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British Museum ends controversial tobacco funding after government concerns
The British Museum has ended a long-running partnership with Japan Tobacco International after officials from the Department of Health warned that the arrangement risked conflicting with the UK’s commitments under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The intervention prompted officials from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to seek clarity on the scale and oversight of the funding, which had supported acquisitions, staffing and access programmes but also granted the company privileged use of museum spaces.
Public health advocates, including Professor Nick Hopkinson, chair of Action on Smoking and Health, criticised the agreement as “completely unacceptable”, saying the deal was “breaching very clear government policy”. Hopkinson argued that the sponsorship allowed the tobacco firm to attempt to bolster its public image despite the harms associated with its products.
Source: The Times, 18 November 2025
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BBC alters children’s Christmas adaptation to remove smoking imagery
The BBC’s festive version of ‘The Scarecrows’ Wedding’ has replaced a cigar-related sequence from Julia Donaldson’s original story after producers concluded it breached rules on showing smoking in programmes aimed at young viewers. The change means the villain now sparks a field fire while attempting to toast marshmallows rather than by lighting a cigar.
The adaptation team said the revision was necessary to comply with Ofcom guidance, which restricts depictions that might normalise harmful behaviour for children. Although initially reluctant, Donaldson rewrote the scene for television and said the new version works well, despite her preference for retaining the original message about the dangers of smoking.
Source: Daily Mail, 18 November 2025
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Half of UK smokers plan to quit as national smoking rate reaches record low
The 2024 Office of National Statistics survey has shown that more than half (56%) of UK smokers hope to give up within the coming year, with 24% aiming to stop within three months. The findings also show that smoking prevalence has continued to fall, reaching the lowest level since data collection began (9.1%).
Source: Scottish Grocer, 17 November 2025
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NHS waiting times remain high despite substantial investment, report finds
The Public Accounts Committee has raised concerns over the NHS’s failure to reduce waiting times, despite significant government funding. The report highlights that millions of patients still face delays of more than 18 weeks for hospital care and over six weeks for diagnostic tests, with some waiting over a year. The committee criticised the recent NHS reorganisation as costly and potentially harmful, likening it to previous mismanaged projects. The Department of Health emphasise reductions in backlogs and increased appointments, but the Kings Fund has warned that this report adds to the evidence that the “UK is lagging behind other countries’ health services in recovering from the pandemic.”
Source: The Guardian, 19 November 2025
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Institute for Government report criticises Labour for lack of planning and slow public service reform
A report from the Institute for Government has found that Labour’s efforts to improve public services have been hindered by poor planning while in opposition, leaving the government with uncoordinated policies. The report says progress has been limited across most sectors, including health and adult social care, while only children’s social services have seen notable improvement. The report highlights conflicting decisions, under-resourced local services, and extensive organisational changes that have complicated reform.
Source: The Guardian, 19 November 2025
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EU rift over tougher tobacco controls sidelines bloc at WHO meeting
Disagreement among EU governments over future tobacco restrictions has prevented the bloc from speaking with one voice at the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control gathering on measures targeting cigarettes and newer nicotine products. While most countries support tighter regulations, a group of nine countries objected to proposals involving stronger policies such as phasing out cigarette sales by generation, banning cigarette filters and tightening retail regulation. Their resistance forced the EU to abstain from the debate in Geneva.
Countries in favour of tougher action accuse the opposing camp of adopting positions favourable to industry interests. Despite the discord, advocates of stronger EU-level measures are expected to hold the advantage when the next update to the Tobacco Products Directive is negotiated.
Source: Euractiv, 19 November 2025
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Study shows even minimal smoking carries serious long-term heart risks
A major US study from John Hopkins University tracking more than 300,000 adults for nearly two decades has shown that smoking only two cigarettes a day markedly increases the likelihood of fatal illness. Researchers reported that even two cigarettes a day linked to a 60% increased risk of death from any cause compared to those who never smoked. The study also found that former smokers continue to face elevated heart risks long after stopping.
Researchers discussing the findings stressed that reducing consumption is not enough to undo the damage. They also emphasised the need to support people struggling to quit, noting that the most significant health gains occur within the first decade after cessation, though no amount of smoking is considered safe.
