2FIRSTS

The FDA has authorized 24 VELO nicotine pouches from BAT ($BTI), raising the U.S. authorized total to 67 — up 55.8%. BAT joins PMI ($PM) and Altria ($MO) in the FDA-authorized nicotine pouch category. #FDA #VELO #NicotinePouches 2firsts.com/news/fda-authori…

2Firsts Data | Virginia’s vape product directory lists 213 products from 15 manufacturers, revealing a sharp contrast between Vuse and JUUL pod systems and high-puff flavored disposables such as CrossBar 20K and Loon. Companies associated with British American Tobacco $BTI, Altria $MO, Imperial Brands $IMBBY, Japan Tobacco $JAPAY and JUUL account for 127 entries, or nearly 60% of the directory. Meanwhile, CrossBar advertises 13mL disposables offering up to 20,000 puffs, and Loon has 16 flavored disposable entries. Virginia also introduced tougher enforcement measures on October 1, 2026, including a minimum first-violation penalty of $5,000 per unlisted product. #Virginia #VapeDirectory #Vuse #JUUL #CrossBar20K #Loon #BTI #MO #IMBBY #JAPAY #VapeRegulation #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/virginia-va…

Italy’s Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) have seized approximately 4.3 million e-cigarettes and smoking accessories in enforcement operations, with 28 individuals reported to judicial authorities. The operations highlight Italy’s enforcement efforts against suspected violations involving vaping products and smoking accessories, including product distribution and regulatory compliance. #Italy #GuardiaDiFinanza #Vaping #E-Cigarettes #Enforcement #ProductSeizure #IllicitTrade #TobaccoRegulation #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/italian-fin…

Sweden is threatening to block the EU’s proposed tobacco tax overhaul, with a dispute over nicotine pouch excise duties emerging ahead of a November 9 meeting. The disagreement centers on EU-wide minimum tax rates for tobacco and newer nicotine products, including nicotine pouches. Sweden’s position could complicate negotiations on a directive that requires unanimous agreement among EU member states. #Sweden #EuropeanUnion #EU #TobaccoTax #NicotinePouches #ExciseDuty #TaxPolicy #TobaccoRegulation #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/sweden-thre…

North Carolina is tightening enforcement of its vape product directory, expanding state and local authorities’ powers to penalize businesses selling unlisted products. Violators face fines, product seizures, and possible suspension or revocation of business licenses. The measures strengthen enforcement of the state’s vape market access rules, increasing compliance risks for manufacturers, distributors and retailers. #NorthCarolina #VapeDirectory #VapeRegulation #Enforcement #RetailCompliance #MarketAccess #USVapeMarket #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/north-carol…

Black Friday Price Battle | Philip Morris International $PM is launching its fourth IQOS convenience-store discount campaign of 2026 in Japan, cutting the IQOS ILUMA i ONE to approximately $19. The promotion follows Japan Tobacco $JAPAY reducing the price of its Ploom AURA to approximately $9. The two heated tobacco brands are competing at sharply different promotional price points as Japan’s Black Friday shopping season approaches. #PM #JAPAY #IQOS #Ploom #BlackFriday #Japan #HeatedTobacco #PricingStrategy #RetailCompetition #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/pmi-launche…

Product | KUMI Scenic 50K offers both nicotine and 6-methyl nicotine (6-MN) versions, with its 6-MN products appearing on multiple U.S. state vape directories. Louisiana’s directory is particularly notable for labeling the 6-MN products with an “FDA Exemption” designation. The listings highlight how nicotine analogues are being treated under different state regulatory frameworks, while the designation should not be confused with FDA marketing authorization. #KUMI #Scenic50K #6MethylNicotine #6MN #NicotineAnalogues #FDA #VapeDirectory #Louisiana #USVapeMarket #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/product--ku…

Product | Four CrossBar 20K disposable vapes, each containing 13mL of e-liquid and advertised for up to 20,000 puffs, are listed on Pennsylvania’s ENDS product directory. The listings come amid questions about how newer high-capacity CrossBar products relate to earlier PMTA filings associated with 1.3mL devices. Inclusion in a state directory does not itself establish FDA marketing authorization. #CrossBar #CrossBar20K #Pennsylvania #VapeDirectory #PMTA #FDA #DisposableVapes #USVapeMarket #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/product--fo…

Special Report | From CrossBar 20K to KUMI’s 6-methyl nicotine products: Two different routes into U.S. state vape directories. 2Firsts examines how CrossBar’s 20,000-puff products appeared on Pennsylvania’s 163-product directory despite unresolved questions linking earlier PMTA filings to newer devices, while KUMI’s 6-methyl nicotine (6-MN) products entered state directories through a different regulatory pathway. The investigation highlights differences in state-level listing requirements and unresolved questions surrounding product eligibility and regulatory oversight. #CrossBar #KUMI #6MethylNicotine #6MN #PMTA #FDA #VapeDirectory #USRegulation #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/special-rep…

