FLER at APE

France’s ban on oral nicotine pouches has triggered an immediate response in Sweden. Swedish Minister for Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa said Sweden had mobilized strongly against the ban and argued that it constitutes a clear obstacle to the free movement of goods within the EU single market. Swedish officials say the measure affects a strategically important domestic industry and conflicts with Sweden’s harm-reduction approach to public health.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released its first estimate of the illicit nicotine market, finding that about 80% of cigarettes, vapes and other nicotine products consumed in 2025 came from illegal sources, reigniting debate over tobacco taxation and enforcement policies.

FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products and NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse announced that new Wave 8 restricted-use data files from the PATH Study are now available. The files contain data collected between January 2024 and December 2024, including questionnaire data, location characteristics data, and state identifier data.

On April 22, 2026, Philip Morris International released its first-quarter 2026 results. The report showed net revenues of $10.146 billion, up 9.1% year on year; adjusted diluted EPS of $1.96, up 16.0%; and smoke-free products accounting for 43% of total net revenues. Based on first-quarter performance, the company raised its 2026 full-year adjusted diluted EPS forecast to $8.36 to $8.51, or $8.11 to $8.26 excluding currency.

AIR Limited and Cantor Equity Partners III announced that the F-4 registration statement related to their proposed business combination was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 2026. Under the arrangement first announced on Nov. 7, 2025, the combined company, AIR Global PLC, is intended to list on Nasdaq in the United States under the ticker “AIIR.”

Brazil’s National Cancer Institute, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, and other research institutions are preparing a joint letter with recommendations and guidance for studies on electronic smoking devices, including e-cigarettes, vapes, and similar products. The guidelines were discussed on April 14 and 15 at the seminar “Building a Priority Research Agenda on Electronic Smoking Devices for Brazil” in Rio de Janeiro.