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Category: Around the Industry

  • Sweden Rejects EU Plan to Fund Budget with Tobacco Tax

    Sweden Rejects EU Plan to Fund Budget with Tobacco Tax

    Swedish Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson called an EU proposal to use revenue from higher tobacco taxes to help fund the bloc’s next long-term budget “completely unacceptable,” saying the proposal threatens the sale of nicotine pouches and undermines national tax sovereignty. Sweden has positioned itself as a model for tobacco harm reduction, citing a smoking rate of just 5% and a decline in smoking-related cancers.

    The proposal, referenced in a document from Germany’s International Affairs Liaison Office in Brussels and submitted to the German parliament, suggests new EU revenue sources for the 2028–2034 budget could include levies on electronic waste and tobacco. Though not yet officially confirmed by the European Commission, the idea adds to growing pressure from at least 15 EU member states to raise excise duties on tobacco products.

    Euractiv reported the European Commission is considering a 139% tax hike on cigarettes, along with steeper levies on alternative products such as e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco. Sweden now joins Italy, Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria in opposing the move, primarily to defend nicotine pouches.

    In a post on X, Svantesson said the proposal would result in “a very significant tax increase on white snus,” and that the Commission wants the tax revenue “to go to the EU and not to Sweden.” 

  • Zig-Zag Introduces Value-Priced, High-Turnover Line  

    Zig-Zag Introduces Value-Priced, High-Turnover Line  

    Zig-Zag launched itsWoods brand, a new line of premium natural leaf cigars designed to meet rising demand in the rough-cut segment. Many consumers refer to rough-cut cigars as “woods.”

    “Zig-Zag Woods features a slow-burning, all-natural leaf wrap filled with premium rough-cut tobacco, delivering a rich and smooth smoking experience,” the company said. “With bold flavor profiles and recognizable Zig-Zag branding, this line is engineered for fast sell-through and high margins.”

    The cigars will be offered in five flavors and be pre-priced at $1.39 for two sticks. They will be sold in 15-pouch cartons and 24-carton cases, “ready to hit retail shelves with high-margin potential.”

  • Canopy Growth Tags Stewart as Interim CFO

    Canopy Growth Tags Stewart as Interim CFO

    Canopy Growth Corporation appointed Tom Stewart as its Interim Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately, following the departure of Judy Hong, who served in the role since April 2022. A formal search is underway for a permanent CFO.

    Stewart, who has been with Canopy Growth since 2019 as Chief Accounting Officer, brings over two decades of financial leadership experience, including prior roles at Constellation Brands and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He is a Certified Public Accountant in New York.

  • Volunteers Pick Up 1M Cigarette Butts

    Volunteers Pick Up 1M Cigarette Butts

    On July 5, volunteers from 25 countries collected nearly 1 million cigarette butts on as part of the expanding global clean-up campaign known as “No Butts Day.” The initiative, launched in the Netherlands in 2019, aims to raise awareness of cigarette filter pollution and advocate for a global ban on plastic filters.

    In Leiden, Netherlands, local environmental group Grachtwacht hosted its fifth annual clean-up, with 30 volunteers gathering over 35,000 cigarette butts in just two hours. One volunteer reported collecting over 750 butts near a central café, while others found hun-dreds more outside Leiden University Medical Center.

    Organizers blamed the spike in litter this year on the recent heatwave and crowds drawn by the city’s annual Lakenfeesten festival.

  • Sampoerna Shows Progress in Smoke-Free Product Innovation

    Sampoerna Shows Progress in Smoke-Free Product Innovation

    PT HM Sampoerna Tbk highlighted major strides in advancing smoke-free alternatives in Indonesia during Technovation 2025, a one-day event held at the Park Hyatt Jakarta. The showcase underscored the growing trust in science- and technology-based nicotine products such as IQOS, VEEV, and ZYN, aimed at adult smokers seeking better alternatives.
    Sampoerna, along with parent company Philip Morris International, reaffirmed its commitment to responsible innovation rooted in science and to addressing public health challenges through cross-sector collaboration.

    Sampoerna President Director Ivan Cahyadi said the company’s goal is to provide adult smokers who would otherwise continue smoking with access to science-backed, smoke-free options. Since launching in 2019, Sampoerna’s smoke-free journey has included the opening of a dedicated production facility in Karawang and first regional exports in 2023.

  • PMI Moving Toward Smoke-Free Goals in Philippines

    PMI Moving Toward Smoke-Free Goals in Philippines

    PMFTC Inc., the combination of Philip Morris International and Fortune Tobacco Corporation in the Philippines, said nearly 150,000 adult Filipino users have switched to cigarette alternatives like IQOS and ZYN nicotine pouches, accounting for 42% of the company’s revenue thus far in 2025.

    PMI’s goal is to have two-thirds of its net revenue come from smoke-free products or alternatives by 2030.

    “This growth underscores our commitment to accelerating the transition away from cigarettes and toward better alternatives,” PMFTC said. “This shift underscores our commitment to accelerating the decline of cigarette consumption by offering scientifically substantiated, less harmful options compared to continued smoking.”

