Snus News & Other Tobacco Products: 5/9/10

Louisiana - legislature want to expand smoking ban to include casinos and bars..

May 15, 2010 - Smoking would be banned in casinos and bars under a bill approved Wednesday, May 12th by the Louisiana Senate. The Senate voted 23-12 for the measure.

The legislation next moves to the Louisiana House, where a less-stringent casino smoking bill died last week in a health committee.

Senate Bill 348 would be an expansion of Louisiana’s Smokefree Air Act under which smoking is barred in any public building, school, public places and any enclosed area within a place of employment. As of January 1, 2007, Louisiana’s workplaces and restaurants went smoke-free. Also, the state smoking law in Louisiana allows local laws that are stricter to take precedence over the State law. (Non-Smoking Laws in Louisiana. In May 2009 there was also a push to expand Louisiana's indoor smoking ban.

Bill sponsor state Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Grosse Tete, said the legislation is needed to protect the health and lives of the people who work in casinos and bars. He said every year 1,100 people die in Louisiana because of second-hand smoke.

State Sen. Butch Gautreaux, D-Morgan City: “This is a public safety issue. There’s a lot of people whose lives are put in danger because of the smoking they cannot control to be around.” He urged rejection of an amendment to include Louisiana’s three Indian casinos that operate as Indian casinos are sovereign nations. The Indian casino amendment died when 10 senators voted for it while 24 voted against.

Louisiana has a law that allows allows police to ticket drivers who are smoking in vehicles with children 12 and younger. Violators face fines of up to $150 or a minimum of 24 hours of community service.

Reference: Senate wants smoking limited by MARSHA SHULER, Advocate Capitol News Bureau, 5/13/2009.

Louisiana - some related news briefs:
Louisiana - further restrictions on smoking ban snuffed out..;
Louisiana - will smoking ban be expanded..;
Louisiana - increase in tobacco tax probably doomed..;

Read more...

Bulgaria - commission tightens smoking ban a little..

May 15, 2010 - The Bulgarian Healthcare Commission has decided to reduce the size of bars/restaurants that will be allowed to permit smoking on their whole premises. The Commission announced Thursday, May 13th that they would reduce the permitted size from 100 square meters to 50 sq.m, meaning that any bars/restaurants over the size of 50 sq.m will have to provide a separate isolate room for smokers.

This decision came after the Commission reviewed changes to the Health Act regarding smoking, before the second reading of the new bill is held in the Bulgarian Parliament. The final changes mean that there will be a full smoking ban in public places on June 1, while just 24 hours later on June 2, smoking will be allowed under certain conditions. It was also revealed that for all bars/restaurants that only work at night there will be no requirement to provide a separate room for smoking.

Background:
In May 2009 Bulgarian lawmakers (MP - members of parliament) voted to ban smoking in all public spaces from June 2010, ignoring protests from tobacco producers and the tourist industry in Europe's number two smoker. (Bulgarian lawmakers voted to ban smoking in all public places from June 2010..

On February 18, 2010 - The Members of the Parliament (MPs) from the ruling GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) party proposed the annulment of the full smoking ban that should become effective in Bulgaria on June 1, 2010. (Bulgaria - govt to weaken full smoking ban to be effective June 1, 2010..)

February 23, 2010 - Bulgaria's ruling party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) may delay until 2011 the introduction of a new smoking ban in the country, which has the second highest percentage of smokers in the European Union. The postponement in the introduction of the ban, initially set for June this year, aims to avoid hurting the tourist industry during times of crisis, according to the Finance Minister Simeon Djankov. (Bulgaria - ruling party may delay smoking ban until 2011..; Bulgaria - justifying why smoking ban won't go into effect on June 1, 2010..)

The Bulgaria's parliament started on Friday, April 16th to debate at first reading the ruling-party proposal to water down a new smoking ban in the country. (Bulgaria - parliament debates proposal to water down smoking ban..

The new Bulgarian Health Minister Anna-Maria Borisova backed parliament's decision to loosen up smoking ban in public places in Bulgaria. A majority of 85 Bulgarian MPs (members of parliament) voted Wednesday, April 28th in favor of the motion to ease ban on smoking in all indoor public places (53 MPs were against the proposal while 5 abstained from voting). (Bulgaria - to loosen smoking ban to start June 1, 2010..)

Reference: Bulgaria Health Commission Tightens Smoking Ban, Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency), 5/13/2010.

