News
Objections to India’s Proposed New Regulations
The Indian government’s draft changes to its tobacco-control law to ban smoking zones in hotels, restaurants, and airports, the sale of loose cigarettes, as well as increasing the minimum legal smoking age from 18 to 21 met with objections Read more
A Global T21 Update
The new year started with some new hopeful additions following the US lead in raising the legal smoke age to 21 Read more
UK Post Brexit Tobacco Packaging Updates
After exiting the European Union, the UK amended the requirements for tobacco packaging as listed in the Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. Read more
RLX Files for US$100m IPO
RLX Technology, manufacturer of RELX e-cigarette and vape products filed an initial public offering (IPO) to raise US$100 million with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Read more
Human Trials Approved for Tobacco Plant-Derived Covid-19 Vaccine
A Covid-19 vaccine developed from the tobacco plant by British American Tobacco’s US bio-tech group Kentucky BioProcessing (KBP) is now approved for human trials by the US health regulator. Read more
Indonesia Raises 2021 Taxes on Machine-Made Cigs by 12.5%
Indonesia will raise the excise tax on machine-made tobacco products by an average of 12.5% in 2021. Read more
BAT First Tobacco Company to Publish Human Rights Report
British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BAT) is the first major tobacco company to publish a so-called Human Rights Report, which is aligned with the United Nations Guiding Principles Reporting Framework. Read more
Global Nicotine Misinformation Highlighted in Documentary
Nicotine gets the blame when it comes to the debate over tobacco and health. But is nicotine really the bad guy here? Read more
TMQS: Spare Parts and (Much, Much) More
German company TMQS curates a global reputation as a reliable supplier of spare parts and refurbished second-hand machinery, but also a range of proprietary machines and upgrade kits. Read more
ITGA’s 35th Annual Meeting
The International Tobacco Growers’ Association (ITGA) held the 35th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in an online format for the first time in its history, welcoming 174 attendees from four continents and 24 countries. Read more
Further Malay Taxes on Vape/Tobacco Products
Malaysia’s finance minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, has announced an excise tax on all tobacco products and electronic/vaping products. Read more
Record-High Spending on Tobacco in S. Korea
New figures released by Statistics Korea show household expenditure on cigarettes and alcohol hit a record high this July-September, the largest figure since 2003 when the South Korean government started compiling this data. Read more
Million Sign Petition to Block Ban on Flavored Tobacco
More than a million people signed a petition to overturn California governor Gavin Newsom’s ban on flavored tobacco sales, otherwise known as SB 793. Read more
NZ First Party Proposes Tobacco Tax Drop
New Zealand’s First Party has announced that they would lower the tobacco excise tax so that cigarettes would cost no more than $20 per pack, as well as remove the excise tax on safer alternative products. Read more
North Korea Adopts Anti-smoking Measures; Steps Up Rhetoric
North Korea's state news agency highlighted the hazards of smoking last week, linking tobacco use with increased chance of getting infected with Covid-19. Read more
JT Recognized as One of Japan’s Most LGBT-friendly Companies
Japan Tobacco Inc. announced that it received a “Gold” recognition, the highest ranking in the PRIDE Index 2020, for the fifth consecutive year. The index is organized by “Work with Pride” and evaluates companies’ initiatives related to LGBT Read more
Great Wall Cigars Virtual and Live Cigar Festival
The Great Wall Cigar Factory held its sixth cigar festival on November 5-8 in Shifang which is located Sichuan province in China’s Northwest Read more
Anti-Tobacco State-of-the-Art: Indoor Smoking Bans…at Home?
A proposal to ban indoor smoking in rental apartments and condos proposed for San Francisco has many dusting off the city's moniker "Ban Francisco" Read more
BAT Highlights Flaws in EU E-Cig Review
British American Tobacco highlighted some inaccuracies in the European Commission’s recent scientific review on the health effects of e-cigarettes Read more
WT Middle East & World Vape Show 2021 Postponed
WT Middle East is now scheduled for May 24-25, 2021, while World Vape Show will take place May 24-26. Read more