Great Forks, North Dakota - extends smoking ban to bars and truck stops..

April 7, 2010 - On August 1, 2005, North Dakota's smoke-free law went into effect. The law prohibits smoking in all enclosed areas of public places and places of employment, with some exceptions. (North Dakota's Smoke-Free Law) Lawmakers have declined to extend the ban to bars and truck stops, but local governments may approve stricter anti-smoking laws.

The Grand Forks City Council has approved extending the city's workplace smoking ban to bars, truck stops and casinos. The ban begins August 15, 2010. The council voted 4-3 on Monday, April 5th to approve the new rules. Mayor Mike Brown cast the tie-breaking vote.

The cities of Fargo and West Fargo have had similar bans for almost two years.

Reference: Grand Forks City Council extends smoking ban, by: Grand Forks Herald, INFORUM, 4/6/2010.

North Dakota - some related news briefs:
North Dakota's Comprehensive State Plan to Prevent and Reduce Tobacco Use 2009-2014..;
North Dakota - statewide anti-tobacco plan to be released in July 2009..;
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Hemoglobin obtained from pigs may be used in cigarette filters..

April 7, 2010 - In a claim likely to cause consternation from Muslim smokers, a Dutch author has published a book that claims that pig blood is used to make cigarette filters. Pig 05049, written by Christien Meindertsma, lists 185 different ways that pigs’ body parts can be used, including in the manufacture of sweets, shampoo, bread, beer and bullets.

Pig hemoglobin is, according to the book, used to filter harmful chemicals in cigarettes.

See our directly related news brief: Pig hemoglobin used in cigarette filter to trap harmful chemicals..

The Indonesian Consumer Protection Foundation (YLKI) called on authorities to investigate the claims. “If the claim is true then the National Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), the Ministry of Health and the Indonesian Ulema Council’s (MUI) Food and Drug Analysis Agency (LPPOM) should immediately conduct a sampling test,” Tulus Abadi, chairman of the YLKI, told the Jakarta Globe. (Indonesian Ulema Council - Indonesia’s top Muslim clerical body)

Tulus said that Indonesian cigarette producers were using imported filters because they are not produced locally. If the claims are true, Tulus said, the government has a stronger case to take a stand against tobacco. “As the most populous Muslim country, we should be really careful, most smokers in Indonesia are Muslims. How would they feel if they found out that the cigarettes they smoke were made using pig hemoglobin?” he said.

MUI chairman Amidhan said that MUI would not comment on the matter and would not conduct any certification test unless there was a request from the cigarette industry or the importer.

“Smoking is offensive and for now that’s our stance. However this information should be regarded as a warning for smokers to be more aware,” he said.

The Jewish and Muslim community refrain from pork consumption due to religious beliefs, and the same can be said about a large majority of vegetarians too who practice the diet because of strict religious beliefs.

Reference: Claims of Pig Blood in Cigarette Filters Coughs Up a Cloud of Controversy, Dessy Sagita, The Jakarta Globe, 4/2/2010.
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Tobacco Control Legal Consortium: A “Commercial Speech” Factsheet for State and Local Governments (2010)..

April 7, 2010 -

Elisa P. Laird-Metke, Tobacco Control Legal Consortium, Regulating Tobacco Marketing: A “Commercial Speech” Factsheet for State and Local Governments (2010), Tobacco Control Legal Consortium (www.tobaccolawcenter.org)

Tobacco Control Legal Consortium related news briefs:
Tobacco Control Legal Consortium - facts sheets provided to help understand the "Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act"..;
Legal Consortium files amicus (friend of the court) brief in first impression tobacco-free pharmacy case..
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Israel - Knesset member bill eliminate nicotine from cigarettes..

April 7, 2010 - Kadima (political party) MK (Member of Knesset (Israeli Parliament)) Yoel Hasson tabled a private member’s bill on Monday that, if passed, would be the world’s first law barring the sale of tobacco products containing addictive substances such as nicotine, or other substances, such as menthol and ammonia, that make nicotine more addictive, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

This article from the Jerusalem Post was reported on March 16, 2010.. Israel - Knesset member bill eliminate nicotine from cigarettes..
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Philippines - DoH pushes for picture warnings on cigarette packs..

Philippines Dept. of Health..
April 7, 2010 - In countries like Thailand, Brazil and Canada, graphic “picture-based health warnings” on cigarette packs have increased public knowledge on the ill-effects of smoking, as well as motivated an undisclosed number of smokers to quit the habit. (Graphic Warnings cigarette packs: Canada revising warnings, U.S. pictorial warnings within 4-years..)

The Philippines the Department of Health (DoH) has expressed confidence that the government could do the same by requiring tobacco firms to print similar warnings on cigarette packs sold to the public. DOH Secretary Esperanza Cabral on Tuesday, April 6th told the INQUIRER they were “crafting an administrative order” covering such warnings against tobacco use.

The directive is “in accordance with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control,” or FCTC, which was signed in 2003 by over 160 countries, including the Philippines.
The FCTC “has been ratified (by the Senate) and is now part of the law of the land,” Cabral noted.

Ninety-six percent of Filipino smokers said graphic health warnings would most likely make them quit compared to bland text warnings, according to a recent study of the Council on Tobacco for Health and Air of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians. (Graphic health warnings may make smokers quit, says study by Jocelyn Uy, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 8/14/2008)

Like Cabral, both the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP) and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance-Philippines (FCAP) strongly believe picture-based health warnings would be a “more effective strategy” over text warnings against tobacco use.

Dr. Sylvia Banal-Yang, PCCP president, told a recent health forum “a picture speaks a thousand words. When smokers see what tobacco use could do to their health, then they will have second thoughts about buying cigarettes again.” For her part, FCAP executive director Maricar Limpin said such warnings printed on cigarette packs would most likely “convince the smoking public, especially the youth, that smoking is really bad for the health.”


Cigarette smoking is one of the lung health issues cited in Proclamation No. 2001, issued recently by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, declaring 2010 as the “Year of the Lung.” In her directive, Arroyo stressed the need for “preventive measures through a more intensified advocacy campaign and effective strategies to curb the epidemic causing serious and debilitating lung disorders.”

According to Cabral, the DOH would “continue our advocacy against cigarette smoking.”
Aside from the imposition of higher taxes on cigarettes, among other “sin products,” both the PCCP and FCAP favor a total ban on tobacco use in the country.

Cabral, however, said otherwise. “It impinges on the rights of human beings to choose to die or not to die from diseases caused by smoking. All we can do is tell them the facts and this is what we would do if we were you and we hope you'll do the same thing,” she explained.

Reference: DoH pushes for picture warnings on cigarette packs by Jerry E. Esplanada, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 4/6/2010.

Philippines - some related news briefs:
Philippines - PMI - FTC merger may lead smokers continuing to smoke and lure children into a life of nicotine addiction..;
Philippines - PMI and Fortune Tobacco Corp. form new company called PMFTC..;
Philippines - Tanauan City names street Philip Morris..;
Philippines - DOH campaign for 100% smoke-free workplaces..;
Philippines - total tobacco industry could be down 10% to 15% this year..;
Philippines - 2003 ban on advertising and skirting the ban..;
Philippines - June is annually observed as 'No Smoking' Month..;
Philippines may be losing the war against smoking..;
http://snus-news.blogspot.com/2008/11/philippines-thai-cigarette-import-rules.html;
Philip Morris won't postpone Philippines Eraserheads Concert..;
Philip Morris could be criminally liable for its sponsorship of the event .in the Philippines..;
STOP PMI Sponsoring Concert in Philippines..;
Philippines - Smoker to be deported...
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