Zimbabwe’s tobacco crop grows, despite high fertilizer costs
Zimbabwe, Africa's largest tobacco producer, opened its tobacco-selling season Wednesday, with a speech by the vice president and eager international buyers. The size of the tobacco crop increased despite increased fertilizer prices caused by the war in Ukraine. Zimbabwe expects to harvest 230 million kilograms (254,000 tons) of the golden leaf this season, up from...
Raising tobacco taxes is a win-win for governments
This week, technical experts from the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Revenue Authorities, Ministries of Health in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar and WHO Country Office are meeting to deep dive into tobacco taxation - the most effective and most cost-effective measure to reduce tobacco consumption. Through technical assistance from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco...
Kenya anti-smoking activists face new challenge in tobacco substitutes
Increasing use of e-cigarettes has posed challenges to tobacco control in Kenya, a major tobacco control organization in the country said, calling for effective regulations over e-cigarettes and other tobacco substitutes. According to Thomas Lindi, the coordinator of the Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance — a non-governmental organization fighting the use of tobacco in Kenya —...
Teens who turn to vaping report more anxiety, depression
For decades, people turned to cigarettes in times of stress. Now, a preliminary study hints that young people are using vaping in the same way. The study, of nearly 2,000 U.S. teenagers and young adults, found that those who vaped nicotine or marijuana were more likely to report anxiety, depression or suicidal thoughts. In fact,...
NEW REPORT – The Price We Pay: Six Industry Pricing Strategies That Undermine Life-Saving Tobacco Taxes
A report published by global tobacco industry watchdog STOP entitled The Price We Pay reveals that tobacco companies in Africa and around the world are using pricing strategies to weaken the impact of tax increases designed to reduce the health and economic costs of tobacco use. The report highlights six industry pricing strategies that undermine life-saving tobacco...
Raising tobacco taxes is a win-win for governments
Technical experts from the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Revenue Authorities, Ministries of Health in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar and WHO Country Office met to deep dive into tobacco taxation - the most effective and most cost-effective measure to reduce tobacco consumption. Through technical assistance from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Knowledge...
UK campaigners call for tighter regulations on vapes to match tobacco
To tackle their popularity with children, campaigners and councils want vapes to be taxed and sold in plain packaging behind counter. Vapes should be taxed and displayed in plain packaging behind the counter to reduce their popularity among children, health campaigners and councils have warned. To tackle the rapidly growing popularity among children and young people,...
Banning tobacco in Nigeria
There have been repeated campaigns, warning and awareness programmes by health experts, advocacy groups, non-governmental organisations and government agencies against tobacco consumption due to its adverse health effects. Despite all these, millions of smokers in Nigeria have refused to yield to the warning, while tobacco companies and distributors still smile to the bank with huge...
Kenya Proposes Higher Tobacco Stamp Duties
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) wants to increase the stamp duty on combustible cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and other nicotine-delivery devices to KES5 ($0.04) from KES2.8, reports The Star. The agency has invited the public to give its views on the proposal by Feb. 3. The move to appears to be in response to President William Ruto’s directive...
Put hefty taxes on alcohol, cigarettes to generate funds to fight cancer
Breast Care International (BCI), a member of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), has urged the government to impose high levies on cigarettes, and alcohol to support cancer fight. According to Dr. Beatrice Wiafe-Addai, President of BCI, hefty taxes will discourage the use of cigarettes and alcohol in order to stem the cancer cases...
