The proposal, which officials said Mr. Paterson would include in an emergency budget bill due for a vote on Monday, June 21st would also raise wholesale taxes on other tobacco products like chewing tobacco, bringing the tax on those products closer in line with those of cigarettes.
In New York City, which levies steep taxes of its own on tobacco products, a pack of cigarettes would come with a tax of $5.85, making it the nation’s first city to break $5, anti-smoking advocates said. That would bring the overall cost of a pack of premium cigarettes above $10 in many stores in the city.
The legislation will also include a plan to begin collecting taxes on cigarettes sold off the reservation by Indian tribes in New York, an issue that has provoked confrontations between State Police officers and protesting tribe members in years past. Mr. Megna. the state budget director, said the state, in an effort to avoid a confrontation, would tax wholesalers who sold cigarettes to Native American tribes. Tribes would be allotted a certain amount tax-free for their residents. “We would hope that there would not be any violence,” Mr. Megna said. “We’re trying to minimize any violent activity and make it clear that their product for their consumption is tax-free. The only thing we’re trying to tax is New York State residents’ consumption of taxable products.”New York State - state democrats insist governor tax cigarettes sold on Indian reservations.., February 2, 2010;
The proposal would generate $440 million in revenue this year, helping close a state budget gap estimated at over $9 billion. But it is unclear whether there are enough votes to approve the plan in the State Senate, where Republicans have threatened to vote against any emergency budget bill that includes tax increases and some Democrats oppose efforts to collect taxes on cigarettes sold by the tribes.
NY State Governor Patterson - part of budget - collect Indian cigarette taxes.. - January 20, 2009;
NY Proposed Budget - calls for 17 cent increase in cigar tax.. - December 19, 2008.
Should the measure fail, the government would face an unprecedented shutdown. Should it pass, lawmakers must still meet to find ways to close the entire budget gap. (NY governor sets budget deadline, rejects borrowing)
Reference: New York Reaches Deal to Raise Cigarette Tax by NICHOLAS CONFESSORE and DANNY HAKIM, The New York Times, 6/18/2010.
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New York - tax increase on tobacco must pass or else state faces extreme budget crisis..
Britain - 86 percent would support ban on smoking in cars when kids are present..
June 20, 2010
Smoking in cars when children are passengers should be banned, according to a survey of parents carried out by the British Lung Foundation. Of the 1,000 parents surveyed, 86 percent said they would support such a ban when passengers are under 18 years old. Support was also high among parents who smoke, with 83 percent of this group backing such a ban.
A few directly related news briefs..let's get the law passed already.. Senior British Doctors demand banning smoking in vehicles when children are present...Among former smokers surveyed, five percent admitted to smoking in the car with the window open when travelling with their children and this figure rose to 13 percent among those parents who currently smoke. Half of smokers and former smokers surveyed said they had exposed their children to second-hand smoke.
We never understood why ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) UK called for a debate on this subject - This is a NO Brainer - do you want the best for your children??
More evidence - vehicles most dangerous space for second-hand smoke inhalation..; Scotland - government no plans to ban smoking in cars and public places used by children..; New South Wales politician smoking comment totally inaccurate...
Some positives.. England - decline in kids secondhand smoke exposure - we can do better..; United Kingdom - halve the number of smokers by end of decade...
Dame Helena Shovelton, chief executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: "Parents are sending a clear message to the government that smoking in cars with children under the age of 18 should be banned.
"Smoking just one cigarette, even with the car window open, creates a greater concentration of second-hand smoke than a whole evening's smoking in a pub or a bar. A ban on smoking in the car with children would prevent some of the 22,000 new cases each year of asthma, caused as a direct result of passive smoking."
The survey has been carried out as part of a campaign by the charity surrounding the dangers of passive smoking. This includes a national poster advertising campaign, featuring an image of a child being forced to smoke a cigarette in a car by an adult, with the caption "when you smoke in the car, they smoke".
Reference: Smoking in cars carrying children should be banned, says survey of parents by Joe Lepper, Children & Young People Now, 6/17/2010.
United Kingdom, UK, Britain, British Isles, Northern Ireland
kids, child, children, youngsters
auto, automobile, vehicle
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Bulgaria - NO decrease in cigarette excise tax..
