Turkey - cigarette producers sue to reduce size of graphic images..

December 7, 2009 - The National Cigarette and Health Committee (SSUK) legal advisor Turgut Kazan has announced that tobacco manufacturers PhilSA, Philip MorrisSA and British American Tobacco (BAT) have filed a lawsuit with the Council of State (highest administrative court in the Republic of Turkey) to shrink the mandatory size of new graphic images which will be obligatory to print on cigarette packages starting on January 1, 2010. Previous news brief on Turkey - graphic/written warning labels starting January 1, 2010.

The companies complain that the requirement of putting images on the front of cigarette packages in an attempt to reduce tobacco consumption by exposing the adverse consequences of smoking will prevent competition in the sector. The images necessitated by the regulations must cover at least 65 percent of the packages, the companies note, arguing that this will make it virtually impossible to put their brand logos on the packages. The companies also argue that the new obligation infringes on their commercial freedoms as bestowed by international trade rules.

Kazan said the Thorax Association, which includes doctors who specialize in eye diseases within the SSUK, will be involved in the case as an interested party. “The tobacco companies have demanded a stay of execution before. The case is in the Council of State’s docket currently,” Kazan noted. He claimed that the regulations are not in conflict with rules of competition or any relevant international laws, adding that they had full confidence that the Council of State will settle the case accordingly.

SSUK President Elif Dağlı also argued that the graphic images covering 65 percent of the packages does not contradict EU standards, which she claimed allows these images to cover more than 50 percent of cigarette packages. “It would be unacceptable to deprive Turkey of its right to protect its public health while other countries are conducting similar campaigns without any obstacle,” she noted. She said selling tobacco products in embellished, attractive packages is very harmful. Currently, 22 million people in Turkey are smokers, she asserted, adding that $20 billion is spent on tobacco products. “This money is being completely burned away and lost. Not only is our money lost, but people’s health is also seriously harmed,” she said and added that another $30 billion is lost in terms of health expenditures to cure smoking-related diseases. Dağlı also rejected claims from tobacco companies that the images have no deterrent effect on smoking, saying, “All studies have proven that these images are very effective indeed and cause a nearly 5 percent decline in cigar cigarette consumption.

Reference: Cigarette producers sue to reduce size of graphic images, Today's Zamen, 12/7/2009.

Turkey - related news briefs:
WHO to unveil new 2009 tobacco epidemic report in Turkey..;
Turkey - graphic/written warning labels starting January 1, 2010..;
Turkey - with expansion of smoking ban cigarette sales drop..;
Turkey - smoking ban, cafes (teahouses) losing business, owners threaten to strike..;
Turkey - hundreds of cafe owners demonstrate against smoking ban..;
Turkey - small--scale retailers to demonstrate against smoking ban..;
Turkey - anti-smoking advocates happy with early results of smoking ban..; Turkey - smoker wounds manager and kills his friend when asked to stop smoking..
Turkey - cafe owners complain about smoking ban..;
Turkey - dangers of secondhand smoke media campaign..;
Turkish Government - makes major move to improve the health of its citizens..;
Turkey - smoking ban starting July 19th will be enforced - these guys are serious..;
Turkey - poll indicates employers, their employees and customers support smoking ban in cafes, bars and restaurants..;
Turkey - July 19th total smoking ban, will employees lose jobs..;
Turkey - on July 19, 2009 will mark the beginning of “100 percent smoke-free air” in this country..;
Turkey - national smoking ban starts July 19, 2009..;
Turkey - quit smoking photo displayed in İstanbul's Taksim Square..;
Turkey - data on tobacco usage - Turkish Statistics Institution..;
Turkey - smoking ban in all bars, restaurants and coffeehouses starting July 19, 2009..;
Smoking ban in Turkey lowers cigarette consumption..;
Turkey's ban on pubic smoking goes into effect on Monday, May 19, 2008..;
British American Tobacco (BAT) reported group volume sales up for first quarter 2008..;
More on the quick fix for outdoor smokers..;
BAT to Acquire Most of Denmark's ST..;
More on Philip Morris International of the Future..;
WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008...
Read more...

Malaysia - about 368,000 teenager smokers in the country, 50-60 added per day..

