IQOS Smoking Room at Manila International Airport

The Ohio Supreme Court has agreed to hear Attorney General Dave Yost’s appeal seeking to revive lawsuits against three Ohio vape retailers. Lower courts dismissed the cases, finding that federal law governs whether vaping products may be marketed and sold.

British American Tobacco (BAT) Japan will introduce its first Valentine’s-season limited-edition colourway, “Rose Quartz,” for the glo Hilo heated tobacco device lineup, covering both the glo Hilo and glo Hilo Plus. The devices are priced at JPY 3,980 (about $25.2) and JPY 6,980 (about $44.1), respectively, and will go on sale via official channels from Feb. 9. BAT Japan will also launch a new glo Hilo-compatible virto tobacco stick variant, “virto Bright Cherry Click,” on Feb. 2.

In Australia’s New South Wales, a joint operation in Sydney’s southwest led to the seizure of illicit tobacco and vape products valued at over A$1.6 million (about US$1.09 million) from a warehouse in Riverwood.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has declined to grant en banc or other rehearing of its decision to stay an order that had blocked enforcement of certain Virginia e-cigarette regulations. In a brief order filed Tuesday, the court denied a rehearing petition by Nova Distro Inc. and Tobacco Hut and Vape Fairfax Inc., noting that no judge requested a poll on the petition.

ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the government would not ease its action against e-cigarettes and illicit tobacco and would continue strengthening regulation, legislation, and enforcement. Speaking at the launch of a new program to help young people quit vaping, she said reducing tobacco excise would not materially reduce profits in the illicit tobacco market.

2Firsts has noted that a nicotine toothpick product named Pixx has appeared on a UK retailer website. The product page describes it as a smoke-free nicotine product, and the packaging image shows “UK MADE.” A nicotine-industry professional wrote on LinkedIn that the UK is set to introduce vape tax changes that may increase pressure on the retail side, and said Pixx is expected not to be included in the upcoming vape tax.