Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/797484
24 tobaccoasia / Issue 1, 2017 March / April By Eric Piras What's New in the Cigar World for 2017 Great Wall Cigar Legend No. 1 We're starting the Chinese year of the rooster and there is a lot of cackling in the cigar world. With major shakes from FDA regulations in the USA, TPD2 and plain packaging implementations in certain European countries, and more strin- gent measures in markets that had been relatively spared so far, our world is evolving... or is 'mutat- ing' a more appropriate word? It seems that many governments are losing common sense when it comes to regulations. In Hong Kong a recent proposal at the legislative council is to increase the current graphic health warning label covering the pack, from 50% to 85%. Associations are lobbying by defending an exemption for cigars; Thailand, UK, and other EU countries have already applied such exemption. It's already hard to miss the current health warn- ing ominously stuck onto half of each box; do we really need to make it even bigger? Uncertainty is hanging over the industry and few cigar makers are ready to launch major series or new brands until more is known about FDA requirements. But it's not all doom and gloom and we can look forward to some new products and events in Asia and elsewhere. One of the changes we're noticing is the 'femi- nization of the aficionados' world: it feels as if ladies no longer hesitate to be seen with a cigar. This is a positive move and we should all encourage it, not only because it is a new growing clientele but cer- tainly because it adds a little bit of variety (not to mention different conversation topics) to cocktail parties and evenings spent in cigar lounges. And what best start for our enumeration of new products than with Maya Selva cigars, the only female cigar maker? Maya was recently in Asia and launched her Flor de Selva Colección Aniversario No 20 in Hong Kong and Japan during consumers, press and trade parties that proved very successful. Sales of the Colección Aniversario are going strong and the Limited Edition Lancero has an impressive fan