PMTA: Premarket Tobacco Product Application
October 2026: FDA Grants Marketing Authorization for 24 Velo Nicotine Pouch Products The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of 24 new nicotine pouch products under the VELO brand, manufactured by British American Tobacco (BAT)’s Modoral Brands Inc. subsidiary, following scientific review through the premarket tobacco product
USA: Cigarette Market
October 2026: Steep State Cigarette Excise Taxes Fuel Multi-Billion-Dollar Interstate Smuggling Networks Disparities in state cigarette excise taxes create predictable economic incentives that drive widespread interstate smuggling and drain billions of dollars from state treasuries. Tracking data from the Tax Foundation1 demonstrates that as state tax rates rise, black-market consumption
USA: Tobacco Regulation – States
October 2026: Iowa Postpones Implementation of New Vape Product Directory and Restrictions The Iowa Department of Revenue has unexpectedly postponed the rollout of its highly anticipated vapor products directory, giving vape shops and distributors a temporary reprieve from strict new sales restrictions. The state directory, which stems from House File
USA: Tobacco Products
October 2026: Cigar Accessory Sales Surge to $350M as Tax-Driven Shifts Reshape U.S. Market U.S. convenience store sales for tobacco accessories expanded 14.3% year-over-year to $650 million, powered by robust consumer demand for cigar-related items. Overall category volume grew 8.5% to 270 million units, while the average price per unit
USA: Vapes
October 2026: U.S. E-Vapor Revenue Slips in Mainstream C-Stores as Sales Migrate to Alternative Channels Total U.S. convenience store revenue for vaping contracted 5.1% year-over-year to $6.22 billion. The downturn was driven by a 13.1% decline in unit volume down to 303 million units, which outweighed a 9.2% gain in
USA: Cigar Market
October 2026: Higher Retail Prices Keep U.S. Convenience Store Cigar Revenue Flat at $4.11 Billion Total U.S. convenience store cigar sales remained virtually unchanged year-over-year at $4.11 billion, edging up 0.2%. A 6.1% rise in average unit price – bringing the mean to $2.18 – successfully countered a 5.5% contraction
Tobacco Regulation: United Kingdom
November 2026: Tens of Thousands of Bot Responses Removed from UK Vape Consultation A recent analysis of a UK government public consultation on tobacco and vaping has highlighted what researchers describe as the first documented instance of large-scale automated interference in a British public policy process. According to findings published
UK: Nicotine Pouches
October 2026: ZYN Introduces New High-Strength Black Menthol Nicotine Pouch Nicotine pouch brand ZYN has expanded its product lineup in the UK with the launch of ZYN Black Menthol, a high-strength offering designed for adult consumers seeking an intense menthol experience. Positioned under ZYN’s “Ultra Strong” tier at 16.5mg of
UK: Cigarette Market
October 2026: Illicit Trade Discussion Heats Up in the UK Public debate over Great Britain’s illegal cigarette and tobacco market is intensifying as tobacco manufacturers and government agencies present sharply conflicting measurements of its scale. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estimates that illicit products accounted for 12% of cigarette consumption
UK: Vapes
October 2026: Vapers Continue to Outnumber Smokers in Great Britain as Smoking Rates Halve Since 2011 Adult cigarette smoking in the UK fell below 10% for the first time in 2025, reaching a record low of 9.8% (approximately 4.9 million people), down from 10.6% in 2024. The latest data from
British Cigarettes: “Fags”
October 2026: Imperial Brands Expands Paramount Range with Paramount Red Superkings Launch Imperial Brands has expanded its Paramount cigarette line in the UK with the release of Paramount Red Superkings. Featuring an American tobacco blend, the new full-strength offering is available through independent and wholesale outlets at a recommended retail
UK: Cigar Market
June 2026: The Structural Shift in the UK Cigar Market: The Rise of the Cigarillo Segment The UK cigar category accounts for more than £350 million in annual retail sales. Within this category, a significant structural realignment has occurred. First introduced six years ago, the cigarillo segment has expanded rapidly
Tobacco Regulation: Canada
