IQOS Smoking Room at Manila International Airport

Pakistan is experiencing a sharp rise in nicotine use among teenagers, driven by widespread availability of flavoured vapes and e-cigarettes. Cheap, sweet-flavoured devices are easily accessible in major cities, and weak enforcement of age limits has enabled young users to adopt vaping at alarming rates. Activists warn that industry marketing falsely portrays e-cigarettes as “safer,” putting youth at risk of long-term addiction and serious health effects.

South Korea’s National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee passed a long-debated amendment to the Tobacco Business Act on November 26, expanding the legal definition of tobacco to include synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes. The amendment aims to end the regulatory blind spot surrounding such products while ensuring transitional support for vape retailers and a grace period for compliance.

Ireland’s Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, will seek Cabinet approval today for the publication of the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill 2025, which proposes banning the retail sale of single-use or disposable vapes six months after becoming law. The measure aims to address the growing use of disposable vapes, particularly among young people, and close regulatory gaps around emerging nicotine products such as pouches.

Michael R. Bloomberg donated $1.5M to back Denver’s flavored-tobacco ban ahead of a Nov. 4 referendum, which vape retailers oppose.

JTI has announced plans to build a new factory in Ștefăneștii de Jos to replace its current Bucharest site, which faces space constraints. The project is expected to be completed in 2027, with ground works starting soon. The company highlighted ongoing efforts to expand capacity and modernize its Romanian operations.

China’s e-cigarette exports reached USD 1.098 billion in October 2025, rising 24.8% month-on-month and 23.7% year-on-year, according to the latest data released by the General Administration of Customs of China. Export concentration increased to 83.11%, with the U.S. market contributing the largest share of monthly growth.