ASH Daily News for 06 December 2007

Hotspot for bootleg tobacco

Experts from across the country are attending a summit on counterfeit and smuggled tobacco in the North-East.

According to Fresh, Smoke Free North East, a new generation of young people in the region are becoming addicted to smoking due to the availability of cheap counterfeit and smuggled tobacco.

One in five cigarettes and half of loose tobacco in the region is sold at knockdown prices, making it more attractive and affordable for young people.

Most people who start smoking become addicted before the age of 18 and cheap cigarettes at £3 a packet from illicit sellers ensure more people experiment with tobacco.

Ailsa Rutter, director of Fresh, Smoke Free North East, said: “Cheap illegal tobacco is a real problem in the region, and what is worse is that these products are readily available in our most deprived communities which have high rates of lung cancer and heart disease.”

The event, which has been organised by Fresh, along with colleagues from Yorkshire and Humber and the North-West, will feature John Kinghorn from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and Rob Hornsby, a lecturer in criminology at York University who spent a year undercover with criminal gangs smuggling illegal tobacco.

Mr Kinghorn, HMRC’s head of detection for the North of England, said: “This is one of the worst areas in the UK for the illegal importation and sale of cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco."

“People sometimes assume that tobacco smuggling is a fairly low-level crime and often the public turn a blind eye to it, but what they don’t realise is that it means big business for criminals."

Source: Journal Live, 06 December 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/2aq5ph

Reynolds to halt Camel advert campaign

Cigarette maker R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. announced that they have agreed to temporarily halt a controversial advertising campaign featuring cartoons in the hope of negotiating a settlement to the lawsuits filed by California and seven other states. 

At a hearing on a lawsuit brough by California Attorney General, Jerry Brown, R.J Reynolds offered to suspend distribution of compact disc recordings at events sponsored by its Camel Farm campaign, which promotes independent bands .

The company also said it would stop using Camel Farm logos at age restricted events in bars and clubs and would take down its Camel Farm website.

David Howard, R.J Reynolds spokesman said, "It's an interim agreement until the matter is resolved."

A San Diego County Superior Court judge has set a date in January for a  status conference on the lawsuit. In the meantime, R.J Reynolds and the state plan to hold discussions aimed at settling the California complaint.

Brown contends that Reynolds, in an advertising and editorial spread in the Rolling Stone magazine, violated a 1998 legal agreement banning the use of its Joe Camel and other cartoon characters in cigarette advertisements.

Dennis Eckhart, senior assistant Attorney General, responsible for tobacco litigation and enforcement said, "The case is not settled. They have simply agreed that they will not engage in further activities while the case is pending."

Lawyers for R.J Reynolds and Illinois Attorney General, Lisa Madigan announced a similar agreement to suspend parts of the Camel Farm advertising campaign. 

Mr Howard said he expected to reach similar agreements with other states.

Source: Los Angeles Times, 06 December 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/ywh5yt

Malaysia: Fuelling illegal cigarettes effort

Petrol companies have joined in the fight against illegal tobacco products by ensuring that their outlets do not sell smuggled or contraband cigarettes.
The campaign, is aimed at increasing awareness among retailers and restaurant owners to ensure their outlets only sell legal cigarettes.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal said the business community was willing to cooperate with the Government to stamp out trade in illegal products.

He added, “I am confident that this collaboration will be a success to stamp out tobacco smuggling."

So far, some 100 companies have been found to be involved in cigarette smuggling.

Source: The Star Online, 05 December 2007  
Link: http://tinyurl.com/2wupcg

Ireland: Price of cigarettes to rise by thirty cents

Minister, Brian Cowen has announced he's is increasing the price of cigarettes.

"I am raising from midnight tonight the excise duty on cigarettes by thirty cent per packet of twenty inclusive of VAT, with pro-rata increases on other tobacco products."

"This increase serves to underline the desire of us all to curtail the consumption of tobacco in the interest of improved public health."

He revealed the rise as part of his Budget 2008 speech.

Source: Belfast Telegraph, 05 December 2007
Link: http://tinyurl.com/3xjlhp