HEADLINE

Bangkok Port Customs on April 28 announced the seizure of 52,000 complete e-cigarettes, 100 gallons of e-liquid and 126,226 canisters of nitrous oxide, with total economic damage exceeding THB 27 million, or about USD 831,178 based on an April 28 USD/THB rate of 32.484. The e-cigarette and e-liquid shipment was valued at THB 5.56 million, or about USD 171,161, while the nitrous oxide shipment was valued at THB 21.27 million, or about USD 654,784.

Cambodian Health Minister Cheang Ra has called for the development of a tobacco control strategy for 2027–2031, with the goal of reducing tobacco use by 30% by 2030. The directive was issued during a Tobacco Product Control Committee meeting in Phnom Penh. Priority areas include reducing tobacco use, protecting the public from secondhand smoke, tackling illegal and counterfeit tobacco products, and preventing the spread of e-cigarettes.

Jinjia Shares’ 2025 annual report summary and first-quarter 2026 report show that the company recorded 2025 revenue of RMB 2.988 billion, up 4.57% year on year, while net profit attributable to shareholders turned to a loss of RMB 346 million. In the first quarter of 2026, revenue rose 58.13% year on year to RMB 1.005 billion, but attributable net profit fell 45.16% to RMB 36.5349 million. The company said both revenue and cost growth were related to the expansion of its new tobacco business.

The Shenzhen Tobacco Monopoly Bureau recently held the city’s 2026 e-cigarette regulation work conference to implement higher-level meeting requirements, review the city’s e-cigarette regulatory work in 2025 and during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, assess the current situation, and deploy the rollout of E-cigarette Regulatory System 2.0 across Shenzhen’s tobacco commercial system.

Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has registered a bill that would ban the use of tobacco products, vapes, hookahs, herbal smoking mixtures and heated tobacco devices by people under 17. The bill was introduced by People’s Deputy Georgiy Mazurashu and has already been sent to the relevant parliamentary committee. The author said one reason for the initiative is the prevalence of vaping among adolescents.

Several anti-smoking and health advocacy groups in the Philippines urged the Department of Trade and Industry to take action against tobacco companies accused of violating the Vape Regulation Act of 2022. The groups said three consecutive complaints had been filed involving nicotine pouch brand ZYN and heated tobacco product company IQOS Philippines.

Local governments across South Korea recently issued press releases saying they would intensively crack down on the use of liquid e-cigarettes in smoke-free areas. Since the revised Tobacco Business Act, passed in December last year, included liquid e-cigarettes within the definition of tobacco and took effect on April 24, local authorities had prepared to begin enforcement immediately.