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** 6 March 2026
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** UK
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** Yorkshire health leaders share their support for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill (#1)
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** Office for Product and Safety Standards launches campaign to promote safe vaping and proper disposal (#2)
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** Tobacco industry figures discuss market trends in tobacco, vaping and nicotine products (#3)
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** International
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** Shareholders take BAT to court over North Korea sanctions disclosures (#4)
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** Republic of Ireland: Social democrats TD raises concerns over UK disposable vape ban (#5)
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** Link of the week
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** ASH Blog – Report Stage for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Day Two – steady progress and strong consensus (#7)
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** UK
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** Yorkshire health leaders share their support for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill

Public health officials across Yorkshire and the Humber have voiced strong support for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill and are calling for Parliament to pass the legislation without delay. The Association of Directors of Public Health in Yorkshire and the Humber say the measure is an important step towards reducing smoking and preventing young people from becoming addicted to tobacco products.

Health leaders highlight that Yorkshire and the Humber has the highest smoking rate in England of 12.2%. Tobacco use is linked to around 2,500 deaths each year in the region and since the Bill was introduced to Parliament, over 5,300 young people in the region have started smoking.

Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Director of Public Health for Kirklees stated that “the Tobacco and Vapes Bill is a vital opportunity to protect the next generation, close the inequality gap and ensure everyone has the chance to live a longer, healthier life.”

Source: Dewsbury Reporter, 6 March 2026
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** Office for Product and Safety Standards launches campaign to promote safe vaping and proper disposal

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has introduced a new awareness initiative aimed at encouraging responsible vaping practices and the correct disposal of vaping devices, particularly among younger people. The campaign provides educational materials designed to improve understanding of the potential risks linked to improper use and disposal.

The initiative highlights concerns about the environmental and safety hazards associated with discarding vapes incorrectly. The resources stress the importance of recycling or disposing of these products through appropriate collection points.

Materials created as part of the campaign are intended to support teachers, youth organisations and retailers in informing young people about safer behaviour around vaping products.

Source: Convenience Store, 6 March 2026

See also: OPSS – My safety: using and disposing of vapes ([link removed])
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** Tobacco industry figures discuss market trends in tobacco, vaping and nicotine products

In this article in Convenience Store, tobacco industry figures discuss market trends for tobacco and nicotine products. The Director of Commercial Operations at Philip Morris claims that “one of the clearest trends” with nicotine products is dual use, and that people who use nicotine are using more than one product type.

The market director at Japan Tobacco International UK, Lisa Anderson, cites the cost of living crisis as the reason for increased demand for “ultra value” tobacco products, citing figures that show value products are making up 20.5% of the combined tobacco market. Anderson also stated that the “next generation” nicotine pouch category is now worth £8 million a month in convenience and independent stores. Philip Morris International states that their nicotine pouch brand ZYN saw a 497% increase in sales volume from December 2023-December 2024. Additionally, the General Manager at ELFBAR Angelo Yang cited a UK survey that showed that 90% of daily adult vapers now use reusable devices.

Source: Convenience Store, 6 March 2026

Editorial note: This article has been included to provide insight into market trends and industry developments.
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** International
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** Shareholders take BAT to court over North Korea sanctions disclosures

More than 100 current and former investors have launched legal proceedings against British American Tobacco (BAT) in London, claiming the company did not properly inform the market about past activities connected to North Korea that breached United States sanctions. The case was lodged at the High Court on 27 February.

The claim argues that BAT did not adequately disclose details of its involvement in the North Korean market or the associated risks to shareholders over many years, covering the period from 2007 to 2023.

In 2023 the company agreed to pay more than $635 million to US authorities after a subsidiary admitted to taking part in a scheme that enabled tobacco products to be sold to North Korea between 2007 and 2017 and involved related banking misconduct.

The amount being claimed by investors has not been disclosed. Court records also show that another group filed a separate lawsuit against the company at the High Court on the same day, although further details about that claim have not been made public.

Source: News24, 5 March 2026

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** Republic of Ireland: Social democrats TD raises concerns over UK disposable vape ban

The Irish Government have been warned that planned legislation banning disposable vaping devices must be clearly defined to prevent manufacturers from exploiting loopholes. During a debate in the Dáil on the Public Health (Single Use Vapes) Bill, a Social Democrats TD Padraig Rice argued that Ireland should avoid adopting wording similar to the United Kingdom, citing reports from the “vaping lobby” that the industry in the UK are “getting around the definition”.

Rice referred to vapes that have a charging port attached, and stated “when you pull it out it looks like It’s rechargeable but it’s actually not and the charging port is just there for show”.

However, the Minister of State for Health defended the approach, saying the definitions were carefully developed with legal advice to ensure they capture the intended products and are consistent with existing UK rules.

The wider legislative package also includes measures to restrict access to nicotine pouches by under-18s, ban advertising, require vaping products to be kept out of sight in shops and introduce plain packaging rules that limit colours and child-appealing imagery.

Source: The Irish Times, 5 March 2026

Editorial note: The Social Democrat TD quoted in the article is mischaracterising the UK disposable vapes ban. The UK legislation requires that vapes are both rechargeable and refillable. A vape which is not rechargeable because it has a fake charging port is illegal. Any manufacturers or retailers selling these products are breaking the law, not exploiting a loophole. See guidance on the UK disposable ban here: [link removed]
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Read Here ([link removed])


** Link of the week
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** ASH Blog – Report Stage for the Tobacco and Vapes Bill: Day Two – steady progress and strong consensus

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill completed Report stage in the House of Lords on Tuesday (03/03/2026). ASH CEO Hazel Cheeseman recaps the key moments in her latest blog. The Bill will now proceed to Third reading on Monday 9th March. After this, the Bill will return to the House of Commons for consideration of any amendments before proceeding to Royal Assent where it will become law.

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For more information email [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) or visit www.ash.org.uk
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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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