UE: el lobby del tabaco viola las reglas de la ONU

periodistas-es.com – 5 de octubre de 2015 – UE

El Defensor del Pueblo de la UE ha publicado una resolución favorable a una queja presentada por Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) en contra de la Comisión sobre su falta de aplicación de normas de cabildeo de tabaco de la ONU.

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http://periodistas-es.com/ue-el-lobby-del-tabaco-viola-las-reglas-de-la-onu-59092

Young people still targets of tobacco industry

newburyportnews.com – 15 de septiembre de 2015 – EEUU
To the editor:

As the school year begins, I want to remind parents that the tobacco industry continues to produce a variety of products to deliver nicotine, many of which are targeted at young people. Products such as e-cigarettes, also known as vapes, or e-hookah, come in flavors like bubblegum, chocolate and apple pie.

These products are sweet, cheap and easy for young people to get. They are commonly sold at convenience stores that young people visit. Some of these products may look fun or harmless but beware. These nicotine products are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration so there is no way of knowing the amount of nicotine or other chemicals they contain. This is important because nicotine is highly addictive and can produce chemical and structural changes in the adolescent brain that can lead to future addictions.

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http://www.newburyportnews.com/opinion/young-people-still-targets-of-tobacco-industry/article_19ff90bc-dd54-5787-862b-791ca1a705af.html 

Should a hunger charity accept support from a tobacco company?

westmeathindependent.ie– 26 de Julio de 2015 – EEUU

I recently noticed a tweet from @CareersatBAT about how British American Tobacco South Africa had packed 200,000 meals of donated food for the Million Meal Challenge being run by Stop Hunger Now Southern Africa.

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http://theconversation.com/should-a-hunger-charity-accept-support-from-a-tobacco-company-45235 

Physicians testified for tobacco companies against plaintiffs with head, neck cancers

stanford.edu – 17 de Julio de 2015 – EEUU

A small group of otolaryngologists hired by tobacco companies testified repeatedly that years of heavy smoking did not cause individual cancer cases, a new study reports.

Despite scientific evidence to the contrary, a small group of otolaryngologists have repeatedly testified, on behalf of the tobacco industry, that heavy smoking did not cause the cancer in cases of dying patients suing for damages, according to a study by a Stanford University School of Medicine researcher.

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http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2015/07/physicians-testified-for-tobacco-companies-against-plaintiffs.html

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce should quit lobbying for tobacco abroad

washingtonpost.com – 4 de Julio de 2015 – EEUU

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-us-chamber-of-commerce-should-quit-lobbying-for-tobacco-abroad/2015/07/03/3399ea8a-1f58-11e5-bf41-c23f5d3face1_story.html

Tobacco distributor fights plain packaging change

irishexaminer.com – 14 de Abril de 2015 – Irlanda

A distributor of a number of well-known tobacco brands says the Government cannot unilaterally introduce plain packaging on its products as a member of the EU.

JTI Ireland Ltd says this would be contrary to EU harmonization objectives and an obstacle to trade between member states.

JTI also claims the rules, due to come in next month, will distort and impair the dynamics of competition in the tobacco market. They will dramatically reduce the ability of consumers to engage in “informed switching” and are likely to lead to a fall in the average price of tobacco products as a whole, it is claimed.

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http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/tobacco-distributor-fights-plain-packaging-change-323803.html

Tobacco Lobbyists, Politicians Must Clean up their Act

newindianexpress.com – 14 de Abril de 2015 – India

These days I have made the acquaintance of a new kind of Indian. One whose lungs are totally resistant to cigarettes and beedis. In fact, according to a certain MP from Allahabad, smoking causes “nil” effects on the human respiratory system; and yet there is the factual data that does not add up to these bold statements—one million people die of tobacco every year, and according to experts of the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, India records 86 per cent of the global oral cancer cases, caused primarily by tobacco.

However, these days we protest any survey, especially if it is done by scientists abroad. We in India believe that Indians have a different and more evolved immune system. So what if the rest of the world is dying from tobacco addiction, we in India are not affected! Why don’t we all light up? Let us ignore all statistics and warnings, against cancer or tuberculosis—the malaise of Bengal, where emaciated rickshaw pullers puff on beedis and then cough up blood. Recent findings in Allahabad have rubbished scientific facts!