September 2026: Canada Rejects Calls to Ease Nicotine Pouch Rules Despite Industry Pressure Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel has pushed back against growing industry lobbying, confirming that the government has no intentions of loosening strict regulations governing nicotine pouches. The announcement comes in response to mounting campaigns from convenience retailers
Canada: Cigarette Market
May 2026: Canada’s Tobacco and Vaping Act Review Highlights Enforcement Gaps Amid Growing Illicit Market Canada’s third legislative review of the 2018 Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA) concluded that stronger compliance and enforcement measures are needed as illegal tobacco and vaping products continue to expand across the country. The
Zonnic: Canada
March 2026: Alberta Urges Federal Government to Ease Nicotine Pouch Restrictions Amid Black Market Concerns Alberta’s provincial government has formally urged Canada’s federal authorities to reconsider strict national rules governing nicotine pouches, arguing that the current framework is counterproductive and contributes to the growth of an unregulated market. In a
Canada: Vapes
February 2026: Diverging Alcohol and Nicotine Trends Among Young Canadian Adults Young Canadian adults are consuming less alcohol than older generations, while reporting comparatively higher daily use of nicotine products. Based on self-reported lifestyle disclosures from insurance applications, Canadians aged 18 to 29 recorded the lowest incidence of daily alcohol
Canadian Tobacco Lawsuit & Settlement
August 2025: Imperial Tobacco Canada exits bankruptcy protection British American Tobacco (BAT)’s Canadian affiliate, Imperial Tobacco Canada (ITCAN) formally exited protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). ITCAN stated that the Court-approved Plan of Compromise and Arrangement concludes the tobacco litigation provides maximum recovery for claimants while bringing stability
Marlboro: Canada
The Marlboro Brand Paradox in Canada: A Trademark Tug-of-War Marlboro, the world’s most known cigarette brand, is globally synonymous with Philip Morris Company. Its red & white packaging and the Marlboro man have become iconic. The trademark is owned by Philip Morris USA (part of Altria Group) in its home
Tobacco Regulation: Europe
November 2026: Major European Cities Call for EU-Wide Ban on Cigarette Filters Major European cities are calling on the European Union (EU) to introduce a complete ban on cigarette filters, arguing that they provide no proven health benefits and represent one of the largest sources of plastic pollution and urban
Tobacco Regulation: European Union
November 2026: EU Tobacco Tax Reform Nears Agreement as Sweden Drops Opposition, Malta Remains Sole Holdout European Union finance ministers moved closer to an agreement on the proposed overhaul of the EU Tobacco Taxation Directive (TTD) on November 9, 2026, after a series of last-minute compromises helped overcome opposition from
South-East Europe: Cigarette Market
South-East Europe: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania and Serbia November 2026: Bulgaria Escalates Cigarette Excise Rates in Phased Tax Reform Bulgaria is moving forward with a multi-step excise tax escalation on tobacco products, a fiscal measure designed to align national tax policy with
Italy: Cigarette Market
November 2026: Italy Proposes Accelerated Tobacco Tax Increases in 2027, Including Heated Tobacco and Vaping Products Italy’s government has proposed accelerating planned tax increases on cigarettes, traditional tobacco, heated tobacco products, and e-cigarette liquids under its 2027–2029 Budget Bill. The proposal would bring forward tax increases originally scheduled for January
Germany: Cigarette Market
October 2026: Germany On Track to Hike Tobacco Taxes, Pushing Average Cigarette Prices Close to €12 by 2030 Tobacco products in Germany are set for phased price increases over the coming years following the lower house of parliament’s approval of a tax reform package. The amendment to the Tobacco Tax
France: Cigarette Market
September 2026: French Tobacco Market Faces Debate Over Minimum Tax Adjustments Amid Rising Parallel Sales As the French political landscape prepares for upcoming budgetary discussions alongside the presidential campaign, regulatory debates focus on potential adjustments to the minimum tax threshold applied to tobacco products. The discussion comes as the official
Tobacco Regulation: New Zealand