Bulgaria - related news briefs:
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac buyer may be chosen by end of year..;
Bulgaria - prime minister not happy with giving tobacco growers subsidies..;
Bulgaria - to loosen smoking ban to start June 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - finance minister comments may be good news for tobacco farmers..;
Bulgaria - parliament debates proposal to water down smoking ban..;
Bulgaria - majority of all Bulgarians - 78% are against the smoking ban delay..;
Bulgaria - every increase in excise duty on cigarettes consumption goes down..;
Bulgaria - grace period over, increase in tobacco tax starts Thursday, April 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - Italian authorities arrest 2-Bulgarians smuggling cigarettes..;
Bulgaria - tractor trailer loaded with contraband cigarettes seized in Ancona, Italy..;
Bulgaria - cigarette consumption down, cigarette tax collection up, seeking funds for technology to intercept contraband goods..;
Bulgaria - justifying why smoking ban won't go into effect on June 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - Citigroup chosen as consultant for sale of Bulgartabac..;
Bulgaria - ruling party may delay smoking ban until 2011..;
Bulgaria - Finance Minister Djankov, "Less Smoking Is Good for Economy..";
Bulgaria - govt to weaken full smoking ban to be effective June 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - do producers support contraband cigarettes??;
Bulgaria - sale of Bulgartabac coming - selection of a consultant..;
Greek Farmers Renew Bulgaria Border Blockade..;
Bulgaria - leadership of tobacco fund to be replaced..;
Bulgaria - illegal trade in cigarettes will reach 40% of total trade in 2010..;
Bulgaria - limits on personal imports of tobacco products from outside the EU..;
Bulgaria - European Commission authorizes payment to tobacco producers for 2009 crop..;
Bulgaria -two cigarette smuggling attempts busted on Serbian border..;
Bulgaria - price of cigarettes increases..;
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac stays in the economy ministry, sold by middle of 2010, starting price 100,000,000 euro..;
Bulgaria - tobacco producers propose Bulgartabac transfer..;
Bulgaria - government, tobacco growers reach subsidy agreement..;
Bulgaria - start of steps leading to the privatization of the state-owned cigarette monopoly Bulgartabac..;
Bulgaria - police hold smoking protest over lack of bonuses..;
Bulgaria - police busts major cigarette contraband ring..;
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac Holding” will be privatized in 2010..;
Bulgaria - MPs Impose Hefty Fines on Cigarette Sales Violators..;
Bulgartabac Chief - cigarette tax increase as of January 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria Bulgartabac Holding Sells 23% of Shares to Mutual Funds..;
Bulgaria - more than 70% of smokers want to quit..;
Bulgaria - cigarette taxes going up each year except 2011..;
Bulgaria - chair of the economic committee in parliament disapproves of planned raise in excise duties on cigarettes..;
Bulgaria and others - smoking ban, increased cigarette taxes, smuggling..;
Bulgaria - Cigarette excise duties will be increased next year..;
Bulgaria - cigarette contraband, government loses BGN 920M yearly..;
Bulgaria - one third of the tobacco products sold are illicit..;
Bulgaria - new government to speed-up Bulgartabac sale..;
Bulgaria - Fake Victory Light cigarettes..;
Bulgaria's tobacco monopoly may be up for sale..;
Bulgarian lawmakers vote to ban smoking in all publc places from June 2010..; Bulgarian tobacco company Sofia-BT exports increase by 541 percent..;
Does Russia own Bulgaria's tobacco monopoly, Bulgartabac..;
EU percent of adults smokers -highest Greece 1 , Bulgaria 2.. - lowest Slovenia..;
Bulgaria - 1 in 3 youths smoke / half of pregnant women smoke..;
PMI training Bulgarian custom officers to stop cigarette smuggling..;
Philip Morris International (PMI) was truly happy they had been back in the Bulgarian cigarette market for a year and had already had 6.8% of market..;
WHO FCTC Protocol to Prevent Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products Won't Be Completed Until End of 2010..;
WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008..;
Bulgaria Enters 2009 with Cigarette Prices Hike...
Bulgaria is marking Tuesday, November 10, 2009, the 20th year since the internal coup at the Bulgarian Communist Party which led to the crumbling of the communist regime..
Read more...

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina - you can smoke on the beach but don't drop them..

May 15, 2010 - Although the number of indoor safe havens for smokers has shrunk drastically, one North Carolina city has refrained from creating a new no-smoking area outdoors as well.

On Thursday, May 13th the Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen declined a proposal to ban smoking on the beach. Instead, the board voted 3-2 to increase the littering fine for discarded cigarette butts from $100 to $250. The decision might seem like a "win some/lose some" outcome for smokers, but it also reflects an unfortunate aspect of some government actions: the tendency to single out socially unpopular activities.

The health risks associated with tobacco use are well known, and many beachgoers might find the smell of smoke an intolerable irritant. At the same time, do Wrightsville Beach officials have a rational basis for decreeing that, as litter, a cigarette filter qualifies as more objectionable than, say, a Styrofoam cup? Is a carelessly discarded butt 150 percent worse than a carelessly discarded bottle and therefore deserving of a fine 150 percent greater?

Or did three of the five town aldermen simply see an easy political target and proceed to kick sand in its face?

North Carolina is the leading tobacco growing and tobacco manufacturing state in the country.

Reference: You can smoke your butts on the beach, but don't drop themGaston Gazette, 5/14/2010.
Read more...

Fitch Ratings - FDA menthol review - risk to tobacco industry..

May 15, 2010 - The outcome of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) menthol review poses significant risks for tobacco companies, Fitch Ratings, an international credit rating agency reported Friday, May 14th.

The FDA is developing a report on the risks of menthol flavoring and issuing a recommendation based on its findings. Fitch said that it believes it is difficult to conclude that menthol cigarettes are more harmful than unflavored cigarettes. But the risk for tobacco companies, Fitch said, is that the FDA could give more weight to studies that find menthol cigarettes harmful based on better data collection, study methodology and other factors in those studies.

The outcome, regulations and timeline of enforcement stemming from the review are still uncertain. But Fitch said it poses "significant" risks for companies that sell menthol cigarettes.

Reference: Fitch: FDA review poses risk to tobacco industry, Yahoo Finance - Associated Press, 5/14/2010.

Fitch Ratings - some related news briefs:
Menthol cigarettes - if banned, how can this be accomplished??;
Fitch Ratings - review of events that could adversely affect the U.S. tobacco industry..;
Fitch Ratings - FDA oversight to favor big established brands..;
Fitch Ratings - U.S. cigarette sales volume declines..;
Fitch 2009 U.S. Tobacco Outlook..
Read more...

Res. Paper - demonstrates that 'safe' cigarettes are as hazardous as tobacco..

May 15, 2010 - Researchers from the New York Medical College; Valhalla, NY, demonstrate that 'safe' cigarettes are as hazardous as tobacco.

Using the same technique they developed to document the harmful effects of tobacco products, a team of researchers found that cigarettes made without tobacco or nicotine may be more carcinogenic because they actually induce more extensive DNA damage than tobacco products. The technique has been awarded U.S. patent No. 7,662,565.

PAPER: DNA damage response induced by exposure of human lung adenocarcinoma cells to smoke from tobacco- and nicotine-free cigarettes Ellen D. Jorgensen, Hong Zhao, Frank Traganos, Anthony P. Albino and Zbigniew Darzynkiewicz (darzynk@nymc.edu) Cell Cycle 9(11) - 6/1/2010, ABSTRACT..

Reference: Researchers demonstrate that 'safe' cigarettes are as hazardous as tobacco, Physorg.com, 5/12/2010.
Read more...