December 7, 2009 - Kota Kinabalu (formerly Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah state in Malaysia. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah) -- About 368,000 teenagers in the country - almost the number who sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination each year - have developed a penchant for smoking. And the number is growing with records showing 50 to 60 teenagers picking up the habit each day.

Malaysian Health Promotion Board (LKPM) Chief Executive Officer Dr Yahya Baba who disclosed this, Saturday, December 5th said what was worrying was that fatalities due to tobacco-related illnesses were also increasing.

Speaking at the Penampang secondary school level sketch competition themed "Anti-Smoking Campaign" here, he said overall there were 4.6 million smokers in the country, eight per cent of them being teenagers Seven secondary schools - SMK Limbanak, SMK Bahang, SMK Putatan, SMK Tansau, SM St Michael, SMK Taman Datuk Peter Mojuntin and SMK Taman Tun Fuad - competed in the event which was jointly organised by the Kota Kinabalu Cultural Art Society (PSBKK) and LKPM.

Yahya said the awareness-raising campaign was timely and hoped it would increase youngsters' awareness on the dangers of smoking and prevent them from developing the habit. Yahya said LKPM was ready to allocate grants to any society or non-governmental organisation (NGO) intending to hold programmes promoting a healthy lifestyle. Such programmes need to be expanded so that awareness about health care could be advanced, he added.

"It is very important since health is the main key to promoting healthy lifestyle in Malaysia especially to youngsters," said Yahya. He said the event was in line with the LPKM's objective to plan and implement health promotion activities for the benefit of the community by placing special concentration on youngsters. He said health programme need not have to be anti-smoking campaigns but also other issues faced by most people in the country such as diabetes, AIDS and heart disease.

Deputy State Speaker Datuk Johnny Mositun, who officiated at the competition, commended the effort by LPKM and PSBKK in organising the programme. He said by focusing on secondary school students the said organisations showed they were serious about wiping out the smoking culture among teenagers. Mositun also urged the authorities to inspect cyber caf}s in every district as he had received complaints from parents about some cyber caf}s frequented by problematic teenagers.

He said this is to prevent students, who frequent these Internet premises, from mingling with the problematic group who could introduce them to smoking, among others.

Meanwhile, SMK Tansau won the competition and received RM1,000, a trophy and certificates, while SMK Putatan and SM St Michael came second and third, respectively. SMK Putatan and SM St Michael received RM800 and RM500 respectively as well as certificates.

Also present was PSBKK President Zhamriee Gulam Rasul, who was also the organising chairman of the event.

Reference: 368,000 teens into smoking yearly, Daily Express, 12/6/2009.

Malaysia - related news briefs:
Malaysia - sale of cigarettes in packets of less than 20 prohibited as of June 1, 2010..;
Malaysia - stepping up efforts to curb the trade in illicit cigarettes..;
Malaysia - BAT plans to dispose of a parcel of industrial land..;
Malaysia - ban on cigarette sponsorship for sports will not be withdrawn..;
Malaysia - cigarette-shaped sweets packaged like cigarettes;
Malaysia - Penang consumer group ban cheap cigarettes and increase price on premium..;
Malaysia - Kelantin State Government may not promote staff who smoke..;
Malaysia - excise duty increased on tobacco - another increase could be coming this month..;
Malaysia - smoking limits your quality of life..;
Malaysia - smoking civil servants in Penang to receive free nicotine treatment..;
Malaysia - illicit cigarettes, BAT wants government to slow excise duty increases..;
Peninsular Malaysia - one of three cigarette packs is either contraband or fake..;
Komtar, Penang, Malaysia smoking ban strictly enforced..;
Malaysia student forced to smoke 40 cigarettes in two hours..
Malaysia - PSD and Cuepacs are at odds over the no-smoking rule at government de­­partments and agencies..;
Malaysia: Are tobacco control measures working? - WHO thinks so...;
Malaysia - slowdown in cigarette consumption..;
Malaysia - January 1, 2009 pictorial cigarette warnings..;
Malaysia to hike cigarette prices..;
Malaysia - 25% of all cigarettes sales are illegal...Peninsular Malaysia - one of three cigarette packs is either contraband or fake..;
Komtar, Penang, Malaysia smoking ban strictly enforced..;
Malaysia student forced to smoke 40 cigarettes in two hours..
Malaysia - PSD and Cuepacs are at odds over the no-smoking rule at government de­­partments and agencies..;
Malaysia: Are tobacco control measures working? - WHO thinks so...;
Malaysia - slowdown in cigarette consumption..;
Malaysia - January 1, 2009 pictorial cigarette warnings..;
Malaysia to hike cigarette prices..;
Malaysia - 25% of all cigarettes sales are illegal...

