The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has announced a noteworthy decrease in the rate of underage tobacco and vape sales by retailers in 2024. According to the annual Synar Survey, a statewide assessment of retailer violation rates, the percentage of retailers selling to underage consumers dropped from 13.6% in 2023 to 11.8% in 2024. Despite this improvement, public health officials emphasize that the rate remains unacceptably high and that continued efforts are necessary to maintain the downward trend.
Read moreAcross the country, flashy and highly publicized conventions are showcasing an endless array of products that are not only illegal under federal law but also dangerous, addictive, and targeting America’s youth. At a recent expo in Miami, a dazzling display of e-cigarettes, or vapes, featured a wide range of enticing flavors, from Banana Taffy and Blueberry Milk to Gummy Rush and Tropical Gush.
Read moreR.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco (BAT), has acquired twelve pending Premarket Tobacco Product Applications (PMTAs) for synthetic nicotine disposable vaping devices from Charlie’s Holdings, Inc. The deal, finalized on April 16, 2025, was disclosed in an SEC Form 8-K filing the following day.
Read moreSouth Korea witnessed a dramatic rise in e-liquid imports last year, reaching $85.64 million – a 39.5% increase from 2023, according to customs data. This upward trend continues, with first-quarter 2025 imports already up 8.5% year-over-year. Critics argue this surge highlights a significant “regulatory blind spot” concerning synthetic nicotine.
Read moreA coalition representing 24 shopkeepers from major UK convenience groups like Premier, Londis, and Nisa has issued an urgent public appeal for talks with the government, warning the proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill could force them to “close for good.” They argue the legislation risks “suffocating the backbone of the local community” if implemented without considering its real-world impact on small businesses.
Read moreThe Maldives Ministry of Health announced Sunday (April.19) that applications are now open for mandatory new Tobacco Sales Licenses. Under a recent amendment to the Tobacco Control Act, all wholesale and retail sellers of tobacco products must secure this specific license from the ministry, in addition to existing trade licenses.
Read moreArkansas has enacted a sweeping new law regulating vaping products, becoming the 12th U.S. state to adopt a PMTA registry model. However, Act 590 (formerly Senate Bill 252), signed into law by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders on April 14, 2025, includes a highly controversial provision rarely seen in Western democracies: a ban on the personal possession of vaping products deemed non-compliant by the state.
Read moreAccording to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, state governments in Malaysia have the authority to ban the sale of vape or e-cigarettes through local councils. He explained that states are empowered by local regulations to control the sale of such devices within their jurisdictions.
Read moreA year has passed since Kazakhstan enacted a sweeping ban on the sale, manufacture, and distribution of electronic cigarettes and vaping devices on April 19, 2024. The legislation, which carries penalties ranging from fines and arrests to imprisonment and property confiscation for large-scale trafficking, aimed to curb the growing popularity of vaping, particularly among minors. However, as a “Kursiv” correspondent discovered, the ban has given rise to a thriving black market that operates under principles akin to drug trafficking, making it relatively easy to purchase these prohibited products.
Read moreThe United Arab Emirates (UAE) has given the green light to the sale of synthetic nicotine pouches, subject to sellers adhering to government-set safety standards. The decision was made with the hope that introducing smoke-free nicotine alternatives to the market would help individuals quit smoking. Smoking rates in the UAE and the Middle East remain relatively high, at 12% and 20%, respectively.
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