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ASH Daily News
22 November 2001

Headlines

FIA commits to tobacco sponsors ban
Tobacco chief backs ‘partial’ smoking ban
NHS vow over lung disease
Brown and Williamson launch ‘less toxic’ cigarette
Philip Morris switch challenged

Text

FIA commits to tobacco sponsors ban

The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, which governs Formula One motor racing, will warn the tobacco industry and racing teams not to sign long term sponsorship contracts, according to the Financial Times.

The FIA is expected to proceed with its own global ban on tobacco sponsorship in motor sports from 2006, even though a European directive banning tobacco sponsorship was annulled last year. The announcement of the ban and the warning to teams will be given by FIA president Max Moseley in Geneva at the launch of a campaign against tobacco sponsorship by the World Health Organisation.

Governments from 190 countries are involved in negotiations at the WHO for a Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. If introduced, it would provide for the first time an internationally applicable legal instrument promoting a ban on both tobacco sponsorship and advertising.

The FIA ban is being introduced irrespective of whether the WHO initiative succeeds or fails.

Source: Financial Times, 22 November 2001


Tobacco chief backs ‘partial’ smoking ban

According to the Evening Standard, an official from the world’s second largest cigarette company accepted in principle a ‘partial’ ban on smoking in public in London.

In a submission to the Greater London Authority, Dr Chris Proctor, head of science and regulation for British American Tobacco, said smoking bans are “common sense” around children. He also called for more consideration to be paid to people with respiratory illnesses, but dismissed claims that passive smoking damaged health.

But Dr Procter drew immediate criticism from Trevor Phillips, deputy chairman of the London Assembly who has called for a complete ban on smoking in public places in London. Pouring scorn over BAT’s ‘concession’ on a ban on smoking in public places where children were about, Mr Phillips said: “They want to make us so grateful that they are now against gassing children so that we let them carry on poisoning everyone else.” He also accused BAT of wanting to continue “killing people for profit.”

Source: Evening Standard, 21 November 2001


NHS vow over lung disease

Following reports yesterday that Britain had the highest death rates from lung diseases in Europe, Health Secretary Alan Milburn insisted that beating heart disease and cancer remained his top priority.

Even though lung disease is now believed to be Britain’s no. 1 killer, he said he did not want a “bidding war” over which type of disease killed most – and stressed that lung cancer was the main reason why lung disease figures were so bad. He added: “It’s a fallacy that unless you have solved every problem you haven’t solved any problem.”

Source: The Sun, 22 November 2001


Brown and Williamson launch ‘less toxic’ cigarette

Following in the footsteps of Vector Group’s launch of ‘Omni’, Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corp. have launched a campaign to promote their version of a “less toxic” cigarette.

The cigarettes, branded ‘Advance’ are to compete with Vector Group’s ‘Omni’, and their launch signifies a potential burgeoning of the next generation of cigarettes.

Sharon Boyse, director of applied research at Brown and Williamson, said: “While there is no such thing as a safe cigarette, the fact that Advance Lights contains less toxins, while still providing a smooth, satisfying taste for smokers, is an important step in the right direction.”


None of the claims, either by Vector Group or by Brown and Williamson, that their new products are less toxic have been verified by independent research. Their claims remain unsubstantiated and therefore misleading.

Source: Advertising Age, 12 November 2001


Philip Morris switch challenged

Philip Morris the tobacco company has become embroiled in a dispute about its proposed name change.

Altria Healthcare, a private medical billing company in America, is concerned about Philip Morris’s proposed name change to Altria Group.

“It’s of great concern to a healthcare business to have a big tobacco and alcohol company wish to adopt an identical name.”

Philip Morris said it had conducted all necessary searches and was confident that it was not in breach of any laws and would not confuse Altria Healthcare’s customers.



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