IQOS Smoking Room at Manila International Airport

Altria on December 19 confirmed that six on! PLUS nicotine pouch products had received U.S. FDA marketing authorization, ending a PMTA review lasting more than a year after the company moved ahead with launch plans before clearance.

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.

HSA officers in Singapore staked out a Bishan warehouse after a tip-off and found a Malaysian man in a site containing thousands of vaporisers and components. Checks on his phone led to a second warehouse in Ubi with large quantities of devices and parts.

Jordan has amended its 2025 Special Tax Law, introducing a package of tax reductions on heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes. Published in the Official Gazette, the changes take effect Monday morning and include a 50% cut in taxes on heated tobacco devices, as well as significant reductions on e-cigarette hardware and liquids. The move is expected to have an immediate impact on retail prices.

Thailand’s Office of the Prime Minister, led by Minister Santi Piyatat, has destroyed nearly 179,000 confiscated e-cigarettes and accessories worth 33 million baht (approx. USD 1,020,000) as part of the government’s ongoing campaign for a “Vape-Free Thai Society.”Officials said the action demonstrates Thailand’s strict enforcement of anti-vaping laws and its commitment to protecting youth and public health.

Nicotine pouches, promoted as flavored, smoke-free alternatives, are spreading in Uruguay despite the absence of a formal market. The Ministry of Public Health is considering banning them by decree and has raised the issue within Mercosur and at COP11. Health Minister Cristina Lustemberg warns that the industry is pushing new nicotine products to normalize consumption among youth.