World health officials recommended on Saturday limiting additives that make cigarettes more palatable, but they postponed until 2012 a number of other issues after five days of deliberations. The World Health Organization meeting in Uruguay’s fashionable beach resort of Punta del Este was aimed at fleshing out the so-called Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, which 171 countries have signed. The global public health treaty addresses tobacco industry marketing and cigarette smuggling. Delegates approved a proposal to limit the use of tobacco additives, which critics say improve the ... Jump to full article >>

The Wall Street Journal “Numbers Guy” blog said that while smokeless tobacco products remain far less popular than cigarettes in the United States, a collection of products that deliver nicotine without smoke—including dip, chew, snuff and newer items that look more like chewing gum—have sparked a heated debate about health risks. Opponents of these products have presented numbers that suggest smokeless tobacco is an enormous public-health threat akin to cigarettes, while supporters, including some scientists, suggest smokeless items could offer a solution to smoking’s to ... Jump to full article >>

Michael E. Szymanczyk, the CEO of Altria Group said the company has been occupying a solid and strong position in all segments of the, with Marlboro being top-selling cigarette across the nation, and strong competitors in smokeless tobacco products and cigars categories. Last week Altria Group Inc. revealed its fourth-quarter profits report and admitted that expenses cuts and strong performance by smokeless tobacco products resulted in a 7-percent increase in 4Q profits, despite the company has sold less cigarettes. Altria shut down its manufacturing plant in North Carolina to reduce expenses ... Jump to full article >>

U.S. health officials are seeking more information about the possible attraction and addiction of flavored, dissolvable tobacco products that regulators worry look too much like candy and can entice children. The products, made by Reynolds American Inc’s R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co and by Star Scientific Inc, contain powdered “smokeless” tobacco and are brightly colored, with flavors such as coffee and mint. Companies have argued that the products, which include dissolvable tablets, are aimed at adults who must deal with a growing number of smoking bans in public places as well ... Jump to full article >>

Philip Morris USA’s domestic volume cigarette sales last year, at 148.7 billion, were 12.2 per cent down on those of the previous year, 169.4 billion. Sales of Marlboro were down by 10.6 per cent to 126.5 billion, while sales of Parliament, Virginia Slims and Basic were down respectively by 26.9 per cent, 17.4 per cent and 23.9 per cent to 4.0 billion, 5.2 billion and 9.2 billion. Sales of ‘other’ brands were down by 6.8 per cent to 3.8 billion. During the fourth quarter to the end of December, sales of Marlboro, Parliament, Virginia Slims and Basic were down respectively 9.3 ... Jump to full article >>

Oklahoma received a failing grade for its 2009 funding of tobacco use-prevention programs, despite being one of only five states that actually increased such funding last year, according to a national report released Tuesday. But the Sooner State was in good company. Thirty-nine other states and the District of Columbia also received F’s in that category. In its annual State of Tobacco Control report, the American Lung Association graded all 50 states and the District of Columbia on tobacco prevention, smoke-free air, cigarette taxes and cessation coverage. “We know we have a long ... Jump to full article >>

The Association of National Advertisers (ANA), American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) and the American Advertising Federation (AAF) have filed a “friend of the court” brief regarding the constitutionality of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The motion was passed by Congress earlier this year and seeks to control, among other things, the way tobacco is advertised. Ultimately the goal is to prevent youth from picking up the habit. “While the Act claims to be protecting children from tobacco advertising, its sweeping restrictions would impermis ... Jump to full article >>

“We were advised by counsel late yesterday that RJ Reynolds Tobacco (RJR) had filed a Motion for Attorneys Fees and Excess Costs, as well as a Bill of Costs, with the US District Court for Maryland. We believe that this action by RJR in moving for attorneys fees, after a full trial on the merits, is completely frivolous and vexatious. The District Court has not yet ruled on the company’s Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law or, in the Alternative, a New Trial and no final judgment has been entered in the case. The premature timing of the motion for fees and costs therefore, makes ... Jump to full article >>

Senate committee passes PACT Act to extinguish Indian mail order tobacco trade. A Senate committee has approved a proposed bill that the Seneca Nation says would significantly impact its tobacco-based economy, its citizens, employees, and the financial well-being of western New York state. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act – PACT – Nov. 19. No date has been set for a full Senate vote, but if passed the PACT Act would prohibit the U.S. Postal Service from delivering cigarettes and certain other tobacco products, effectively putting Indian-owned ... Jump to full article >>

Pakistan has finally decided to stub it out, so to speak. Beginning next February, cigarette packs will have pictorial warnings to wean smokers away from, well, ending up in a smoke. Until now, any official attempt to check the menace was limited to observing the annual World No-Tobacco Day with sound and the odd fury but little action. Pakistan’s Ministry of Health has now mandated that cigarette packs will have picture-based health warnings that cover 40% of the principal display area on both the front and back of the packs. The decision has been hard-fought and hard-earned on the part of ... Jump to full article >>

Police and security guards have turned out in numbers to keep hundreds of anti-smoking activists at bay while protesting outside Tabinfo Asia 2009 at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani. The tobacco industry’s first major international exposition in years has drawn up to 3,000 participants from around the world. But it has also drawn widespread condemnation for promoting smoking in Asia. About 650 people representing students, media professionals, academics and non-governmental organisations gathered outside the exposition in protest against its being held in Thailand. They shouted “We ... Jump to full article >>