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Control of tobacco sales

Dickinson leaders want more control over of tobacco sales in the city.

The city has right to sell tobacco products, but because the government and not the actual law, it is not something that can be revoked, the City Administrator Shawn Kessel said.

“Retail interest in tobacco is becoming more common, and therefore our response must be adequate,” he said.

Dickinson commissioners decided to create a resolution calling for a license to sell tobacco during 23 July meeting. Regulation should be the second assertion.

The Southwestern district health Unit, which verifies compliance checks of tobacco legislation, has been pushing for a strong insist on a stronger law to stop selling tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 years, says Tammy Hovet, SWDHU tobacco coordinator.

Many stores do not ask for identification when the unit checks for compliance, she said. The last compliance check in Dickinson took place in January, and six out of 17 businesses sold to minors, Hovet said.

“If we have these licenses, we will have more control over what is a sale, and we would have more control over the operators, it means that we will have more control over the buyers,” said Kessel.

The highest penalty for selling tobacco products to a minor is a $500 fine and possible suspension, according to Dickinson city code. Penalty for first offense for an employee selling to minors $ 50, and all subsequent violations within two years worth $ 150. The retailer receives a $ 100 fine for a first offense, $ 250 for the second in two years and $ 500 for all offenses within two years after that.

All tobacco offenses are no criminal, according to municipal code.

Minors between the ages of 14 and 17 caught possessing or using tobacco products could face $ 100 fine. Those buying tobacco to minors face the same penalties as the seller.

If the Dickinson Police caught using or possessing small tobacco products, they are listed and sent to juvenile court, said Capt. Dave Wilkie.

“This gives us another tool used to enforcement (tobacco legislation),” he said of the proposed regulations. “I think it will give something to the business owner to think about.”

If the business will be in non-compliance, SWDHU sends letter to business, the City Commission, DPD, Stark County state attorney and attorney general of North Dakota.

“Any reports would be excellent starting solutions,” Hovet said. “The education under tests warning letters are a good start to stop selling cigarettes, but that they will bring to justice will be a big part of the solution.”

The public will have the opportunity to comment on this issue at a meeting of the City Commission at 4:30 p.m. on Monday at City Hall, 99 Second St. E.

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Tobacco control is legal

Tobacco is a legal obligation to Bangladesh as it has ratified the WHO’s main contract, visiting President of the Washington campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) said.

Non-compliance with this agreement means that the government allows people to die early, he said.

“After the ratification, it is a legal obligation to comply with (the contract),” Matthew Myers told bdnews24.com on Sunday.

