HEADLINE

South Korea’s cigarette tax debate has resurfaced after the Ministry of Health and Welfare said tobacco price policy needed review, with a poll showing 63% of respondents support higher tobacco taxes.

AI is moving from a back-office tool to a core organizational capability in the nicotine industry. Based on JTI’s responses, this 2Firsts feature examines how AI is reshaping talent strategy, internal mobility, decision-making and human accountability as global tobacco companies compete in the shift toward new nicotine categories.

As the European Commission reviews its tobacco and advertising rules, two experts who provided written comments to 2Firsts argue that future EU policy should not overlook adult smokers’ alternatives. Dr Garrett McGovern and Dr Carmen Escrig say regulators should weigh relative risk, adult switching, flavours, consumer behaviour and scientific uncertainty alongside youth protection.

In this contributed article to 2Firsts, Mumbai-based journalist and harm reduction advocate Samrat Chowdhery examines India’s tobacco transition from the perspective of agriculture, supply chains and regulation. As noted by 2Firsts, India offers a relevant case for understanding how new nicotine technologies may affect not only consumption, trade and policy, but also tobacco farming.

As the U.S. vapor market faces FDA authorizations, import seizures and growing state-level restrictions, AVM President Allison Boughner told 2Firsts that state product registries and white-list systems are having the most immediate impact. She said distributors are placing greater weight on documentation, product origin and supply-chain transparency.