FLER at APE

At InterTabac 2025, nicotine pouches emerged as one of the biggest highlights. Hall 6 was almost entirely taken over by pouch brands. Based on 2Firsts’ on-site observations, products commonly featured high nicotine strengths starting at 15 mg, with some reaching as high as 150 mg. Beyond nicotine pouches, exhibitors also rolled out caffeine/energy pouches, CBD pouches, and oral dissolvable films, while heavily emphasizing “Made in Sweden” as a market credential. Multiple OEM providers showcased

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his backing to a nationwide sales ban on vapes during a visit to Samara and stressed that “it’s not only such a decision that is important, but also the corresponding work among youth.”

The Irish government announced a complete ban on disposable e-cigarettes through new legislation. The legislation will require e-cigarette products to adopt the same packaging standards as cigarettes, including standardized colors, images, and flavor descriptions. In-store advertising will also be prohibited, except in specialty stores. This move aims to strengthen regulation and reduce youth exposure to e-cigarettes. The Ministry of Finance also plans to implement a €0.50 per milliliter tax on

Over 30 Lithuanian schools have installed smart vape detectors to curb rising teen e-cigarette use. WHO data show Lithuania ranks worst among 44 countries, with 60% of 15-year-olds having tried vaping. The system alerts staff to smoke and noise changes, helping schools reduce on-campus vaping cases.

Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) reported net sales of DKK 2.4 billion for Q3 2025, in line with last year. EBITDA before special items reached DKK 519 million with a 22.0% margin. Handmade Cigars and Next Generation Products saw organic growth, while Machine-Rolled Cigars and Smoking Tobacco declined. The company narrowed its full-year guidance.

Belarus will increase excise taxes in 2026 on vapes, liquids for electronic smoking systems, and non-tobacco nicotine products, with a proposed 20% rise aimed at aligning these rates with traditional cigarettes. Electronic smoking devices and heated tobacco systems will also be added to the list of excisable goods. Excise taxes on filtered cigarettes and heated tobacco will rise by 7% and 3% respectively.