“No one will punish you (the government) for failure to comply, but it will mean that you condemn their citizens to die prematurely.”
Bangladesh has ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2005, but, according to Myers, it is still to fully implement the agreement, one of the key tools in fighting the tobacco menace.
After the ratification of the treaty, the government was forced to pass a law in the same year, but the law didn’t comply with the rules and guidelines for the contract in full, according to analysts, encouraging more young people, to take up the habit.
The study showed more than 43 percent of Bangladesh’s 15 years of age and older consume tobacco in one form or another.
Estimated suggest 57,000 people die from diseases associated with tobacco, while about 300,000 suffer from disabilities in Bangladesh, where economists say that the price of tobacco products is gradually falling since 2003 due to “faulty” taxation.
Even the question of the Framework Convention for the cessation of intervention by the tobacco companies are reported to have been ignored, pushing an amendment to the law of 2005 on Tobacco Control.
To make it more stringent, the process of amending the law began two and a half years ago, but he stopped, apparently under the influence of the tobacco giant British American Tobacco Bangladesh in a clear violation of Article 5.3 and its guidelines.
Bangladesh also couldn’t provide a smoke-free environment, as it had promised by the ratification of the treaty.
Myers, who is in Dhaka on a two-day visit, said it was time for Bangladesh to bring the law into compliance with a legal obligation.
“The delay in adopting the law only in favor of the tobacco industry, not people,” he said, “Many countries are” slow “smoking after making a strong law.”
The CTFK chief suggested incorporating the inclusion of smokeless tobacco, such as zarda, garden stalemate and hum, as of tobacco products in-law, the provision of pictorial health warnings covering 50 per cent of cigarettes, a ban on point of sale advertising and the rise of smoking areas inside the building.
“The inclusion of smokeless tobacco in the law is critical, as many people especially women are victims of this,” he told bdnews24.com after he heard the agony of the victims of tobacco use in the discussion.
Myers, who met with Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haq at the Secretariat, hoped that the meeting will accelerate the adoption of the Law on Tobacco Control.
But he suggested that the intervention of the Prime Minister to resolve the issue between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Finance, when it comes to issues, and tobacco – the rights and taxation.
“Only the political will and leadership can solve this problem,” he said, “the prime minister has the opportunity to change the lives of tens of thousands of people who use tobacco.”
“On which side of the Prime Minister will be the children or the industry?” He advocated raising taxes on all tobacco products of Bangladesh, it is considered cheap in the world.
Referring to the British Journal of Tobacco Control, CTFK said the President of Ukraine in the period between 2005 and 2008; the government can not raise taxes on tobacco products are largely due to pressure from the tobacco companies. Consumption fell at that time.
But in 2009-2010, they have introduced taxes 405 percent, and in 2009 consumption dropped by 13 percent, and in 2010 declined by 15 percent.
But state revenues are not refused, he grew up, he said.
“There is no way to think that if people quit smoking, they stop spending money. They will be carried out in other consumer products that contribute significantly to the economy.”
He said it could create new job opportunities as well.
Myers helped found CTFK, the leading organization in the fight to reduce tobacco use and its deadly losses world in 1996.
Initially, he served as executive Vice President and Legal Counsel and oversaw the Compaign’s legal and advocacy efforts.
On January 1, 2000, he became president.
The CTFK helps Bangladesh in campaigning against tobacco in particularly forming professional alliances and also in forming law.

The President, who will leave Dhaka on Monday, said they also help Bangladesh to implement the new law, once passed.

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Tobacco control issues

Senator questioned the qualifications of a woman recently hired as a top tobacco-control official accused of Iowa and director of public health in preventing state laws regulating its recruitment to the controversial meeting on Friday.

Megan O’Brien was hired as the administrator of the tobacco prevention and control of earlier this month after an informal search process. Meeting on Friday of the Tobacco Prevention and Control Commission, which oversees the division, was her first official performance in this role.

State Senator Herman Quirmbach, Ames Democrat and non-voting member of the committee, opened the meeting criticized the hiring of O’Brien. Iowa Department of Public Health Director Mariannette Miller-Meeks is authorized to appoint the division administrator, but state law requires the commission to recommend candidates for the assessment work and consultation with the public health director for hire.

The Commission was not able to adequately consider the applicants for this position, Quirmbach argued, and the preliminary recommendation of two members of the committee suggest that another candidate will be chosen not taken into account Miller-Meeks.

“The final choice (about who to work) to the Director, it is clear under the code” Quirmbach said. “But this commission was not given the opportunity to fulfill their legal responsibility, and I fault the director of the Department of Health on this issue.”

In a later interview, Quirmbach is how hiring is played, “shows the weakness of their own skills, Miller-Meeks” management. “

Miller-Meeks, however, said that she consulted with the office of State Attorney General, and received assurances that the process that led to the hiring O’Brien followed state law. It provided an opportunity for committee members to meet candidates before the appointment, in fact, were “too generous”.

“This process has been guided by the Attorney General’s office, and we followed the recommendations were in accordance with the statute,” she said.

The administrator position came open this spring, when the Interim Director Aaron Swanson left for another job. Several people have filed, two of which – including O’Brien – were selected as finalists in the Miller-Meeks. Commission Chairman and Vice-President met with both candidates and recommend finalists to hire another, but none of the candidates have been officially verified by the commission as a whole.

Miller-Meeks has officially hired O’Brien about two weeks ago.

During the process by which O’Brien was hired, Quirmbach also questioned her qualifications for the top job in the department. She has no management experience and a slight retreat in the tobacco policy and public health, he said.

Not everyone, however, share a concern Quirmbach.

