Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1541387
22 tobaccoasia Issue 6, 2025 November / December By Timothy S. Donahue Europe's next phase of tobacco and nicotine regulation is approaching quickly. At InterTabac 2025 in Dortmund on September 19, a packed audience of manufacturers, retailers, and compli- ance specialists heard one consistent warning: prepare for alignment where possible, and brace for uncertainty everywhere else. Companies, the speakers emphasized, must plan now to stay ahead of the regulatory curve. The session, titled "Navigating the TPD3, Tobacco Excise Directive and WHO FCTC COP11," brought together a heavyweight panel. Robert Sidebottom, regulatory and compliance chair at the Global Institute for Novel Nicotine (GINN) and managing director of Arcus Com- pliance, served as moderator, joined by Tim Phillips, managing director of Tamarind Intelligence; Ciprian Boboi, founder and board member of the Independent European Vape Alliance (IEVA); and Peter Schweinschwaller, president of the European Confederation of Tobacconists (CEDT). Sidebottom set the tone by outlining the agenda, starting with an "opening round" of re- marks before moving into a structured "thematic deep dive." Topics ranged from compliance and cross-border enforcement to retail realities and shifting market dynamics, capped by a rapid- fire closing round. Sidebottom urged participants to make the discussion interactive, inviting questions throughout instead of waiting until the end. Combustibles are still king Phillips outlined the commercial landscape. Drawing from a decade of market analysis that start- ed "with the last TPD," he said novel nicotine products- such as heated tobacco, vaping, and pouches– now generate over US$80 billion annually. "Put that into context," he added, "the combustible cigarette market… is worth about US$800 billion a year. So this sector… is still only 10% of that, but it is the 10% that is growing very quickly." Among these, pouches—worth "between US$7.5 and $8 billion"—remain "the smallest part… but… the fastest growing," ex- panding far beyond its Nordic origins into the UK, US, and beyond. Expert Insight: Navigating EU's TED and TPD3 Novel nicotine products such as vapes and heated tobacco are estimated to bring in over US$80 billion annually. The combustible cigarettes market is worth an estimated US$800 billion annually. "Don't regulate reduced-risk products like cigarettes." — Ciprian Boboi, (IEVA)