IQOS Smoking Room at Manila International Airport

On Jan. 10, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach issued a consumer alert warning Kansans about dangerous vaping products from China marketed as “smart vapes.” The alert says these devices let children use games, social media, Bluetooth, music and more while simultaneously inhaling unregulated materials, and describes them as designed to entice teens and conceal their nature from parents.

Starting February 2026, Morocco will apply its first mandatory standard governing “smoke-free” products—covering e-cigarettes, muassel and nicotine pouches. Drafted by IMANOR, the standard introduces detailed requirements on composition, labelling, traceability and safety, and will apply to imported products. Consumer advocates say clear labelling and traceability are essential, while urging stronger public-awareness efforts and resources.

Imperial Brands said in a statement on its website that John Rishton will join the board in July 2026 and assume the role of chair in December, succeeding current chair Thérèse Esperdy, who will retire at that time.

Moldova is introducing new sanitary standards for tobacco products, e-cigarettes and related goods, with regulations adopted on January 14 aimed at protecting public health and tightening control over tobacco sales. The rules include measures to limit minors’ access to tobacco products, including via online shops, and establish procedures for notifications, reporting and market monitoring.

KT&G said its heated tobacco brand “lil” was selected as an outstanding brand in the heated tobacco category of the “2026 Korea Brand Hall of Fame,” marking its eighth straight year on the list. The awards are organized by the Industrial Policy Research Institute (IPS) and determined through a composite evaluation of customer satisfaction, brand value and market performance.

During the “Toxicological Profile” session at FDA’s Feb 10 PMTA roundtable, officials outlined the carcinogenicity tiering system and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) framework used in ENDS reviews under the APPH standard. Small manufacturers questioned database transparency, exposure assumptions, and the existence of clear compliance benchmarks. FDA reiterated toxicological risk is assessed case by case within a broader population-level determination.