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Category: Global Regulation

  • Vietnam to Hike Tobacco Taxes Under New Law

    Vietnam to Hike Tobacco Taxes Under New Law

    Vietnam’s National Assembly passed a new law significantly raising the Special Consumption Tax on tobacco, alcohol, and beer starting January 1, 2026. The law introduces a tax roadmap for tobacco products from 2027 to 2031, adding absolute tax amounts on top of existing percentage-based taxes for the first time.

    Under the new plan:

    • Cigarettes: Tax increases by VND 2,000 ($0.08) per pack annually, reaching VND 10,000 ($0.40) per pack by 2031.
    • Cigars: Starting at VND 20,000 ($0.80) per cigar in 2027, rising to VND 100,000 ($4) per cigar in 2031.
    • Other tobacco forms (e.g., pipe or shredded tobacco): Set at VND 20,000/100g or 100ml in 2027, increasing to VND 100,000 by 2031.

    This is the first time Vietnam will implement a structured absolute tobacco tax, following the lead of other countries around the globe. Prior to this, only ad valorem taxes applied.

  • Namibia Considering Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Hikes

    Namibia Considering Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Hikes

    The Namibian government is exploring new tax reforms on tobacco and alcohol products as part of broader efforts to combat substance abuse and improve public health outcomes, Minister of Health and Social Services Esperance Luvindao announced this week. Speaking at the opening of a four-day workshop on tobacco and alcohol policy, Luvindao emphasized the growing burden of tobacco and alcohol use on the country’s healthcare system, calling for “further deterrent actions,” particularly increased taxation, to reduce consumption.

    Namibia is aligning its strategy with the World Health Organization’s MPOWER policy package, which includes raising taxes, offering cessation support, and strengthening regulations. The country enacted the Tobacco Product Control Act in 2010, with supporting regulations in 2014, and is now reviewing it to address emerging nicotine products such as vapes, e-cigarettes, and hookah.

  • 1 in 5 Dutch Stores Violated Tobacco Sales Ban

    1 in 5 Dutch Stores Violated Tobacco Sales Ban

    Nearly 21% of supermarkets and convenience stores violated the Netherlands’ tobacco and vape sales ban in its first six months, according to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Authority (NVWA). The ban, in effect since July 1, 2024, prohibits the sale of tobacco products in supermarkets, hospitality venues, and online. Smaller stores showed the lowest compliance rates.

    State Secretary Judith Tielen plans to increase fines and give NVWA stronger enforcement powers, including enhanced inspections and product seizures.

    “Every violation is one too many,” said Tielen, who also urged schools and parents to help prevent youth access to vapes. “We will, of course, do what we can to improve, but there are legal challenges and the legislative process takes a very long time.”

  • Pakistan Empowers Provincial Officials to Seize Illicit Cigarettes

    Pakistan Empowers Provincial Officials to Seize Illicit Cigarettes

    Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) authorized provincial officials—including deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, and excise officers—to raid and seize smuggled or tax-evading cigarettes at retail outlets, warehouses, and in transit. Under the order, provincial officers can now target counterfeit or untaxed cigarettes and their transport vehicles. All seized goods will be handed over to the nearest Regional Tax Office for further legal action.

    Seized cigarettes lacking valid tax stamps, or with fake ones, will be confiscated and destroyed, with seizures reported to the FBR within 48 hours using a newly developed application. The move is aimed at curbing illicit cigarette trade and ensuring compliance with excise regulations across Pakistan.

  • Minneapolis Sets $25 Minimum on Vapes in Landmark Ordinance

    Minneapolis Sets $25 Minimum on Vapes in Landmark Ordinance

    The Minneapolis City Council unanimously passed a new ordinance establishing a minimum price of $25 for all vaping devices, making it the first known law of its kind in the U.S. Approved at the council’s July 10 meeting, the law is expected to take effect soon, with Mayor Jacob Frey signaling his support.

    The new rule extends the city’s existing tobacco pricing policies and is aimed squarely at curbing youth access to “cheap disposable vapes.” The ordinance applies to any type of electronic delivery device, regardless of whether it contains e-liquid, but excludes e-liquid bottles, prefilled pods, and accessories. Retailers must now price each vape device at no less than $25 before taxes or fees, even if sold in multipacks.

    While public health advocates support the measure, local retailers may face sales losses as customers travel outside the city to avoid higher prices.

    Minneapolis already has minimum prices on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

  • FDA Embraces “Radical Transparency” by Publishing CRLs

    FDA Embraces “Radical Transparency” by Publishing CRLs

    On July 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published more than 200 decision letters, known as complete response letters (CRLs). The CRLs were issued in response to applications submitted to the FDA for approval of drugs or biological products between 2020 and 2024, marking a significant step in the Agency’s broader initiatives to modernize and increase transparency.

    By making the CRLs available, the public now has significantly greater insight into the FDA’s decision-making and the most common deficiencies cited that sponsors must address before their application is approved.

    “For far too long, drug developers have been playing a guessing game when navigating the FDA,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. “Drug developers and capital markets alike want predictability. So today we’re one step closer to delivering it to them, with an ultimate goal of bringing cures and meaningful treatments to patients faster.”

    “Because the FDA has historically refrained from publishing CRLs for pending applications, sponsors often misrepresent the rationale behind FDA’s decision to their stakeholders and the public,” the press release said. “According to a 2015 analysis conducted by FDA researchers, sponsors avoided mentioning 85% of the FDA’s concerns about safety and efficacy when announcing publicly that their application was not approved. Moreover, when FDA calls for a new clinical trial for safety or efficacy, that critical information is not disclosed approximately 40% of the time. Lessons learned from non-approvals are also not shared within the industry, leading companies to repeatedly make similar mistakes.”

