Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada could ban all types of advertising of tobacco in Ukraine under a new law now undergoing initial scrutiny. A bill on amendments to some laws concerning a ban of advertising, sponsorship and promotion of tobacco sales was passed by 303 MPs at first reading at a plenary meeting on Tuesday. The bill also suggests that the advertising of trademarks of goods and services and other objects of intellectual property rights under which tobacco is produced be prohibited. The sponsorship of television and radio programs, performances and concerts, sports and other events wit ... Jump to full article >>

Obese people across the country could be ‘bribed’ to take a walk as part of a controversial bid to make Britain a healthier nation. They are preparing to give their blessing to schemes which give schoolchildren Topshop vouchers and free cinema tickets – for doing nothing more than travelling to school on foot. And, in the future, millions of Britons from all ages could be offered financial rewards to take more exercise, shed the pounds – and improve their health in other ways. The proposals are contained in a public health white paper to be unveiled by Health Secretary ... Jump to full article >>

Gov. Bob McDonnell is looking to land a California biotechnology business with the help of a commission that has been struggling to fulfill its mission of revitalizing Virginia’s tobacco belt. McDonnell made a surprise visit yesterday to the executive committee of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, but not to talk about ways to tighten oversight of its finances in the wake of a $4 million fraud perpetrated on the panel by a former state finance secretary. Instead, the governor was there to tell the committee that he needs the commission’s ... Jump to full article >>

Tobacco companies call them “replacement smokers.” You call them your children. Either way, area kids are being targeted by cigarette makers with a massive amount of advertising in local stores according to a survey released today by Tri-County Tobacco Free Programs, the Reality Check Program and the American Cancer Society. Stores were randomly selected from a list of retailers licensed to sell tobacco in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties and 21 stores were visited during the month of October. Key findings of the Tri-county observational survey, released as part of th ... Jump to full article >>