Israel - sucking tobacco' illegally imported under ministries' noses...

August 15, 2007 - Sucking tobacco' illegally imported under ministries' noses By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICHA, The Jerusalem Post.. A fruit-flavored tobacco product called "Kicks," meant to be sucked for up to 30 minutes for its nicotine effect, is being imported from Sweden and sold illegally in chain stores and kiosks around Israel despite the lack of required authorizations from the Health and Trade ministries. The Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry cannot authorize the import of a food product unless the Health Ministry certifies that it is safe for consumption, and the sale of a food product in Israel without Health Ministry approval is a criminal offense. It was noted two decades ago, when former prime minister Ariel Sharon headed the Industry and Trade Ministry, he "adopted the Israeli Cancer Association's request" to bar the import of smokeless tobacco. This regulation "does not exist today, or it was removed [from the regulation books] a few months ago, and that today one can buy - in chain stores and kiosks - tobacco for sucking." The cancer association heads called on the ministers to "use the powers given to you by law and prohibit the import of sucking tobacco into Israel until it is stated categorically in the law that the product is safe for use and does not endanger health. It is important to note that today, sucking tobacco is prohibited for import and sale in all the European Union countries and permitted only in Sweden and non-EU Scandinavian countries - Norway."