top news
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Canadian Court Certifies Class Action Against Juul, Altria
The lawsuit alleges the companies marketed e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to cigarettes while contributing to nicotine addiction.
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Retail Groups Urge Processors to Revise Vape Enforcement Policies
The groups argued the payment processors’ enforcement standards do not reflect the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s updated enforcement priorities.
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Turning Point Brands Announces Dividend
The board of directors of Turning Point Brands, Inc. announced a regular quarterly dividend of $0.08 per common share.
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Kenya Overturns Enforcement of Shisha Ban
The ruling prevents authorities from enforcing the 2017 shisha regulations and invalidates recent government crackdowns based on those rules.
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Tennessee Increases Penalties for Fake IDs for Nicotine
The law will increase penalties for people under 21 who use fake identification to purchase nicotine or hemp products, imposing fines of $10 to $50.
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EU-ASEAN Business Council Calls for Regional Action Against Illicits
The council called for intelligence sharing, regulatory frameworks, digital customs tools, stronger collaboration, and closer engagement with partners, including India.
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Global Regulation
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Kenya Overturns Enforcement of Shisha Ban
The ruling prevents authorities from enforcing the 2017 shisha regulations and invalidates recent government crackdowns based on those rules.
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Tennessee Increases Penalties for Fake IDs for Nicotine
The law will increase penalties for people under 21 who use fake identification to purchase nicotine or hemp products, imposing fines of $10 to $50.
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Australia Tightens Import Controls on Nicotine Pouches
The new rules do not prohibit all nicotine pouch use but require products to meet regulatory approval requirements before they can be legally imported or supplied.
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Filipino Leaders Press for Smoke-Free Bill
The proposed measure would establish a nationwide ban on smoking and vaping in indoor public spaces and workplaces.
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Dutch Seize 1.2M Counterfeit Cigarettes at German Border
The seizure brings total illicit cigarette seizures in the Netherlands to 106 million so far this year.
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Indonesian Tobacco Groups Oppose New Controls
They argued that standardized packaging for cigarettes and e-cigarettes would undermine legitimate businesses and reduce government excise revenue.
Agriculture & Sustainability
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PMFTC Remains Top Buyer of Philippine Tobacco
The NTA said PMFTC’s sustained buying provides tobacco farmers with a stable and reliable market, particularly as the industry prepares for a challenging growing season.
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Zimbabwe Tobacco Farmers Deliver More, But See 24% Revenue Drop
Despite higher production, industry revenues fell 24% year over year to $882.5 million as the average selling price declined from $3.33/kg to $2.49/kg.
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Philippines Tightening Controls on Growers After 27% Surplus
The NTA is encouraging the country’s approximately 35,000 uncontracted tobacco farmers to join its Tobacco Contract Growing System.
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Pakistan Warns Companies Against Delaying Tobacco Purchase
The warning follows last year’s delayed buying season, when some manufacturers and dealers waited until tobacco was declared surplus before purchasing at lower prices.
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Zimbabwe Cracking Down on Illegal Tobacco Seed Varieties
Officials said illegal varieties threaten export markets, product quality, and Zimbabwe’s reputation for premium tobacco.
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Alliance One’s New Seeds Transforming Tanzanian Yields
Alliance One said the seeds were developed through extensive research, producing yields of more than 3,200 kg per hectare.
Science & Innovation
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Nicotine Pouches May Cause Receding Gums: Study
The study also found nicotine pouch users experienced more gum irritation than snus users, which researchers said may be linked to flavoring ingredients.
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FDA Releases PATH Study Data from Wave 8
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) and the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) released the Wave 8 Public-Use Files from…
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Women Fueling UK Pouch Market Growth
A new Nicotine Pouch Report from Haypp indicates that women are becoming a major driver of growth in the UK nicotine pouch market. According to the report, the number of…
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Korean Study Finds Heavy Smoking Ups Fatty Liver Risk 41% in Young Men
The researchers said smoking appears to increase fatty liver risk independently of obesity and alcohol consumption.