A commission member Thomas A. Greene said that the extent to which the senator suggested that the Commission should be involved amounted to “micro” and that he was comfortable with the process of hiring Miller-Meeks. “Chad Jensen, member of the committee also advocated hiring O’Brien.

The discussion ended with a plan for members of the Commission in accordance with the Office of the Attorney General to discuss the requirements under state law for the assessment and the expectations set for O’Brien.

Quirmbach and Miller-Meeks previously fought for anti-tobacco activities of the state. Last year, the director, resigned after the Miller-Meeks said her position was cut due to budget cuts. Quirmbach is characterized by care in the shooting and accused Miller-Meeks of seking to “dissolve” the division.

O’Brien worked at the department for several months. In his opening comments, she acknowledged her ignorance of the specifics of the tobacco policy, but promised her skills and experience may increase the political experience already in place.

“I do not expect that I have done everything to earn the respect and trust again, but I expect that I will,” she said. “At the same time, I hope, will be treated with some professional ethics, as well as be able to perform these duties.”

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Haverstraw’s tobacco law faces with costly federal suit

To avoid the risk of incurring hefty legal services to fight the suit manufacturers of tobacco products, the village is considering the withdrawal of local laws that restrict tobacco displays in shops.

In April, the village passed a law forbidding the stores that are accessible to minor’s paraded products containing tobacco or nicotine, such as cigarettes, cigars and pipe and chewing tobacco.

Haverstraw has supported measures, POW’R on Tobacco Control, a coalition focused on reducing the risks of tobacco-related diseases by reducing tobacco consumption; officials warned that the youth of the village is in the habit of smoking cigarettes exposed images.

About three weeks ago, seven tobacco manufacturers – Lorillard Tobacco Co, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co, Philip Morris USA Inc, Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company, the American company Snuff LLC, the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Brands Inc. and the company John Middleton, – and in New York Association of Convenience Stores has filed a federal lawsuit against the village of Haverstraw to challenge the law, arguing that it violates freedom of speech.

Village officials said they were in discussions with the anti-tobacco advocacy groups that could provide financial assistance to fight the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in White Plains. To gain time, the Board of Trustees at its last meeting unanimously decided to postpone the law from taking effect for six months, from October this year to April 2013.

But the council is now considering repealing the law. The decision can be taken at a special meeting set for 5 pm Monday through Haverstraw Village Hall.

“We will probably give it up,” said Mayor Michael Kohut, who has made it clear that while he believes in the principle of law in the country is not going to waste taxpayer money fighting the case. “We thought it would be someone coming to defend it for us, but, as now, was not.”

Haverstraw Village Attorney Jay Hood Jr. said last conference call with lawyers representing the plaintiff had convinced him that the repeal of the law would be “reasonable steps” to the village.

“They agreed that if we repeal the law, they will seek attorneys fees do not, and they will dismiss their lawsuit,” Hood said. “So I think it is reasonable to consider them or simply to repeal the law and is not responsible for any court costs or anything like that in the future.”

The village was the first – and so far the only – municipality in the country with a law limiting tobacco displays in shops, the anti-tobacco activist groups said.

Maureen Kenny, Director POW’R on Tobacco Control, said the village was known about the possibility of being sued by manufacturers of tobacco products through the adoption of the law. She and other anti-tobacco advocates appreciated the village for being a pioneer, although such a possibility.

“They showed great courage and I admire him for it,” said Kenny. “Unfortunately, it seems that the lawyers of the tobacco industry would be successful in putting pressure on the village to abolish the law quickly and the risk of having to pay for his legal costs accrued to date. This is absurd.”

David Sutton, spokesman for Altria, parent company of Philip Morris USA, U.S. brands of smokeless tobacco and John Middleton, said the company had no comment on its observation.

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What the impact of tobacco control will mean for Indonesia

For several days now, thousands of tobacco farmers had protests in Jakarta on the government’s plan to issue regulations later this month on measures to combat tobacco use.