2Firsts Data | China’s vape-related exports rose 4.5% year-on-year in Q3 2026, supported by a 21.6% increase in shipments to the UK despite declining exports to the U.S. 2Firsts Data analysis of China Customs statistics reveals diverging trends in two major export markets, with UK growth helping offset weaker U.S. demand. #2FirstsData #ChinaExports #Vaping #UKMarket #USMarket #ChinaCustoms #GlobalTrade #VapeIndustry #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/chinas-vape…

Global tobacco leaf markets diverged sharply in 2026: oversupply in India, a supply gap in Malawi, and growing pressure on farmers from prices, buyer access, costs and weather. 2Firsts reviews the key shifts shaping 2027. #TobaccoLeaf #ITGA #Tobacco 2firsts.com/news/special-rep…

2Firsts obtained Sweden's original regulatory decision on ZYN labeling. The order extends beyond five inspected products, with Swedish Match disputing the disclosure requirements. #ZYN #NicotinePouches #PMI $PM 2firsts.com/news/swedish-mat…

Swedish authorities have found ZYN nicotine pouch ingredient labeling noncompliant, as Swedish Match, a subsidiary of Philip Morris International $PM, faces a potential SEK 2 million monthly penalty. The issue centers on the use of the generic term “flavorings” rather than identifying individual flavoring ingredients. The case puts ingredient disclosure and regulatory compliance under scrutiny in Sweden’s nicotine pouch market. #PM #PMI #SwedishMatch #ZYN #Sweden #NicotinePouches #IngredientDisclosure #ProductCompliance #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/sweden-find…

Special Report | How did CrossBar’s 20,000-puff vapes enter Pennsylvania’s 163-product directory alongside JUUL, NJOY ($MO) and Vuse ($BTI)? 2Firsts found four 13mL CrossBar 20K products listed, while historical PMTA records from the September 9, 2020 deadline involved 1.3mL devices—before today’s 20,000-puff products emerged. The regulatory link between earlier filings by Romo LLC and newer products associated with Blue Nine LLC remains unclear. #CrossBar #Pennsylvania #JUUL #NJOY #Vuse #PMTA #FDA #BTI #MO #CHUC #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/special-rep…

Product | @JTI_World Japan Tobacco $JAPAY has introduced three autumn limited-edition heated tobacco sticks for its Ploom platform in Japan, spanning the EVO, MEVIUS and CAMEL brands. The seasonal launches expand Ploom’s tobacco stick portfolio across three brands, reflecting JT’s continued use of limited-edition products to diversify its heated tobacco offerings in the Japanese market. #JAPAY #JapanTobacco #JT #Ploom #EVO #MEVIUS #CAMEL #HeatedTobacco #JapanMarket #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/product--jt…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (@FDA ) has appointed Jessica Zeller, a former deputy in tobacco compliance and enforcement, as director of the Office of Compliance and Enforcement at its Center for Tobacco Products (CTP)@FDATobacco . The leadership appointment comes as the FDA considers changes to its Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) framework and continues efforts to strengthen enforcement against unauthorized tobacco and nicotine products. Zeller will oversee a key office responsible for tobacco regulatory compliance and enforcement. #FDA #CTP #JessicaZeller #PMTA #TobaccoRegulation #VapeRegulation #Compliance #Enforcement #USMarket #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/fda-appoint…

Global nicotine pouch e-commerce group @HayppGroup $HAYPP is shutting down its Swedish Snusnetto platform over age-verification requirements. The closure highlights how identity verification is becoming a critical part of nicotine product e-commerce infrastructure, with implications for operating costs, compliance systems and online retail strategies. #HAYPP #HayppGroup #Snusnetto #Sweden #NicotinePouches #AgeVerification #Ecommerce #RetailCompliance #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/lobal-nicot…

Pennsylvania has listed 163 vape products eligible for sale, including Vuse products from @RAI_News Reynolds American, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco $BTI , and products from @JUULvapor UUUL Labs. Enforcement against unlisted products begins October 19, 2026. Previously pending Chinese brands such as OXBAR remain absent from the directory, while unlisted products including GEEK BAR face enforcement. The updated list highlights differences in market access among vape brands under U.S. state-level regulations. #Pennsylvania #VapeDirectory #ReynoldsAmerican #BTI #Vuse #JUUL #OXBAR #GEEKBAR #VapeRegulation #MarketAccess #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/pennsylvani…

Germany’s Bundestag has passed tobacco tax increases that would raise e-cigarette liquid duty to €0.44 per milliliter, increase taxes on heated tobacco products and push cigarette prices toward €12 per pack. The measures cover cigarettes, vaping liquids and heated tobacco products, signaling higher tax burdens across multiple nicotine categories. The legislation marks a significant development for manufacturers, retailers and consumers in one of Europe’s largest tobacco markets. #Germany #Bundestag #TobaccoTax #Vaping #HeatedTobacco #Cigarettes #ExciseTax #EuropeanMarket #2Firsts 2firsts.com/news/german-bund…