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http://www.newindianexpress.com/columns/Tobacco-Lobbyists-Politicians-Must-Clean-up-their-Act/2015/04/14/article2762701.ece

Pressure to bring in tobacco plain-packaging

nzherald.co.nz – 2 de Marzo de 2015 – Nueva Zelanda

The Government is being lobbied to bring the tobacco plain-packaging bill back to Parliament for a final vote, now the policy has been found to work "almost like a vaccine against tobacco" in Australia.

The health select committee last year supported the bill but the Government has delayed bringing it back to the House pending the outcome of the challenges against the Australian law by the tobacco industry.

But National support partner the Maori Party and lobby group Action on Smoking on Health (Ash) now say the decline in smoking seen in Australia since its "standardized" packaging law came into force in 2013 means New Zealand can dally no longer.

And public health expert Robert Beaglehole, a University of Auckland emeritus professor, says plain packaging in New Zealand "must be passed with urgency".

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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11410127

Reilly refuses to bow to pressure from tobacco companies

breakingnews.ie – 25 de Febrero de 2015 – EE.UU.

The Children's Minister Dr James Reilly has compared tobacco companies to schoolyard bullies – however he has said he will not be intimidated by their legal threats.

Dr Reilly's comments come as the Dáil passed legislation on plain packaging, which now goes back to the Seanad before going on to the President to be signed into law.

Minister Reilly added he wanted Irish people to "take satisfaction" from the fact that Ireland will be only the second country worldwide to introduce plain packaging.

He also claimed he will not bow to the legal threats of tobacco companies who are trying to stop the plans.

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http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/reilly-refuses-to-bow-to-pressure-from-tobacco-companies-663915.html

Tobacco Giants Battle New Ads Painting Them As Liars

huffingtonpost.com – 22de Febrero de 2015 – EEUU

WASHINGTON (AP) — Never underestimate the staying power of big tobacco.

In 2006, U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler ordered the nation's largest cigarette makers to publicly admit that they had lied for decades about the dangers of smoking.

The basis for the punishment: Testimony from 162 witnesses, a nine-month bench trial and thousands of findings by the judge that defendants engaged in what the largest public health organizations in the country have called a massive campaign of fraud.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/22/tobacco-corrective-ads_n_6730504.html

Who's who in the tobacco wars? Chapter One

miamiherald.typepad.com – 19 de Febrero de 2015 – EEUU

The lobbying team suited up to do battle this year to pass a single sentence into law to save the embattled tobacco industry millions of dollars is a virtual constellation of both new and old stars. All were selected for their unique ability to "enlighten" certain members.

Consider Ellyn Bogdanoff, the former Fort Lauderdale state senator who tried and failed to return to Tallahassee this year in a second hard-fought campaign. She is returning after all -- as a lobbyist for R.J. Reynolds' parent company, RAI Services.

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http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2015/02/whos-who-in-the-tobacco-wars-chapter-one.html#storylink=cpy

Japan Tobacco’s packaging objections look set for courts

irishtimes.com – 18 de Febrero de 2015 – Japón

The threat by Japan Tobacco Group to promptly sue the Government over draft laws to ban branded tobacco packaging stands as a blatant intrusion into Ireland’s political process in the interests of its own profit.

The business, which owns the Benson & Hedges and Silk Cut brands, could have waited for the Oireachtas to enact the law before proceeding to the Four Courts with an action to vindicate its intellectual and other property rights.

Instead, the firm’s Irish unit sent unambiguous missives to Ministers James Reilly and Leo Varadkar in which it purported to instruct them to stop the legislation in its tracks within 10 days or face a High Court claim for damages. As if to maintain some kind of decorum as hostilities intensify, the threat was copied to Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

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http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/japan-tobacco-s-packaging-objections-look-set-for-courts-1.2107360

Tobacco bill would rise the legal age of purchase to 21 years old

valleyjournal.net – 11 de Febrero de 2015 – EEUU

POLSON — As the harmful effects of smoking continue to receive national attention, tobacco companies have shifted their focus to smokeless tobacco products, claiming them to be a “safe” alternative to smoking cigarettes and actively working to build new customers. “Through With Chew Week,” Feb. 15-21, highlights the truth that there are no “safe” tobacco products.

