IQOS Smoking Room at Manila International Airport

The Sarawak Cabinet has agreed to implement a phased ban on vape products amid growing concern over rising use among youths. Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the move demonstrates the state’s firm commitment to safeguarding young people’s health and future.

UK council data shows that two illegal vapes were seized every minute in 2025, with a total of 1.2 million illicit vapes removed from high streets. Over the past year, authorities also seized millions of illegal cigarettes and other nicotine products. Consumer surveys indicate that more than half of UK vapers believe they have unknowingly purchased illegal vaping products.

Croatian government decree provides that higher excise duties on tobacco manufactures and tobacco products take effect from January 1, 2026. Excise on e-liquid is set at €0.25 per millilitre, on heated tobacco products at €211.30 per kilogram, and on a new tobacco product at €126.90 per kilogram. The decree’s explanation says 2026 budget revenue from these excises is expected to increase by €129.1 million.

Miracle’s heated tobacco brand REJO has launched its new device REJO CUBE in Dubai. The device’s industrial design is highly similar to the ELFBAR JOINOne series, featuring a left-right magnetic structure and side-mounted screen. Positioning the Middle East as a key market, REJO is moving ahead with local team building and entity setup in the region.

The U.S. FDA has announced the agency-wide deployment of new agentic AI capabilities, providing all employees with an optional multi-step task automation tool. Building on the broad adoption of its earlier large-language-model system, Elsa, the FDA aims to use this next-generation AI workflow to accelerate product review, regulatory oversight, and internal operations, while maintaining strict human supervision and data security.

The Maldives Customs Service has confiscated the largest single shipment of vapes since the national import ban took effect in November 2024. Officials searched a sea freight shipment on December 4 and seized 10,800 vape cartridges valued at approximately MVR 2.7 million (USD 175,000).