June 19, 2010 - Bulgaria’s finance minister has made it clear that a decrease in cigarette excise duties by the end of the year is out of the question.“The increase in cigarette excise duties hit the market in April and the assessment of its effect is yet to be done. This is the reason why a decrease in excise duties can not be expected before the end of the year,” Minister Simeon Djankov told journalists in parliament on Thursday, June 17th. Asked whether the decrease has been planned for next year, Minister Djankov said this is a possible, but highly unlikely scenario.
The statement comes a day after Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov hinted that a decrease in excise duties for Bulgaria-made cigarettes may be on the agenda of the cabinet this year.
Following the tax hike from the beginning of the year, cigarette smuggling increased and the flow of revenues from excise duties to the budget marked a sharp fall. Finance Minister Simeon Djankov defended firmly his decision, attributing the boosted smuggling to the economic crisis.
Bulgarian smokers had to swallow a raise in excise duties on cigarettes and their prices as of April 1, as the government struggles to curb smoking and relieve the health care system. The new prices were introduced at the beginning of the year, but the grace period for cigarettes with old excise labels expired on April 1. (Bulgaria - grace period over, increase in tobacco tax starts Thursday, April 1, 2010..)
Under a decision that the parliament took at the end of November, a BGN 101 excise duty for 1000 cigarettes is introduced instead of the previous BGN 41, while the proportional tax is 23% of the sales price instead of 40,5%. The latter affects mostly expensive cigarette brands. The tax for tobacco for pipes and cigarettes is set at BGN 100 per kg. (Bulgaria - price of cigarettes increases..)
The new duties increased the price of a pack of cigarettes anywhere between BGN 1,10 and 1,40 making the price of the best-selling “Victory” brand BGN 4,60 instead of the current BGN 3,60. (Bulgaria - cigarette taxes going up each year except 2011..)
Bulgaria has the second highest percentage of smokers in Europe, but has recently abandoned plans to ban smoking in all public spaces. (Bulgaria - WHO upset with Bulgaria's weakened smoking ban..)
Reference: Bulgaria FinMin: Cigarette Tax Hike Here to Stay, Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency), 6/17/2010.
Bulgaria - related news briefs:
Bulgaria - tobacco growers again mass protests over unpaid subsidies..;
Bulgaria - govt no more tobacco growers protests over subsides..;
Bulgaria - were the cigarettes contraband or not..Moldova says NO..;
Bulgaria - Bulgartabac Holding sales jumped by 15-20 percent..;
Bulgaria - full smoking ban in force for 3-days officially abolished..;
Bulgaria - confusion over which public smoking ban is in force..;
Bulgaria - WHO upset with Bulgaria's weakened smoking ban..;
Bulgaria - weakened smoking ban, just added minors can't be in disco clubs after 10pm..;
Bulgaria - final vote delayed on weakened smoking ban..;
Bulgaria - weakened smoking ban, second reading..;
Bulgaria - commission tightens smoking ban a little..;
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..
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Bulgaria - tobacco growers again mass protests over unpaid subsidies..
The above amount was promised by the cabinet of the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party and is a compensation for the 2009 tobacco crop.
The organizers say the rallies will be peaceful. Anywhere between 7 000 and 10 000 people are expected to demonstrate in the Danube town of Dulovo, 5 000 in the southern town of Gotse Delchev, and about 3 000 in the southern town of Parvomay. Many of the tobacco growers have threatened to also go on hunger strike.
The organizers further say they will continue the protests until the Agriculture Ministry fulfills the clauses of the agreements and pays the subsidies, which were supposed to be received in March. The next deadline was slated as June 23, but the tobacco growers are weary because the revised budget would not be approved by then. The statement of Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, who said the budget would not need to be updated if the State stopped giving money to tobacco producers stirred even more tensions. (Bulgaria - govt no more tobacco growers protests over subsides..)
Mihail Velkov, Executive Director of the Milk Producers’ Association has stated that a number of the Bulgarian tobacco farmers, whose employment is problematic as the state is planning to cut their subsidies, could turn to sheep breeding for a living because of the great potential of this sector. (Bulgarian Farmers Hope to Export Sheep Milk to China, Saudi Arabia, Novinite.com, 6/30/2010)
Reference: Bulgarian Tobacco Growers Begin Mass Protests, Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency), 6/16/2010.