While farmers have argued that the regulation will hurt their lives, health advocates are calling for the project will be published as soon as possible because of the importance of combating smoking and related health effects. In the various stakeholders to discuss the regulation, which consists of 65 articles in eight chapters, we look at the contents. The first chapter provides a general definition and description of the regulatory objectives, which it says is designed to mitigate the impact of tobacco on health, family, society and the environment.

The second chapter discusses the problems in the regulation of cigarette products from natural and synthetic tobacco. This is followed by detailed duties of the head of the Government at central and regional levels in relation to tobacco use and its threat to human health. In line with this, the government organizes supervision over the use of drugs in the form of tobacco products. It would encourage research and development in the industry that are safe, and it will contribute to the diversification of tobacco products.

Chapter Four, the longest chapter is about how efforts to control tobacco products will be carried out. It identifies key issues related to production and import of tobacco products, distribution, protection of children and pregnant women, and not smoking zones. It also requires cigarette manufacturers to conduct tests of nicotine and tar content of each type of cigarettes they produce. An exception is made for modes of tobacco used in traditional societies, including klobot, in which tobacco, wrapped in corn leaves, klembak menyan, which are intertwined with smoking tobacco and cut tobacco.

Manufacturers also are prohibited from using supplements that have not been scientifically proven to have no adverse health effects. Article 14 also requires the head of the importers and cigarette manufacturers to include health warnings in the form of photographs and text on the cigarette packs. Article 22 requires that the packets contain information about nicotine and tar content, along with a warning that the sale or transfer of cigarettes to persons under 18 years of age or pregnant women is not allowed.

Packages must also carry out production code and the date and the name and address of the manufacturer. Article 25 prohibits the sale of tobacco products through automatic vending machines to minors and pregnant women. Articles 26 to 31 cover restrictions on tobacco advertising in print, radio, online and outdoor advertising such as billboards. In accordance with the limitations of audio advertising such as radio advertisements for cigarettes have to devote 10 percent of their time in verbal warnings.

However, image ads must devote 10 percent of their area for the alert. Article 28 also includes a specific ban on tobacco advertising in print media. One of them is that these ads will never be published on the front or the back of the print edition or near the advertising of food and beverages. Restrictions on outdoor advertising media include a ban on tobacco advertising that is displayed in non-smoking areas and along major roads. The decree also prohibits the free distribution of cigarettes, as well as discounts and gifts in the form of sales of cigarettes.

Events supported by the tobacco companies are also prohibited from holding manufacturers logo or brand of cigarettes magazines. Article 39 of Chapter prohibits the distribution or transmission of images or photographs of people smoking cigarettes, cigarette smoke, cigarette packs, or any issues related to tobacco products. It also prohibits the transfer of any information on tobacco products in printed, broadcast and online media, if there is any commercial activity or effort to encourage people to smoke.

Article 46 prohibits an adult from the said order, or persons under the age of 18 to sell, buy or consume tobacco products. This chapter also provides for compulsory measures of smoking areas in hospitals, classrooms, playgrounds, places of worship, public transport, workplaces and other public places. Public transport nodes and employment are required to provide specially designated areas for smoking. They should be open areas outdoors with direct ventilation.

Chapter Five defines the regulatory role of the public in the campaign for tobacco control and monitoring and reporting violations. The sixth chapter details how government officials will carry the smoke-free zones for the first time to stop smoking and counsel existing smokers to help them quit smoking.

He says that these efforts should be undertaken in cooperation with international organizations.

The final chapter identifies where the provisions are in force.

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Tobacco control in the Czech Republic

Two of the largest tobacco companies in the world are actively weakened the tobacco-control policies in the Czech Republic over the past two decades, researchers from the Department of Health have found.

Tobacco Control Research Group of the University has found this intervention British American Tobacco and Philip Morris to influence the tobacco tax policy, which is one of the most effective ways of reducing tobacco consumption. They found that the corporation cooperated with the broader interests of the tobacco to keep low taxes on tobacco and tobacco lobbying competitive tax structures that will promote their brands. They also found evidence that Philip Morris is ignored, turned over and attempts to weaken the Czech policy to restrict tobacco advertising, promotion of voluntary restrictions as an alternative to binding legislation.

