Vape Market Weekly News (Feb. 22th to 28th, 2025 )

United Nations:

• On Feb. 25, 2025, WHO reports that twenty years after the FCTC came into force, global tobacco use has fallen by one-third. The WHO calls on countries to fully implement the Convention's measures, including raising tobacco taxes, implementing anti-smoking laws, and banning advertising and sponsorship, to protect people from tobacco industry strategies and address the challenges of emerging tobacco and nicotine products. Source

United States:

• On Feb. 22, 2025, Philip Morris International: Due to regulatory uncertainty in Spain, investment in new tobacco products will be suspended. PMI said that it will not launch products that may be affected until the regulatory framework is unclear, despite long-term plans for the Spanish market. Source
• On Feb. 24, 2025, according to Circana's survey data, the sales of illegally flavored disposable e-cigarettes in the United States will reach \$2.4 billion in 2024, Geek Bar Pulse has become the most popular brand, and ESCOBAR and ELFBAR have fallen out of the top 10 best-selling list in the FDA crackdown. Source
• On Feb. 24, 2025, according to Reuters, in the context of the US FDA's increased regulation, some e-cigarette companies, such as the parent companies of Elfbar, Lost Mary, and Esco Bar, are avoiding regulatory pressure by adjusting their business models or corporate structures. Source
• On Feb. 24, 2025, senators from the state of New York have introduced a bill seeking to ban the sale of flavored nicotine pouches statewide to prevent teen addiction. Philip Morris International (PMI) has warned that the proposed ban will affect smokers seeking alternatives to quit smoking. Source
• On Feb. 24, 2025, the Nebraska Legislature held hearings to discuss two bills to ban the sale of most flavored e-cigarette products and include menthol in the ban, as well as to prohibit the advertising of e-cigarette products in the state. Source
• On Feb. 24, 2025, Senate Bill 100, sponsored by Republican senators, would license all retailers who sell tobacco and vaping products and give the Kentucky Department of Alcohol Control the authority to inspect and enforce them. Source
• On Feb. 25, 2025, a big change may be coming to vape shops in Tennessee. A proposed bill in the state House of Representatives and Senate would ban all non-Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliant products. The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee approved the bill Tuesday and it will now move into the Senate Finance Ways and Means. If passed, the bill would go into effect on July 1, 2026. Source
• On Feb. 25, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its "98-06 Import Alert" list, and the nicotine pouch brand Lagom of Sweden was included. Source
• On Feb. 25, 2025, Tennessee lawmakers proposed Senate Bill 763 to impose a 10% tax on some e-cigarette products and require FDA approval before sale. E-cigarette product manufacturers are also required to register with the state and pay a \$25 per year fee to ensure that only FDA-approved products are sold. The bill also requires consumers to show proof of age when purchasing tobacco, e-cigarettes, marijuana, and smokeless nicotine products. Despite facing industry opposition, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee passed the bill 7-1. Source
• On Feb. 26, 2025, Legislators in Arkansas have proposed a ban on disposable e-cigarettes, and tests have found that the products contain excessive levels of lead and ethanol, mislabeling nicotine, and excessive levels. Source
• On Feb. 28, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose new tariffs of 10% on Chinese goods and 25% on Mexican and Canadian goods on March 4. Source

Spain:

• On Feb. 22, 2025, Spanish police seized more than 50,000 e-cigarette and nicotine products that were unregistered and without Spanish labels, and were worth more than €150,000. Source

Malaysia:

• On Feb. 23, 2025, Malaysia has more than 100 e-cigarette drug-related investigations in two years, and the deputy minister of health said that all cigarettes and e-cigarette products must be registered and labeled, and the Ministry of Health will strengthen supervision and social media monitoring. Source
• On Feb. 26, 2025, the imminent ban on the sale of e-cigarettes could further stimulate the illegal e-cigarette market, leading to an increase in illegal trade and a loss of tax revenue for the government, according to Nippon Tobacco International Malaysia. Source
• On Feb. 26, 2025, the Malaysian state of Selangor will begin enforcing the regulations on the registration and over-the-counter sale of e-cigarette products on April 1, and the regulation of product packaging and labeling on October 1 to implement the Public Health Smoking Products Control Act 2024. Source
• On Feb. 26, 2025, JTI Malaysia said it does not plan to launch e-cigarettes or vaping products until the local e-cigarette regulations are perfected, and will focus on heated tobacco product Ploom. Source

United Kingdom:

• On Feb. 23, 2025, the Daily Mail pointed out that brands such as Hayati, Pixl, SKE, Elfbar and other brands sold "2+10" e-cigarettes in the UK to circumvent the one-time ban. Critics argue that such modified products could render the ban meaningless and even potentially appealing to minors. Source
• On Feb. 26, 2025, Vape Club reported that illegal e-cigarette seizures in the UK have surged 100-fold in five years, with London and Newport becoming the hardest hit areas. Source
• On Feb. 26, 2025, data showed that the seizure of illegal e-cigarettes in the UK has surged 100 times in five years, and London and Newport have become the hardest hit areas. Source
• On Feb. 27, 2025, R&M Tornado Vape has sparked a safety warning due to illegal sales, and British police have seized a large number of "super e-cigarettes". The seized e-cigarette products, described as "super vapes," contained 30 milliliters of e-liquid, 15 times the legal limit, and contained the equivalent of 375 large cigarettes. Source
• On Feb. 27, 2025, Swedish bioceramic technology company Emplicure has launched its nicotine pouch brand, Klar, which uses bioceramic technology 'Seratek' to provide a more intense nicotine stimulation while reducing overall consumption, and is now available in the UK market through select independent retailers such as Nisa, Appleby Westward and Aquavape. Source

