Italian Authorities Investigate Misleading Ads by BAT and Amazon

Apr.18.2023
Italian Authorities Investigate Misleading Ads by BAT and Amazon
Italian authorities investigate misleading ads for BAT's glo hyper X2 on Amazon for potential health risks.

On April 18th, according to a report by Market Watch, the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) launched an investigation into British American Tobacco (BAT) and Amazon, citing claims that the two companies have been providing misleading information in their advertising for new heated tobacco devices.


The Italian competition watchdog announced that the advertising campaign for the glo hyper X2 product, owned by British American Tobacco, inaccurately suggested that the product is nicotine-free. The advertisement was disseminated on Amazon, and could potentially pose health risks to some consumers, particularly minors.


Currently, neither British American Tobacco nor Amazon have responded to the issue.


Further reading:


British American Tobacco responds to 2FIRSTS: Testing of disposable e-cigarettes in the UK is a valid concern.


British and American tobacco companies are suspected of initiating an anti-ban movement against electronic cigarettes in Australia. The related videos have been removed.


The IBVTA says that any harm reduction claims made by BAT should be questioned.


Legal Expert Op-Ed: BAT Cannot Serve as Enforcement Police for E-Cigarettes


BAT has launched a pop-up store called "Glo studio" in South Korea to kick off a new product experience event.


References:


Amazon and British American Tobacco are under investigation in Italy for their promotion of heated tobacco devices through advertising.


This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

EVO NXT: two days, four zones, countless opportunities
EVO NXT: two days, four zones, countless opportunities
Mar.30
Austria to Tighten Sales Rules for Nicotine Pouches and E-Liquids From April 1
Austria to Tighten Sales Rules for Nicotine Pouches and E-Liquids From April 1
Austria will introduce new sales rules for nicotine products from April 1, 2026. Under a reform of the tobacco law passed in December 2025, nicotine pouches will in future be sold only through tobacco shops, while e-liquids will be sold only through tobacco shops and licensed specialist stores. Other points of sale will no longer be permitted to sell these products.
Mar.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Azerbaijan Amends Administrative Offenses Code to Penalize E-Cigarette Violations
Azerbaijan Amends Administrative Offenses Code to Penalize E-Cigarette Violations
Azerbaijan has established fines for the import, export, production and sale of e-cigarettes. Under amendments to the Administrative Offenses Code approved by President Ilham Aliyev, using e-cigarettes in places prohibited by the law “On the Restriction of Tobacco Product Use,” including streets and other public areas, will result in a fine of 30 manat.
Mar.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai
West Virginia Governor Signs Bill Directing USD 2.9 Million From Juul Settlement to Youth Tobacco Prevention
West Virginia Governor Signs Bill Directing USD 2.9 Million From Juul Settlement to Youth Tobacco Prevention
The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network said West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey has signed House Bill 5691 into law, directing USD 2.9 million from the Juul settlement to youth tobacco prevention and programs that help people quit. The bill is a supplemental appropriation measure, and the Legislature’s bill history shows it passed the House on March 11, passed the Senate on March 13 and was sent to the governor on March 18.
Mar.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai
French Lawmakers Move to Extend Plain Packaging Rules to Vaping Product
French Lawmakers Move to Extend Plain Packaging Rules to Vaping Product
French lawmakers Nicolas Thierry and Pierre Cazenave said on April 15 that they will file a cross-party bill to extend plain packaging requirements to vaping products. Under the proposal, unit packs and outer packaging for vaping products, including those without nicotine, would become neutral and standardized in the same way cigarette packs have been since 2017.
Apr.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Can hookah go institutional? A hookah company seeking to go public makes its case with capital, technology and regulation
Can hookah go institutional? A hookah company seeking to go public makes its case with capital, technology and regulation
2Firsts explored whether hookah can evolve into a more mature and governable category by interviewing Dubai-based hookah company AIR. AIR argues that strong margins, OOKA’s closed-system model and the prospect of differentiated regulation could support that shift. The larger question is whether this is simply AIR’s capital-markets narrative, or an early sign that competition, regulation and category boundaries in hookah are beginning to change.
Apr.02