Spain - health minister believes society mature enough to accept total smoking ban..

May 14, 2010 - Health Minister Trinidad Jimenez said during an interview on the Cadena Ser television station that she believes Spanish society is “mature enough” to accept a total ban on smoking in all public places.

Jiménez, has said that a new, more-widespread ban on smoking in public places would be introduced by January 1 at the latest. At the beginning of 2006, Spain banned tobacco smoking in most enclosed public places but only restricted it in bars and restaurants. (Spain's anti-smoking law has no effect)

The new law would prohibit smoking in all enclosed public areas, such as bars and restaurants, though hotels would be able to reserve some of their rooms for smokers.
The government is also studying the question of smoking in outdoor public areas, such as terrace bars and sports stadiums.

There was no further word on the question of compensation for the many catering establishments that installed smoking areas with extractor fans in line with the smoking restrictions introduced four years ago. Jiménez has so far ruled out any compensation for these businesses.

More than 55,000 people die from smoking-related diseases in Spain every year. The minister calculated that 70% of the Spanish population are in favour of a total ban.

References: Spain to call time on smokers, Tobacco Reporter, 5/13/2010; Minister moots tougher smoking ban , National News, 5/14/2010.

Spain - related news briefs:
Spain - cigarette sales are up - so what else is new!!;
Spain - zero tolerence smoking ban this year or next??:
Spain - in June 2010 government will present a law to congress to ban smoking in closed public places..;
Spain - government postpones debate on tougher smoking legislation..;
Spain - smoking ban to be implemented on January 1, 2010 still being delayed..;
Spain - still some hesitation on total smoking ban for country..;
Spain - hotel and catering industry protests plan to ban smoking next year..;
Spain - hopes next year to expand ban on smoking in enclosed public places..;
Spain - impact of 2006 law banning smoking in public places..;
Spain - ready for expansion and enforcement of Anti-Smoking Act..;
Spain - ready for full smoking ban in public places..;
Spain - ban smoking public places - a lot of talk no action..;
Spain plans gruesome images on cigarette packs sometime in future...
Read more...

UAE - smokers face tighter restrictions coming September 2010..

May 14, 2010 - Dubai: United Arab Emirates (UAE - federation of seven emirates) - the anti-tobacco federal law which will strictly prohibit smoking in certain public places and make it more expensive, should be in place by September a senior official said Wednesday, May 12th.

Dr Wedad Al Maidour, head of the tobacco control team, said a meeting was held Wednesday at the Ministry of Health to chalk out the draft laws. "The first draft will be ready this month and the Minister will present it to the cabinet for approval," she said, adding that by September the law should be in full force.

The UAE, along with other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is putting forward tough legislation to help control smoking, including hiking the cost of a pack of cigarettes to double the price. Presently, a pack costs about Dh 7 (1.91 USD). Half of the pack will be covered in graphics showing the dangers of smoking and 20 per cent of the pack will have a warning.

"We are looking at Dh 14 (3.81 USD) to 15 (4.08 USD) a pack," said the doctor.

Tobacco companies are apparently unhappy over the decision that half of the package will be covered with graphics, highlighting the dangers of smoking and that 20 per cent of the pack should carry warnings. "It does not matter they are unhappy," said the doctor, noting that a significant number of adult males in the UAE are afflicted with lung cancer. "They have had to print the graphics and warning in Canada and Taiwan, why not in the GCC?" (UAE - cigarette manufactures complain cost of printing pictorial warnings too high..)

When the law comes into force, smoking will be banned in and outside educational institutions, public transport, sports venues and houses of worship. Unique to the UAE will be the prohibition of smoking in a car in the presence of children. "We are trying to protect people from second-hand smoke," she said.

Dr Hanif Hassan, Minister of Health, said after the first meeting that cooperation among social organisations was important to educate the young about the dangers of smoking. "The UAE gives great concern to health policies and works on developing them according to the requirements and demands of modern times. Such policies would definitely have a direct impact on health practices, medical standards in order to raise the health sector and provide health care quality services".

Dr Mahmoud Fikri, executive director for Health Policies at the Ministry, pointed out that tobacco consumption in the Gulf region is an economic, social and health burden. He also cited reasons as trade liberalisation, direct foreign investment and other factors such as global marketing, tobacco advertising and promotion, smuggled cigarettes for the increase of the tobacco ‘pandemic'.

Reference: Smokers face tighter restrictions Tobacco control team expects enforcement by September by Mahmood Saberi, Senior Reporter, Gulfnews.com, 5/13/2010.

UAE related news briefs:
UAE - cigarette manufactures complain cost of printing pictorial warnings too high..;
UAE - ban on the sale of single cigarettes will be implemented..;
UAE - national ban on smoking in public places delayed..;
UAE - with new law e-cigarettes may face ban..;
UAE - preventing the sale of tobacco products to youth..;
UAE to increase the price of cigarettes, graphic images on packs and more..;
UAE - conference presentation, risk of shisha use severe..;
UAE - enforcement of the new tobacco control law not clear yet..;
UAE - Khalifa issues federal anti-tobacco law..;
UAE - doctors say national smoking ban needed for the sake of young people..;
United Arab Emirates - Despite Ban, Shisha Habit Spreading in Public..;
Sharjah Emirate, UAE - earn monetary rewards for quiting smoking..;
Dubai, UAE customs blocks e-cigarette shipment..;
UAE - graphic warnings on cigarette packs..;
UAE new tobacco ban proposed..;
UAE - Quadruple Cigarette Price - Prevent Kids from Smoking...
Read more...

Massachusetts - may force retailers to display graphic warning signs of perils of tobacco..

ALL TOBACCO IS BAD - Smoked or Smokeless

Click to enlarge..
May 14, 2010 - Massachusetts is poised to become the first state in the nation to force retailers to prominently display graphic warnings about the perils of smoking right where cigarettes are sold — at tobacco sales racks and next to cash registers.

