plans in the hopes of providing a leadership role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ahead of what is hoped to be a rescheduled COP10...

With no federal rules in place, Canadian health groups call for halt on pouch sales

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 20th November 2023

Canadian anti-smoking groups are calling on the federal government to suspend sales of nicotine pouches nationwide until regulations can be drafted to govern their sale and marketing ...

COP10-MOP3 will prioritise regulation of HTPs and nicotine products next year

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 16th November 2023

The regulation of new and emerging e-cigarette, heated tobacco and nicotine products will be one of the central topics of discussion at the COP10-MOP3 conferences next year, said the head of the WHO FCTC ...

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 ...

Use of tobacco products drops among US high school students, survey reveals

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 14th November 2023

The use of tobacco and nicotine products declined nearly 4% among high school students in the US between 2022 and 2023, a national survey has found ...

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 ...

COP10-MOP3 tobacco conferences postponed, citing unrest in Panama

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 10th November 2023

The world’s major international tobacco control conferences will not take place in Panama this month as anticipated and will be delayed until 2024 ...

BAT banks on growing Canadian cannabis company with $90m boost

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 10th November 2023

A British American Tobacco (BAT) subsidiary is investing a further CAD124.6m (USD90.2m) in its strategic partnership with Canadian licensed cannabis producer Organigram ...

US FDA warns manufacturer for selling unauthorised flavoured ‘nicotine mints’

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 9th November 2023

The US FDA has issued a warning letter to manufacturer Nic Nac Naturals for selling unauthorised nicotine lozenges, described as “nicotine mints”, in both 3 mg and 6 mg strengths of nicotine and several flavours...

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 ...

Foundation for a Smoke-Free World parts ways with PMI, plans to change its name

Written by Freddie Dawson | 8th November 2023

The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW) has severed its connection with tobacco company Philip Morris International (PMI) and will soon change its name, its new CEO Cliff Douglas has announced ...

New tech helps 22nd Century expand its vision for reduced-nicotine tobacco

Written by Freddie Dawson | 8th November 2023

22nd Century is already demonstrating its commitment to expand its intellectual property in the area of reduced-nicotine tobacco, which it said it would undertake during a presentation of its third quarter results ...

22nd Century sees lower revenues despite continued VLN expansion

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 7th November 2023

US company 22nd Century has reported decreased revenues and modest sales of its VLN brand very-low-nicotine cigarette products in the third quarter of 2023, despite the continued expansion of its VLN rollout strategy ...

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 ...

Altria reports year-to-date ‘resilient’ performance and progress with On!

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 27th October 2023

Altria saw a “resilient” performance over the course of the first nine months of 2023, the company said as it reported its results for the third quarter of the year ...

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...

PMI urges FDA to prioritise review of Iqos Iluma modified risk tobacco products

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 23rd October 2023

Philip Morris International (PMI) has submitted premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) and modified risk tobacco product applications (MRTPAs) to the US FDA for its Iqos Iluma heated tobacco products (HTPs) ...

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 ...

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