HEADLINE

South Korea’s Health Ministry says amendments to the Tobacco Business Act will take effect on April 24, bringing synthetic-nicotine e-liquid vapes under the legal definition of tobacco. The shift extends cigarette-style rules to these products, including mandatory graphic warnings, sharply limited advertising channels, stricter vending-machine placement requirements, and a ban on use in smoke-free areas, with enforcement checks slated from late April.

After months of debate, Russian lawmakers have retreated from plans for a nationwide vaping ban, opting instead for a single-region pilot. The shift reflects pressure from business groups and fiscal authorities, amid warnings that sweeping prohibitions could fuel illegal trade while undermining efforts to regulate the market.

As nicotine pouches gain global traction as a lower-risk alternative to smoking, questions are emerging about their potential oral health effects. In a 2Firsts interview, Stingfree AB founder Bengt Wiberg discusses why gum irritation and oral lesions warrant closer scrutiny within the broader framework of tobacco harm reduction.

Belarus is preparing to overhaul its vaping market under tight state control — from monopolizing imports to banning online sales and restricting retail licenses. Officials say nearly 77% of the disposable e-cigarette market is supplied illegally, prompting sweeping regulatory measures that have already sparked strong pushback from consumers and vape retailers.

Charlie’s Holdings has activated its first US-based manufacturing and filling line, enabling the company’s Pachamama 25K vape series to meet Texas’ new domestic manufacturing requirements. As state-level rules tighten, the move signals a broader industry shift toward US-filled supply chains and marks an inflection point for brands historically reliant on China-based prefilled production.