IQOS Smoking Room at Manila International Airport

Nicotine pouches, promoted as flavored, smoke-free alternatives, are spreading in Uruguay despite the absence of a formal market. The Ministry of Public Health is considering banning them by decree and has raised the issue within Mercosur and at COP11. Health Minister Cristina Lustemberg warns that the industry is pushing new nicotine products to normalize consumption among youth.

South Korean convenience store chain GS25 has partnered with KT&G to launch a limited-edition heated tobacco device, the "Lil Hybrid 3.0 X GS25." A total of 48,000 units of the new device, featuring the GS25's signature blue, are available, targeting customers in their 20s and 30s. Each device is priced at approximately US$63 and is scheduled to be released in early October.

Australia has seized more than 600,000 illicit vapes in two months, following coordinated intelligence with overseas partners. The Australian Border Force (ABF) warns that illegal vaping products now form a multibillion-dollar black market dominated by organised crime syndicates.

The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) jointly announced the launch of the 2026 National Standardization Project for E-cigarettes. The initiative, coordinated by the National Technical Committee on Standardization of E-cigarettes, aims to enhance the industry’s regulatory framework through new standards on manufacturing, storage, distribution, and evaluation.

Amid intensified regulation and sweeping market shifts, the U.S. vaping industry is undergoing a profound transformation. In an exclusive interview with 2Firsts, AVM President Allison Boughner discusses how enforcement is reshaping brands, distribution, products, compliance, and U.S.-based manufacturing.

Singapore authorities crack down on cross-border e-cigarette smuggling syndicate, arresting 12 individuals and seizing over $43,000 worth of contraband.