Philippines:

• On Feb. 24, 2025, the Philippine Internal Revenue Service plans to balance taxes on e-cigarettes with conventional cigarettes in 2025, and the current tax rate for e-cigarettes is higher than that for cigarettes, and the BIR will adjust the tax rate to maximize tax revenue, and plans to destroy seized cigarettes. Source

Thailand:

• On Feb. 24, 2025, the General Administration of the Thai National Police requires strict control of illegal e-cigarettes, joint customs to crack down on border smuggling activities, and at the same time emphasizes strict implementation of duties, thorough investigation and accountability of illegal activities, and the elimination of corruption within the police. Source
• On Feb. 24, 2025, Thailand's prime minister's adviser directed a crackdown on illegal e-cigarette sales, and a confidential report exposed a gray e-cigarette market worth more than \$150 million a year, involving rumors of bribes being accepted by border officials and police stations. Source
• On Feb. 25, 2025, Thailand's prime minister gave important instructions on the proliferation of e-cigarettes, ordering the minister of state to cooperate with relevant departments to propose and implement measures to crack down on e-cigarette shops and rectify the market within 15 days. Source
• On Feb. 26, 2025, police in Bangkok, Thailand, raided an e-cigarette warehouse and seized more than 3,000 illegal e-cigarette products. Through an undercover investigation, the police found that the suspect used social media to promote and sell these products in an attempt to circumvent supervision. Source

Russia:

• On Feb. 24, 2025, the Russian NGP market is expected to grow by 20% in 2025, mainly driven by e-liquids and reusable e-cigarette devices. However, with stricter regulation and rampant illegal markets, the industry is facing unprecedented challenges. E-cigarettes are becoming a central part of the new tobacco market in Russia. Disposable e-cigarettes account for 60%, and reusable e-cigarettes account for 40%. Source

Bulgaria:

• On Feb. 25, 2025, the Bulgarian parliament adjusted the e-cigarette ban proposal, shifting the focus to banning only disposable e-cigarette products. The European E-cigarette Industry Association has warned that this could lead to a doubling of smuggling activities. Source
• On Feb. 25, 2025, the World Vaping Alliance has condemned the Bulgarian Parliament's decision to ban e-cigarettes altogether, saying it is wrong and dangerous and could lead to an increase in smoking rates and black market trading. Source

France:

• On Feb. 25, 2025, France has introduced a one-time e-cigarette ban that prohibits the sale and distribution of e-cigarette devices that are prefilled with e-liquid and cannot be refilled, which does not include cartridges. Source

Ukraine:

• On Feb. 25, 2025, the Border Guard Service of Ukraine seized illegal e-cigarette products with a total value of more than \$100,000 and involved products bearing the "ELFBAR" brand logo. The goods were sold through Telegram groups and mailed to several regions of Ukraine. Source
• On Feb. 25, 2025, the State Tax Service of Ukraine will intensify its efforts to combat the circulation of illegal tobacco, and the electronic excise tax label is scheduled to be tested in March and officially implemented in January 2026. Source

Brazil:

• On Feb. 26, 2025, Brazilian tax authorities seized a car carrying a large number of e-cigarette products, worth more than \$20,000, and the seized products were suspected to bear the "OXBAR" brand logo. Source
• On Feb. 27, 2025, Brazil saw a record number of e-cigarette smuggling seizures in 2024, with a total value of \$30 million, an increase of 190% compared to 2023. Brazilian customs hired additional inspectors to step up the crackdown on e-cigarettes. Source

Singapore:

• On Feb. 26, 2025, Singapore's 2024 student e-cigarette violations rose to 2,000, and the Ministry of Health intends to strengthen punitive measures. Source

Poland:

• On Feb. 27, 2025, The Polish Senate passed an amendment bill to increase the tax burden on e-cigarettes, which will increase the tax burden on disposable e-cigarettes, reusable devices, heating devices, nicotine pouches and related products, and will gradually come into effect from April 2025. The bill will be submitted to the President for consideration. Source

Uzbekistan:

• On Feb. 27, 2025, PMI opens its second office in Central Asia in Uzbekistan with the aim of deepening ties with the Uzbek market and boosting the local economy. Source

Denmark:

• On Feb. 27, 2025, according to a report by the Danish Ministry of Health, e-cigarette use rose to 12% between 2022 and 2024, with about 136,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 29 using e-cigarettes. The Minister of Health said that new prevention plans will be rolled out to combat this trend. Source

Canada:

• On Feb. 27, 2025, Imperial Tobacco Canada has announced that it will be withdrawing from its e-cigarette business in Prince Edward Island due to a proliferation of illicit markets and complex tax policies. The company is calling on governments across Canada to take steps to combat the illegal e-cigarette market. Source