Major Tobacco Companies Back Bulgaria's Excise Policies

Leading international companies - Philip Morris, Bulgartabac Holding, British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International and Imperial Tobacco - have expressed their support for Bulgarian government's excise policies.

The general managers of Philip Morris Bulgaria, Bulgartabac Holding, British American Tobacco Bulgaria, Japan Tobacco International Bulgaria and Imperial Tobacco Bulgaria met Wednesday with Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, Finance Minister Simeon Djankov, and Customs Agency head Vanyo Tanov, and Angel Antonov, head of the Criminal Police Directorate.

Finance Minister Djankov has stressed the need of predictability and stability with respect to the cigarette excise as a measure against illicit cigarette trade.

He further supported the inclusion in the Excise Act of a timetable for changes of the excise in the period until 2018 as stipulated by Directive 2010/12/ of the EC.

The representatives of the cigarette industry have declared full support for the intentions of the Bulgarian government to maintain a stable excise regime at least until 2013 – when the Cabinet's term expires. They have also praised the efforts to crack down on cigarette contraband, and vowed to help the government any way they can.

The major prerequisites for achieving positive results are a stable and effective excise regime and the strict application of the counter contraband legislation. We see the determination of the government to fight the illegal cigarette trade and will continue to back these efforts," declared Nikitas Teofilopulos, General Manager of Phillip Morris Bulgaria, after the meeting.

Tobacco display ban faces challenge

A legal challenge to the Government's plan to ban cigarettes and other tobacco products from being openly displayed in shops is to take place in the autumn.
Applications for judicial review by an alliance of big tobacco groups and corner shop traders were due to be heard next month.

But on Tuesday a High Court judge sitting in London agreed to adjourn the five-day hearing until the second half of October because of current uncertainties.
Lord Pannick QC, appearing for the tobacco alliance, said new regulations were due to be enacted by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley affecting the ban, which is aimed in particular at reducing youth smoking levels.

The QC argued the adjournment was necessary so that the legal challenge, which he said was of considerable general public importance, could take account of revised regulations, and not out-dated draft versions.
Mr Justice Ouseley ordered the adjournment after being assured by Lord Pannick the issues in the case would be "sufficiently concrete" by the second half of October for the hearing to go ahead.
The prohibition on behind-the-counter cigarette displays is being attacked as an "unjustified and disproportionate" violation of article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to freedom of expression, and in breach of EU trading laws.

The tobacco alliance is accusing the Health Secretary of substantially underestimating the impact and costs of the ban, which is due to take effect in large shops from April 2012 and for all other shops from April 2015.
In a ministerial statement last week, Mr Lansley announced regulations governing the proposed ban were being amended to make it "more practical" for shopkeepers to put it into effect and to ease "burdens on business".

Opponents argue the new law will trigger a surge in illicit sales and organised crime, as well as pushing many legitimate small traders out of business, and say there is no credible evidence to suggest that restricting tobacco displays will reduce youth smoking levels.

Public speaks in favor of tobacco ban on Scarborough beaches

Many residents and beach users came out on a rainy Wednesday night to attend a public hearing on whether the town should ban smoking and tobacco use on its public beaches.

All but one speaker were in favor of the ban, many citing the effects of second-hand smoke and litter from cigarette butts as the reason for their support of the ordinance.

"My family feels pretty strongly against smoking on the beach," resident Jim Brady said. "We really enjoy the beaches and would be much happier if we could enjoy it more healthily."

Resident Tom Ranello spoke about his daughter's asthma.

"Having to worry about Emma’s asthma because of someone’s addiction to cigarettes doesn’t make sense to me," he said.

Resident Tom Schneller was the only person to speak against the amendment.

"I’m a smoker. I'm sorry. I know we’re the worst people in the world," Schneller said. "I'm also a surf fisherman. I spend a ton of hours down on the beaches of Maine."

He said if the ordinance passed, he would no longer be able to enjoy the town's beaches.

The ordinance amendment — which would ban use of all tobacco products, including snuff, dip and chewing tobacco, cigarettes, cigars and pipes within 25 feet of town beaches except in designated smoking areas — comes after several citizens asked the Ordinance Committee to consider a ban to help deal with exposure to second-hand smoke and cigarette butts left on beaches.

Smoking is already banned at all Maine state parks, including Scarborough Beach. The new ordinance would include Higgins, Pine Point and Ferry beaches.

Several doctors, as well as representatives from public health agencies spoke during the hearing.