November 2026: New Zealand Moves Toward Legalizing Nicotine Pouches Despite Public Health Opposition New Zealand is considering legalizing the commercial sale of nicotine pouches and other oral nicotine products as part of broader reforms to its tobacco and nicotine regulatory framework. The initiative follows a September 2026 Cabinet decision to
Australia: Cigarette Market
November 2026: Australian States Consider A$50 Billion Lawsuit Against Major Tobacco Companies Over Healthcare Costs Australian state governments are considering a proposal to pursue up to A$50 billion (c.US$34 billion) in compensation from major tobacco companies to recover public healthcare costs associated with smoking-related diseases. The proposal, developed by a
Tobacco Regulation: Australia
September 2026: TGA Classifies 6-Methylnicotine as a Schedule 9 Prohibited Substance to Close E-Cigarette Loophole Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has officially decided to list 6-methylnicotine as a Schedule 9 Prohibited Substance in the Poisons Standard, with an implementation date set for October 1, 2026. This regulatory action directly targets
Australia: Nicotine Pouches
July 2026: New Australia Regulations Ban Personal Importation of Nicotine Pouches The Australian Government has established new regulations to restrict access to nicotine pouches, citing concerns over public health and the growing appeal of these products to younger demographics. Under the new rules, which take effect on July 24, 2026,
New Zealand: Cigarette Market
April 2026: New Zealand Cigarette Market Under Pressure as Illicit Trade and Vaping Weigh on Industry Performance British American Tobacco (BAT) and Imperial Brands have reported weaker financial results, highlighting mounting structural pressures on New Zealand’s legal tobacco market, including a rapidly expanding illicit trade, high excise taxes, and accelerating
New Zealand: Vapes
February 2026: New Zealand Approves First Quit‑Vaping Medicine as Youth Use Climbs New Zealand’s medicines regulator Medsafe approved the country’s first product specifically indicated to help people quit vaping, marking a milestone in clinical support for nicotine dependence. The product now recommended for this purpose is Nicorette QuickMist, a nicotine mouth
Japan: Nicotine Pouches
November 2026: BAT and Japan Tobacco Expand Nicotine Pouch Portfolios in Japan as Competition Intensifies British American Tobacco (BAT) and Japan Tobacco (JT) are expanding their oral nicotine product portfolios in Japan, introducing new flavors, additional strength options, and broader retail distribution as competition develops in the country’s emerging nicotine
Japan: Heated Tobacco Promotions
October 2026: Price Competition Heats Up as PMI Japan Launches Fourth IQOS Discount Promotion of 2026 for Black Friday Philip Morris Japan (PMJ) has rolled out its fourth nationwide convenience store promotion of 2026 for the IQOS ILUMA i series, initiating a Black Friday “early discount” wave across major Japanese
Japan: Heated Tobacco Sticks
October 2026: JT Expands “Ploom” Lineup with Autumn-Themed Limited Edition Regular Sticks Japan Tobacco (JT) has introduced a new seasonal lineup for its heated tobacco brand Ploom, releasing three limited-edition regular sticks designed to capture the cozy ambiance of autumn. Available exclusively through the CLUB JT online shop, the collection
Japan: Heated Tobacco Devices
September 2026: Philip Morris Japan Expands IQOS ILUMA i Lineup with New “Bold Ruby” Color Philip Morris Japan (PMJ) has officially expanded its flagship heat-not-burn tobacco device portfolio by introducing a vibrant new regular color option, “Bold Ruby,” for the IQOS ILUMA i series. The new colorway is available for
Japan: Heated Tobacco Market
September 2026: Philip Morris International Opens First Global IQOS Flagship Store in Ginza, Tokyo Philip Morris International (PMI) has officially opened its first global IQOS flagship store in Tokyo’s premier Ginza shopping district. The new “IQOS Flagship Ginza” opened its doors on September 4, 2026, marking a major milestone for
Japan: Tobacco Market
August 2026: JT to Release 80th-Anniversary Packaging for Peace Cigarettes Japan Tobacco (JT) announced it will release limited-edition packaging across four products in its Peace cigarette lineup to commemorate the brand’s 80th anniversary. The temporary packaging retains the layout of the standard line while featuring an enlarged version of the
Tobacco Regulation: South Korea
