November 2023
King’s Speech lays out plans for a smokefree future
King Charles III today confirmed that the UK Government will introduce legislation to raise the age of sale for tobacco, ensuring no one currently aged 14 or under can ever be legally sold cigarettes or other tobacco products. The announcement, made in the King’s Speech during the state opening of Parliament, follows on from last...
Sweden’s snus EU future still uncertain amid tobacco directive evaluation
The future of Sweden’s snus, a moist oral tobacco product currently banned in the EU, will be decided based on the ongoing evaluation of the tobacco directive, a European Commission spokesperson told Euractiv. Snus has been banned in the EU since 1992 but is still used in Sweden and in non-EU countries, including Switzerland and...
Nicotine pouch legalization opens door for new vices
Public health experts concerned about novel, illegal products A new form of nicotine consumption is emerging across in Canada, leaving public health experts concerned. At Queen’s, its market share is still in question. Small nicotine pouches are gaining popularity in Canada but remain illegal in high concentrations. Public health experts weigh in on whether the spike...
About 2.8 mln U.S. middle, high schoolers use tobacco products in 2023
Use of tobacco products in any form by youths is unsafe, says CDC. LOS ANGELES, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- About 2.8 million U.S. middle and high school students used tobacco products in 2023, according to a report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday. E-cigarettes remained the most commonly used...
COP10 Postponed
The Tenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the Third session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP3) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products have been postponed to 2024. “Following communication received from Panama, the host country of the...
FG vows to tackle tobacco use by children in Nigeria
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackle tobacco use by children in Nigeria. Dr Jamila Ibrahim, Minister of Youth and Social. The development made the commitment in Abuja on Friday when Ms Bintou Camara, Regional Director, Tobacco Control Programme (AFRO) Campaign for Tobacco–Free Kids paid her a courtesy visit. Ibrahim said that tobacco smoking...
WHO, others lament tobacco industry interference in Nigeria
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and other stakeholders have bemoaned what they called the high incidences of tobacco industry interference in Nigeria and on the continent, saying more should be done to protect public health policies from commercial and vested interests. Referencing data from the latest Africa Tobacco Industry Interference Index, they noted that Kenya, Nigeria and...
Kenya Urged to Hike Excise Duties
Kenya should increase its cigarette excise duties in line with World Health Organization guidelines, according to coalition of health experts, tobacco control advocates and national development policy specialists, reports People Daily Kenya. The call comes in response to the government’s 2023-2024 financial budget, which for the first time in a decade maintains cigarette tax levels at...
