FLER at APE

New Zealand’s Customs Minister and Associate Health Minister Casey Costello stated that the country’s sharp decline in smoking rates is largely due to its “licensing plus regulation” approach to vaping, rather than outright bans. She noted that this model has proven more effective than Australia’s blanket prohibition policy.

Malaysia’s Health Ministry recently clarified that although foreign company Ispire has been granted a manufacturing license to produce nicotine-containing vaping devices, the license is for export purposes only and does not permit local sales. Under the 2024 Control of Smoking Products Act, all e-cigarette products must be registered with the Health Ministry before being sold in Malaysia.

Vape brand TYSON has launched the TYSON 2.0 Vape Charger, a portable power bank designed for e-cigarettes. The device features a Type-C port and an 800mAh battery, retailing for around $9. It is now available on several U.S. vaping websites.

A new product, FASTA NICOTINE POUCHES, has recently launched on U.S. vape distributor websites. Available in 6mg and 15mg nicotine strengths and six flavors, each can contains 22 pouches. Produced by UK-based REAZEN TECH LIMITED and marketed as “100% Made in Europe,” the product is currently priced at around $4.99.

BAT’s H1 2025 revenue slightly beat expectations, with full-year growth forecast at 1–2%. Velo grew to 29.7% share in key markets; U.S. revenue surged. Glo Hilo doubled conversion in Serbia, set for wider rollout. Vuse revenue down ~15% amid illicit competition, but Vuse Ultra launch may aid H2 recovery.

Before the 2025 Dubai Vape Expo, 2Firsts visited Dragon Mart to research the local market. They found Dubai's role as a transit hub is fading, with tougher competition and lower wholesale profits. Loose regulation allows both legal and illegal products. At the same time, Dubai is becoming a key place for testing and launching new vape products.