Germany's Association of German Cigarette Manufacturers announced at its general meeting on Thursday, 28 June, that it will discontinue its operations.

The association (“Verband der Cigarettenindustrie”) had represented an industry with an annual turnover of Euro 20 billion (USD 27.200 billion) and 9,000 workers. Its dissolution was triggered by the surprising withdrawal of Germany’s leading market player, Philip Morris, from the association on 17 May.
However, at a separate press conference on 3 July representatives from the remaining cigarette companies stressed that they are 'in intense talks' about forming a new association.