Indiana vape tax to go into effect July 1

The Irish presidency of the Council of the European Union is using bilateral talks to push the bloc’s Tobacco Taxation Directive toward a political agreement in November. According to Law360, citing an EU official, Sweden is unwilling to accept a minimum excise threshold above €20 per kilogram for nicotine pouches. Council negotiations have already lowered the European Commission’s original proposal, but a May 2026 presidency compromise still set the minimum at 10% of the tax-inclusive retail price or €30 per kilogram in 2028-29, with higher levels later.

Wisconsin's electronic vaping device directory has been fully enforced for more than a year, and local vape retailers say the reduced range of eligible products has contributed to declining sales, store closures and layoffs. Johnny Vapes owner Ben Hall said he has closed four of seven locations and cut about 70% of his staff. State law bars the sale of vaping devices not listed on the Wisconsin Department of Revenue directory and allows penalties of $1,000 per day for each unlisted device sold or offered for sale. In April 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit allowed enforcement of the law to continue.

During its coverage of Altria's booth at NACS Show 2026, 2Firsts documented product displays that prompted questions about U.S. tobacco advertising warning requirements. Following public comments from a former FDA official, 2Firsts sought responses from Altria and independently consulted U.S. regulatory lawyer Azim Chowdhury. Altria maintained that its B2B communications complied with applicable laws, while Chowdhury explained that federal warning rules provide no general trade-show exemption for e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. The special report examines the broader regulatory implications.

UK-listed consumer goods group Supreme plc says it continues to expect FY27 trading to meet market expectations as the Vaping Products Duty takes effect on October 1, while maintaining a comparatively positive view of the new tax and compliance regime. Supreme has said the framework could increase compliance complexity for smaller operators and contribute to market consolidation, while its manufacturing, compliance and distribution scale may allow it to gain share. Its 88Vape brand will retain its value positioning.

The National Association of Tobacco Outlets is calling for more FDA marketing authorizations, greater transparency in the PMTA process and continued enforcement against unauthorized e-cigarettes, even as its executive director, David Spross, points to recent regulatory developments as signs of progress. At the state level, excise taxes, flavor restrictions and vapor product directories remain major issues for tobacco retailers. By August 2026, 17 states had enacted laws establishing state-managed e-cigarette directories or similar systems.

A decade-long study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific found that heated tobacco product use in Japan increased from 0.1% in 2015 to 14.9% in 2025, although growth slowed after 2018. Switching from conventional cigarettes remained an important source of HTP uptake, while the contribution from previously non-current users increased. Approximately 56% of HTP users also smoked conventional cigarettes in 2025. Separate industry data show that Japan's heated tobacco sales reached 73.4 billion units in fiscal 2025, approaching conventional cigarette sales of 78.2 billion units.