Images of ominously darkened lungs, damaged brains, and diseased teeth could start appearing before the end of the year in more than 9,000 convenience stores, pharmacies, and gas stations, if a proposal by the state Department of Public Health is approved as expected. Other posters would direct smokers to where they can get help to stamp out their habit.

The initiative needs the approval of the state Public Health Council — an appointed panel of doctors, disease trackers, and consumer activists — but board members yesterday expressed unequivocal support.

Retailers who refuse to display the signs within 2 feet of tobacco displays and cash registers could face fines of $100 to $300.

A retail industry group reacted yesterday with dismay, arguing that cramped corner stores are already burdened by too many regulatory dictums.

The signs are modeled on a nothing-left-to-the-imagination campaign in New York City, where signs showing the health effects of smoking began sprouting in 11,500 shops last December. Massachusetts health authorities provided copies of the New York City posters as an illustration of what their campaign will look like. (New York City - all retailers selling tobacco will be required to post warning signs..; New York City - to ask public opinion - smoking graphic warning signs..; New York City - proposed pictorial warning signs to show the sickness and suffering caused by tobacco use..

“If somebody is trying to quit smoking and they go back to the store and they’re tempted — oh, just one pack — we hope this will help them make a different choice," said Lois Keithly, director of the Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program.

The campaign is being underwritten by $316,000 in federal stimulus money from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which will allow the state to provide the materials to retailers without charge.

The maker of Marlboro and other top-selling brands, Philip Morris USA, said it believes warnings should be uniform nationally and established by the federal government, which has been given expanded authority over tobacco marketing.

In New York, the graphic signs have met with little resistance from retailers and consumers, said Anne Pearson, an attorney with the city’s Bureau of Tobacco Control. “There’s a large body of evidence showing these graphic images are very effective,’’ Pearson said. “They can communicate information in a way that text just can’t, and they can also communicate a message to people regardless of their level of literacy and regardless of the language they speak.’’

The Massachusetts Public Health Council is expected to vote on the graphic posters in August, but the only misgiving members expressed yesterday was whether the campaign would be rendered in enough languages to reach the state’s increasingly diverse population. “We need to help our immigrant populations deal with this,’’ said Dr. Michele David, a council member.

The regulations will vary, depending on whether stores have tobacco displays or, instead, keep cigarettes and other tobacco products behind the counter. The biggest signs — those displayed next to racks freighted with tobacco goods — will measure 8 1/2-by-11-inches; cash register signs will be smaller. Regardless of the size, the intent, tobacco control specialists said, is the same: to help the 77 percent of Massachusetts smokers who say they want to quit finally do it.

Reference: State to force stores to post graphic signs vs. smoking by Stephen Smith (stsmith@globe.com), The Boston Globe, 5/13/2010.

Massachusetts - some related news briefs:
Massachusetts - jury rejects condo owner's lawsuit that realtor did not inform that neighbor smoked..;
Massachusetts - YOUTH - cigars and smokeless tobacco use surpasses cigarettes..;
Successful Massachusetts tobacco cessation program gets national attention..;
Massachusettes - lower income smokers giving up their nicotine addiction..;
Massachusettes - smoker loses job and then loses in federal court..;
Massachusetts - smokeless tobacco purchasers settle class action suit..;
Boston's ban on blunt wraps stands..;
Boston - NO Tobacco Products Sold - Pharmacies/College Campuses..;
Massachusetts cigarette tax jumps $1 per pack..;
Massachusetts (MA) Likely to Increase Tobacco tax..;
Massachusettes - Smoking ban drop in fatal heart attacks..;
Read more...

South Carolina - cigarette tax raised 50 cents to 57 cents/pack..

Jordan - gradual implementation of smoking ban - will it work??

Click to enlarge any image..
May 13, 2010 - The Cabinet will discuss today, May 13th means of implementing a ban on smoking in public and the places to be included under the decision, a top government official told The Jordan Times on Monday, May 10th.

Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications and Government Spokesperson Nabil Sharif said the Cabinet will also define the stages through which the ban will be implemented in those places where implementation will be gradual.

The Cabinet on Sunday, May 9th decided to ban smoking in ministries and government institutions as well as public places as of May 25, in accordance to the Public Health Law that prohibits smoking in public places.

The Ministry of Health started implementing the Public Health Law prohibiting smoking in public places gradually from the beginning of last year, banning smoking in public institutions in January 2009, but the law was not enforced.

According to the law, public places include hospitals, healthcare centres, schools, cinemas, theatres, libraries, museums, public and non-governmental buildings, public transport vehicles, airports, closed playgrounds, lecture halls and any other location to be determined by the health minister.

The law also stipulates that any person caught smoking in a public place is subject to between one week and one month imprisonment or a JD15 (21.14 USD)-JD25 (35.24 USD) fine. The same penalties apply to those who sell cigarettes to underage youths.

The law was enforced in the Kingdom’s shopping malls and Queen Alia International Airport in March 2009, and in fast food restaurants in June of the same year. Previous news brief: The Ministry of Health issued a circular banning smoking in shopping malls starting March 1,2009 while restaurants were given until June 2009. (Jordan - fast-food restaurants smoke free as of June 1, 2009..)

However, phase two of the implementation plan, under which smoking was prohibited in classified restaurants as of January 1, 2010, has not yet been implemented.

The Jordan Restaurants Association (JRA) requested a postponement of the ban to conduct a study on the feasibility of implementing the law and people’s acceptance of it. According to the results of the study, which was finalised in February, a majority of those surveyed, including non-smokers, said they were against the ban.

In the survey, 50 per cent of non-smoking restaurant customers and 33 per cent of non-smokers who patronise coffee shops said they opposed the law. The study also indicated that among non-smokers, 56 per cent of coffee shop customers and 66 per cent of restaurant clientele suggested allocating special areas for smokers rather than a complete ban.

Bassam Hijjawi, director of the Ministry of Health’s primary health directorate, told The Jordan Times that the ministry will hold a meeting this week with JRA representatives to discuss the plan that the association submitted earlier this year.