The study comes from the first study to investigate the influence of the tobacco industry in the Czech Republic, which was published in PLoS Medicine this week. The results show that the major tobacco companies have been quick to enter the Czech market in tobacco, in accordance with the decision on the privatization of state-controlled tobacco interests in the early 1990s, and immediately worked to shape policy in their favor. The study, led by Risako Shirane, and Professor Anna Gilmore in the bathroom, on the basis of an analysis of internal tobacco company documents (released in the courts in the U.S.) and key informant interviews.

The first author of the article, Risako Shirane said: “The excise policy, perhaps one of the most complex and least understood areas of tobacco control, and it makes the policy are particularly susceptible to the influence of the tobacco industry. “Our study is based on the wealth of previous research showing that tobacco companies are primarily due to the desire to increase profits, which means that their ability to influence policy usually has devastating consequences for public health.” According to the World Health Organization, smoking causes approximately 18,000 premature deaths a year – up to 50 deaths a day – in the Czech Republic. Overall, 26 percent of all male deaths and 10 percent of all deaths in women are associated with tobacco use.

Tobacco control remains very weak in the Czech Republic, with policy in the country in recent times finishing fourth least efficient in Europe. The Czech Republic is also the only European Union state has not approved that the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control – widely accepted international treaty, which defines the specific steps for governments to curb tobacco consumption. Cigarettes are becoming more available in the Czech Republic since 1991, while cigarette sales remain high, without a strong policy on tobacco control. Dr. Hana Ross, American Cancer Society conducted a key informant interviews, which confirmed the findings and suggested that the policy of intervention by the tobacco companies is taking place in the Czech Republic, tobacco companies continue to enjoy a high level of political support.

Lead researcher, Professor Gilmore, said the results indicate that officials in the Czech Republic need to work harder to ensure that policies on tobacco control has informed independent advice and are protected from undue interference by the tobacco industry.

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Tobacco Control Bill

Many members of the World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCOTH), which ended in Singapore over the weekend, concerned that a few months after a national law on tobacco control was adopted, President Goodluck Jonathan has not signed this law, according to OLUKOREDE YISHAU
Two days ago, the international community over the conference, at which it was agreed that health should take precedence over financial gain from the tobacco industry. World Conference on Tobacco or Health (WCOTH), which ended in Singapore over the weekend, showed that the tobacco epidemic should be limited to that increases the number of people it kills higher than its current test 6 million per year.
Two reports released at the conference, the fourth edition of the Atlas of Tobacco and Tobacco Watch, paint a picture of the mountain of things. Records show that Nigeria is in jeopardy if the bill on the national tobacco control is not passed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Tobacco Atlas puts cost of smoking in the Nigerian economy in terms of losses for the treatment and poor performance in the $ 591m per year. He said 17000000000 cigarettes produced in the country every year, and showed that more people are getting on tobacco use.
Many participants asked the Nigerian contingent, while the bill passed by the National Assembly remains unsigned. They believe that without a law regulating the industry, initiatives aimed at combating the epidemic in third world countries, such as $ 200 million initiative announced by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the result will achieve little.
President of the Washington-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Matt Myers, Jonathan encouraged to sign the bill. Myers said: “If I meet with President Goodluck Jonathan, I will tell him that one, he must do quickly that will save the lives of many Nigerians to sign a bill against tobacco use and to ensure that the country will do it immediately. If tobacco bill is signed and implemented, it will save just for the millions of Nigerians from the time of death. Most importantly, it will protect the Nigerian youth from tobacco addiction and premature death, life. ”
(ERA) of Action for the Protection of the director, corporate reporting, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, said Bill domestication of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the first global agreement in the field of health care developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), which Nigeria has ratified.
Oluwafemi said: “The FCTC is one of the most successful international conventions. It includes other specific steps to address the Government of tobacco, including the adoption of tax and price measures to reduce tobacco consumption, the creation of smoke-free workplace and in public spaces, put well-known dangers of Health on tobacco packaging, and combat the illicit trade in tobacco products.
“Big Tobacco is doing everything possible to not apply the rules in accordance with the FCTC; using tactics are hidden under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) in order to deceive people in the government in the extra path, risking people’s health. This tactic includes a partnership agreement between the government and industry, the industry perspective, programmers argue that preventing youth smoking, as well as training for farmers. ”
Communications Manager, Africa Tobacco Control Regional Initiative (ATCRI), Mr. Adeola Akinremi urged Jonathan to sign the bill into law.
Speaking at WCTOH, Akinremi said: “President Jonathan must agree to a bill that could save the lives of many Nigerians in the long term.”
Akinremi noted that the signing of this bill will help the cause for which the mayor of New York was committed to his personal funds.
For Akinsola Owoeye on Tobacco Control Alliance Nigeria, there are several reasons why the bill should be signed. Owoeye said: “Despite the promises of the government and the tobacco industry, the dead began to rise in Nigeria after the BAT entered the study in Lagos showed an increase in smoking prevalence from 8.9 percent to 10 percent and the prevalence of smoking which rose to 16.3 percent. It also shows that two people die every day in a state with tobacco-related diseases. Using conservative estimates of Lagos State, it means that every state in Nigeria held at least, N2, 847,000,000 ($ 18,058,992) for the treatment of smokers in hospitals. Multiply this amount by the 37 states of Nigeria, it also means that Nigeria has lost N105, 339 million ($ 668,182,708) per year. If this figure is justified, he obviously does silly things 10 billion naira ($ 6,343,165) per year, tax BATN “.

