Tobacco Industry News

Reports

Star Scientific seeks FDA approval for “safer” smokeless tobacco
Star Scientific Inc. has filed an application with the FDA to market a new version of Ariva smokeless tobacco as a “modified risk” product. Ariva, which has been on the market for ten years, is a lozenge-like product containing powdered flavored tobacco. The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act giving the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products says that the product must significantly reduce harm and the risk of tobacco related disease, and benefit the health of the population as a whole in order to be considered “modified risk.” Other tobacco companies are expected to submit similar requests going forward. Read more here.

Medical journal bars tobacco-backed research papers
The journal Public Library of Science Medicine (PLoS Medicine) has implemented a new policy to stop publishing papers funded in whole or in part by the tobacco industry. The decision resulted from concerns over the industry’s history of distorting scientific research to make its products seem safer and because of the detrimental health effects of tobacco. Two other PLoS journals, PLoS Biology and PLoS ONE, have also recently adopted this policy. Click here to read more, or read the editorial explaining the decision.

Monitoring tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship 2.0
As part of a National Health and Medical Research Council grant, the University of Sydney School of Public Health has launched a new webpage on Facebook to enable researchers to monitor online tobacco advertising and promotion. The researchers’ mission is to conduct global monitoring and surveillance of tobacco advertising and promotion, focusing on new media and online methods. Fans of the Facebook page are encouraged to share examples of new forms of marketing, news stories, events and opinions. The researchers are seeking examples of tobacco marketing using new media such as YouTube videos, event invitations, blog postings, or tobacco industry-sponsored community service events. Visit the Facebook page, the researchers’ website, or contact Becky Freeman at becky.freeman@sydney.edu.au for more information.

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International

JT to release smokeless tobacco product in May (Japan)
Japan Tobacco has announced plans to release a smokeless tobacco product in May of this year in response to increasing numbers of nonsmoking areas. The product, Zerostyle Mint, does not need to be lit, and uses a replaceable cartridge containing tobacco leaves to deliver tobacco. It will be launched in select retailers in Tokyo before being sold nationwide. Read more here.

Philip Morris teams with Fortune in Philippines (Philippines)
The Philippine unit of Philip Morris International has made an agreement with Fortune Tobacco to form a new company to be called PMFTC. Both firms will have equal economic interest in the new company, and each company will retain its current products and interests. The local market share of this company will be around 90%, as Philip Morris dominates the high-end cigarette market and Fortune Tobacco has a considerable hold over the medium to low-priced segment. Click here to read more.

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