Bulgaria - tobacco farmers related news briefs:
Bulgaria - govt no more tobacco growers protests over subsides..;
Bulgaria - finance minister comments may be good news for tobacco farmers..;
Bulgaria - European Commission authorizes payment to tobacco producers for 2009 crop..;
Bulgaria - government, tobacco growers reach subsidy agreement..;
Read more...
Letter from US Senators (2) to tobacco companies..
June 17, 2010
Dear Tobacco Company:
We write to urge you to comply fully with the requirements and intent of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Public Law 111-31) by using truthful cigarette packaging and advertisements. Specifically, we are concerned by news reports indicating that cigarette companies intend to use colors and other methods to circumvent the law's ban on labeling cigarettes as "light" and "mild" and mislead customers to believe they are buying safer products.
When Congress passed this landmark legislation last June, we included a ban on using descriptors such as "light," "mild," or "low" in cigarette labeling or advertising beginning on June 22, 2010, one year after the date of enactment of the law. This prohibition was put in place to protect public health and prevent consumers from being misled to erroneously believe that products labeled with these terms are less harmful than "regular" or "full-flavor" cigarettes.
Research has definitively shown that although smoke from "light" cigarettes may feel smoother or lighter on the throat and chest, in fact these cigarettes are not less harmful than regular cigarettes. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has concluded that light cigarettes provide no benefit to smokers' health, as people who switch to light cigarettes from regular cigarettes are likely to inhale the same amount of hazardous chemicals and remain at high risk for developing smoking-related cancers and other diseases.
NCI researchers have also found that the strategies used by the tobacco industry to advertise and promote light cigarettes are intended to reassure smokers, to discourage them from quitting, and to lead consumers to perceive filtered and light cigarettes as safer alternatives to regular cigarettes. However, there is no evidence that switching to light or ultra-light cigarettes actually helps smokers quit.
The lower tar and nicotine content figures used to advertise light and ultralight cigarettes are also misleading. These numbers come from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) cigarette testing method, which uses machines to "smoke" every brand of cigarettes exactly the same way. As brought to light by a Senate Commerce Committee hearing in 2007, the smoking machines do not really tell how much tar and nicotine a particular smoker may inhale because people do not smoke cigarettes the same way the machines do. In fact, smokers may inhale more deeply; take larger, more rapid or more frequent puffs; or smoke a few extra cigarettes each day to consume enough nicotine to satisfy their craving. This practice of "compensating" means that smokers using these products inhale more tar, nicotine, and other harmful chemicals than the results of smoking machines suggest.
Given the compelling evidence that light cigarettes are no safer than ordinary cigarettes, we included a ban on the use of these descriptor terms in cigarette labeling and advertising in the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act in order to improve public health and reduce false perceptions. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidance this month to aid industry in understanding the prohibition on the use of these terms. We are aware that to comply with this ban, you will be required to change the packaging of your cigarettes.
However, we are concerned by recent news reports suggesting that cigarette companies are planning to replace the use of words such as "light" and "mild" with colors designed to evoke the terms used previously. Additionally, we understand that cigarette makers have included inserts in packs and displays at retail locations telling customers to "In the Future, Ask For Marlboro Silver Pack 100's or Camel Blues." Such packaging and inserts clearly circumvent the intent of the law by insinuating or implying that certain products are healthier or lower risk or that they are a continuation of a product that allegedly carried less risk in the past.
The use of color shapes perceptions of risks on all products. For example, many food products such as mayonnaise and soda use lighter colors on their packaging to distinguish between diet, light and regular products. Additionally, research on tobacco products specifically shows that smokers and nonsmokers perceive white and light colors on packages as an indication that a product is healthier.
When we passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, our unambiguous intention was to make cigarette labeling as transparent as possible. We urge you to be honest and forthright with your consumers after the new labeling requirements take effect. Consumers deserve to know the truth about the safety of your products, and attempts to mislead consumers into believing that certain products are safer than others will not be tolerated. We will be watching how you handle this transition and will not be silent if you perpetuate the myths about "light" cigarettes using new methods.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator
Frank R. Lautenberg
United States Senator
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