FLER at APE

Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget includes significant tax hikes on tobacco and gaming to address a projected $1.8 billion shortfall in Michigan’s Medicaid funding, the report said. The plan calls for raising the per-pack cigarette tax from $2 to $3 and increasing the wholesale tax on other tobacco products from 32% to 57%.

SEATCA has honoured Singapore Health Minister Ong Ye Kung with its inaugural Trailblazer Award, citing Singapore’s long-standing vaping ban, stepped-up enforcement and regulatory measures, and the city-state’s role in sharing tobacco-control policy experience across ASEAN.

China’s 2026 “Two Sessions” reviewed the draft Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, which proposes implementing a health-first development strategy and strengthening the effectiveness of the Patriotic Health Campaign. Although the document does not address specific industries, this public-health governance framework provides a new policy context for observing the future regulation, product strategies, and market development of China’s tobacco and next-generation nicotine sectors.

RLX Technology Inc. announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2025. Q4 net revenue reached RMB 1.1413 billion, a 40.3% year-over-year increase, while full-year net revenue grew 44.0% to RMB 3.9589 billion.

Azerbaijan has established fines for the import, export, production and sale of e-cigarettes. Under amendments to the Administrative Offenses Code approved by President Ilham Aliyev, using e-cigarettes in places prohibited by the law “On the Restriction of Tobacco Product Use,” including streets and other public areas, will result in a fine of 30 manat.

China Tobacco International (HK) Company Limited announced its audited results for the year ended December 31, 2025. Revenue was HK$14.58 billion, profit before taxation was HK$1.28 billion, and profit attributable to owners of the Company was HK$0.98 billion, with basic and diluted EPS of HK$1.42. The Board proposed a final dividend of HK$0.33 per share; together with an interim dividend of HK$0.19 per share, the full-year dividend totaled HK$0.52 per share.