Dr Domilyn C. Villarreiz 14 January 1966 – 18 August 2026 Dr Domilyn Villarreiz, or just Domz, was the smoke-free expert in the Philippines and beyond. As the first Co-chairperson of the Davao City Anti-Smoking Task Force, Domz was the driving force behind smoke-free Davao City even prior to the passage of a national tobacco […]
Latest articles
A wake-up call for the EU: is it time for a renewed policy to combat illicit tobacco trade?
By: Luk Joossens and Erin Roman The European Court of Auditors (ECA) is the European Union’s external auditor, established to perform independent and high-quality audits to improve the EU’s governance, accountability, transparency and sound financial management, thereby contributing to citizens’ trust in the EU. ECA reports can have consequences. For example, in 1994, the ECA […]
Oral Nicotine Pouches in Mexico: how marketing exploits regulatory gaps
By Ponciano-Rodriguez Guadalupe and Flores-Escalante Valentina A new generation of nicotine products is entering markets worldwide, often moving faster than the regulations intended to protect public health. Oral Nicotine Pouches (ONPs), among the newest products promoted by the tobacco industry, have especially gained popularity among young people. Commercial ONP brands report that their products may […]
How smoking makes Australians poorer – and what we can do about it
Australia’s illicit tobacco market has grown rapidly in recent years, prompting some commentators and political parties to advocate for drastic cuts to tobacco tax. In this article originally published in The Conversation, Professor Coral Gartner and Dr Ara Cho from the University of Queensland lay out what is needed to support people who experience […]
Technovation and Narrative Power: Innovation, Influence and Information Saturation in the AI Era
By Ruth Njengere Lehmann, Kris Schürch and Luciano Ruggia Over the past decade, major tobacco companies, most prominently Philip Morris International (PMI), have repositioned themselves as technology-driven actors committed to a “smoke-free future.” Central to this transformation is the promotion of heated tobacco products such as IQOS and ILUMA, framed within a broader narrative that […]
Tobacco Graphic Health Warnings in the UK – why did mouth cancer get dropped?
By David I Conway and Frances E Warner Mouth cancer is on the rise – tobacco remains the major cause and yet mouth cancer has disappeared from tobacco warnings in the United Kingdom. Mouth (oral) cancer is a devastating disease that causes untold suffering and it is on the rise. Globally, the recent GLOBOCAN data […]
Obituary: Commissioner Mary Ann F. Mendoza
By Debby Sy and Alexander de las Alas Padilla Commissioner Mary Ann F. Mendoza — the career public servant who made tobacco industry an integrity problem, not just a health issue 11 January 1950 – 14 September 2026, Manila, Philippines Commissioner Mary Ann F. Mendoza — “Comm May” to the many who worked with her […]
Japan Tobacco certified as a Healthy Company, but issues remain with Japanese system
By Tomoyasu Hirano On 9 March 2026, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) announced the names of companies certified as ‘Excellent KENKO Investment for Health (KIH) Corporations’ for the 2026 financial year. KIH is an initiative launched in 2017, developed using the ‘Healthy Company’ concept and the ‘Corporate Health Achievement Award Winners’ […]
Four Butts per Square Meter: Holding the Tobacco Industry Accountable for Waste in Indonesia
By Effie Herdi & Mouhamad Bigwanto n Indonesia, the tobacco crisis is no longer confined to a public health emergency; it has become a visible and pervasive environmental disaster. Cigarette butts are not harmless organic waste; they are made of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that takes up to a decade to decompose. As […]
Independent research refutes industry arguments on tobacco taxes and illicit trade in the Philippines
By Pia Rodrigo The Philippines has successfully raised tobacco tax rates to lower smoking prevalence and fund universal healthcare through three transformative laws passed between 2012 and 2020, establishing itself as a global leader in health tax policy. Tobacco industry lobbying and misinformation now put the Philippines at risk of reversing this progress. Recently, the […]