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Tobacco health labels constitutional

A U.S. law requires large graphic warnings on cigarette packages and advertising does not violate free speech rights of tobacco companies, a federal appeals court ruled on Monday.
Cigarettes sued the manufacturers to stop the U.S. Food and Drug Administration new labeling and advertising requirements under rule violated their First Amendment right to communicate with adult consumers of tobacco.
But the Cincinnati-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th circuit has left most of the new regulatory framework of the FDA, including the requirement that tobacco companies are the big picture warnings on cigarette packs.
The decision comes on the heels of the Washington, DC, the ruling judge in the different but related case, has rejected demands by the FDA and, it seems, created a clash over the constitutionality of the rules of FDA.
Floyd Abrams, a lawyer Lorillard, said the difference in tone in the two actions and said the 6 th circuit case, the case of Washington, or both, is likely to end up in the U.S. Supreme Court.
The difference in these two cases is that the FDA did not provide concrete images, when the company filed a lawsuit six Circuit. While the lawsuit focuses on Washington’s image, the appellate court considered the broader question of the normative power of FDA.
“There can be no doubt that the government has a substantial interest in preventing underage smoking and warning the population about the dangers of using tobacco products,” Judge Eric Clay wrote for the three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit.
Congress passed a law in 2009 and ordered the FDA to take specific warning label rules. The labels must be in color, should include the top 50 percent before a pack of cigarettes and rear panels, and should cover the top 20 percent of print advertising.
After the tobacco companies, including RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co and Lorillard Inc, Lorillard Tobacco Co, sued to block the law, FDA presented the nine images to go on cigarette packs, including graphic images of corpses, diseased lungs and rotting teeth. Companies blame the government forcing them to spread anti-smoking message in order to embarrass and stigmatize already informed consumers.
Two judges of the majority of the Court of Appeal panel disagreed with the companies on the label claim, arguing that the fact that the specific images can cause an aversion does the requirement of the Constitution. Most say that it was just a decision on the constitutionality of the law on its face, rather than specific images that FDA imposed after the lawsuit was filed.
Dissent PHOTO
Judge Clay, who wrote the main opinion upholding most of the FDA rules, objected, however, the ruling on the graphic label. He called the rules “is simply unprecedented.” Although the Government may require the manufacturer to provide truthful information, “it is less clearly permissible for the government, just to scare the consumer or otherwise attempt to manipulate the emotions of the consumer roughly, as he seeks to do here,” Clay wrote.
February 29, DC, District Judge Richard Leon ruled that the FDA violated the images free speech rights of tobacco companies. He found that warning labels were too high and that the government has a lot of other tools at its disposal to prevent smoking, such as raising taxes on cigarettes, including simple factual information on the label, not the horrible images.
The Obama administration appealed that ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on March 5.
Lorillard’s lawyer says Abrams appeals court on Monday the decision does not necessarily conflict with the decision of Leon.
“The court made it clear that focuses on the law as written, rather than on its implementation,” said Abrams.
Ministry of Justice did not immediately provide comment.
6th circuit is also supported by other rules of FDA, including restrictions on the marketing of “light” cigarettes, the distribution of free samples of tobacco sponsorship of events. The court overturned a rule prohibiting the use of color and graphics in advertising.
“We are pleased the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the continued use of colors and images in our advertising,” said the spokesman for RJ Reynolds, Brian hatchel.

