Welcome!

The UICMA (United International Cigar Manufacturers Association) is an independent association representing companies all over the World, dedicated to the tradition of 100% tobacco cigars. Our focus lies primarily on premium handmade cigars and authentic products that respect craftsmanship, heritage, and cultural value.

Unlike mass-produced alternatives, these cigars are not intended to attract new or young consumers, but are rooted in long-standing traditions and responsible enjoyment. UICMA seeks to give a clear and balanced voice to this segment, ensuring that its unique character is recognized and fairly treated in public policy and regulation.

The challenges we face

Premium handmade cigars are fundamentally different from other tobacco or nicotine products. They are made from 100% natural tobacco leaves, hand-rolled with care and tradition, and intended for responsible adult consumers. These cigars are not marketed to youth, are not flavored or engineered to hide their true nature, and are enjoyed in moderation in the same way as fine wine or aged spirits.

Despite this, our industry is increasingly confronted with heavy regulation that was originally designed to address the problems of mass-produced cigarettes and modern disposable nicotine products. Producers of handmade cigars are now required to register every format and packaging detail in government systems, pay significant fees, and apply plain packaging rules that erase the authentic presentation of a cultural product. In addition, Track & Trace systems, created for large-scale industrial production are imposed on small family-owned factories whose annual production is tiny by comparison.

This results in a disproportionate burden on traditional cigar makers and their importers. While multinational companies can adapt quickly, small producers are forced to absorb costs and administrative demands that threaten their very survival. Ironically, the same regulations often fail to prevent modern vaping products, brightly colored, artificially flavored, and promoted on youth-oriented platforms from reaching young consumers.

UICMA believes that genuine craftsmanship should not be treated as a threat to public health. A more balanced and fair approach is needed: one that distinguishes between heritage products enjoyed by adults and the mass-market alternatives that drive youth nicotine use. Without this distinction, centuries of tradition risk being lost, and responsible producers are punished for problems they did not create.