In Montana, tobacco companies have long used our culture of independence and our rural Western image against us with targeted smokeless product marketing. Increasingly, however, these companies are shifting product flavorings, package designs and marketing campaigns to appeal to a younger, trendier audience – an audience that increasingly includes teens. But no amount of fruit flavor or fancy marketing can alter the harmful effects of smokeless products, including tooth decay, gum disease, cancer, heart attack or stroke.

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http://www.valleyjournal.net/Article/11873/No-safe-tobacco-products

Youth anti-smoking campaign supports tobacco legislation

vtdigger.org – 5 de Febrero de 2015 – EEUU
A group of high school students from across Vermont visited the Statehouse this week to combat the influence of the tobacco industry on young people.

The students were with the Health Department’s Our Voices Exposed (OVX) campaign, which aims to empower young people to get involved in tobacco prevention.

Lt. Gov. Phil Scott told the group to advocate for better prevention by talking to their legislators, but also encouraged them to lead by example and make healthy choices in their own lives.

Tian Berry, a Burlington High School senior, said the OVX chapter at her school visited local convenience stores to see what tobacco products they sell and how they’re marketed. She said many of the products are set at eye level for children and feature advertising that would appeal to them.

Each year the industry spends $18 million on marketing in Vermont, according to the Health Department. Much of that money, 93 percent, goes toward point-of-sale advertising, according to the Center for Public Health and Tobacco Policy.

In Vermont 13 percent of high school students are current smokers, and 1,000 adults die each year from smoking, according to Health Department figures.


Two House bills aimed at youth tobacco cessation are now before the House Human Services Committee.

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http://vtdigger.org/2015/02/05/youth-anti-smoking-campaign-supports-tobacco-legislation/

hawaiinewsnow.com – 16 de diciembre de 2014 – EEUU

Big Tobacco Wants to do to Foreigners What it has Done to Americans

President Obama says he thinks the chances of getting to yes on the Trans-Pacific Partnership are better than even.

He no doubt bases that on the fact that both houses of Congress will soon be controlled by Republicans, who are more enamored of free trade than Democrats are.

In order to win congressional ratification of the TPP, Obama will need Congress first to pass a so-called fast-track bill, and the chances of that happening are also much improved by the Republican take-over of the Senate.

Fast-track, formally known as Trade Promotion Authority, deprives Congress of the power to amend a free trade agreement before voting on it. So, what happens is that they use the fast-track bill to make demands that they can’t make in the trade agreement itself.

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http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnbrinkley/2014/12/16/big-tobacco-wants-to-do-to-foreigners-what-it-has-done-to-americans/

allafrica.com – 14 de diciembre de 2014 – Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe to Lobby Against Tobacco Law

Zimbabwe and other Sadc tobacco producing countries plan to lobby for the scrapping of plain cigarette tobacco packaging at the forthcoming World Health Organisation (WHO) convention.

The countries say the move promoted illegal sale of cigarettes and would prejudice their economies.

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) will be held in three months time at the United Nations offices in New York as the world marks the two-year anniversary of tobacco plain packaging that was introduced by Australia.

Deemed to be "the world's toughest anti-smoking law" measures, Australia's plain packaging laws prohibit the use of all trademarks, logos, fonts, and colors, on tobacco products and was introduced to allow the use of standardized huge graphics discouraging smoking.

However, despite the introduction of the law, a survey by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has shown a slight increase in youth smoking among 12-17 year olds, with smoking rates up from 3,8% to 5% between 2010 and 2013, representing an increase of 32%.

Although Zimbabwe's tobacco industry has not yet reported a decline in tobacco sales volumes due to tough tobacco laws, an increase in illegal sales which has the potential of prejudicing the economy has been reported by KPMG in October.

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http://allafrica.com/stories/201412140135.html

brisbanetimes.com.au – 10 de diciembre de 2014 – Australia

Trade deals must not undermine fight against tobacco
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http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/comment/trade-deals-must-not-undermine-fight-against-tobacco-20141209-1233ag.html

dailymail.co.uk – 4 de diciembre de 2014 – UK

Big Tobacco Firms Offer 'Misleading Evidence'

Most studies that show the negative impact plain cigarette packets would have on the economy are funded by "big tobacco" firms, according to a damning report.