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Local control over tobacco use

Will this legislative session is a “love fest” between legislators of Oklahoma and the tobacco industry?
Here’s how to describe the deputy representative of the industry-lobbyist relationship years ago, when Big Tobacco usually have their way in the Capitol, and it’s kind of cozy industry hopes to revive this session. Twenty-five years after the leaders of Tulsa’s health movement began looking for local control of tobacco use, health advocates are still fighting for that right. Legislative measures that would allow local control is alive, but badly bruised. Big Tobacco does not come easily.
As a leader put it back in 1990: “We intend to resist at all costs, any attempt to force tobacco to cancel pre-emptive state of the local regulation of smoking.” The presence in the industry at the Capitol this session, said his position has not changed. But attitudes have changed some, so there is hope that Oklahoma will join the other 48 states that allow local control of tobacco consumption. So the question is: who will win this time? Big Tobacco – again? Or, finally, the people of Oklahoma?
There is reason to believe the majority of Oklahomans will not have problems with the local government. The experience of other cities that have local control of smoking status displays help attract tourists, conventions, and without prejudice to the restaurants and other businesses. Recent polling here shows that a significant majority of Oklahomans want smoke-free environment, and consider non-smokers rights “to breathe clean air is more important than the rights of smokers to smoke.
But even if most of us prefer to clean the air throughout the world, we need not get in our way. Big Tobacco has been the struggle of local control measures since Tulsa’s health and business leaders began to push in the mid-1980s. They hoped that the far-reaching bill introduced in 1987 will lead to local government – a right which has been won by local leaders across the country.
But when tobacco industry executives have learned the efforts of Tulsa, they flew into action and managed to not only significantly weaken the measure, but to add a provision that allowed strict local control – what is now known as the priority. Tobacco control battles of the era, described in detail in a fascinating study in power and influence in the industry call “from industry dominance of the progress in the legislative arena, the political and public health tobacco control in Oklahoma.”
A report in 2005, Andrew L. Spivak and Michael S. Givel, with the University Of Oklahoma Department Of Political Science, concluded: “The tobacco industry is one of the main political forces in Oklahoma through lobbying, direct campaign contributions, indirect contributions to the two major political parties and legislative political meetings, and gifts and entertainment. the tobacco industry has a centralized political organization in Oklahoma that supports and defends its political and market interests at the local and state government levels. Although the tobacco industry works to open in some political campaigns, it often works quietly behind the scenes, often working with various allied organizations, state and local political campaigns. ”
In the years after a major victory in 1987, representatives continued to bathe in their success, but remained vigilant, analysis suggests, OU. In 1989 Philip Morris document shout about the successes of the industry in Oklahoma. “Again, the love feast,” said a summary with a link to the MP-lobbyist relationships. “They’re all best friends.” The same document describes the lobbying team of Oklahoma, all former legislators as “absolutely superb” and “able to hold leadership” to make their bets. In 1992, the Tobacco Institute memo, said: “Industry Success in Oklahoma illustrates the benefits of a coordinated and well-planned efforts.”
By the mid-1990s, health advocates have learned some lessons and a new impetus to the abolition of priority have been started. Municipal support is growing, by this time; seven cities have passed resolutions asking the Legislative enable them to impose their own restrictions of tobacco. By 1996, the “revolutionary” bill that would restore local control was in the legislature, based on an impressive legislative support: a total of 44 House members and 14 senators signed on as sponsors. Even in this case-Gov. Frank Keating said he would sign the bill if it passed.
This political scenario is concerned the tobacco industry, which fought hard. Scare tactics that have led to believe the business will result in dire consequences of local government led to the mobilization efforts that are doomed to repeal the measures. Interestingly, while local government remains an elusive goal, progress in other tobacco control measures had been slowly forward in recent years. Significant control of tobacco consumption in public places and workplaces have been taken, and the major tobacco tax increase approved by voters in 2004.
Why worry the tobacco industry, if the city or state regulation of their products? Previously secret internal documents “shed light on why tobacco lobbyists wanted to take a local law,” said Tobacco Stops with me, in partnership with organizations looking for solutions of Oklahoma, tobacco-related problems. “The documents show that they knew that they (the leaders of the tobacco) faced a crisis of confidence when it came to influence local decisions. At the local level, policy-makers are closer to the people. As a result, they tend to be more responsive to the problems of the components and are far less likely to be influenced by lobbyists for the tobacco industry and its contribution to the campaign, “coalition completed.
See for yourself. Here are some of the documents with me Stop Tobacco Ads:
“Our record in defeating state smoking restrictions has been good enough. Unfortunately, our record in relation to local measures … has been somewhat less encouraging.” – Raymond Pritchard, Brown and Williamson, U.S. Tobacco and Candy Journal, July 17, 1986.
“But above all, we intend to resist at all costs, any attempt to force tobacco to cancel the displacement of the state of the local regulation of smoking.” – Memorandum from Stan Bowman, Tobacco Institute, on the “1991 Oklahoma Legislative Program” November 18, 1990.
“We could never win at the local level … so that the institution of tobacco and tobacco companies have always been a priority to preempt the field …” – Viktor Leonidovich Crawford, a former lobbyist for the tobacco institute, Journal of the American Medical Association, July 19, 1995. It is clear that the tobacco industry does not want to deal with us on the spot, which should make us want to correct all the more. If the priority is canceled, the city does not have to make tough laws. But if local residents want more control, it would be impossible. Why in the world would we want is not it?

