Oral health: Vaping inflicts damage and can lead to ‘irreversible’ problems

Iowa plans to publish its first vapor products directory on November 16, 2026, after which products not listed will be prohibited from sale or offer for sale in the state. The Department of Revenue expects to begin penalty enforcement on December 17, following an initial 21-business-day period focused on compliance education. Under House File 2677, retailers, distributors and wholesalers selling unlisted products face civil penalties of $300 per product per day, while manufacturers face $1,000 per product per day. Eligibility extends to FDA-authorized products and certain products meeting historical marketing and pending PMTA requirements. The directory program resumed after a federal appeals court vacated a preliminary injunction in July 2026.

Private antitrust litigation stemming from Altria's 2018 $12.8 billion investment for a 35% economic interest in JUUL is advancing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Direct purchasers, indirect purchasers and indirect resellers of JUUL products filed answering briefs this week seeking to preserve class certifications granted by a California federal court in February. Altria and JUUL argue that individual consumers and large distributors differ too much in purchasing terms to remain in a single direct-purchaser class, while a separate dispute concerns whether California antitrust law can apply to indirect purchasers across 27 jurisdictions. A September trial has been put on hold during the appeal.

Global tobacco leaf markets diverged sharply in 2026, with India cutting authorised FCV production amid oversupply while Malawi faced a supply shortfall. U.S. demand improved in some leaf categories, but growers in Brazil, Colombia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe faced pressure from prices, buyer access, costs and weather. With nicotine consumption patterns also shifting, 2027 will test whether supply, demand and grower profitability can move back toward balance.

Pennsylvania begins enforcing its electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) directory restrictions on October 19, 2026. The October 18 directory contained 163 product records from seven manufacturers, including Vuse, JUUL, NJOY, Logic and Naked 100. Geek Bar, RAZ and Lost Mary were absent. BAT, Altria, Japan Tobacco and JUUL collectively accounted for 112 records, or 68.7%, while Imperial Brands' blu had no listings. The directory included 15 disposable vape records, 40 bottled e-liquids and 10 products labeled 0mg, but no open-system refillable devices. Twenty-two manufacturer certifications remained under review. Four Logic models corresponding to Smoore's pending records were listed under the brand owner, while LYCO, OXBAR and Boulder/Rock had no approved directory entries.

At the 2026 NACS Show in Las Vegas, Philip Morris International (PMI) showcased its ZYN nicotine pouches, IQOS heated tobacco products and U.S. investments. A 2Firsts review of FDA records found that several ZYN products displayed at the booth were not on the agency's marketing authorization list, including certain nicotine strengths and flavors. A PMI booth representative also confirmed that IQOS is currently sold in three U.S. states, while the newer IQOS ILUMA system remains under FDA review.

Four CrossBar 20K disposable e-cigarettes appeared on Pennsylvania's 163-entry ENDS directory ahead of enforcement beginning October 19, 2026. The devices feature 13mL e-liquid reservoirs, 50mg/mL nicotine, 2,000mAh batteries and 0.9Ω mesh coils, with advertised puff counts of up to 20,000. CrossBar was the only modern high-puff disposable series among the directory's 15 disposable entries. Its packaging emphasizes New York design and Japanese-origin flavoring, while historical CrossBar records identify a registered U.S. tobacco manufacturing-related establishment. The link between the newer 13mL devices and earlier 1.3mL PMTA filings remains unconfirmed.