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Rutgers’ CRST Touts Ability to Predict Industry Trends
The center detailed how it combines retail audits, sales data, marketing surveillance, and consumer surveys to track more than 50 tobacco and nicotine brands.
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Bangladesh Banking on Technology to Fight Illicit Tobacco
Central to the plan is a comprehensive Track and Trace system that will use AI-enabled cameras, automated production counting devices, and QR or AR-coded tax stamps.
Business & Finance
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Turning Point Brands Announces Dividend
The board of directors of Turning Point Brands, Inc. announced a regular quarterly dividend of $0.08 per common share.
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PMI U.S. Opens $1.2 Billion Colorado Manufacturing Campus
The 780,000-square-foot facility will expand domestic production capacity for Zyn and strengthen PMI’s U.S. supply chain and export capabilities.
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Godfrey Phillips India Profit Falls 44% After Tax Hike
The company said product revenue more than doubled to $378 million; however, profits dropped 44%.
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BAT Kenya Says Illicit Cigarettes Costing $92M in Lost Taxes
The warning came as BAT Kenya reported half-year revenue growth of 5% to $94.7 million, supported by export recovery and growth in nicotine pouches.
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Indonesia Adds Tax Layer to Bring Illegal Cigarettes into the Fold
The move is intended to bring machine-rolled clove cigarettes (SKM) that have effectively operated outside the current tax structure into the excise system.
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Nicokick Partners With Zone for PBR Event
Nicokick said zone sales on its platform increased 158% in 2025, making it one of its largest brands.
Around the Industry
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Canadian Court Certifies Class Action Against Juul, Altria
The lawsuit alleges the companies marketed e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to cigarettes while contributing to nicotine addiction.
-
Retail Groups Urge Processors to Revise Vape Enforcement Policies
The groups argued the payment processors’ enforcement standards do not reflect the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s updated enforcement priorities.
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EU-ASEAN Business Council Calls for Regional Action Against Illicits
The council called for intelligence sharing, regulatory frameworks, digital customs tools, stronger collaboration, and closer engagement with partners, including India.
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Thai Tobacco Trade Backs Single-Rate Reform
The association said a balanced flat-rate tax, combined with stronger enforcement against illegal tobacco, would help stabilize government revenue.
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Don Abram Harris Cigars Files $8B Lawsuit Against PM USA
PM argued the mark could be confused with its Marlboro cigarette trademarks, while Harris is seeking damages, a jury trial, and a court declaration.
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Labor Premier Breaks Ranks on Australia’s Tobacco Tax Policy
Chris Minns said the “massive” excise, which adds about A$30 ($21) to a 20-pack of cigarettes, has created a price gap that benefits illegal sellers.
Thought Leaders
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FDA Finally Issues Proposed Rule to Require Foreign Tobacco Manufacturers to Register Facilities and List Products
This rule would allow FDA to further protect public health by helping to ensure that tobacco products in the United States comply with Federal law.
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A New Direction for ENDS
Chris Allen explains the significance of FDA’s shift on flavored vapes and why it reflects a growing emphasis on evidence-based harm reduction, behavioral science and product safeguards.
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The Conglomerate Cigar Brands Are Losing Inside ChatGPT — and the Retailer Channel Is the Reason Why
Cigar Aficionado’s 2025 Cigar Insider Retailer Survey told the same story Cigar Insider has told every year for the last decade. Padrón at #1, Arturo Fuente at #2, Drew Estate…
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The FDA’s evolving approach to youth-risk mitigation
Lilian Ortega explains the latest developments from regulators across pouches and ENDS and the latest enforcement of rules in the United States.
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The Arithmetic of Harm
Why the World Cannot Afford America’s Regulatory Model By Dr. J. Preston Campbell, Cancer Researcher, Harm Reduction Scientist Heavy lifetime smoking kills approximately half of long-term users. That is not…
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The Butt Stops Here
Because filters are small, lightweight, and routinely discarded in public spaces, they are disproportionately represented in stormwater runoff and shoreline debris counts despite their size.