Nicotine Whispers: 2025 | Weeks 49 & 50
Alchem NicSelect™ Nicotine Whispers
Welcome to Nicotine Whispers – a biweekly news digest on global developments in nicotine and tobacco, compiled by Alchem NicSelect™ in collaboration with PharmaCompass.
Stay informed on the latest regulations, market trends, and insights shaping the NGND industry.
Weeks 49 and 50 highlights:
UK
UK Vaping and Tobacco Sales Drop by Over £1 Billion
UK sales of vaping and tobacco products fell 12.7% in a year, the steepest decline across grocery categories, driven by tighter regulation and health concerns. Cigarettes and disposable vapes saw sharp losses, while smoking cessation products gained ground.
UK
BAT Reaffirms 2025 Outlook as Velo Nicotine Pouches Gain Momentum
British American Tobacco says it remains on track for 2025, forecasting around 2% growth in revenue and adjusted operating profit as demand for new-category products strengthens. CEO Tadeu Marroco highlighted strong global growth of Velo nicotine pouches and improving momentum for Vuse in the U.S., despite ongoing challenges from illicit products.
USA
Altria CEO Billy Gifford to Retire; Sal Mancuso Named Successor
Altria has announced that CEO Billy Gifford will retire in May 2026, with current CFO Sal Mancuso appointed as his successor following the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting. The leadership transition supports Altria’s long-term strategy and its “Moving Beyond Smoking®” vision.
Mexico
Mexico Approves Nationwide Ban on E-Cigarettes and Vapes
Mexico’s Senate has passed a sweeping reform banning the production, import, sale, and advertising of e-cigarettes and vape products, with prison sentences of up to eight years for illegal sales.
Austria
Austria Plans Ban on Disposable Vapes and Tighter Nicotine Pouch Rules
Austria has launched consultations to amend its Tobacco Act, proposing a ban on disposable e-cigarettes and stricter regulation of nicotine pouches, with changes expected from July 2026.
UK
Wales Approves Generational Tobacco Ban
The Welsh Parliament has backed UK plans to ban tobacco sales for anyone born after January 1, 2009, alongside tighter vaping regulations.
Switzerland
Switzerland to Enforce New Tobacco Advertising Rules in 2027
Switzerland is set to implement stricter tobacco and nicotine advertising restrictions in early 2027. New rules include bans in print media, online age-verification, and controls on event-based advertising.
Poland
Poland Plans Ban on Flavoured Nicotine Pouches and Disposable Vapes
Poland’s government is preparing legislation to ban flavoured nicotine pouches and disposable e-cigarettes, citing youth protection and rising adolescent use. Critics warn the move could fuel black-market activity and argue that stricter enforcement of existing regulations would be more effective.
USA
FDA Launches Web-Based PMTA Forms
The FDA rolled out web versions of PMTA and SE Report forms in CTP Portal NextGen, featuring real-time validation and collaborative tools. Updated PDF forms remain available but must be used correctly from January 2, 2026.
South Korea
South Korea Classifies Synthetic Nicotine as Tobacco
South Korea’s National Assembly amended the Tobacco Business Act to include synthetic nicotine in the “tobacco” category, closing a long-standing regulatory loophole. The move is expected to raise $632 million in new tax revenue.