“Tobacco industry exaggerations of illicit trade should not deter tobacco tax increases”
While an overstatement of the illicit trade of tobacco products may suit the tobacco-industry agenda when it comes to mid-term budgets, it should not deter strong tax increases aimed at reducing tobacco consumption in South Africa, says Dr Sharon Nyatsanza of the National Council Against Smoking. Focus should fall on strong law enforcement and securing...
New study adds to evidence that bans of menthol cigarettes help smokers to quit
A new study concludes that the 2020 European ban on menthol cigarettes made it more likely that menthol smokers would quit smoking, supporting previous Canadian research on the positive public health impact of banning menthol cigarettes. Christina Kyriakos, from Imperial College London, led the study in collaboration with researchers from Maastricht University and the Trimbos...
Tobacco control stakeholders meeting: 6,700 Ghanaians die annually… from tobacco-related illnesses
More than 6,700 Ghanaians die annually from tobacco-related illnesses. Of the number, 4,422 representing 66 per cent died prematurely under age 70 while 1,206 representing 18 per cent lost their lives due to exposure to second-hand smoke. To address the growing trend, DrBaffourAwuah, Acting Director of Technical Coordination and Special Advisor on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Ministry...
Africa needs stronger weapons to tackle illicit, conflict-fuelling tobacco trade
The South African government has recently stepped up its efforts to address the country’s rampant illicit tobacco trade. The South African Revenue Service (SARS), facing a severe and persistent reduction of cigarette excise tax revenues, is now endeavouring to curb the illicit tobacco trade by enhancing inspections and search and seizure operations against cigarette companies and...
Philip Morris appoints two former U.S. FDA officials to key roles
Philip Morris International Inc said on Wednesday it had appointed two former U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials to key positions at a time when tobacco companies have come under intense regulatory and public scrutiny. The maker of Marlboro cigarettes said Badrul Chowdhury, who spent more than two decades at the FDA, has been...
CAPPA tasks NFCVB on enforcement of ban on TAPS
In its continued bid to reduce tobacco-related diseases and deaths in the country, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa has urged the National Films and Video Censors Board (NFCVB) to, as a matter of urgency, enforce the ban on Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorships (TAPS) with particular emphasis on the movies and entertainment...
Children whose fathers breathed cigarette smoke more likely to get asthma – study
Research offers evidence that tobacco could damage health of people two generations later Children are much more likely to develop asthma if their father was exposed to tobacco smoke when he was growing up, a study has found. And they are at even greater risk of suffering from the common lung condition if their father was...
Pakistan Among Top 10 Tobacco Consumers In World’
ISLAMABAD – Speakers at a sensitization session on Wednesday underlined the need of multisectoral tobacco control policy, to control mushrooming trend of tobacco use in Pakistan as the country falls among the top ten tobacco consumers in the world. The capacity building among legislator, media and academia was imperative to control the...
How tobacco industry keeps smokers hooked
In Summary Two studies from the UK identify the use of price smoothing and package downsizing strategies by the tobacco industry. The other strategy employed by the industry revolves around reclassification of products or changing their physical attributes. In 2018 only 38 countries, covering 14 per cent of the global population, had adequately high tobacco...
