Santa Cruz County Bans Sale of Filtered Cigarettes in Unincorporated Areas

Oct.12.2024
Santa Cruz County Bans Sale of Filtered Cigarettes in Unincorporated Areas
Santa Cruz County Supervisors unanimously passed a bill banning the sale of filtered cigarettes in unincorporated areas to reduce pollution.

According to Ksbw recent report, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a bill on (8th) banning the sale of filtered cigarettes in unincorporated areas of the county. The measure aims to reduce pollution caused by cigarette butts and promote human health by restricting plastic use.


Chairman of the Supervisory Committee Justin Cummings stated,


This is a significant day, built upon the work of protecting our community and establishing Santa Cruz County as a leader in the global environmental movement. While we are the first county to take this step, we will not be the last. We look forward to collaborating with local cities and other jurisdictions to collectively protect our coastline, environment, and people.


In addition, the sale of unfiltered cigarettes, cigars, loose leaf tobacco, chewing tobacco, unflavored e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products will continue to be allowed. The new regulation will take effect on January 1, 2027.


We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Latest UK ONS Data: Vaping Rate Edges Down to 9.9% in 2025, a Year After Overtaking Cigarette Smoking
Latest UK ONS Data: Vaping Rate Edges Down to 9.9% in 2025, a Year After Overtaking Cigarette Smoking
Vaping prevalence in Great Britain edged down to 9.9% in 2025 from 10.0% in 2024, with the number of adult users holding at approximately 5.4 million for a second consecutive year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). E-cigarette use had risen from 6.4% in 2020 to 10.0% in 2024, when it exceeded cigarette smoking prevalence for the first time. Cigarette smoking continued to decline to 8.7% in 2025, widening the gap to 1.2 percentage points. Daily vaping declined slightly, while usage among adults aged 25–34 increased despite falling rates in other age groups.
DATA
Oct.14
Italian Financial Police Seize 4.3 Million E-Cigarettes and Smoking Accessories; 28 Reported to Judicial Authorities Across Operations
Italian Financial Police Seize 4.3 Million E-Cigarettes and Smoking Accessories; 28 Reported to Judicial Authorities Across Operations
Italy's Guardia di Finanza announced on October 28 that officers in Latina province had seized approximately 4.3 million e-cigarettes and smoking accessories at an unauthorized warehouse in an operation involving restrictions on the possession and sale of tobacco-related products. Another 300,000 suspected counterfeit or unsafe items were confiscated during separate inspections, bringing total seizures across the operations to more than 4.6 million products. Twenty-eight people were reported to judicial authorities over suspected smuggling and counterfeiting offenses. Officials did not disclose separate vape quantities, the value of the merchandise or alleged violations associated with individual brands.
Enforcement
Oct.29
FDA Revises Import Alert 98-07 Rules, Bringing May Enforcement Priorities Into Unauthorized ENDS Detentions
FDA Revises Import Alert 98-07 Rules, Bringing May Enforcement Priorities Into Unauthorized ENDS Detentions
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has revised the rules under Import Alert 98-07 to incorporate its May 2026 enforcement-priority policy for certain electronic nicotine delivery systems marketed without premarket authorization. The alert continues to allow detention without physical examination, or DWPE, for ENDS lacking required marketing authorization, while directing field divisions to apply the May risk-based framework. When necessary, detention or refusal decisions must also undergo review by the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. Products including PACHA and Vuse Pro have already emerged as industry examples of the May policy, although enforcement discretion does not constitute FDA marketing authorization.
News
Sep.28 by 2Firsts Perspectives
BAT Adds Former Apple General Counsel Bruce Sewell to Board as Finance, Legal, Marketing and Regional Leadership Shift
BAT Adds Former Apple General Counsel Bruce Sewell to Board as Finance, Legal, Marketing and Regional Leadership Shift
British American Tobacco has appointed former Apple Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Bruce Sewell as an independent non-executive director, effective January 1, 2027. He will also join BAT's Audit and Nominations Committees. BAT Chair Luc Jobin highlighted Sewell's experience in technology, government and regulatory affairs, public-company governance and AI-company boards. Over the past 18 months, BAT has changed or announced changes to its CFO, general counsel, CMO and APMEA regional leadership, while the main board has also seen multiple changes. The appointment comes as BAT advances Horizon 2030 and its Fit2Win transformation while expanding New Categories and reshaping parts of its digital, technology and operating structure.
Business
Oct.29
Sweden Threatens EU Tobacco Tax Deal as Nicotine Pouch Duty Dispute Looms Over November 9 Meeting
Sweden Threatens EU Tobacco Tax Deal as Nicotine Pouch Duty Dispute Looms Over November 9 Meeting
Sweden is expected to oppose a European Union proposal to raise minimum tobacco excise duties, Law360 reported on October 26, 2026, citing an EU official. A provisional Council agenda dated October 23 confirms that the tobacco taxation package is scheduled for discussion at the November 9 finance ministers' meeting, where member states will seek a general approach. The proposed reforms would raise minimum taxes on conventional tobacco products and establish EU-wide excise rules for vaping liquids, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches. Sweden supports harmonising tobacco taxation rules but objects to requiring nicotine pouches to bear the same minimum tax burden as certain smoking tobacco products. As EU indirect tax legislation requires unanimous Council approval, Swedish opposition could block the proposal in its current form.
Regulations
Oct.29
PMI Expands Its Second Global and First Asian Business Services Hub in the Philippines, Serving 160 Markets and Scaling Up AI Capabilities
PMI Expands Its Second Global and First Asian Business Services Hub in the Philippines, Serving 160 Markets and Scaling Up AI Capabilities
Philip Morris International's PMI Business Solutions Philippines has expanded its global business services hub in Makati and plans to add more than 80 positions. Established in 2021 primarily to provide finance and IT support to about 20 markets, the center now employs 519 professionals delivering roughly 600 services across 160 markets. Its functions now span finance, human resources, IT, commercial operations, data analytics, supply chain and project management. PMI says the hub's next phase will focus on AI-enabled and higher-value work. The company did not disclose the size or investment cost of the expansion.
Sep.24