U.S. Food and Drug Administration renewed modified risk granted orders for five IQOS products from Philip Morris Products S.A., including two IQOS system holders and chargers and three HeatSticks products. Under the renewed orders, the products may continue to be marketed with an exposure modification claim.

Namibia is moving to tighten regulation of e-cigarettes and other emerging nicotine products as part of broader tobacco control efforts. Deputy health minister Susan Ndjaleka said the government is reviewing the Tobacco Products Control Act to close regulatory gaps and address emerging tobacco products. Namibia is also working toward joining the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in order to curb the black market and protect public revenue.

Lawmakers from Romania’s USR, PSD and PNL have submitted a bill that would ban e-cigarettes, vapes and heated tobacco devices in all enclosed public spaces. The proposal would redefine “smoking” so that inhaling aerosols produced by heating or vaporizing products containing tobacco, nicotine or other substances intended for inhalation would also be considered smoking, except for medical-use products.

KT&G disclosed on April 16 that it will cancel all 10.87 million treasury shares it currently holds, with the planned cancellation amounting to about KRW 1.85 trillion,（USD 1.26 billion）. The cancellation date is scheduled for April 23.

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said on April 17 that it has additionally designated the International Characterization Research Institute as a tobacco harmful components testing body under the Act on the Management of Tobacco Harmfulness. The institute has research experience in analyzing harmful components in liquid e-cigarettes and has obtained recognition for tobacco-sector ISO 17025 requirements.

FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products and NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse announced that new Wave 8 restricted-use data files from the PATH Study are now available. The files contain data collected between January 2024 and December 2024, including questionnaire data, location characteristics data, and state identifier data.

The Australian Government and Spotify have launched the third phase of the Youth Vaping Education Campaign under the theme “Buddy Up – Make a Pact to Quit Together.” This phase shifts the focus toward peer and community support by encouraging young people to quit vaping together.

Nicokick.com said it will continue its collaboration with zone for a second year at the April 19 NASCAR race in Kansas City, appearing on Richard Childress Racing’s No. 8 Chevrolet driven by Kyle Busch. The 2026 race-weekend campaign for verified adult nicotine consumers aged 21 and older includes the exclusive launch of zone Cranberry and a limited-edition five-flavor mix pack selected by Busch.