    This initial batch of published decision letters associated with since-approved applications is now accessible to the public at openFDA. The Agency is in the process of publishing additional CRLs from its archives and is continuously exploring ways of providing the public with greater transparency into its decision-making process.

    On the surface, this all sounds like good news for companies that have spent years frustrated by FDA backlogs. What actually changes remains to be seen.

    “Commissioner Makary’s announcement raises questions about whether this effort is truly ‘radical transparency’ or just a repackaging of existing requirements,” Sarah Wicks and Michelle L. Butler wrote for FDA Law Blog. “The key difference may lie in timing and ease of access; despite the statutory requirement under FDAAA, action packages are often slow to appear on FDA’s website, especially following staffing disruptions at FDA.

    “It is currently unclear whether FDA intends to publish CRLs close in time to their issuance or for applications that are not subsequently approved. The prospect of publication of such CRLs would likely be of great concern to many applicants and of great interest to their competitors. Regardless, we will be watching to see how this radical transparency initiative unfolds.”

  • Makary Updates First 100 Days Leading FDA

    Makary Updates First 100 Days Leading FDA

    FDA Commissioner Marty Makary issued a statement today (July 10) to update the work that has been accomplished in his first 100 days leading the organization and create a roadmap for future objectives.

    “The FDA regulates products that account for 20% of all U.S. consumer spending, and our work impacts the lives of every American,” he said. “Over the past 100 days, we’ve launched dozens of key initiatives across the full range of the FDA’s purview to help make food healthier for children and families, accelerate meaningful cures and treatments, and modernize the agency with transparency, gold-standard science, and common sense.”

    The statement then listed dozens of bullet points highlighting the work being done, the majority of which focused on pharmaceuticals and food manufacturing. Under the heading “Administration – Gold-Standard Science & Common Sense,” Makary said the FDA was protecting American consumers by combating illegal vapes. “In collaboration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, seized nearly $34 million worth of illegal, youth-appealing e-cigarette products originating in China,” it said.

    Makary also pointed to the FDA’s implementation of AI to assist all departments in reviewing products, of particular interest to the nicotine industry that has dealt with years of little to no movement regarding vapes and alternative products.

    “Completed a successful first AI-assisted scientific review pilot, demonstrating that internal AI tools can greatly reduce the time reviewers spend on mundane tasks or non-productive busywork,” the statement said. “Launched Elsa, a generative AI tool designed to help all FDA employees – from scientific reviewers to investigators – work more efficiently. Elsa is just an initial step in the FDA’s larger plans to integrate AI into agency processes.”

    “I’m excited by what the talented FDA team have been able to achieve in 100 days by embracing gold-standard science, radical transparency, and common sense,” Makary said. “This is just the beginning. We’ll continue to introduce initiatives to modernize the agency.”

    Read the entire press release here.

  • EU Considers Tobacco Tax as New, Long-Term Revenue Stream

    EU Considers Tobacco Tax as New, Long-Term Revenue Stream

    The European Commission is exploring a potential EU-wide tobacco levy to help fund its next long-term budget, according to a German government report seen by Euractiv. The idea, still in early stages, could become a new source of “own resources” for the EU alongside member state contributions and customs duties.

    The proposal, which also mentions a possible levy on electronic waste, comes amid rising EU spending priorities such as defense. Tax Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra has been pushing for higher tobacco excise taxes, and a leaked draft suggests a potential 139% hike on cigarettes.

    While EU countries already apply tobacco taxes, the Commission may consider a separate levy that funnels revenue directly into the EU budget. However, any revision to the Tobacco Excise Tax Directive (TED) would require unanimous approval from all member states—some of which, including Greece and Romania, strongly oppose changes.

    The tobacco industry has warned such measures could backfire, fueling black market activity and reducing national revenues. An official proposal on the TED revision is expected this fall.

  • Ohio Law Banning Local Tobacco Regulation Struck Down

    Ohio Law Banning Local Tobacco Regulation Struck Down

    An Ohio appeals court ruled that state lawmakers violated the Ohio Constitution by attempting to block cities like Columbus from enacting their own regulations on tobacco product sales. In a unanimous decision, the Tenth District Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling that found the state’s efforts to preempt local control over tobacco laws unconstitutional under Ohio’s Home Rule Amendment.

    The amendment allows municipalities to govern local safety and welfare issues unless they are in direct conflict with general state law. The ruling affirms that cities can regulate tobacco sales, including banning flavored products.

    The decision comes after state lawmakers added a provision to the 2023 budget to block local tobacco regulation. Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed the move twice, but lawmakers overrode him. The City of Columbus, backed by other municipalities, sued the state, and Franklin County Judge Mark Serrott ruled in their favor — a decision now upheld by the appeals court.

  • Nigeria Regulates Portrayals of Tobacco, Rituals

    Nigeria Regulates Portrayals of Tobacco, Rituals

    Nigeria became the first African country to formally regulate the portrayal of tobacco use, money rituals, and narcotics in media content, according to a statement sent to Premium Times by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB). The announcement was made following the board’s presentation at the 2025 World Tobacco Conference held in Ireland, where the country’s new policy was praised as a bold and visionary step toward safeguarding public health and cultural values.

    The policy, which was approved and gazetted in 2024 under the leadership of the Honorable Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, targeted harmful portrayals in Nigerian films, music videos, and skits.