SEATCA

25/09/2026

is intensifying enforcement of its anti-smoking and va**ng ordinance, including inspections targeting unauthorized and per-stick cigarette sales and sellers within 100 meters of schools and other protected areas. The city also monitors online v**e sales and supports a proposed national ban on online v**e sales, following its recognition at the 2026 .

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BAGUIO CITY – The city government is intensifying the enforcement of its anti-smoking and va**ng ordinance, with cigarette sellers facing closer scrutiny as authorities seek to limit access to to***co products. Mayor Benjamin Magalong said Friday that while public awareness of the city's ban on…

24/09/2026

Think e-cigarettes are harmless? Think again.

That’s exactly what the to***co and ni****ne industry wants you to believe. Through manipulative marketing, it makes va**ng look appealing while downplaying the risks of e-cigarettes.

Indonesian Youth Ambassadors Liza and Naila are here to unmask the appeal and bust the myths around e-cigarettes and va**ng.

🚨 Don’t let the marketing fool you. Know the facts.

***co ***co ***co

24/09/2026

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) urged the Malaysian government to raise cigarette taxes in Budget 2027 to make to***co less affordable and deter young people from smoking, citing 43,360 schoolchildren identified as smokers.

CAP also said higher to***co taxes could reduce smoking, encourage quitting, and help lower the government’s RM16 billion annual spending on smoking-related diseases.

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22/09/2026

Pasig City was formally presented with the Bronze Award under the 2nd ASEAN Smoke-Free Award (ASA) 2026 during its flag-raising ceremony in Pasig, Philippines.

The Southeast Asia To***co Control Alliance (SEATCA) attended the recognition ceremony, where the city also received the Philippine Department of Health's Outstanding Smoking Cessation and To***co Control Initiative award.

The ASEAN-level award acknowledges Pasig City’s initiatives to enhance to***co control measures and promote smoke-free communities.

We hope these recognitions inspire Pasig City to continue strengthening its to***co control efforts to save lives and encourage other local governments across the region to take action toward healthier, smoke-free communities.

The second ASEAN Smoke-free Awards (ASA) took place during the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM) in Kuala Lumpur, hosted and chaired by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia. Led by the Government of Lao PDR under ASEAN Health Cluster 1, in cooperation with the Southeast Asia To***co Control Alliance (SEATCA) and the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASA recognizes sub-national smoke-free policy achievements that protect public health and advance healthier communities across ASEAN.

***coControl

22/09/2026

🇱🇦 Lao PDR moves to fully implement stronger health warnings on to***co products.

The Ministry of Health has issued a final notice requiring all to***co manufacturers and importers to comply with the country’s new standardized health warning and labeling requirements by 1 October 2026.

From this date, all to***co products sold in Lao PDR, including those in duty-free shops, must carry the new health warnings. Retailers are also advised not to stockpile products bearing the old warnings, which may be subject to enforcement action after the deadline.

SEATCA welcomes this decisive step to strengthen to***co control and protect public health. Effective implementation and enforcement will be critical to ensuring that the new warnings are applied across the market.

One deadline. One standard. Stronger protection for the people of Lao PDR.

21/09/2026

They are not just selling ni****ne products. They are also selling an image.

That’s how to***co and ni****ne companies make their products look exciting, social, and worth trying. Once you recognize the strategy behind the appeal, you can see the marketing for what it is, not what it wants you to believe.

Syara, youth ambassador from Malaysia, breaks down how youth can spot the tactics behind ni****ne marketing.

See the strategy. Question the appeal. Protect your choices.

***co ***coControl ***coKills

20/09/2026

Scientific independence cannot depend on who funds the chair.

Philip Morris funds CIRRCE at the University of Extremadura.

That is why 73 organisations and 11 professionals are calling for a clear decision: an end to to***co industry funding, greater transparency and safeguards against future conflicts of interest.

We are not questioning research. We are defending its independence.

***coIndustry

20/09/2026

Who should take responsibility for the waste to***co products leave behind?

Cigarette butts are the world’s most littered item, making to***co-related waste a significant environmental concern. Community cleanup efforts play an important role in addressing litter, but the involvement of to***co companies in sponsoring or supporting such activities raises a different question: who benefits from the association?

When to***co companies support environmental initiatives, these activities can contribute to a more favourable public perception of the industry without addressing the broader environmental impacts of to***co products.

This World Cleanup Day, the focus should extend beyond removing litter to examining how corporate sponsorship can shape perceptions of environmental responsibility.

Read the full op-ed by Anisa Ismail, SEATCA Sustainability Manager, here: https://bit.ly/World-Cleanup

***coPollution

20/09/2026

Three major studies show that, although many smokers are stubbing out the habit, people are taking it up younger.

This highlights the need to monitor overall ni****ne use rather than individual products alone.

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Researchers say their findings suggest that ni****ne addiction remains a major health concern.