HEADLINE

Selangor’s health department said a company was fined RM20,000(US$5,000) for supplying vape devices designed to resemble toys. Officers raided the firm’s premises near Taman Kosas in Ampang on Dec 19, 2025 after discovering it was importing and distributing toy-shaped vape devices.

British American Tobacco is facing a shareholder lawsuit in London alleging it failed to properly disclose to markets information about breaches of U.S. sanctions linked to its North Korea-related business. BAT agreed in 2023 to pay more than $635 million to U.S. authorities after a subsidiary admitted conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions by selling tobacco products to North Korea and committing bank fraud from 2007 to 2017.

BAT Japan announced it will support and sponsor the outdoor culture market “DIGGIN DEEP 2026 DAIKANYAMA,” held on March 7 and 8, 2026 at Daikanyama T-SITE, and will set up a special booth for the oral tobacco brand VELO at the venue. The booth will feature product displays and trial experiences, including the new product Velo Smooth Peppermint Medium, which went on sale on Feb. 2.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has declined to grant en banc or other rehearing of its decision to stay an order that had blocked enforcement of certain Virginia e-cigarette regulations. In a brief order filed Tuesday, the court denied a rehearing petition by Nova Distro Inc. and Tobacco Hut and Vape Fairfax Inc., noting that no judge requested a poll on the petition.

Japan Tobacco International UK (JTI UK) has unveiled a refreshed brand identity for Nordic Spirit nicotine pouches. The new packaging is now live on JTI360 and will roll out to shelves over the coming months. The updated design strengthens on-pack guidance on strength and flavour, adding slower/faster release cues and a six-dot strength system (6–17mg). Each can contains 20 pouches and includes a lid compartment for storing used pouches before disposal.

Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis has adopted, in its third reading, amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences introducing fines and confiscation for the use of e-cigarettes and their components, as well as import, export, production, wholesale and retail sales, and storage for sale.

Kazakhstan’s financial monitoring authorities said a group is suspected of illicitly distributing vaping devices in Almaty and Pavlodar Region, using Telegram as a sales channel with courier delivery. During searches, investigators seized more than 131,000 vapes valued at 711 million tenge (about $1.422 million, using 1 tenge = $0.0020).