News analysis for professionals in the alternative tobacco sector

How US midterm election results could affect tobacco and vaping legislation

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 4th November 2022

With the 8th November US midterm elections getting closer by the day, it looks like Republicans will seize control of Capitol Hill – overall good news for the tobacco and vaping industries ...

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...

Altria Q3 results: net revenue falls though revenues up in oral tobacco products

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 31st October 2022

Fewer people smoking has led to US cigarette maker Altria continuing to see a decrease in revenue over the third quarter of 2022, partially offset by higher net revenues in the oral tobacco products segment...

Altria goes into partnership with JTI to tackle US heated tobacco market

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 27th October 2022

Tobacco giants Altria and JT Group are to form a joint venture to market in the US heated tobacco stick products owned and developed by either company ...

Questions raised after Colombia drops plans for heated tobaccon taxation

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 27th October 2022

The Colombian government appears to have given up on plans to raise levies on heated tobacco and e-cigarette products, to the dismay of some of its own supporters ...

PMI raises the takeover stakes with its 'best and final' offer for Swedish Match

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 25th October 2022

Philip Morris International (PMI) has raised its public offer for its European rival Swedish Match from SEK106 ($9.52) to a final price of SEK116 ($10.42) per share in a bid to finalise its takeover ...

PMI invests $150m to increase Heets production in the Philippines

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 25th October 2022

Philip Morris International (PMI) is investing an additional PHP8.8bn ($150m) in its affiliate company PMFTC to increase production of its heated tobacco sticks in the Philippines ...

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...

Altria, PMI come to a $2.7bn agreement on Iqos exclusive sales rights in the US

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 21st October 2022

US cigarette maker Altria has made a $2.7bn agreement with Philip Morris International (PMI) on the exclusive rights to sell Iqos heated tobacco products in the US ...

Drug Establishment Licence doesn't let TJP Labs sell pouches in Canada – yet

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 19th October 2022

A Canadian company says Health Canada’s decision to grant it a Drug Establishment Licence (DEL) is another step towards its goal of eventually selling nicotine pouches in Canada, where they are not permitted at present...

US Gallup poll shows cigarette smoking down, cannabis consumption up

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 18th October 2022

Smoking cigarettes is going out of fashion, but having smoked cannabis is becoming much more common in the US, according to recent research conducted by analytics and polling firm Gallup ...

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...

How China's new licensing rules can benefit the industry at home and abroad

Written by Lorraine Mullaney | 12th October 2022

Firms importing tobacco alternative products from China have been advised to check that their suppliers have the appropriate licence to meet the requirements of legislation that has now come into effect ...

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 ...

'Everyone practises harm reduction, so why not for tobacco?' ask health experts

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 13th September 2022

Scientists need to communicate more effectively with politicians and the public to ensure the US overcomes a long-held prohibitionist mindset on tobacco harm reduction, according to some public health experts ...

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 ...

22nd Century continues its VLN distribution expansion in US and beyond

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 9th September 2022

US company 22nd Century Group plans to expand points-of-sale of its low-nicotine conventional cigarette VLN throughout Illinois based on solid pilot results in Chicago, and plans to sign two other distribution partnerships to launch in Colorado...

Colombia hopes for millions in taxes on heated tobacco and combustibles

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 8th September 2022

New taxes in Colombia on heated tobacco, vapour products and combustible cigarettes are expected to bring in as much as COP1tn ($227.3m) annually, making their approval the top agenda item for president Gustavo Petro, according...

The pros and cons of a menthol tobacco ban raise strong feelings on both sides

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 5th September 2022

A proposed US ban on menthol cigarettes and flavoured cigars, which would also apply to heated tobacco products – currently regulated as conventional cigarettes – has stirred up strong passions either way ...

Choice of Delnevo to head US FDA tobacco science committee is warmly received

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 1st September 2022

Cristine Delnevo, the new chair of the US FDA's Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC), has been hailed as an “objective, thoughtful scientist” with an understanding of research into harm reduction ...

US FDA earns bouquets and brickbats with warning on flavoured gummies

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 31st August 2022

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s warning over flavoured nicotine gummies has been welcomed by public health organisations, while it has not gone down well with representatives of the vaping industry ...

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 ...

Early election could put paid to Malaysia’s ‘Generational End Game’ for nicotine

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 25th August 2022

Malaysia’s latest attempt to put an end to nicotine use among the younger generation is likely to be delayed, or even derailed, with an early election expected to stall the new bill ...

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 ...

Hawaii's Democratic governor explains why he said no to anti-flavour legislation

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 23rd August 2022

The Democratic governor of Hawaii appeared to take a step out of line with the US party’s common position when he vetoed a bill that would have introduced a ban on flavoured tobacco products ...

US FDA issues first warning on flavoured nicotine gummies that 'could kill a child'

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 23rd August 2022

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning letter to a Florida-based manufacturer for marketing flavoured nicotine gummies – the first such warning over this type of product ...

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 ...

Doing better than expected – VLN ready to expand way beyond Chicago trial

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 10th August 2022

22nd Century Group has announced that its very low nicotine (VLN) cigarettes pilot in Chicago is exceeding expectations, leading the company to accelerate its launch plans ...

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 ...

Ploom X leads the way for JTI in Japan as popular switch to reduced risk goes on

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 3rd August 2022

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has reported increases in sales of reduced-risk products, helping offset falling shipment volumes of combustible tobacco products ...

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 ...

Altria’s revenue decrease so far in 2022 doesn’t deter year-end goal expectations

Written by Antonia Di Lorenzo | 29th July 2022

Altria saw $12.43bn in revenue in the first half of 2022 – a decrease of 4.1% from the same period a year ago – but was encouraged by the positive momentum of its nicotine pouch...

Fury in the Philippines as new president lets novel tobacco bill lapse into law

Written by TobaccoIntelligence | 28th July 2022

Calls for the president to veto the Philippines Vape Regulation Bill – and a change of government – failed to derail the bill, which also regulates heated tobacco and other novel tobacco products ...

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 ...

Both sides fear undue influence on independent review of US FDA CTP

Written by Tiziana Cauli | 26th July 2022

The tobacco industry has little faith that the upcoming external review of the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) will help fix faults in the US FDA department's regulation of new tobacco and alternative products ...

‘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 ...

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