Source: ABC News, 18 November 2025
See also: Tasdighi E. Yao Z. Dardari Z. A. Association between cigarette smoking status, intensity, and cessation duration with long-term incidence of nine cardiovascular and mortality outcomes: The Cross-Cohort Collaboration (CCC). PLOS Medicine. November 2025. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004561
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Imperial Brands sees growth from oral nicotine products and higher cigarette prices
Imperial Brands reported a growth in profits, driven by rising demand for alternative nicotine products and increased cigarette prices. Revenues for the year ending September reached £32.2 billion, slightly down overall, but grew 4.1% after accounting for duties and currency effects. Adjusted operating profit rose to £4 billion, supported by a near 14% surge in sales of next-generation products, including oral nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes. Traditional cigarette sales fell in volume but benefitted from price increases. The company has returned £10 billion to shareholders over the past four years and initiated a £1.45 billion share buyback scheme for the 2026 financial year.
Source: The Independent, 18 November 2025
Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments. According to a new paper by the Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) and Cancer Research UK (CRUK), “next generation products” such as vapes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco account for 4% of Imperial Brands’ net revenue, compared to 96% for combustible tobacco.
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Written answers
Asked by Jim Dickson, Labour, Dartford
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to bring regulation on packaging of cigars and cigarillos in line with that for cigarettes.
Answered by Ashley Dalton MP, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, West Lancashire
As set out in the November 2024 Government response to the consultation 'Mandating quit information messages inside tobacco packs', we are considering introducing more stringent packaging requirements for all tobacco products, including cigars and cigarillos, tobacco related devices, cigarette papers, and herbal smoking products.
We ran a call for evidence on standardising packaging for all tobacco products between November 2024 and January 2025. We will publish a consultation next year on future regulations. We will listen very carefully to the views and evidence put forward by stakeholders.
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Asked by Bob Blackman MP, Conservative, Harrow East
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an estimate of the number of illegal vape imports that do not comply with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s notification and testing regime which have entered the UK market in the most recent period for which data is available.
Answered by Ashley Dalton MP, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, West Lancashire
Before a nicotine vape can be placed on the United Kingdom consumer market, producers or manufacturers must first submit a notification to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), in accordance with the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016. If the notification data is compliant, the notification will be published on the MHRA portal.
However, under the current system, there is no requirement to check a product against its notification. There is also no current testing regime for nicotine vapes – this is done on an ad hoc basis where there is concern a product does not meet regulations. Therefore, no estimate has been made.
Powers in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will enable us to establish a new registration scheme and more rigorous testing regime for tobacco, vaping and nicotine products.
Enforcement agencies continue to take action to ensure that illegal vapes do not reach consumers. In 2024/25, over one million illicit vapes were seized inland, and over 1.2 million illicit vapes were detained at ports by Trading Standards in England.
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Asked by Bob Blackman MP, Conservative, Harrow East
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the proposed pre-filled pod ban amendment in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill prevents the sale of non-compliant imported liquids to under-age users.
Answered by Ashley Dalton MP, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, West Lancashire
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill does not include any measures which would ban pre-filled vape pods, and we have no plans to amend the Bill or bring forward secondary legislation to this effect. An amendment put forward by Earl Russell that proposes to ban pre-filled pods was debated and subsequently withdrawn during the second committee session for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in the House of Lords.
The Bill will enable the introduction of a new registration scheme for all tobacco, vaping and nicotine products, which will ensure that only compliant imported e-liquids are available for sale in the United Kingdom. The Bill also ensures that all vaping products, including pre-filled pods, will fall under the same age of sale of 18 years old, and new fixed penalty notices will support Trading Standards in taking swift action in relation to underage sales.
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Asked by Bob Blackman MP, Conservative, Harrow East
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to help ensure that imported vaping liquids are subject to the same (a) safety and (b) nicotine-level testing as those produced by UK-regulated manufacturers.
Answered by Ashley Dalton MP, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Labour, West Lancashire
Powers in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill allow us to establish a new registration scheme for tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products. Under this scheme, manufacturers of vaping liquids, as well as other products, would be required to provide information verifying the product’s safety and compliance with our product rules. Alongside this, the bill provides powers to establish a more rigorous testing regime for these products. These rules will apply to products produced in the United Kingdom and those imported for sale into the UK.
There are questions on both the registration and testing of products in the recently published Call for Evidence. In this, we are seeking information on how best to implement the registration scheme, as well as elements such as testing standards. The evidence gathered will inform development of policy and a subsequent consultation.
Further information on the Call for Evidence is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/tobacco-and-vapes-evidence-to-support-legislation(opens in a new tab)
The future registration scheme will play an important part in enforcing our rules on product requirements. It will ensure consumer safety and improve retailer confidence in the products they are selling.
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
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