ASH, 102 Clifton Street, LONDON, EC2A 4HW.
Tel 020 7739 5902 Fax 020 7613 0531

ASH Daily News

19 November 2003

HEADLINES

+ China to ban tobacco advertising
+ US NCI study finds strong tobacco control policies reduce smoking
+ EC backs down on tobacco subsidies
+ Rizla advert ban over drug use
+ Boycott Bush backers


FULL TEXT

+ China to ban tobacco advertising

Shanghai - China said Tuesday it is preparing legislation to ban tobacco
advertising after it signed on to a United Nations anti-smoking treaty.
The decision is likely to hit the nation's tobacco producers hard.

The measures would follow approval of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control by the National People's Congress, China's
legislature, at its annual session early next year.

"I believe it will be approved as lots of representatives of the
National People's Congress have a positive attitude toward tobacco
control," said Yang Gonghuan, the Chinese representative on the United
Nations Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

The global treaty aims to cut an annual 4.9 million smoking-related
deaths worldwide by imposing curbs on the advertising, marketing and
sale of cigarettes and tobacco products, of which China makes a
significant portion.

According to official statistics, China's sees more than 2 000 tobacco
related deaths a day with the number of fatalities forecast to reach 8
000 per day by 2050.

In a nation of 350 million smokers, or one-quarter of the population,
Chinese tobacco companies are likely to fight hard to keep a
comprehensive ban on advertising off the legislative books.

"Some tobacco manufacturers may adopt a negative attitude as it will
have an impact on their business," said Yang.

The tobacco industry brings handsome profits to state coffers,
generating nearly $20 billion in annual revenues and tax, said an
official with the China Tobacco Society.

The new legislation, which if passed in March would take effect 90 days
later, would also impact major tobacco-sponsored events such as the
Formula One Grand Prix which will be held in Shanghai next year.

Shanghai Formula One organisers have said they are working towards a
solution.

"No exceptions should be made for Formula One even though there are many
disputes about it," said Yang. "To do so would hurt China's
international image."

Source: AFP, 18 November 2003



+ US NCI study finds strong tobacco control policies reduce smoking
A new study published today in the Journal of the National Cancer
Institute (NCI) finds yet again that investing in tobacco prevention and
cessation programs and adopting public policies like tobacco taxes and
smoke-free workplace laws reduce smoking. This study adds to the
considerable and ever-growing evidence that tobacco prevention works.

The study, "Evaluation of the American Stop Smoking Intervention Study
(ASSIST): A Report of Outcomes," demonstrates that the National Cancer
Institute's ASSIST program was successful in reducing smoking in the 17
states in which it was implemented. These reductions were relatively
small due to ASSIST's limited investment, particularly when contrasted
with the billions of dollars spent by the tobacco industry during the
same time period. However, subsequent larger expenditures by states have
produced dramatic declines in both youth and adult smoking.

Full story:
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=158-11182003
Source: US Newswire, 18 November 2003



+ EC backs down on tobacco subsidies

The European Commission altered its plans for shaking up EU subsidy
systems for tobacco, bowing to pressure from southern countries worried
about job losses in some of Europe's poorest countries. Spain, Greece
and Italy have protested that some of the regions would face ruin if
production was curbed under the proposals.

Source: The Times, 19 November 2003



+ Rizla advert ban over drug use

An advert for Rizla cigarette papers has been banned because it could be
seen as condoning the use of cannabis.
The advert had the words "Twist and" above a packet of Rizla with a turn
at one end and "burn" on one side.
The Advertising Standards Authority backed a complaint from a rival
manufacturer, which claimed the promotion "condoned the product's use
for the consumption of illegal drugs". "Twist" is a slang term for a
cannabis cigarette and "burn" could be referred to smoking one.
Imperial Tobacco, makers of Rizla, denied the reference was intentional.



+ Boycott Bush backers

The Daily Mirror reports that anti-Bush campaigners are urging Britons
to avoid products made by which back his leadership with massive
donations.

Among high-street brands named because of their financial links to
Bush's party are ASDA, Walkers Crisps, Marlboro cigarettes, Kenco
coffee, Philadelphia cheese , Esso fuel and Aquafresh toothpaste.

Source: Daily Mirror, 19 November 2003



----------------------------------
Unsubscribe:

Public subscribers: http://www.ash.org.uk/?unsubscribe
Globalink members: http://member.globalink.org
----------------------------------