An absolute measure will limit freedom of choice. But the approach may be worthwhile, if only to show the rest of the world whether it can succeed. If you’re a smoker who wants to indulge your habit while gazing over the mountains of the South Pacific, you’d do well to move fast. New Zealand last...
The EU Ombudsman has launched an inquiry to assess if the European Commission complies with transparency obligations over tobacco lobbying – ahead of upcoming revisions of rules targeting tobacco consumption. Emily O'Reilly, who investigates maladministration in the EU institutions, has asked the EU executive to provide all documents concerning meetings with tobacco lobbyists in 2020...
“Tobacco Harm-Reduction Experts” are pushing WHO to loosen its stance on new tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches. These products are falsely marketed as safer and more sustainable options to deadly cigarettes, misleading consumers, media and international institutions. Prior to COP9 to the WHO FCTC, over 40 organizations and professors...
Altria and Philip Morris International are no longer able to sell or import Iqos tobacco devices in the U.S. after the Biden administration opted to take no action on an ongoing patent dispute. A separate claim filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office could restore the devices back on the market in...
In 2018, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko radically restructured the country’s tobacco industry to benefit his close crony Aliaksei Aleksin, who until then had been better known as an energy tycoon. Just months after receiving these favors, Aleksin made a pricey gift of nine cars and motorcycles to Lukashenko’s bodyguard service, OCCRP has found. The donations,...
More girl students than boys, in the age group of 13 to 15 years, use and smoke tobacco in the state, the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS-4), a component of the Global Tobacco Surveillance System (GTSS), has revealed. About the survey Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) is a cross-sectional, nationally representative school-based survey of students in...
Despite limits on tobacco advertising, researchers say children are still seeing plenty of ads for tobacco and e-cigarettes. Most of the exposure comes from social media and in-store advertisements. Experts say parents should monitor their children’s social media sites as well as talk to them about the health dangers of smoking and vaping. Tobacco...
Tobacco control is working—slowly. The number of people smoking worldwide has declined and tobacco-attributable deaths are falling. This progress is evident in WHO's fourth report on international tobacco trends, released on Nov 16, which estimates 1·30 billion tobacco users globally in 2020, compared with 1·32 billion in 2015. 60 countries are now on track—versus 32 countries...
Hong Kong Customs said they seized approximately 27 million “suspected illicit cigarettes” last week during a raid on an industrial complex in the island’s Tuen Mun region and arrested a 31-year-old man. The cigarettes are estimated to be worth HK$76 million (US$9.7 million) on the open market. In Hong Kong, the trade or possession of illicit cigarettes...
The State Council of China amended its tobacco monopoly law Friday to include regulations for e-cigarettes and vaping. This result comes after months of deliberation by the Chinese government to regulate electronic tobacco consumption. E-cigarette sales have been functioning in the grey area of the law since they became popular in China. Following the amendment, they will...
