National

“Little cigars” labeling loophole closing
The attorneys general of 40 states and the District of Columbia are praising recently proposed federal legislation to halt mislabeling cigarettes as “little cigars.” The federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau proposed the changes in response to states’ requests to clarify the legal definition of cigars and cigarettes. By labeling cigarettes as “little cigars” manufacturers can evade health warnings, advertising restrictions, and higher tax payments. The legislation aims to adopt formal regulations that set specific standards for the content, wrapping, and packaging of cigarettes and cigars. Click here to read more.

Missouri health officials need money for smoking program
Health officials in southern Missouri are looking for money to extend a program aimed at stopping parents from smoking around their children. The ABCs of Secondhand Smoke program’s $300,000 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health ends this month. The $125,000 to run the program for another year is hard to come by, as Missouri is among five states that provide no money for programs to prevent youth smoking. Although the state collected $246 million from the Masters Settlement Agreement and tobacco taxes last year, none of it was spent on prevention efforts. Click here for the press release.

Smokeless yearning for FDA guidance
Smokeless-tobacco makers cannot claim that their products are less risky than cigarettes, but would love to be able to do so. Current regulation under consideration by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could provide the mechanism. Congress is considering legislation that would allow the FDA to regulate tobacco products. While heavily supported by Philip Morris USA, who could benefit from the regulation because of its dominance in the market, the legislation is disliked by some smokeless manufacturers who claim that it does not distinguish between cigarettes and smokeless products. Smokeless manufacturers are calling on Congress to make such a distinction. Click here to read more.

Texas Senate approves raising smoking age to 19
The Texas Senate approved a measure to raise the legal age to purchase cigarettes to 19. The bill’s future in the House is unclear, because it does not yet have a sponsor there. The fiscal estimate says that the bill would cut smoking among 18 year olds by 20 percent, costing the state $3.8 million in revenue. Tobacco giant Philip Morris USA has no position on the bill. Click here for the press release.

Virginia deal the latest sign of tobacco’s return
Virginia will sell its $1.1 billion of tobacco bonds into a market much friendlier toward tobacco than it was when the state first tried in 2003. In early 2003, litigation against the nation’s big tobacco companies and the fear that Philip Morris USA could be headed for bankruptcy put the tobacco bonds deal on hold. Virginia hopes to tap into the demand that met the $8 billion of tobacco bonds already sold this year. Click here to read more.

Minnesota House passes smoking ban
The Minnesota House passed a statewide smoking ban by an 85-45 vote. The measure would extend the current workplace smoking bans to bars, restaurants and private clubs. It would allow bars to create unstaffed smoking rooms if local governments approve. The measure would go into effect Jan. 1, 2009. Last month, the Senate passed a slightly tougher measure that would go into effect in August. Members of the House and Senate will meet to compromise on a joint measure to send to Governor Tim Pawlenty, who has said he will sign a ban into law. The press release is available by clicking here.

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International

Australian Court bans ‘wallet smokes’
A Federal Court has ordered British American Tobacco Australia (BATA), which distributes Dunhill cigarettes, to never again supply the controversial wallet pack. The wallet pack can be split in two, allowing smokers to discard the grisly images and written health warnings. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission took BATA to court last year claiming the packages were a breach of the Trade Practices Act. Click here to read more.

Malaysia to step up anti-smoking campaign as more women light up
Health official from Malaysia plan to beef up the country’s anti-smoking drive, because the number of female smokers has doubled within recent years. Around 480,000 people, or 8 percent, of an estimated six million smokers in the country are women, up from 4 percent a few years ago. The health ministry is increasing efforts to discourage smoking, including its ongoing anti-smoking campaign “Tak Nak,” increasing cigarettes taxes, and banning the sale of loose cigarettes and small packs. Additionally, the government is drafting a Tobacco Products Act to allow more stringent measures including graphic warning labels. Click here to read more.

British plans for clamp on teenage smoking
The British government is considering radical plans to change the way cigarettes are sold in an effort to tackle high levels of youth smoking. Blueprints for making cigarettes harder to buy were drawn up by leading doctors and are now being evaluated by the Department of Health. Proposed measures include: banning the sale of packs of 10 cigarettes, keeping cigarettes out of site in shops, forcing retailers to obtain licenses to sell tobacco, outlawing tobacco vending machines, and imposing regular and above-inflation price increases. Click here to read more.

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