News
DFS Shutting Down Tobacco Business at Changi
After 40 years, DFS Group will be shutting down its liquor and tobacco stores at Singapore’s Changi Airport when its lease expires next June. Read more
E-Cig Illnesses from Counterfeits?
Contaminants or counterfeit substances are being considered a likely cause of vaping-related lung illnesses. Read more
PMI and Altria Possible Merge
Altria Group says it is discussing an all-stock merger with Philip Morris International. If the merger goes through, it would create the world’s biggest tobacco group. Read more
BMJ's James Adhitya Setiawan Passes Away
James Adhitya Setiawan, mastermind behind Bukit Muria Jaya's creative marketing campaigns, died suddenly on Aug. 17. He was 41. Read more
Swiss Diplomats Go to Bat for PMI
Swiss diplomats lodged a request with the Moldovan government on behalf of Philip Morris International to request the company be given a voice in discussions around new tobacco regulations. Read more
Lower Tobacco Excise Tax in Thailand
Thailand’s Finance Ministry is planning to propose cutting the tobacco excise tax by 25% to lessen the impact on farmers. Read more
BAT’s Twisp Takeover Approved
South Africa’s Competition Tribunal has approved British American Tobacco’s proposed takeover of e-cigarette maker Twisp. Read more
Altria Increases Cigarette Volume in Q2
Altria Group Inc. has seen its cigarette volume increased by 0.3% in the second quarter of the year despite steady declines in smoking rates and new obstacles to the tobacco industry. Read more
ITC's Q1 Profits Jump
ITC Limited reported a 12.6% YoY profit growth to INR3,173.94 crore (US$455.59) for the quarter ended June 2019. Read more
Philip Morris Trying to Get Thai Government to Reverse Vaping Ban
Philip Morris Thailand is trying to start talks with the Thai government to find constructive methods to reduce harm caused by smoking, which includes vaping. Read more
E-Cig Regulations Coming for China
China, home to the majority of the world’s e-cigarette manufacturers, is planning to regulate e-cigarettes. Read more
Ministries Instructed to Curb Tobacco Consumption
Cambodia’s National Assembly has instructed ministries to curb smoking in public as a government official highlights a decrease in the consumption of tobacco goods. Read more
Tracking System Could Waste Billions
The Tobacco Institute of Southern Africa says a rushed new system for tracking cigarettes would see a multi-billion tender awarded to a monopoly yet may fail to curb illegal cigarette trade. Read more
Flat Cigarette Tax Approved
The cabinet has approved a flat tax on all cigarette packets and soft drinks to try to plug a gaping budget deficit. Read more
Excise Tax Hike Approved
Philippines’ Senate has approved a bill raising the excise taxes on tobacco products and imposing duties on vape products. Read more
Country is EU’s Contraband Tobacco Leader
KPMG’s “Stella Report,” commissioned by Philip Morris International, reported that Greece has the highest rate of contraband cigarettes in the European Union, costing governments €690 million in revenues last year. Read more
Tobacco and Alcohol to be Taxed 100%
Since June 15, 100% tax on tobacco, alcohol, energy drinks, and pork meat is levied in Oman. Read more
Malnutrition More Cause of Disease than Tobacco
The Physicians Association for Nutrition says malnutrition ranks ahead of tobacco, lack of exercise, and obesity in the cause of disease. Read more
Tax Hike Planned
The ministry of health and sports is planning to annually raise taxes on tobacco and tobacco-related products. Read more
Billions Lost from Tobacco Tax Discrepancies
A US Government Accountability Office report found that the federal government lost out on US$2.5-3.9 billion in revenue since 2009 by not taxing pipe tobacco products at the same higher rate of cigarettes. Read more