LATEST ALERTS
View allAlternative tobacco and nicotine products in Asia
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Detailed legal reports outlining industry regulation, analysis of the laws, and pertinent organisations
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All of our heated tobacco and related products databases downloadable in Excel format
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Blog
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15th September 2022
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As of February of 2022, subscribers will be able to view and filter individual regulatory alerts per region. If you want to get our monthly compilations, visit our alerts Round-up section.
Alerts
Our legal experts track the evolving regulation around the tobacco alternatives sector on a daily basis. These alerts are then compiled into our Monthly Round-up section.
1st February 2023
Thailand: On 31st January a Thai appeals court ordered a reduction of the fine of $4m imposed on Philip Morris International (PMI) for allegedly under-declaring import prices for cigarettes from Indonesia in 2002 and 2003, press reports. The court has ordered Thai customs to calculate the new fine.1st February 2023
- Kazakhstan: The Health Code specifies that manufacturers and importers of heated tobacco must submit reports on the results of laboratory tests on the maximum permissible nicotine content by 1st February of the year following the reporting period.
30th January 2023
- Bangladesh: In response to the proposed amendment to ban vaping and heated tobacco products, the Bangladesh Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Traders Association (Bendsta) has called on authorities to withdraw the proposed ban and to consult with all industry members before making any policy decisions, media reports. The organisation fears the ban will jeopardise the prime minister's vision of making the country tobacco-free by 2040.
30th January 2023
- India: The health department of the state of Tamil Nadu, a southern state of 76m citizens, will appeal the recent order of the Madras High Court, press reports. The order annulled the decision of the commissioner of food safety of the state that banned the manufacture, storage, transport, distribution and sale of gutkha, pan masala and other chewable food products containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients. Reportedly, the minister of health of the state is also contemplating provisions to ensure a ban on the manufacture and sale of tobacco products.
26th January 2023
- Indonesia: Vice president Ma'ruf Amin said today that the effects of e-cigarettes would be reviewed and, if proven to be harmful to public health, they would be banned by the government, press reports. These statements are likely to affect heated tobacco products, as they are considered a type of electronic cigarette in Indonesia.
26th January 2023
- Indonesia: The minister of health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, said yesterday that regulations for e-cigarettes are still being discussed across ministries, press reports. The minister highlighted that these products cannot be considered a substitute for traditional tobacco products, and that they are considered to target children due to their attractive flavours. These statements are likely to affect heated tobacco products, as they are considered a type of electronic cigarette in Indonesia.
26th January 2023
- India: The Madras High Court has quashed the decision of the commissioner of food safety of Tamil Nadu banning the manufacture, storage, transport, distribution or sale of gutkha, pan masala and other chewable food products containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients. The Court argued that the commissioner is only empowered to ban these products for a temporary period that may extend up to a maximum of one year, press reports. Therefore, the Court has held that the successive notifications issued in Tamil Nadu extending the ban on these products year after year are illegal. The scope of the decision is limited only to the state of Tamil Nadu, a southern state of 76m citizens.
25th January 2023
- Philippines: Health advocacy groups have expressed their support for House Bill 5532, which aims to raise taxes on heated tobacco products, press reports. The bill was presented by representative Joey Salceda of the majority bloc Lakas-CMD party and proposes an increase to PHP40 ($0.73) per pack of 20 units, with a 5% increase in the subsequent year. The bill is pending in the Ways and Means Committee.
25th January 2023
- Lebanon: Yesterday, 24th January, the Lebanese Tobacco Authority published an updated list of heated tobacco prices, specifying the following prices per unit: LBP6,700 ($4.44) for Nuso, LBP6,725 ($4.46) for Heets, LBP9,400 ($6.23) for Heets Dimensions and LBP5,175 ($3.43) for Fiit. The Tobacco Authority in Lebanon sets the prices for all tobacco products based on the provisions of Decree No. 151/1959, which establishes a state monopoly on tobacco.
23rd January 2023
South Korea: A bill was introduced last week seeking to reduce the national health promotion tax on snus and nicotine pouches from KRW534.50 ($0.43) to KRW56.10 ($0.046) per g.
23rd January 2023
Indonesia: The Directorate General of Customs and Excise has revealed how much revenue was collected from e-cigarette and heated tobacco excise duty in 2022, press reports. A total of IDR1.02tn ($68m) included IDR627.11bn ($42m) from open-system e-cigarettes, IDR119.47bn ($8m) from closed-system e-cigarettes, and IDR271.93bn ($18m) from heated tobacco products. The total revenue collected from tobacco and related products was IDR218.62tn ($14.57bn), of which e-cigs and heated tobacco accounted for just 0.4%.