However, JRA President Zeid Goussous asserted that the ban on smoking in restaurants can only be implemented gradually. “Immediate prohibition will not work. It should be implemented over three to five years,” Goussous said yesterday, adding that there should be a campaign educating people about the law before it is implemented.

Reference: Cabinet to work out mechanism to implement smoking ban, The Jordan Times, 5/13/2010.
Read more...

In Process: Oregon - online cigarette marketer not immune from state laws..

May 13, 2010 - Authority to regulate Internet cigarette sales made from an American Indian reservation in another state was upheld Wednesday in a ruling by the Oregon Court of Appeals.

Scott Maybee, an enrolled member of the Seneca Nation of Indians in New York state, had argued Oregon law did not apply to the reservation and he was subject only to federal law. The court rejected his claims, ruling that Oregon law did not regulate his business operations on the reservation, and instead affected only the products his business sold in Oregon.

Mr. Maybee lost in a similar case in the State of Idaho.. The Idaho Supreme Court had rejected an appeal by an online cigarette marketer, Mr. Maybee, who claimed his company was immune from state laws regulating tobacco sales. (Idaho - online cigarette marketer not immune from state laws..)

In an opinion by Presiding Judge David Schuman, the Court of Appeals said that "state courts may exercise jurisdiction in civil cases involving Native Americans and relating to conduct that extends beyond the reservation's boundaries."

As a result of enforcement action, Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers also said in that report the Oregon Department of Revenue collected more than $680,000 in past-due taxes from consumers who purchased from Maybee's sites.

Reference: Ore. court upholds Web cigarette sale regulation by WILLIAM McCALL, Associated Press, 5/12/2010.
Read more...

Finland - govt can not prevent people from smoking in cars when kids are present..

Click to enlarge either image..
May 13, 2010 - Back on October 1, 2009 the Finnish government unveiled a bill to ban smoking in cars carrying children as well as in places frequented by children. (Finland - government proposing ban on smoking when kids present and other tobacco control measures..) In January 2010 - the Finns had claimed they were going to end the consumption of tobacco products by 2040. This seems far fetched - "they have to learn to walk the walk if they are going to talk the talk."

We find that smoking inside a private car will continue to be legal in Finland. In this respect at least, the government bill to expand the existing smoking ban will not receive the approval of Parliament. The Parliamentary Committee for Constitutional Law says in its report that the ban would penetrate so deeply into people’s private lives that it could only be passed in connection with amendments to the Constitution. More the committee also implies that banning smoking in one’s own car is such a drastic measure that it would not be in correct proportion to the aim of the move, which is to improve the nation’s health. The Committee says in its statement that symbolic lawmaking should be avoided: “There is also reason to suspect that in reality the monitoring of such a ban could not be carried out effectively”.

Directly related news brief:
Senior British Doctors demand banning smoking in vehicles when children are present.. Please see links to other related news briefs in this brief.

Other changes the Parliamentary Committee for Constitutional Law wants certain changes to the article in the (law on tobacco) bill that would ban the displaying of tobacco products and brands in retail outlets. The banning of displaying brands and trademarks, in particular, has to do with laws on property protection, the Committee points out. Instead of introducing a total display ban, the Committee feels that the law should be toned down in such a way that a customer could familiarise himself with a catalogue of the available tobacco products and take a separate list of the products with him.

The government had argued that displaying the products could induce impulse buying, especially among those who have decided to quit or are trying to quit smoking.

The new law on tobacco will be put before Parliament once the Parliamentary Social Affairs and Health Committee has finished its report on it.

After the amendment, the sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 18 would be illegal. The smoking ban will broaden to include outdoor concerts and hotel rooms.

Reference: Parliament to soften amendment to law on tobacco: smoking in one’s own car not to be outlawed, HELSINGIN SANOMAT
INTERNATIONAL EDITION, 5/6/2010.

Finland related news briefs:
Finland - proposal for plain cigarette packaging surfaces again..;
Finland - parliament will soon vote on anti-smoking bill..;
Finland - anti-smoking bill will end smoking altogether..;
Finland - to end the consumption of tobacco products by 2040..;
Finland - extends anti-tobacco law, restricting smoking in cars and ban on cigarette displays..;
Finland - health officials devising more restrictions to fight tobacco use..;
Finland - government proposing ban on smoking when kids present and other tobacco control measures..;
Finland may ban smoking in cars carrying children..;
Finland - Court of Appeals Hears Cigarette Liability Case, Decision Spring 2010..;
Finland banning shops from displaying cigarettes..;
Finland - proposal to ban tobacco display, total ban on SNUS..;
European Health Commissioner reprimands Astrid Thors for snus liberation campaign..;
Aland Islands Dispute Over Sale of SNUS On Board Ships Threatens Finland's Ratification of the EU's Treaty of Lisbon (The Reform Treaty)..;
Finnish Ferry Goes Swedish Over Snus Ban..;
EU Takes Finland to Court Again For NOT Banning the Use of Oral Tobacco..
(vehicle, children, auto, automobile, kids, child, Finnish)
Read more...

Botswana - university taking charge of tobacco control..

May 12, 2010 - The lenient tobacco control and regulation in Botswana has prompted the University of Botswana to enter into an agreement with the Africa Tobacco Control Regional Initiative (ATCRI) in the Africa Tobacco Situational Analysis (ATCSA) Project. Botswana is part of of six countries identified by ATCRI to receive in-country support for tobacco Control scans and research on tobacco control and regulation.

The purpose of this research would be to identify impediments to tobacco control and use findings to advocate for stricter measures as guided by the priority intervention areas of the WHO Framework Intervention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The FCTC calls for stringent policies on tobacco taxation ban on advertising of tobacco products, smoke-free areas, illegal trade and use of graphics to warn against effects of tobacco products.

Directly related news brief:
Tobacco companies frustrate Africa's fight against smoking..

Internatinal Development Research Center (IDRC): Projects in Botswana..

Reference: Lack of Tobacco Control a Health Threat, Prof Mpho G. Molomo, University of Botswana, May 2010.
Read more...

