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

Police in Malaysia’s Selangor state seized illegal vape products and contraband cigarettes worth about RM12.7 million (approximately $3 million) in two enforcement operations. According to New Straits Times and The Star, the vape-related operation uncovered 131,036 boxes of vape products, 4,900 bottles of e-liquid and 25,510 vape devices, valued at about RM9.4 million. Police said preliminary investigations indicated that some illegal vape products entered Malaysia through sea shipments from China before moving through storage and distribution networks.

Philip Morris International (PMI) has launched a regional pilot of bonds by IQOS and dedicated blends tobacco sticks in Japan, introducing a new heated tobacco platform separate from the IQOS ILUMA ecosystem. The system uses Round Heat Technology with an external heating architecture, differentiating it from IQOS ILUMA’s induction-based platform. The pilot began on July 6, 2026, across three Japanese prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga and Nagasaki.

German authorities have seized dozens of pallets of illegal disposable vapes in a criminal investigation, with the products estimated to have caused at least €1.8 million in tax losses. The case has also raised concerns over cross-border supply chains linked to unauthorized nicotine products entering the European market.

JTI Philippines has expanded the Nordic Spirit nicotine pouch portfolio in the Philippines with two new variants, Dark Pop and Red Frost. Both products maintain the brand’s tobacco-free nicotine pouch positioning, with Dark Pop featuring a fizzy cola profile with citrus and sweet notes, while Red Frost combines cool mint with sweet red berry flavors. The two variants are now available through Philippine online retail channels.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government is adjusting business rates policy to support hospitality businesses while some other sectors, including vape retailers, face higher operating cost pressures. According to Streamline Feed, AJ Bell and other reports, the policy shift reflects a redistribution of business rate burdens as the government seeks to support sectors facing economic pressure. For UK vape shops, the change comes amid a broader regulatory environment shaped by the disposable vape ban, the upcoming Vaping Products Duty and increased compliance requirements.

Germany plans to raise tobacco taxes over the coming years, potentially pushing the average price of a 20-cigarette pack to about €11.78 by 2030. The proposal also covers fine-cut tobacco, cigars, pipe tobacco and e-cigarette liquids.