Tobacco Industry Exploiting Nigeria’s Weak Regulations to Glamourise Smoking in Entertainment Industry
A non governmental organsation, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), has lamented that the tobacco industry is exploiting Nigeria’s weak tobacco control regulations and poor enforcement to glamourise smoking in Nollywood, Kannywood and in music videos. Its Executive Director, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, stated this yesterday while addressing a press conference in Abuja. He said the...
Australia: New images to be used to warn of health risks from smoking
Graphic new warnings on tobacco packs are being rolled out during 2021 encouraging smokers and children to think twice. The suite of hard hitting new warnings from Australia – due to the UK no long being able to use previous EU images – include lung cancer, clogged arteries, harm to unborn babies and blindness. And a...
MPOWER package of data-driven tobacco control measures helps protect up to 5 billion lives
At least 5 billion people are now covered by at least one of the live-saving MPOWER measures designed to address the worldwide tobacco epidemic. This includes 1 billion people who have benefited from positive steps taken by their countries to incorporate improved tobacco tax policies and 1.6 billion people who are now protected from second-hand...
Countries share examples of how tobacco tax policies create win-wins for development, health and revenues
In 2018 only 38 countries, covering 14% of the global population had sufficiently high tobacco taxes - which means taxing at least 75% of the cost of these health-harming products. By implementing proven policies like tobacco taxes, the costs created by the tobacco industry to local communities and nation can be avoidable. It is...
UK: Nicotine pouch ad banned for implying stimulant effect for gamers
The advertising regulator said the ad was irresponsible for implying that the product had a mood-altering and stimulant effect. An ad for a nicotine pouch has been banned for implying that it had a stimulant effect that made gaming more enjoyable. The video ad for Nordic Spirit, seen in December on the Crunchyroll anime streaming service...
We can build a fairer, healthier Africa when we effectively tackle the maneuvers of the tobacco industry.
Lomé, 07 April 2021 This year, World Health Day mandates us to reflect on measures to make the world fairer and healthier. The World Health Organization notes that the world is currently an unequal one because “as COVID-19 has highlighted, some people are able to live healthier lives and have better access to health services...
South Africa: Illegal cigarette consignment to be destroyed
Government’s renewed vigour to eliminate illegal tobacco imports and exports will be demonstrated on Friday when a multi-department operation will see 12 million cigarettes being destroyed. The consignment, which has a R18 million market value will be destroyed at the State Warehouse, at no.9 FW de Klerk Boulevard, Cape Town Foreshore at 8am. In a statement,...
Zambia: CSOs ask Parley to table tobacco control bill
Zambia Consortium on Tobacco Control calls for the tabling of tobacco control legislation (the Tobacco Control Bill) before Parliament. Zambia Media Network Against Tobacco Chairperson Paxina Phiri said the Tobacco Control Bill is in essence a domestication of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) to which Zambia became a signatory on 23 May...
Study: Only 45% smokeless tobacco factories pay taxes in Bangladesh
91% of manufacturers produce SLT products manually in small, unmarked factories or houses A significant number of smokeless tobacco (SLT) manufacturers of Bangladesh have managed to avoid the government's tax net, according to a study by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK). The study reveals that among the 483 SLT factories in the country, only 218...
How the tobacco industry seized on the pandemic as an opportunity
To mark World Health Day, Croakey’s Melissa Sweet digs into a report investigating tobacco industry efforts to undermine public health regulations globally. Many of the report’s themes are relevant for other industries that harm health; its section on the “revolving door” between industry and government/policy makers brings to mind the fossil fuels sector. In the first...