    Tomoko Iida, director of scientific engagement at PMI said the Philippines is still in the early stages of the company’s smoke-free vision, having only seen a slight increase in the use of smoke-free alternative products and a slight decrease in cigarette consumption. She said that consumers receiving accurate information about nicotine products will be key.

    “I really think that having the smoke-free alternative available so that the smokers can move away from cigarettes and switch to this alternative is serving the population, serving the government, and really meeting the public health goal,” she said. “Facts about nicotine, facts about smoke-free products, facts about the data or any of these things have to be accurately communicated so that the Filipino smokers have the right information and they’re able to make a better choice for themselves.”

  • VOOPOO Unveils Futuristic Argus Matrix Device

    VOOPOO Unveils Futuristic Argus Matrix Device

    ICCPP launched the VOOPOO Argus Matrix, in what the company calls the first pod device with a curved full screen and cyber-inspired design. “Blending futuristic visuals with powerful performance, the Argus Matrix features dynamic lighting, a 1350mAh battery, 30W output, and advanced leak-proof technology for up to 30 days of use,” the company said. Powered by iCOSM CODE 2.0 and compatible with all Argus Pod Family Cartridges, the device offers a customizable, high-end vaping experience that “sets a new standard in design and function.”

  • Haypp Strengthens U.S. Leadership with Legal and Regulatory Hires

    Haypp Strengthens U.S. Leadership with Legal and Regulatory Hires

    Haypp Group, the parent company of nicotine pouch retailers Nicokick.com and Northerner.com, publicized the appointments of Issa Abuaita as head of legal (U.S.), and Laura Leigh Oyler as vice president of regulatory affairs (U.S.). The move from earlier this year bolsters the company’s regulatory leadership as it expands in the U.S. market.

    Abuaita has more than a decade of legal experience, including FDA compliance and product authorization, while Oyler has more than 15 years of tobacco regulation experience from firms like PMI and Juul Labs.

    “We’re not just growing—we’re setting the bar on what a responsible and compliant nicotine pouch retailer looks like in 2025,” said Markus Lindblad, global head of legal and external affairs at Haypp Group. “Issa brings legal discipline, operational sharpness and peerless ability to decode the complex regulatory terrain, while Laura Leigh is a powerhouse in regulatory strategy, external engagement and unmatched credibility as a voice in harm reduction. Together, they enhance our ability to grow responsibly while championing adult access to modern oral nicotine alternatives. Their leadership empowers us to engage regulators, consumers, and the broader public with transparency and integrity.”

  • PMI US Launches “Invested in America” Campaign

    PMI US Launches “Invested in America” Campaign

    Philip Morris International U.S. (PMI U.S.) unveiled a new national campaign today (July 3), “Invested in America,” aimed at showcasing the company’s contributions to job creation, manufacturing growth, public health, and community development across the country. The campaign launched with full-page print ads and a digital rollout to follow, highlighting PMI U.S.’s strategic investment in America’s future and invites policymakers and the public to see the company as a partner in national progress.

    “Philip Morris International is invested in America’s future—and we have a proud story to tell,” said Stacey Kennedy, CEO of PMI U.S. “From building our advanced manufacturing facilities to contributing to progress within communities nationwide, the people of PMI U.S. are helping to write America’s next chapter.”

    The campaign centers on four key pillars:

    • Manufacturing Comeback: PMI U.S. plans to invest over $800 million in new and expanded smoke-free product facilities, generating high-paying, high-skilled jobs.
    • Advancing Public Health: The company aims to help the nation’s ~30 million adult smokers move away from cigarettes by offering FDA-authorized, smoke-free alternatives.
    • Strengthening Communities: Since 2022, PMI U.S. has donated $25 million to charitable causes and disaster recovery, including over $10 million in 2024 alone to 327 nonprofits in 35 states.
    • Purpose-Driven Performance: Backed by more than $14 billion in global investment in smoke-free innovation since 2008, PMI continues to drive both public health goals and business growth.

    “This campaign embodies our innovation and determination to reshape an entire industry and strengthen America,” Kennedy said. “In every state where we operate, we’re not just doing business—we’re creating opportunities that will define the America of tomorrow.”

  • FRE Announces Partnership with PBR Tour

    FRE Announces Partnership with PBR Tour

    FRE Nicotine Pouches (part of Turning Point Brands) announced its largest sports sponsorship to date in becoming an official, multi-year partner of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Unleash the Beast tour, the sport’s top individual series.

    “Professional bull riding delivers the most exciting eight seconds in sports, and we’re thrilled to be part of that energy through our title sponsorship of the Unleash The Beast,” said Connor Smith, VP of Marketing for FRE. “PBR’s viewership has been steadily rising, and the sport is selling out iconic venues coast to coast – that’s the kind of passionate, engaged audience that aligns perfectly with FRE’s innovative approach to nicotine. Our PBR partnership represents more than just sponsorship; it’s about connecting with fans who appreciate authenticity, seizing the moment, and pushing boundaries.”

    FRE made its rodeo debut at Kid Rock’s Rock N Rodeo and the PBR World Finals in May. At the Championship event, FRE helped launch the “FRE Challenge Button,” allowing riders to request video reviews—a first in PBR history.