FLER at APE

The European Commission’s proposed revision to the Tobacco Tax Directive (TTD) would take effect from 2028, raising minimum excise levels, introducing—For the first time—coordinated tax rates for heated tobacco, e-liquids, and nicotine pouches, and bringing raw tobacco under the excise control system. The plan also creates a “TEDOR” mechanism to assess a uniform 15% of tobacco excise as an EU own resource, projected to add about €11 billion annually to the EU budget.

At InterTabac/InterSupply 2025 in Dortmund, ITGA gathered growers from four continents to address market trends, regulation, and sustainability. The AGM reaffirmed ITGA’s mission to secure farmers a living income and highlighted the need for grower-led advocacy to ensure fairness, transparency, and resilience in the global tobacco sector.

The Constitutional Court of Latvia upheld the 2025 vape-flavor ban as constitutional, rejecting appeals by Pro Vape and SIA MASS Industry. Judges said the restrictions serve a legitimate public-health purpose by protecting youth from nicotine addiction and that the social benefits outweigh business losses.

In 2025, Altria Group, Inc. of the United States announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Global Cooperation with South Korea's KT&G Company, aiming to find growth opportunities in the fields of modern oral nicotine products and non-nicotine products and improve the efficiency of traditional tobacco business.

Australia’s Queensland launched the 2025 Tobacco (Unlawful Trading) Amendment Bill to curb illegal tobacco/e-cig trade. The new law lets health authorities shut illegal shops (up to 3 months, extendable to 12), seize contaminated products and do undercover work. Government stresses zero tolerance (higher fines, longer closures, landlord accountability). Australian Shopping Centre Council says it benefits communities. Nov 2024–Aug 2025: Queensland seized illegal tobacco/e-cigs, issued closure ord

New Zealand’s High Alert drug harm monitoring system has issued a public High Alert warning after multiple hospitalisations linked to illicit vape pods containing the anaesthetic etomidate. Known on the street as space oil, k-pods, or eto, these vapes were first detected in January 2025. Customs has since seized additional samples, and clinics nationwide report rising cases of poisoning and hypoglycaemia.