Such companies have warned standardized packaging would fuel a black market in cigarettes - citing research that echoes their concerns.

But the University of Bath claims more than 50% of such evidence comes from reports commissioned by the industry itself - or from third parties with financial connections to it.

The Tobacco Control Research Group, funded by Cancer Research UK, also found 66% of the industry's claims were just opinions - and that of the 51 MPs opposed to plain packaging, seven of them had accepted hospitality from the sector.

George Butterworth, from Cancer Research UK, said: "By failing to disclose financial links to misleading evidence, this is lobbying at its worst.

"For years, misinformation has been their currency, but as the success of plain, standardized packaging in Australia becomes clear - now with record low smoking rates - 'big tobacco' is looking spent.

"Independent evidence consistently demonstrates the role that standardized packaging can play in protecting children from a deadly addiction.

"Now, the UK Government must treat the tobacco industry's spin with the contempt it deserves - and introduce regulations without delay."

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http://web.orange.co.uk/article/news/big_tobacco_firms_offer_misleading_evidence

ip-watch.org – 20 de Noviembre de 2014 – Australia

Australia Accuses Tobacco Industry Of ‘Regulatory Chill’ In WTO Plain Packaging Case

Australia this week at the World Trade Organization said the tobacco industry is applying a “well-known tactic” of instilling a “regulatory chill” on WTO members’ efforts to implement plain-packaging anti-smoking strategies. It also said pro-tobacco countries should not keep putting the issue on WTO committee agendas while their dispute settlement cases are ongoing.

plain-packaging-smoking-images

Australia made the comments in its statement to the 18 November WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) meeting, according to a copy of the statement.

Under other business on the agenda, Australia made the statement in relation to the disputes brought against it by five other WTO members (Ukraine, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Indonesia) concerning measures requiring tobacco products to be sold in the country in plain packages as a way to discourage smoking.

Australia argued that the actions of some of the members to continue placing the topic on the agendas of the TRIPS (Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights) Council and the TBT (Technical Barriers to Trade) Committee “appears to be creating a parallel process alongside the ongoing dispute settlement proceedings.” This is not in accordance with the established rules and practices, since the measures are already subject to dispute settlement proceedings, it said.

Once a dispute begins, it is up to the DSB to inform the relevant councils and committees of any developments in disputes, it said.

Australia further said that the urging that countries considering establishing similar measures wait until the resolution of the current case against Australia concludes, is “a form of regulatory chill” and a “well-known tactic of the tobacco industry” to avoid countries implementing tobacco control measures. New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France and Finland are reported to be considering similar measures to discourage smoking.

According to sources, Ukraine, one of the countries involved in the dispute, said it expects the case now under a DSB panel to move forward quickly. Honduras, another complainant, said it has a legitimate right to raise the issue at the appropriate bodies if it feels its interests affected.

Australia raised the matter under “other business” because the TBT Committee met after the deadline for notifying agenda items for the DSB meeting. It defended its public measure as well-supported by research and the World Health Organization, and said the measures are having a positive effect.

A single panel was appointed for all five cases in May (IPW, WTO/TRIPS, 6 May 2014).

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http://www.ip-watch.org/2014/11/20/australia-accuses-tobacco-industry-of-regulatory-chill-in-wto-plain-packaging-case/

euobserver.com – 07 de Noviembre de 2014 – Suiza

Part V: Dalli’s big tobacco theory

BRUSSELS - John Dalli claims that his tough stand against tobacco as EU health commissioner led the industry to pull levers inside the European Commission to get him ousted from office.

He had been given the job of reforming the 2001 tobacco products directive (TPD), a vital part of the EU’s strategy to reduce tobacco consumption in Europe.

Dalli’s new draft would step up rules on smokeless tobacco, ingredients, labelling, cross-border sales, and illicit trade - making it more difficult for the industry to ply its trade in Europe.

He told EU observer that “in a meeting on 11 November 2011, [EU commission] president Barroso tried to dissuade me from continuing with the TPD. I refused”.

When asked how the industry plot against him worked, he pointed to the EU institutions and member states’ intimate relations with big tobacco.

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http://euobserver.com/smoke-and-mirrors/126125