Minnesota - governor signs act to protect youth from new tobacco products..

May 12, 2010 - Today, May 11th Minnesota's leading health groups applauded Governor Tim Pawlenty for taking another step to protect youth from harmful tobacco products. This afternoon, the Governor signed into law the Tobacco Modernization and Compliance Act of 2010, which updates Minnesota laws to address new generations of tobacco products.

Directly related news brief:
Minnesota - anti-tobacco advocates going after dissolvables, e-cigarettes..

Effective August 1, 2010, these changes apply existing state tobacco taxes and regulations to new smokeless tobacco products, which attract young customers because they are low-cost, come in candy flavors and sometimes resemble mints and breath strips. Specifically, the Tobacco Modernization and Compliance Act of 2010:
* Expands the definition of tobacco products to include any product that contains tobacco and is intended for human consumption

* Requires all tobacco products to be sold behind the counter so they are not easily accessible to youth
* Prevents the sale of new tobacco products and e-cigarettes to youth

"Broad bipartisan support of this law ensures Minnesota will keep pace with the tobacco industry's aggressive marketing and ability to take advantage of legal loopholes," said David Willoughby, Chief Executive Officer of ClearWay Minnesota(SM). "The Governor's signature is an important first step in protecting our kids from new and addictive smokeless tobacco products.

"But our work is far from done," Willoughby continued. "Tobacco products remain accessible, affordable and attractive to young people and the consequences are costly. We need to continue to advocate policy solutions that will reduce the harm of tobacco in Minnesota."

Reference: Governor Signs Act to Protect Youth From New Tobacco Products, SOURCE: ClearWay Minnesota, 5/11/2010.

Read more...

South Carolina - House overrides governor's veto of tobacco tax..

Bulgaria - Bulgartabac buyer may be chosen by end of year..

May 12, 2010 - Bulgaria’s Energy, Economy and Tourism Minister, Traicho Traikov, has revealed that the legal analysis and privatization evaluation of the state tobacco company Bulgartabac. Bulgartabac will be completed in the next 50 days.

Traikov revealed that there had been a 2 month delay in the process due to an appeal by a contestant in the bid to become the official consultant, after Citigroup Global Markets Limited was awarded the role in February. He also added that a buyer for Bulgartabac would probably be chosen by the end of the year.

The Bulgarian Privatization Agency announced in February that Citigroup Global Markets Limited had been picked after four companies had originally bid for the consultant role including a tie-in between KBC Securities and Tokushev & Co, Raiffeisen investments- Kamburov and Renaissance Securities. (Bulgaria - Citigroup chosen as consultant for sale of Bulgartabac..)

Citigroup Global Markets Limited represents the European investment banking arm of US-based financial services giant Citigroup. Its activities include underwriting equities and fixed-income products, equity research, and banking services for multinational corporations, middle-market enterprises, and small businesses.

At the end of last year Traikov, announced that the starting price for the state share in Bulgartabac Holding would be around EUR 100 M. (Bulgaria - Bulgartabac stays in the economy ministry, sold by middle of 2010, starting price 100,000,000 euro..)

Reference: Citigroup Set to Complete Bulgaria State Tobacco Firm Analysis, Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency), 5/11/2010.

Bulgaria - related news briefs:
Bulgaria - prime minister not happy with giving tobacco growers subsidies..;
Bulgaria - to loosen smoking ban to start June 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - finance minister comments may be good news for tobacco farmers..;
Bulgaria - parliament debates proposal to water down smoking ban..;
Bulgaria - majority of all Bulgarians - 78% are against the smoking ban delay..;
Bulgaria - every increase in excise duty on cigarettes consumption goes down..;
Bulgaria - grace period over, increase in tobacco tax starts Thursday, April 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - Italian authorities arrest 2-Bulgarians smuggling cigarettes..;
Bulgaria - tractor trailer loaded with contraband cigarettes seized in Ancona, Italy..;
Bulgaria - cigarette consumption down, cigarette tax collection up, seeking funds for technology to intercept contraband goods..;
Bulgaria - justifying why smoking ban won't go into effect on June 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - Citigroup chosen as consultant for sale of Bulgartabac..;
Bulgaria - ruling party may delay smoking ban until 2011..;
Bulgaria - Finance Minister Djankov, "Less Smoking Is Good for Economy..";
Bulgaria - govt to weaken full smoking ban to be effective June 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria - do producers support contraband cigarettes??;
Bulgaria - sale of Bulgartabac coming - selection of a consultant..;
Greek Farmers Renew Bulgaria Border Blockade..;
Bulgaria - leadership of tobacco fund to be replaced..;
Bulgaria - illegal trade in cigarettes will reach 40% of total trade in 2010..;
Bulgaria - limits on personal imports of tobacco products from outside the EU..;
Bulgaria - European Commission authorizes payment to tobacco producers for 2009 crop..;
Bulgaria -two cigarette smuggling attempts busted on Serbian border..;
Bulgaria - price of cigarettes increases..;
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac stays in the economy ministry, sold by middle of 2010, starting price 100,000,000 euro..;
Bulgaria - tobacco producers propose Bulgartabac transfer..;
Bulgaria - government, tobacco growers reach subsidy agreement..;
Bulgaria - start of steps leading to the privatization of the state-owned cigarette monopoly Bulgartabac..;
Bulgaria - police hold smoking protest over lack of bonuses..;
Bulgaria - police busts major cigarette contraband ring..;
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac Holding” will be privatized in 2010..;
Bulgaria - MPs Impose Hefty Fines on Cigarette Sales Violators..;
Bulgartabac Chief - cigarette tax increase as of January 1, 2010..;
Bulgaria Bulgartabac Holding Sells 23% of Shares to Mutual Funds..;
Bulgaria - more than 70% of smokers want to quit..;
Bulgaria - cigarette taxes going up each year except 2011..;
Bulgaria - chair of the economic committee in parliament disapproves of planned raise in excise duties on cigarettes..;
Bulgaria and others - smoking ban, increased cigarette taxes, smuggling..;
Bulgaria - Cigarette excise duties will be increased next year..;
Bulgaria - cigarette contraband, government loses BGN 920M yearly..;
Bulgaria - one third of the tobacco products sold are illicit..;
Bulgaria - new government to speed-up Bulgartabac sale..;
Bulgaria - Fake Victory Light cigarettes..;
Bulgaria's tobacco monopoly may be up for sale..;
Bulgarian lawmakers vote to ban smoking in all publc places from June 2010..; Bulgarian tobacco company Sofia-BT exports increase by 541 percent..;
Does Russia own Bulgaria's tobacco monopoly, Bulgartabac..;
EU percent of adults smokers -highest Greece 1 , Bulgaria 2.. - lowest Slovenia..;
Bulgaria - 1 in 3 youths smoke / half of pregnant women smoke..;
PMI training Bulgarian custom officers to stop cigarette smuggling..;
Philip Morris International (PMI) was truly happy they had been back in the Bulgarian cigarette market for a year and had already had 6.8% of market..;
WHO FCTC Protocol to Prevent Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products Won't Be Completed Until End of 2010..;
WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008..;
Bulgaria Enters 2009 with Cigarette Prices Hike...
Bulgaria is marking Tuesday, November 10, 2009, the 20th year since the internal coup at the Bulgarian Communist Party which led to the crumbling of the communist regime..

