FLER at APE

Italy’s Competition and Market Authority (AGCM) has fined Philip Morris Italia €7 million, finding that the company’s use of “smoke-free future” and related claims in promoting products such as IQOS, VEEV and ZYN could mislead consumers.

KT&G disclosed in a regulatory filing on Friday that Capital Research and Management Company, the investment management arm of Capital Group, had acquired a 5.61% stake through purchases made on April 22 and May 4. The move places Capital Group among KT&G’s prominent foreign shareholders, alongside BlackRock, First Eagle Investment Management and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC.

2Firsts found that U.S.-facing and cross-border vape retailer Vapesourcing has created a product page for the “RELX Creator Pro 15K Disposable Vape Kit 3%,” marked as “Coming Soon.” The page lists U.S. warehouse shipping options, but does not show that the product is currently available for purchase.

The South Korean government rejected allegations that Chinese synthetic-nicotine e-liquids were linked to about 16 trillion won in tobacco tax evasion, saying China does not ban synthetic nicotine exports and the estimate is difficult to verify, while acknowledging that pre-law synthetic-nicotine inventory is effectively difficult to tax.

Geek Bar has added Meloso Max 2 to its official product lineup, further expanding its disposable vape portfolio. As the latest generation of the Meloso series, the new device introduces upgrades in endurance, device interaction and industrial design while reinforcing Geek Bar’s strategy of offering differentiated disposable products across multiple usage scenarios.

Argentina’s government has created a comprehensive regulatory framework for nicotine products, including vapes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches, through Resolution 549/2026 published in the Official Gazette. The new regulation ends the previous prohibitive framework and establishes rules to organize the market by requiring traceability, quality standards and mandatory registration for all manufacturers and retailers operating in the country.