IQOS Smoking Room at Manila International Airport

Consultation opened on February 6, 2026 for the Public Health Amendment (Prohibited Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2026. The Bill intends to address illicit trade in tobacco, nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes, which has increased significantly across Tasmania in recent years. It proposes changes to the Public Health Act 1997 to further protect the health of Tasmanians by reducing the sale and supply of illicit tobacco, vaping and other products, and to strengthen existing tobacco control laws.

U.S.-based medical startup Qnovia Inc. reported positive results from its first-in-human clinical trial of RespiRx, an inhalable nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) device designed to support smoking cessation.

Azerbaijan is considering administrative penalties for the use, import, export, production, wholesale and retail sale, and storage for sale of e-cigarettes, including confiscation of products. The proposed amendments were discussed at a parliamentary committee meeting. The draft sets fine ranges for individuals, officials, and legal entities, and introduces a separate fine for vaping in prohibited places and public areas.

Thailand’s Disease Control Department has warned that nicotine pouches (“Snus”) are classified as tobacco products and must comply with the Tobacco Products Control Act B.E. 2560 (2017). Officials said they have received complaints about sales and promotional activities, and stressed that these products must not be displayed or promoted at points of sale.

The report says South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance (referred to as the finance ministry) will directly lead crackdowns on illegal distribution and “upward manipulation” of nicotine concentrations in liquid e-cigarettes, after cases of extremely high-strength nicotine liquids circulating at retail shops were highlighted.

A newly introduced Tennessee bill, S.B. 2086, would create a statewide tobacco product retail licensing system, move oversight to the Tennessee Alcohol Commission, and impose fees and escalating penalties. The proposal also requires all tobacco product sales to occur as in-person, over-the-counter transactions at licensed locations—effectively banning direct-to-consumer shipping of cigars and potentially restricting curbside or phone-order pickup models.