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Tobacco industry funded investigation finds illicit tobacco sold in over half of shops tested in the Home Secretary’s constituency
Activity by Japan Tobacco International (JTI) as part of their ‘It Costs More Than You Think’ campaign has found that 53% of independent tobacco shops visited in Shabana Mahmood’s constituency of Birmingham Ladywood sold illicit tobacco. JTI’s campaign claims that £2 billion of Treasury revenue is lost to the illicit trade.
The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has recently announced new powers aimed at tackling criminal activity on high streets. The proposals would allow authorities to close businesses under investigation for twelve months, which is an increase from the previous maximum time period of six months. This allows enforcement agencies additional time to gather evidence and prevent shops participating in illegal activity from reopening before investigations have concluded.
Tobacco company Japan Tobacco International (JTI) have called for the government to attach fines of up to £10,000 to closure notices, that must be paid before the shop is able to reopen. These fines would then be reinvested in Trading Standards.
However, The Chief Executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, John Herriman, said the new measures are an “important first step”.
Source: GB News, 11 June 2026
Editorial note: Tobacco companies have a long track record of fuelling concerns about the illicit tobacco trade to further their lobbying efforts, undermine public health policies and maximise their profits. The industry often present themselves as partners in tackling the illicit trade to rehabilitate their public image and undermine enforcement efforts. Read more here: ASH – Illicit tobacco: facts, trends and industry tactics
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Health organisations urge ministers to maintain plans to address obesity
The Obesity Health Alliance, health charities, medical bodies and campaign groups have written an open letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, calling on the Government to continue with planned measures to introduce a new healthy food standard, including mandatory reporting, warning that any retreat from proposed reforms could weaken broader public health objectives, including the Ten Year Plan. This follows lobbying from the food industry against the measures.
The organisations are urging ministers to proceed with the consultation on mandatory reporting, which would see new requirements for large food businesses to disclose and improve the nutritional quality of their sales. It also urges the government to ignore industry lobbying to abandon plans to apply the updated nutrient profiling model. They argue that delaying or scaling back these initiatives would hinder efforts to reduce preventable illness and place additional long-term pressure on the NHS.
Katharine Jenner, Director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said that weakening these measures will not decrease the price of food, but will increase the long-term cost of preventable illness, urging ministers to “stand firm”.
Source: The Grocer, 10 June 2026
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Dutch MPs raise concerns over tobacco industry's investment in Dutch cannabis trial
Parliamentarians from several parties in the Netherlands have expressed concern after reports that Altria, formerly Philip Morris, is indirectly trying to invest into the Netherlands regulated cannabis cultivation experiment. The experiment tests a regulated supply chain for cannabis, with licensed growers supplying coffeeshops in ten participating municipalities. The concern comes from reports that Altria will soon have an influence over one of the growers, CanAdelaar, because Altria is a shareholder of the Cronos Group which is in the process of acquiring CanAdelaar.
MPs such as Lisa Vliegenthart have argued that allowing a company linked to the tobacco industry into the scheme could undermine confidence in the experiment, citing concerns about its corporate conduct and a history of “aggressive marketing” that downplays health risks.
Henri Bontenbal, the leader of the Christian Democratic Alliance party, part of the coalition currently in government, has stated that as far as he concerned, they will stop giving the tobacco industry “this leeway as soon as possible”. However, the leader of the largest coalition party D66, Jan Paternotte, stated that whilst he is “not a fan” of the tobacco company, he is more concerned about organised crime so sees no reason to intervene.
Source: NL Times, 10 June 2026
See also: Tobacco Tactics – Cannabis
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Written Answer
Asked by Emma Lewell, Labour, South Shields
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what comparative assessment his Department has made of smoking prevalence among armed forces personnel.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones, Minister for Veterans and People, Labour, North East Derbyshire
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) monitors the prevalence of smoking among Armed Forces personnel using routinely collected health data. As of April 2026, nine per cent of Service Personnel were recorded as current smokers, compared to 13 per cent in April 2024. This is broadly in line with the UK population.
The MOD provides access to smoking cessation support for Armed Forces personnel through Defence Primary Healthcare, delivered in line with national clinical guidance. Service Personnel can access in-house cessation services, including NICE-aligned support.
Defence policy aligns with UK health guidance, which recognises vaping as a potential smoking cessation aid. Support for vaping cessation is provided through primary care, including both pharmacological and behavioural approaches.
The Department continues to develop its approach, including targeted initiatives for personnel in training and updates to the Defence medical policy on tobacco and nicotine cessation.
All units are required to comply with Defence Health and Wellbeing policy, including provisions relating to designated vaping areas, with detailed requirements set out in unit standing orders. Compliance with these policies is monitored at a local level and assured through established processes.
Monitoring provides oversight of the use of illegal or non-compliant products, such as single-use vaping devices, and ensuring that appropriate plans are in place to support personnel in reducing or ceasing nicotine use.
See also: Written answer on Armed Forces: Electronic cigarettes and smoking | Written Answer on Armed Forces: Electronic Cigarettes
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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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