October 2026: South Korea Detects Group 1 Carcinogens in All 465 Tested Tobacco and Vape Products South Korea’s health authorities have published the country’s first comprehensive public disclosure of toxic chemicals present in commercial tobacco products, revealing that Group 1 human carcinogens – including formaldehyde and benzene – were detected
South Korea: Cigarette Market
October 2026: Non-Operating Gains Drive Net Profit Growth at Philip Morris Korea Despite Core Softness Philip Morris Korea reported a modest top-line revenue growth for 2025, though weakening core business profitability weighed on operating results. According to the company’s 2025 audited financial statements, revenue rose 2.4% to ₩852.97 billion (US$602.8
South Korea: Heated Tobacco Devices
October 2026: KT&G Expands Nationwide Distribution of ‘lil Tonino Lamborghini’ Heated Tobacco Device KT&G announced an aggressive distribution expansion for its latest heated tobacco device, the lil Tonino Lamborghini, significantly increasing its retail presence across major metropolitan areas. Starting October 21, the device will be available at approximately 34,000 convenience
South Korea: Heated Tobacco Sticks
October 2026:Philip Morris Debuts Dual-Flavor TEREA ONYX Capsule Sticks in South Korea Philip Morris has officially expanded its product offerings for the IQOS ILUMA series in South Korea by launching TEREA ONYX, a brand-new lineup of capsule-type tobacco sticks. The launch adds two new tropical-flavored capsule variants, increasing the company’s
South Korea: Vapes
August 2026: S. Korea Faces Surge in ‘Nicotine-Free’ and Analogue Vapes Following Heavy Vape Tax South Korea’s vaping market is grappling with a rapidly growing loophole following a sweeping tax implementation that more than doubled retail prices for e-cigarettes. Consumers looking to bypass escalating costs are turning to products marketed
South Korea: Heated Tobacco Market
May 2026: Korea’s Heated Tobacco Market Heats Up as E-Cigarette Regulations Reshape Competition Competition in South Korea’s heated tobacco market is intensifying following the recent inclusion of synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes under tobacco regulations. Until recently, synthetic nicotine vaping products had benefited from lighter regulation and lower taxation, giving the category
Philippines: Tobacco Market
November 2026: PMI to Invest $71 Million in Philippine Smoke-Free Manufacturing Expansion Philip Morris International (PMI) announced plans to invest ₱4.5 billion (US$71 million) to expand its smoke-free manufacturing facility in Batangas, Philippines, strengthening the country’s role as a regional production and export hub for smoke-free products. According to PMI,
Philippines: Nicotine Pouches
September 2026: DTI Requires Safety Certification for Nicotine Pouches in the Philippines The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has established mandatory product certification for nicotine pouches to enforce strict safety and quality standards across the market. Under Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 26-07, the regulation governs the manufacturing, importation,
Philippines: Vapes
August 2026: Lawmakers and Advocates Push Uniform Vape Excise Taxes to Recover Revenue Losses and Curb Illicit Trade Philippine lawmakers, health advocates, and industry representatives are calling for reforms to establish a unified, risk-based excise tax regime on vapor products as the national government seeks to recover foregone revenues, curb
Philippines: Heated Tobacco
December 2025: Philip Morris opens IQOS Flagship Boutique in Makati, Manila PMFTC, the Philippine affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI), opened its latest IQOS Boutique in Glorietta shopping mall complex in Makati, Manila. Launched as a premium, multi-sensory flagship space, the boutique aims to create a modern/stylish, immersive environment that blends
Flava Vape: Questions and Answers
What happened to Flava Vape? Why is Flava closed? In March 2024, amid allegations of illegal marketing to minors and tax evasion, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) ordered the suspension of the sale, manufacturing, importation, and distribution of Flava vape in the Philippines. DTI’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau
Flava Vape Philippines
