IQOS Smoking Room at Manila International Airport

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has appointed veteran executive Olesja Flores as General Manager, Global Travel Retail. Flores, who has spent more than 25 years at JTI and most recently served as General Manager for the Swiss market, will be based in Dubai and oversee the company’s global travel retail business.

The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) jointly announced the launch of the 2026 National Standardization Project for E-cigarettes. The initiative, coordinated by the National Technical Committee on Standardization of E-cigarettes, aims to enhance the industry’s regulatory framework through new standards on manufacturing, storage, distribution, and evaluation.

Uzbekistan has enacted a nationwide ban on the sale and circulation of e-cigarettes and related vape liquids, following the approval of a new law signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The legislation introduces criminal liability for violations, with penalties including fines of 300 to 500 basic calculation units (approximately US$10,300–17,200), corrective labor for up to three years, or imprisonment for up to five years.

Pakistan’s smokeless, tobacco-free nicotine pouch market has expanded rapidly in recent years, prompting major tobacco companies to accelerate local investments, with Philip Morris Pakistan Ltd. (PMPKL) set to produce ZYN at its Sahiwal facility.

A new heat-not-burn (HNB) brand, DIITO, has commenced promotional activities in the Mongolian market. The device features an integrated display panel and supports dual heating modes, "RELAX" and "RUSH." Investigations reveal that DIITO’s local promotion closely overlaps with RELX’s official distribution channels. Furthermore, the DIITO trademark is held by the UK-based REAZEN TECH LIMITED, a company that also manages the e-cigarette brand FASTA.

OXBAR has launched the MAGLINK vape on its official website, featuring a magnetic structure and a smart memory function. The website lists the device as offering 50,000 puffs, a 1500 mAh battery, and four adjustable power levels. The product has already appeared across multiple Canadian sales channels, where the stated puff count, e-liquid capacity, and other specifications differ notably from those shown on the official site.