IQOS Smoking Room at Manila International Airport

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has issued a notice establishing testing items and methods for harmful substances in tobacco products, including cigarettes and e-cigarettes.

China’s e-cigarette exports totaled approximately USD 10.60 billion in 2025, down 3.3% year-on-year from USD 10.96 billion in 2024, according to annual trade data released by the General Administration of Customs of China. Despite the mild decline, exports remained firmly above the USD 10 billion mark, with a clear rebound in the fourth quarter.

Mongolia’s Parliament has begun reviewing major amendments to the Tobacco Control Law, which would bring e-cigarettes and other new nicotine products under the same legal framework as traditional cigarettes. The bill also proposes a gradual increase in tobacco excise taxes through 2030 and new restrictions on flavors, marketing, and public smoking.

China’s e-cigarette industry is adjusting to a major policy shift. From April 1, 2026, China will scrap the 13% export VAT rebate on e-cigarette products, a move affecting manufacturers centered in Shenzhen. Industry participants told 2Firsts the change is forcing a reassessment of pricing and capacity, with competition shifting toward cash flow resilience, regulatory compliance, and multi-location strategies.

FDA’s launch of a web-based PMTA system signals faster reviews and, 2Firsts experts say, a possible inflection point for the U.S. e-cigarette market’s shift out of the grey zone.

Kiripost reports that authorities seized more than 2,000 electronic smoking devices and arrested two alleged distributors in Phnom Penh’s Toul Kork district, prompting health advocates to warn that inconsistent enforcement is undermining Cambodia’s crackdown on illegal e-cigarettes and shisha.