Read more...

Minnesota Court dismisses 'Lights' class action Altria and PM USA..

December 7, 2009 - Altria Group, Inc. (Altria) and Philip Morris USA (PM USA) said today that a Minnesota trial court has dismissed in its entirety a 'Lights' class action filed against the companies. The Curtis case had been scheduled for trial in October, 2010.

"We believe the court correctly applied Minnesota law in dismissing the case," said Murray Garnick, Altria Client Services senior vice president and associate general counsel, speaking on behalf of Altria and PM USA.

The case is Curtis v. Altria Group and Philip Morris USA, No. 27-CV-01-18042.

Altria directly or indirectly owns 100% of each of Philip Morris USA (PM USA), U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USSTC), John Middleton Co. (Middleton), Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SMWE), and Philip Morris Capital Corporation. In addition, Altria holds a continuing economic and voting interest in SABMiller plc.

Background: Minnesota Light Cigarette Litigation..

Reference: Minnesota Court Dismisses 'Lights' Class Action, Altria Media Press Release, 12/4/2009.
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Bulgaria - Bulgartabac Holding” will be privatized in 2010..

December 7, 2009 - Bulgaria's Economy and Energy Minister, Traicho Traikov, announced Friday that the State owned “Bulgartabac Holding” will be privatized in 2010. Back in August 2009 - we reported:Bulgaria - new government to speed-up Bulgartabac sale.. Map of Bulgaria..

Traikov further announced the conditions for the competition to select a consultant for the cigarette-maker's sale are ready and the competition itself will be announced in a matter of days.

“Bulgartabac” had a significant contribution to the country's public finance this year with the additional BGN 40 M going into the State budget,” Traikov is quoted as saying.

Reference: Bulgaria Tobacco Monopoly Bulgartabac to Be Privatized in 2010, Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency), 12/4/2009.

Bulgaria related news briefs:
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...

General Tobacco - last defendants dropped from cigarette antitrust suit..

December 7, 2009 - Cigarette manufacturer and distributor General Tobacco (GT) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Louisville, Ky., against 52 U.S. attorneys general and 19 tobacco companies—including Philip Morris USA, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Reynolds American Inc. and Lorillard. GT alleges the defendants conspired to set up the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), which was created in 1998, so later market entrants including GT, which began operations in 2000, would have to pay "substantially more" than other tobacco companies, in an effort to "drastically limit future competitors from fair market competition," the company stated. (General Tobacco Sues 52 U.S Attorneys General and 19 Tobacco Companies..)

Now General Tobacco has voluntarily dismissed the last two tobacco companies left in an antitrust suit it brought against the slew of cigarette makers and 52 attorneys general over a 1998 master settlement agreement it claims made it harder for smaller companies to break into the lucrative tobacco industry.

Mayodan, N.C.-based General Tobacco moved toGeneral Tobacco makes MSA payment in full dismiss defendants M/s Dhanraj International and Societe National D’Exploitation Industrielles des Tabacs et Allumettes from the lawsuit on Wednesday after they neglected to appear...

Reference: Last Defendants Dropped From Cigarette Antitrust Suit, Law360, 12/3/2009.

Some related news briefs: General Tobacco makes MSA payment in full....General Tobacco reaches deal with states on MSA; Judge dismisses General Tobacco challenge to tobacco settlement..; General Tobacco lays off nearly 25% of work force..; General Tobacco Sues 52 U.S Attorneys General and 19 Tobacco Companies..; N.C.'s General Tobacco Appoints New Sales Head..; General Tobacco completes move to Mayodan, N.C.. and General Tobacco (GT) could “potentially” come out with snus type product..
Read more...