"As someone who works in public health, I can all think of changes that have helped make tremendous strides in this country," said Lisa Letourneau, a resident and executive director of Maine Quality Counts. "We know those changes make a profound impact."

Support tobacco-free parks in Auburn

The Cayuga County Tobacco Free Partnership is part of a New York statewide program working to prevent and reduce tobacco use to improve the health of New Yorkers. This is a statewide program that is working towards creating healthy environments for all community members. Many individuals will be opposed to these efforts but honestly, if each individual would look at the entire picture and see what the overall purpose truly is, you might feel differently.

The Auburn City Council proposed a ban on all city parks to alleviate smoking within the vicinity to create “smoke free parks and playgrounds.” In all reality, doesn't everyone want a safe and healthy environment for their family and children to enjoy? Outdoor parks and playgrounds were built for families and children of all ages to have a safe environment for physical activity and enjoyment.

“The New York Tobacco Control Program and its partners work to protect children from tobacco use and to help adult smokers quit. Reducing tobacco use is an effective investment in New York's future.” — state Department of Health.
Overall this initiative is the sole purpose of creating a healthier environment for all residents.
In a recent article in The Citizen, “Central NY smoking rate tops national average,” the central New York region has the second highest smoking rate among adults in the five regions in upstate New York. Why is this?

As a community we need to work together more as a whole and work to improve the environment around us. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed to be consumed while your children are playing on the playground, why is it difficult to understand that smoking shouldn’t be acceptable either? Why subject the younger generation to addictions that so many are trying to get over?

Overall, the message here is, the Cayuga County Tobacco Free Partnership Program and the NY State Tobacco Control program is designed to create effective messages to diminish the acceptability of this deadly habit and build a healthier environment for all of us to live, work and play in. Be supportive. Our community needs a change.

Ingestion of cigarettes among children has toxic effects

In recognition of National Poison Prevention Week, March 20 to 26, Healthy Waldo County is alerting the public that cigarettes and cigarette butts may poison children who ingest them.

In 2007, the American Association of Poison Control Centers received more than 7,735 reports of potentially toxic exposures to tobacco products among children younger than six years of age in the United States. Most cases of nicotine poisoning among children result from their ingestion of cigarettes or chewing tobacco.

The Northern New England Poison Center received reports of 140 Maine children ingesting cigarettes or cigarette butts in past two years. Most ingestions happen in homes where children are exposed to secondhand smoke and where cigarettes and ashtrays are kept within the reach of children.

“Adults who smoke in the home may not be aware of the danger of cigarettes and cigarette butts to children,” said Andrea Walker, Healthy Waldo County chairperson.

“Children aged 6 to 24 months old are actively exploring their environment and often put things into their mouths. It is very important that parents and caregivers always store tobacco products out of the reach of children always and that they do not smoke around children because of the health hazards of inhaling secondhand smoke”, said Barbara Crowley, program specialist with Healthy Waldo County.

While minor toxic clinical effects may occur, such as vomiting, nausea, lethargy, gagging, and a pale or flushed appearance, there have also been reports of severe toxicity among children who ingested cigarettes, cigarette butts, or snuff, including depressed respiration, cardiac arrhythmia, and convulsions. If ingestion does occur, a poison-control center should be consulted to assess the risks for serious toxicity and determine treatment.

In addition to preventing nicotine poisonings, avoiding the use of tobacco products in the presence of children should:

· decrease the risk for lower respiratory and middle ear infections in children;

· reduce the risk that children will smoke in the future; and

· decrease children's access to lighted cigarettes, matches, and cigarette lighters, thereby reducing fires started by children — a leading cause of fire-related deaths among children younger than five years of age.

Parents and guardians who want to quit should seek health care advice; call Barbara at 930-2650; or call the Maine Tobacco Helpline at 1-800-207-1230 for smoking cessation information and referrals.

Florida Cigarette Maker Battles Proposed State Fees

Freda Witherspoon marched up to the counter to buy cigarettes at a Kwik Stop store here, and bypassed the big-name tobacco brands.
"Give me two packs of DTC," said the 53-year-old Ms. Witherspoon. The price: just $4 a pack.

Little known outside Florida, DTC, which stands for Dosal Tobacco Corp., has become a major player in the Sunshine State, selling nearly as many smokes statewide as Reynolds American Inc., the second-largest U.S. tobacco maker by revenue.

"They're cheap, and they have a good taste," said Ms. Witherspoon, who has smoked DTCs for 15 years.