Read more...

Lorillard - raised prices on Newport and its other premium brands but not Maverick..

May 12, 2010 - Effective May 10, 2010 Lorillard Inc. raised wholesale prices on Newport and its other premium brands by 4.5 cents per pack, which equates to a 2% to 3% price increase, Nik Modi, analyst with UBS Investment Research, New York, said in a note to investors. It raised Old Gold prices by 8 cents per pack, he added.

While both PM USA and Reynolds raised prices last week, Modi—who anticipated the Lorillard increase—said, "We remind investors that Lorillard took a 4.5-cent price increase previously in February, which was not matched by the industry."

In this round of price increases, Lorillard left the Maverick brand unchanged, Modi said. "Maverick has been a source of volume share gains for the past several quarters; however, we note that in February, Lorillard raised Maverick pricing by 4.5 cents per pack in February."

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Reynolds American's R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. division notified wholesalers last week that it will charge eight cents a pack more for top-selling Camel, Kool, Winston, Salem and Pall Mall, David Howard, a company spokesperson, told the news agency. Distributors' list prices for Camel Non-Filter, Capri, Carlton, Eclipse, Lucky Strike, More, Now, Tareyton and Vantage will increase by 33 cents a pack, he added.

The company would not explain why it is raising cigarette prices or disclose their average retail prices, Howard said. The increases cover more than 20 brands and varieties, he said.

Reference: Lorillard Hikes Prices Follows PM USA, RJR with current round of increases, CSP (Convenience Store/Petroleum) Daily News, 5/11/2010. Read more...

South Carolina - governor vetoes bill to raise tobacco tax..

May 12, 2010 - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford fulfilled his promise Tuesday, May 11th to veto a bill that would have increased the nation's lowest cigarette tax by 50 cents per pack, and called for legislators not to override it.

Sanford was joined by House lawmakers opposed to the bill, along with officials from the state's largest anti-tax group and a convenience store operators association, to announce the veto.

Sanford said that the legislation doesn't include a provision for tax relief that would counter the decrease. "In these difficult economic times," Sanford said, "we believe it would be sheer folly to impose the largest tax increase since 1985."

According to reports from The Associated Press, the House will decide as early as Wednesday, May 12th whether they will override Sanford's veto.

South Carolina's current cigarette tax of 7 cents has been in place since 1977, when a pack cost 48 cents. If the bill would have passed or if the veto is overriden, Missouri would have the lowest cigarette tax at 17 cents a pack, according to figures from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (Missouri - one of the most tobacco-friendly state in the U.S.A.)

Rhode Island currently has the highest cigarette tax, with $3.46 a pack.

The bill's supporters say that the tax hike would create nearly $5 million for cancer research programs and anti-smoking programs. It would also generate $1 million for agriculture product marketing.

And according to The Herald, of Rock Hill, S.C., the tax hike would generate $125 million, primarily for a Medicaid trust fund which could be used when money from the economic stimulus package runs out in July 2012.

But Sanford said the money used from the tax won't be enough to fund Medicare programs, adding that more comprehensive health care reform is necessary. "And indeed this tax hike may end up exacerbating the current problem by pushing needed reform that much further down the road," Sanford said.

The veto also comes on the heels of a recent national study from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention that ranked South Carolina 34th in the number of adult smokers and 37th when it comes to smokers ages 12-17. (CDC - Smoking & Tobacco Use - South Carolina)

CDC officials say that cigarette tax increases, along with anti-tobacco campaigns and laws that ban smoking in public and indoor places, can reduce U.S. smoking rates.

Please remember..The four Republicans running for governor would veto a cigarette tax increase and would push to drill, baby, drill off the coast of South Carolina. The Republican primary is June 8. — Corey Hutchins

Reference: S.C. governor vetoes cigarette tax hike, Dante Mozi, Columbia City Buzz Examiner, 5/11/2009.