The Philippines is a US$200 million e-cigarette market with an annual growth rate of mid-teens. Until recently, the controversial Flava brand claimed to be the market leader in the Philippines e-cigarette market. Flava’s rise & fall sets a textbook example that is worth exploring in details. What kind of vape
India: Cigarette Market
November 2026: ITC Raises Cigarette Prices Again in India, Continuing Staggered Pass-Through of February Tax Hike India’s largest cigarette manufacturer, ITC Limited, has reportedly raised the price of its Gold Flake Premium cigarettes by 8%, marking another step in its strategy of gradually passing on the substantial cigarette tax increase
Malaysia: Cigarette & Vape Market
October 2026: BAT Malaysia Q3 Net Profit Drops 67% on Higher Restructuring Costs British American Tobacco (Malaysia) reported a 66.5% drop in net profit to RM2.35 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026, down from RM7.0 million in the previous year, driven by higher restructuring expenses of RM9.95
Bangladesh: Tobacco Market
October 2026: BAT Bangladesh Reports a 67% Plunge in Third-Quarter Profit for 2026 A compression in gross revenue (inclusive of Supplementary Duty and VAT) alongside elevated operating overheads weighed heavily on the quarterly performance of British American Tobacco (BAT) Bangladesh. During the third quarter (July-September) of 2026, the company’s net
Indonesia: Tobacco Market
October 2026: Indonesian Health Ministry Proposes Lower Tar and Nicotine Limits for Cigarettes The Indonesian Ministry of Health has proposed stricter regulatory limits on tobacco products, seeking to reduce the maximum allowable tar content to 10 milligrams (mg) from 20 mg per cigarette. In addition to lowering the tar cap,
Sri Lanka: Tobacco Market
October 2026: Sri Lanka Legal Cigarette Market Falls 7.7% Annually Amid Multi-Fold Price Hikes and Rising Illicit Penetration Sri Lanka’s total factory-made cigarette consumption has contracted significantly, dropping from a base of 3.9 billion sticks in 2016 to 2.4 billion in 2025. This overall decline represents a compound annual contraction
Tobacco Regulation: Asia
October 2026: Mongolia Overhauls Tobacco Control Laws After 13 Years, Banning Flavored Products and Regulating Vapes Mongolia’s State Great Khural has officially approved sweeping amendments to the Law on Tobacco Control, marking the first major update to the nation’s smoking regulations in 13 years. The newly passed legislation, slated to
Egypt: Tobacco Market
November 2026: Philip Morris Egypt Raises Cigarette and Heated Tobacco Prices for Second Time in 2026 Philip Morris Egypt has announced a new round of price increases across its cigarette and heated tobacco portfolio, effective November 5, 2026. The latest adjustments, ranging from 6.9% to 9.0% across affected brands, mark
Tobacco Regulation: Latin America
November 2026: Colombia Proposes Steep New Tax Hikes on Tobacco and Vaping Products to Fund Healthcare The Colombian government has submitted a sweeping “Economic Rescue Bill” to Congress proposing steep tax hikes on vaping products, tobacco, and alcoholic beverages. Designed to close fiscal deficits while generating dedicated revenue for the
Global Vape Market
October 2026: China Vaping Exports Fall 6.3% in September 2026 as U.S. Market Collapses In September 2026, China vaping exports fell 6.3% year-on-year to $832.6 million, down from $888.5 million in September 2025. The monthly downturn was primarily triggered by a 37.8% collapse in exports to the U.S., which dropped
Africa: Tobacco Market
October 2026: Morocco Proposes Tax Increases on Cigarettes and Vaping Products in 2027 Finance Bill Morocco is set to increase domestic consumption taxes on both conventional tobacco and electronic cigarettes starting January 1, 2027. Under proposed measures submitted to parliament in Bill No. 60.26, the government aims to restructure tobacco
South Africa: Tobacco Market
October 2026: BAT to Exit South African Manufacturing as Illicit Cigarettes Take 75% Market Share British American Tobacco (BAT) is bringing down the curtain on over 50 years of cigarette manufacturing in South Africa, sticking to its plan announced in January to close its Heidelberg factory by the end of
Turkey: Cigarette Market
September 2026: Turkey Targets 2040 Total Tobacco Ban in Sweeping Anti-Smoking Legislation Turkey has drawn up draft legislation outlining a phased strategy to achieve a complete, nationwide ban on the production, sale, import, and consumption of all tobacco and nicotine products by January 1, 2040. The ambitious measure targets one
