For immediate release: Monday 16th July 2001
Governmentdemand for reduction in tobacco additives underlines need for greater tobaccoregulation
Respondingto the Government's call for the tobacco industry to remove harmful additivesfrom cigarettes ASH said that this underlined the need for a Tobacco RegulatoryAuthority to exert greater control over tobacco products and the industry.
ASH'sResearch Manager, Amanda Sandford, commented: “Currently over 600 substances are allowed to be added to cigarettes onsale in the UK. Under the presentvoluntary agreement the tobacco industry has huge leeway over what it can putinto cigarettes.
“Somesuch as ammonia may make cigarettes more addictive while sweeteners may makethem more palatable for children. Unless the tobacco companies can prove that additives do not have theseproperties, they should be banned.”
Aswell as removing additives, tobacco companies should be required to useexisting technologies to remove some of the harmful components found in tobaccosmoke. These include cancer-causingnitrosamines, volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide.
ASHendorsed the Government's announcement to impose greater controls on cigaretteproduction but said that this points to the need for an independent tobaccoregulatory body to enforce these measures.
AmandaSandford said: “While the Consumer Protection Act gives the Government powers to require greater controls on theindustry, it currently lacks the capacity to do this. The handful of civil servants deployed to implement the tobaccocontrol policy contrasts markedly with the thousands employed by the tobaccoindustry. An independent TobaccoRegulatory Authority, made up of scientists,lawyers and other experts would be able to enforce the regulations.”
Notes
TheHealth Select Committee, in its Second Report, The Tobacco Industry and theHealth Risks of Smoking, (June 2000) recommended the establishment of a TobaccoRegulatory Authority.
Forfurther information on tobacco additives and tobacco smoke see ASH's summary
ASH'sreport on tobacco additives:
Contact: Amanda Sandford 020 7739 5902 or
Clive Bates 020 7739 5902(w) 077 6879 1237(m)