Related news briefs:
South Carolina - tobacco tax increase bill goes to governor..;
South Carolina - state senate could send 50-cent cigarette tax increase to governor soon..;
South Carolina - senators try to write bill on cigarette tax increase to override Governor Sanford's veto..;
South Carolina - increase in cigarette tax still NOT likely..;
South Carolina - cigarette tax, State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex speaks up..;
South Carolina - among the worst states in the nation in smoking prevention efforts..;
South Carolina - among the worst states in the nation in smoking prevention efforts..;
South Carolina - most residents support raising the tobacco tax..;
South Carolina - with Gov. Sanford still in office most likely no tobacco tax increase in 2010..;
South Carolina - low cigarette pricing, smuggling, higher insurance premiums, etc..;
Lexington County, South Carolina has a workplace smoking ban..;
South Carolina - governor disappears, maybe its time to slip through a cigarette tax..;
South Carolina - next legislative session starts June 16th..;
South Carolina - lawmakers may disappoint again on cigarette tax increase..;
SC tobacco tax increase - doubt exists maybe NOT this year..;
South Carolina - can we expect a tobacco tax increase this year??;
South Carolina a magnet for cigarette black market..;
South Carolina - legislators eager to pass cigarette tax increase - the odds are against them??;
South Carolina to spend NO money on tobacco prevention..;
South Carolina (SC) will NOT devote any resources to anti-smoking programs..;
In 2008 will the politicians do what's right for the State of South Carolina??;
South Carolina - Tobacco Tax Increase Killed - State House Fails to Override Governor's Veto..
Tobacco Tax Increase – What’s Wrong with South Carolina??
Read more...

India - more on govt ban on foreign direct investment..

Click to enlarge..
May 11, 2010 - The government has notified the ban on FDI (foreign direct investment) in cigarette manufacturing, a decision taken by the Union Cabinet on April 8.

“Manufacturing of cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes, of tobacco or of tobacco substitutes” have been put under the list of sectors where FDI is prohibited.
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion made changes in the Consolidated FDI Policy, dated March 31, to prohibit foreign investment in the sector.

The Centre took the decision to enhance public accountability towards proliferation of the anti-smoking regime in the country.

The decision to ban FDI is the latest in the government’s long-standing drive against smoking. In 2008, the government had banned smoking at public places and put a curb on tobacco advertisements.

The proposal was mooted by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

Earlier, 100 percent FDI was permitted in cigarette manufacturing, but an industrial licence was needed and the proposals required to be approved by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).

The government had stopped granting industrial licences for cigarette manufacturing.

Global tobacco majors Philip Morris International (PMI) and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) had deplored as as “discriminatory,” the government’s decision to ban FDI in cigarettes.

Reference: Government notifies FDI ban in cigarette manufacturingtheHindu.com, 5/10/2010.

India - some related news briefs:
^*India - Barakat Food will import and distribute Imperial's Davidoff Cigarettes..;
^*India - more on ban on foreign direct investment - more insight on tobacco market..;
^*India - increasing taxes on cigarettes and bidis to save lives..;
^*India - cabinet decided to bar foreign direct investment in cigarette manufacturing..;
^*India - captions with pictorial warnings should use local languages..;
^*ndia - pictorial warning will appear on every tobacco pack sold from June 1 , 2010..;
^*India - government set to ban foreign direct investment in tobacco..;
^*India - despite tobacco control measure in place - tobacco sales increase..;
^*India - still confusion pictorial warnings on cigarette packs..;
^*Mumbai, India - NGO activists want closure of hookah bars..;
^*India - gutkha and bidi companies NOT pictorial warnings..;
^*India - cigarette packs with pictorial warnings are here..; ^*ndia - NO graphic pictorial warnings yet..;
^*India - Still no pictorial warnings on cigarette packs..;
^*India - pictorial warning on cigarettes and tobacco products effective May 31, 2009..;
^*India - pictorial warning on cigarettes and tobacco products will be implemented from May 31 - no doubts about it..;
^*India - will pictorial or graphic health warnings be implemented from May 30, 2009..;
^*India - placing pictorial warnings on tobacco products delayed again..

Read more...

Pets can be harmed by second-hand smoke and/or ingestion of tobacco products..

May 11, 2010 - Amid growing evidence that secondhand smoke (shs, involuntary, environment tobacco, ets, sidestream) is causing cancers and possibly a range of other health problems in pets, many groups are intensifying efforts to encourage people to stop smoking — if not for their own sake, then for their animals'.

The danger of poisoning your pet is increased with all tobacco products including moist snuff tobacco (MST) products like Copenhagen or Camel SNUS and now the dissolvable tobacco products like Camel Orbs, Sticks or Strips. (Poison Control Centers - Camel Dissolvables - Nicotine Toxicity..) A lethal dose of nicotine in dogs can be about 20 to 100 mg. Cigarettes tally 10 to 30 mg of the chemical, and cigars can contain 15 to 40 mg.

Directly related news brief:
April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month..

Veterinarians are redoubling efforts to warn smokers of the dangers to their pets, and smoking-cessation programs, including Utah Tobacco Prevention and Control, Breathe New Hampshire and smokefreesociety.org, have posted fact sheets or printable fliers on their websites. Some groups are sharing information where animal aficionados gather, including at last month's Dachshund Dash in Oklahoma City, where the Oklahoma County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition warned of secondhand smoke's dangers to dogs.

And the ASPCA last month linked up with American Legacy Foundation, a stop-smoking group, to spread the word to the pet lovers of the world.

Studies have shown that toxins in secondhand smoke can cause lung and nasal cancer in dogs and malignant lymphoma in cats. "The evidence is striking," says Steven Hansen of the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center. "Most veterinarians believe pretty strongly secondhand smoke presents a strong danger to dogs and cats with pre-existing respiratory problems," he says. "And extrapolating, why would you expose a healthy animal?"

Although studies showing strong links between smoking and pets are limited to a few cancers, veterinary oncologist Aarti Sabhlok, who treats 40 or more cancer patients a week at San Francisco Veterinary Specialists, believes an "animal in an environment with constant exposure to a toxin, and that would include cigarette smoke, could be at greater risk of developing tumors."

It may seem odd to believe that people who continue to smoke despite the risks to themselves and others might pay heed when pets' health is jeopardized, "but we know people sometimes pay more attention to their pets' well-being," Hansen says.

Indeed, a Web-based survey of 3,293 adult pet owners published last year found that 48% were smokers or living with smokers, and 37% said clear evidence that smoking is harmful to their pets would motivate them to quit or ask the people they live with to quit; 14% said such evidence could prompt them to do all their smoking outside.

Reference: Another reason to stop smoking: Your pets' health by Sharon L. Peters, Special for USA TODAY, 5/10/2010.
Read more...

Archive