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PMTA: Premarket Tobacco Product Application
The FDA has authorized the marketing of JUUL Labs’ next-generation JUUL2 e-cigarette device, equipped with a user-authentication system, alongside tobacco- and menthol-flavored pods with an 18 mg/mL nicotine strength. Agency reviews determined that the public health benefits – specifically helping adult smokers completely switch away from traditional cigarettes and reducing chemical exposure – outweighed potential risks regarding youth appeal. This decision brings the total number of FDA-authorized e-cigarette products to 48, following the approval of original higher-strength JUUL products in July 2025.
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Heated Tobacco: Products
KT&G is set to launch its new flagship heated tobacco device, lil Tonino Lamborghini, in South Korea on September 15, 2026. Powered by new “Flashwave” internal induction and microwave heating technology, the device slashes startup preheating times to an industry-leading 3 seconds – more than five times faster than legacy circumferential heating models. New heating mechanism also improves flavor consistency and energy efficiency while enabling a hassle-free, no-cleaning design housed in an aluminum chassis with a color display.
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ITC: News
ITC Infotech and Happiest Minds Technologies have agreed to merge, creating an AI-first global technology services enterprise targeting $1 billion in annual revenue by FY28. Under the deal structure, ITC Infotech will initially acquire a 22.1% stake in Happiest Minds for ₹1,330 crore ($140 million) before executing a share exchange, leaving parent company ITC Limited with a 73.4% controlling stake in the publicly listed entity. The combined firm enters the market with ₹7,033 crore ($740 million) in pro-forma FY26 revenue and over 19,000 employees, pairing Happiest Minds’ AI and digital engineering focus with ITC Infotech’s enterprise transformation capabilities.
Read More: ITC: News
USA: Tobacco Regulation – States
Effective September 1, 2026, New York State has imposed a 75% wholesale tax on tobacco-free alternative nicotine products, including popular pouch brands like ZYN and VELO. The new levy applies before products reach store shelves – excluding e-vapor products (subject to a different tax scheme) and FDA-approved cessation aids – and requires businesses to pay a retroactive floor tax on existing inventory by September 21. While intended to establish tax parity across nicotine categories, the new levy will significantly raise retail prices and narrow the price gap between new nicotine products and traditional cigarettes.
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Tobacco Lawsuits: USA
Altria has sued the FDA in federal court, demanding an overhaul of the agency’s tobacco product review system over lengthy regulatory delays. The lawsuit contends that the FDA has repeatedly missed statutory 180-day decision deadlines – leaving products like Altria’s On! nicotine pouches pending for years – which harms compliant companies while unauthorized competitors gain market share. Altria is asking the court to set aside the current review framework, while the FDA stated it will carefully review the legal challenge.
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Tobacco Regulation: Australia
Australia’s federal Opposition Coalition has proposed an 80% cut to the national tobacco excise, aiming to drop retail cigarette prices to A$9-A$10 per pack to destroy the profit margins of the country’s rampant illicit market. The plan would also replace the current pharmacy-only model by legalizing and taxing adult sales of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, while allocating A$200 million in federal funding to combat organized crime. Citing escalating gang violence and an illicit market that controls up to 80% of total consumption, the Coalition estimates the shift could generate A$8 billion in tax receipts over four years by converting illegal sales back into taxed channels.
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ZYN USA
Philip Morris International’s U.S. division has launched “When It Clicks,” a nationwide brand campaign for ZYN nicotine pouches expanding to full national scale in Q4 2026. Built around the sensory cue of the container lid clicking shut, the initiative frames the smoke-free product around key moments of alignment and daily achievement – from business milestones to outdoor pursuits. Rather than centering on traditional outdoor smoke breaks, the campaign highlights how discreet pouches integrate seamlessly into active, modern routines. Media executions span digital, out-of-home, and live events, alongside themed visual branding and artist-designed collectible metal accessory cases.
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Tobacco Regulation: European Union
The European Union’s proposed overhaul of its Tobacco Taxation Directive has stalled due to a political deadlock over tax rates for new nicotine products. A high-tax public health bloc led by Ireland, France, and the Netherlands is pushing for heavy minimum excise duties across all nicotine products to deter youth uptake. Conversely, a harm-reduction coalition led by Sweden advocates for lower taxes on non-combustible alternatives to encourage adult smokers to switch. Because EU tax decisions require unanimous approval from all 27 member states, Sweden’s opposition effectively blocks the directive from advancing.
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Tobacco: Investor Lawsuits
British American Tobacco (BAT) is facing a third UK shareholder lawsuit in the High Court over allegations that it failed to properly disclose historical North Korean operations and sanctions exposure. Filed on behalf of institutional investors, the stock-drop securities claim follows two similar actions launched in February 2026 under the Financial Services and Markets Act. The litigation stems from conduct between 2007 and 2016 that previously resulted in a $635 million U.S. settlement in 2023, with BAT acknowledging the proceedings and stating its intention to vigorously defend against the claims.
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USA: Vapes
According to Circana data, U.S. convenience store e-vapor sales contracted 5.7% year-over-year to $6.22 billion over the 52 weeks ending July 12, 2026, as a 13.7% drop in unit volume outweighed a 9.3% price increase. Core vaping products fell 7.1% to $5.94 billion on a 15.1% unit decline, reflecting a consumer migration away from mainstream convenience stores toward untracked specialty outlets and online channels mainly for unauthorized disposable vapes. Conversely, vaping accessories surged 40.5% to $279 million, driven by strong demand for high-tech hardware and multi-use 510-thread batteries across both nicotine and cannabinoid markets.
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USA: Nicotine Pouches
According to Circana data, U.S. convenience store smokeless tobacco sales surged 12.2% year-over-year to $13.5 billion over the 52 weeks ending July 12, 2026, propelled entirely by rapid growth in oral nicotine pouches. The spitless tobacco segment – dominated by nicotine pouches – expanded 25.9% to $7.41 billion, driven by a 24.3% increase in unit volume. Conversely, traditional categories continued to contract, as moist snuff unit sales dropped 8.5% (insulated only by an 8.6% price hike) and chewing tobacco unit sales fell 8.4% alongside a 3% price decline.
Read More: USA: Nicotine Pouches
