Download PDF : CTAUKDeptHealthPlainPak (2)
May 18th, 2012:
Template response to government consultation on standardised packaging of tobacco products
Introduction
This template has been produced by ASH to support the international tobacco control community in preparing responses to the Department of Health consultation on plain, standardised packaging of tobacco products.
Wherever possible, responses should be submitted electronically via the Department of Health website in order to facilitate analysis. The deadline for submission is 10th July 2012.
The electronic response form and supporting documents are available at:
http://consultations.dh.gov.uk/tobacco/standardised-packaging-of-tobacco-products/consult_view .
Any questions about this template response should be directed in the first instance to Debbie Millward at ASH debbie.millward@ash.org.uk.
IntroductionThis template has been produced by ASH to support the international tobacco control community in preparing responses to the Department of Health consultation on plain, standardised packaging of tobacco products.Wherever possible, responses should be submitted electronically via the Department of Health website in order to facilitate analysis. The deadline for submission is 10th July 2012.The electronic response form and supporting documents are available at:http://consultations.dh.gov.uk/tobacco/standardised-packaging-of-tobacco-products/consult_view .Any questions about this template response should be directed in the first instance to Debbie Millward at ASH debbie.millward@ash.org.uk.
Download PDF : UKPPcons_Template response_INTERNATIONAL_FINAL2
Macau (China) requires 50% picture warnings effective 2013
Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China, has finalized a requirement for picture warnings to appear on 50% of the front and back of cigarette packages effective January 1, 2013. The warnings will appear in Chinese on one side and Portuguese on the other. Picture warnings will also appear on packages for other tobacco products.
Just as Hong Kong is a former British colony, Macau is a former Portuguese colony (Macau and Hong Kong are located quite close to each other). That Macau has required picture warnings is helpful to make the case for all of China to improve warnings, including to require picture warnings.
Picture warnings have now been required by Macau and Hong Kong. Taiwan has required picture warnings. And Singapore – a Chinese speaking country – has also required picture warnings.
The new Macau warnings are required by Administrative Regulation No. 16/2012, approved on May 4, 2012. To see a Portuguese version of the regulation (with a link to a pdf of a bilingual Chinese/Portuguese version), including images of the new picture warnings, visit:
http://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/2012/20/regadm16.asp
The regulations are authorized by Law No. 5/2011, approved April 25, 2011. This law specifies that the warning size is to be at least 50%. To see a Portuguese version of the law (with a link to a pdf of a bilingual Chinese/Portuguese version), visit:
http://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/2011/18/lei05.asp
Worldwide, there are now at least 56 countries/jurisdictions that have finalized requirements for picture warnings.
Govt urged to forbid tobacco companies from doing social activities
BANGKOK, 18 May 2012 – Action on Smoking and Health Foundation has urged
the government to forbid the tobacco industry from conducting social
activities, in compliance with the World Health Organization (WHO)
Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC).
As the World No Tobacco Day is approaching on May 31st, anti smoking
activists have reported that many tobacco companies in ASEAN have been
conducting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects to forge good
relations with law makers in the countries they are located in. The
activists said they are trying to create good image for themselves,
making people believe that cigarettes are common in the society and
reducing the no-smoking campaigns’ intensity. In the meantime, these
cigarette companies are violating the FCTC, which indicates that social
activities are considered advertisements.
Around 6 million people worldwide die from smoking yearly, 600,000 of
those are second-hand smokers. In Thailand, around 500,000 new smokers
are reported each year. Today there are 13 million Thai smokers, with
most of them being in the range of 15-24 years of age. Over 48,000 Thais
reportedly die from smoking every year.
Prakit Vathesatogkit from the Action on Smoking and Health Foundation is
urging the Finance Ministry to impose law forbidding cigarette makers
from holding social activities. He added government agencies should also
reject any support from these companies, while the media should continue
to raise awareness on dangers of tobacco.