Big tobacco makers, however, hope to stub out the Miami-based cigarette maker's growth. Reynolds, Altria Group Inc. and other industry giants are lobbying the Florida Legislature to close what they say is a loophole that allows Dosal to sell its cigarettes at cut-rate prices.

In the session that began last week, state lawmakers are expected to consider several bills that would impose fees of about 50 cents a pack on Dosal and other smaller producers.
Dosal has survived similar campaigns before, but this time its larger rivals are turning up the heat at a time when Florida, which faces a $3.6 billion budget deficit, is under pressure to find new funds.

The big tobacco makers' beef against Dosal is rooted in a 1997 settlement they signed with Florida, which sued them to recoup the money its Medicaid program spent on treating sick smokers. Under the settlement, Altria, Reynolds, Lorillard Inc. and other major companies agreed to make payments to the state that have totaled more than $300 million a year.

Dosal was the only small tobacco producer sued by the state, partly because Florida accounted for the bulk of its sales. But it was ultimately dropped from the lawsuit because its market share at the time was tiny—less than 2%.

As a result, Dosal and other small producers aren't required to pay settlement-related fees to Florida, which pursued its own litigation, rather than joining the so-called 1998 master settlement the major tobacco companies reached with 46 other states.

Exempting Dosal and about 30 other small players from the settlement fees has tilted the playing field, giving them a cost advantage of about 40 to 50 cents a pack, according to Altria and Reynolds.

That's at least partly why Dosal is roughly tied for sales with Reynolds, the No. 2 player in Florida behind Altria's Philip Morris USA unit. The industry's largest players dominate the market in most states, making Dosal, whose Florida market share was 18% in the second half of last year, an unusual case.
"Essentially, they are taking advantage of a loophole to get these huge market shares," said Frank Lester, a spokesman for Reynolds, maker of Camel and Pall Mall.

Lawyers for Dosal argue that imposing a fee on the company would be unfair. Dosal, they say, wasn't involved in the alleged industry practices, such as manipulating the nicotine content of cigarettes, that triggered the wave of lawsuits against major tobacco makers in the 1990s.

Dosal's chief executive, Yolanda Nader, said the company's value pricing has helped fuel its robust growth. Cigarette prices in Florida range from about $4 a pack for Dosal and other bargain brands to about $6 a pack for Philip Morris's Marlboros.

It doesn't hurt that Dosal, which is housed in a former boat factory, has deep roots here. It was founded in 1962 by an eponymous cigarette-making family that left Cuba after the revolution, and has been controlled since 1992 by Margarita Dosal. The company's 305's, it's top-selling brand, was named for a Miami area code.

But the real key to the company's success, according to Ms. Nader, is the "greedy" larger tobacco companies, which have raised prices sharply over the years, especially after cigarette-tax increases. "They've done more to help us than what we have done," she said.

Mayor Fuming Over Camel Cigarette Ad Campaign

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu usually welcomes national attention of New Orleans, but not by a cigarette company. One campaign ad has him fuming.

The ad that shows Joe Camel in front of New Orleans which actually read "N'Awlins" and other things like "where voodoo queens preside" and "party people get down." Mayor Landrieu doesn't like the campaign at all and so he wrote a letter to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.

"There was a lot of aggressive advertising to young smokers and I think that was inappropriate. You know when I was in the legislature, I worked really hard to reduce the cancer rate in the state of Louisiana and especially aggressive targeting to youths for smoking I think is inappropriate, and Camel did that and so we asked them to stop," Landrieu said.

We found some New Orleans residents downtown who really agree with Mayor Landrieu but we found others who really believe he should really be doing some more.

"Cigarettes will kill you. It will kill you. You get hooked on them. You can't get off of them for some reason, I don't know, but I'll go along with the mayor," said New Orleans resident Shirley Hicks.

"I don't that cigarette companies should be advertising about New Orleans without the consent of the city or anything like that. While New Orleans is great for having a party and stuff like that, it's not always the best thing to do, as we're trying to get healthier as a city, as a society and stuff like that," said New Orleans resident Alexander Huseman.

"So in reference to kids stop smoking. Yeah, more power to him. You want to build up revenue. You want to build up tourism for New Orleans pick your poison," said New Orleans resident Kerry Watson.

Some wonder, why he's not going after alcohol companies also picking up on the mardi gras theme, whether it's beer or a bottle of booze to get people in the Carnival spirit.

The campaign was late last year, and we couldn't find any of the New Orleans-themed Camel cigarettes left on the shelves.