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The need to improve the school programmers on Tobacco Control

Public health researchers from India and the United States in a recent study showed that school smoking prevention among programmers in India are cost effective, thus strengthening the case of the introduction of tobacco in the school are programmed throughout the country.
A study in the economic analysis of tobacco prevention programming school showed that these programmers provide great advantages in terms of health in the rupee invested in comparison with alternative investments in health.
This cost-benefit analysis makes the case for scaling up this intervention in Indian schools, health policy and education, noted the release of health promotion and tobacco control (HRIDAY), non-governmental organization working in the fight against tobacco abuse.
The study, entitled “Cost-effectiveness in schools to prevent smoking among programmed in India,” based on the draft MYTRI (Mobilizing Youth for Tobacco-related initiatives), which was implemented in 32 schools in Delhi and Chennai during 2004-06 in which 14 000 students aged 14 to 16 varieties of VI IX participation. The programmed was implemented in conjunction HRIDAY in collaboration with the University of Texas School of Public Health, USA.
The study showed that the project MYTRI As a result, a few people to prevent tobacco use at age 26 years, translating to 2.88 life years per user to prevent tobacco use.
“Detailed analysis stated that the improvement of the quality-adjusted life year under our pre-programmed costs only Rs.1.25 lakh, which is much less than the quality-adjusted life-year costs of traditional medical treatments such as surgery. This emphasizes the need for multi-component interventions. Research shows that the cost of years of life, added to prevent smoking by nearly Rs.1.8 crore.
Thus, if the project is to add 54 years of life, it will cost about Rs core of the deal when compared to alternative investments in health such as end of life surgery, “said Professor Brown, Shelton, associate professor of health economics at the School of Public Health, University of Texas, and lead investigator of the study.
Dr. Monica Arora in HRIDAY says: “Data from this study also emphasized the need to expand these activities to a larger scale.”
In India, the high prevalence of tobacco use is one of the major challenges to health and welfare of citizens. About 2,700 Indians die every day from tobacco use. Studies show that young people in 5500, India has initiated tobacco use in the day.