SUKHOTHAI : Nearly 10,000 families of Burley tobacco planters in Sukhothai have called on the Public Health Ministry to reconsider its plan to ban or phase out growing of two tobacco varieties. The ban on Burley and Oriental tobacco, in compliance with an international agreement on tobacco control, would leave only Virginia in the market, said Somnuek Yimpim, the headman of Thap Pueng subdistrict. The Public Health Ministry is preparing to ratify the pact initiated by the World Health Organisation in 2003. Three tobacco varieties now dominate the world market and Thailand grows all three: Virg ... Jump to full article >>

Ganesh mandals have pledged not to display gutkha, tobacco and liquor advertisements, even surrogate ones, this year onwards. The resolution was taken at a joint meeting of over 12,000 mandals last week. Following the statewide ban on gutkha advertisement in 2002, the BMC banned the use of the word “gutkha” at Ganesh Chaturthi, Dahi Handi and Navratri. Gutkha manufacturers had earlier sponsored Ganesh mandals and had large banners in and around pandals. After the ban, many put up surrogate ads. The Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvaya Samiti, the umbrella organisation of all manda ... Jump to full article >>

If owners of most of the 61 bars and restaurants exempt from Springfield’s 2003 restaurant smoking ban aren’t concerned about the proposed citywide ban on public smoking, at least one retailer is – and he plans to fight. The co-owner of Just For Him LLC has taken up the sword. The shop, a men’s gift, cigar and tobacco store in Fremont Center, has a smoking room customers can use to sample their purchases. The ban would force Just For Him to close the room and possibly the store, said co-owner Christian Hutson, who bought the store last year. “If we are unable to smoke in my cigar sho ... Jump to full article >>

Indonesia on Tuesday asked the World Trade Organisation to rule on a dispute with the United States over a ban on sales of Indonesian clove cigarettes. Washington had banned the production and sales of clove cigarettes under a health act that also blocks the sales of other flavoured cigarettes such as grape, coffee or strawberry, in a bid to prevent the young from getting hooked on smoking. But Indonesia argued that the act had not been applied uniformly as it did not cover menthol cigarettes. “Indonesia cannot understand why menthol cigarettes can continue to be sold while clove cigaret ... Jump to full article >>

Menthol cigarettes now account for more than one-quarter of all cigarettes sold in the U.S. In fact, menthols — often described as “cooling,” “soothing,” and “smooth” — make up a growing share of the shrinking cigarette market. Between 2004 and 2008, the percentage of adult smokers who smoked them increased from 30 percent to 34 percent. Experts say that menthol cigarettes’ minty flavor makes them more appealing to young people, more addictive, and harder to quit than regular cigarettes. Menthol is the “ultimate candy flavoring,” ... Jump to full article >>

CEO of World Duty Free reveals plans to remove tobacco from stores as airport retail chain endures a £250,000-a-day sales hit from British Airways strike Cigarettes will disappear from Britain’s duty free shops after a period of being sold from “behind closed doors” as the Government tightens anti-smoking laws. Mark Riches, chief executive of World Duty Free, Britain’s biggest airport shopping chain, expects to set up closed-off areas for cigarette sales from 2013, in which the brands won’t be on display. The company aims to replace its most profitable product a ... Jump to full article >>

China’s Ministry of Health today banned smoking in hospitals but health advocates and anti-smoking activists say a promised national ban on smoking in public places has yet to take shape. China’s 300 million smokers consume a third of the world’s cigarettes. A million of them die each year from smoking-related illnesses, burdening families and the public health system. That figure is expected to increase to two million by 2020, according to a study by the Paris-based International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. But activists say they have not yet seen signs of ... Jump to full article >>

A proposal to ban the sale of tobacco products within 1,000 feet of schools was snuffed out Tuesday and sent back to the drawing board. Intended to curb smoking among kids, Mayor Gavin Newsom’s legislation to ban tobacco sales near schools was opposed by the business owners it would impact. Members of the Board of Supervisors have questioned the soundness of policies that restrict business. On Tuesday, Supervisor John Avalos made a motion to send the legislation back to a board committee for further discussion about “our enforcement efforts and also ways that we could provide a carrot appr ... Jump to full article >>

Being a front runner in the global fight against tobacco use, Australia has introduced a landmark measure to prohibit brand logo and product info on cigarette packs by 2010, a law that would eliminate flagship logos such Marlboro chevron and Pall Mall emblem from the shelves. According to the measure, the tobacco companies would be banned from placing any brand labels, colors or text on the packs of their products. Instead, the packs would only contain uniform black-and-white letters, and the most part of each pack will be occupied by graphic health warnings. But tobacco industry is preparing ... Jump to full article >>

A smoking ban that few are expected to abide by went into effect in Syria Wednesday, a country where people light up even in hospitals. The ban targets most public places such as restaurants, cafes, schools, universities, hospitals, parks, movie theaters, museums and public transport. The law, which also forbids the sale of cigarettes to minors, was approved six months ago by President Bashar Assad, a British-trained eye doctor. The Middle East’s favorite pastime — smoking water pipes — is also prohibited in public under the new law except in well-ventilated and designated areas. Als ... Jump to full article >>

A Manchester shopkeeper has requested a judicial review of government plans to remove cigarettes from display. John Rastegar, 46, owner of Lakeland Grocers’ on Deansgate, claims his business will suffer if he is forced to hide cigarettes and remove brand signs. He has joined Philip Morris in a legal fight, funded by the tobacco company, to question the validity of the legislation, to be phased in from 2011. Mr Rastegar claims the law will cause queues, confusion and increased theft. [caption id="attachment_4478" align="alignleft" width="203" caption="Taking cigarettes off display is aime ... Jump to full article >>