FLER at APE

Kentucky will issue provisional state licenses to tobacco, nicotine and vapor product retailers that applied for a license with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) before Jan. 1, 2026.

South Korea will introduce a postal-based collection system for electronic cigarette devices, allowing consumers to dispose of used devices through nationwide mailboxes or post office counters. Relevant government bodies and private partners have signed a cooperation agreement to address the lack of clear disposal standards for e-cigarette devices.

Hungary’s Continental Tobacco Group has launched its Slay nicotine pouch brand in the UK, featuring compact, pastel-toned packaging and backed by a multi-million-pound investment and retail pilot programme to build its presence in the local market.

France’s highest administrative court, the Council of State, has ruled that Article 76 of French Polynesia’s tobacco law establishing a total ban on vaping products is illegal. The provision, adopted in August and due to take effect by 2027, was successfully challenged by local importers and distributors.

USITC issues final ruling on oil vaporizing devices, components violating tariff law, with limited exclusion order and cease-and-desist orders.

In 2025, the global nicotine industry reached a critical turning point. Regulatory realignment, category shifts, capital repositioning and technological intervention unfolded in parallel, loosening old structures while new ones took shape. 2Firsts reviews nine pivotal events that reshaped the industry’s trajectory.