Tobacco manufacturers and lawmakers from the state of Kentucky and other countries squaring off against the anti-smoking groups over whether to turn culture into a trade agreement that the U.S. is in talks with eight countries in the Pacific.
Public health groups argue that excluding tobacco from trade agreements such, helps worldwide campaign to reduce smoking. But lawmakers and farmers claim that the ban on tobacco can lead to economic losses to Kentucky and other states, and sets a bad precedent.
The Obama administration has not said that he intends to do. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk was noncommittal when pressed on this issue, Congressman Geoff Davis of Kentucky, R-4th District, at a recent House Ways and Means Committee hearing.
“Let me be clear: we do not have (the decision) to exclude any proposal or any tobacco product,” Kirk said. “I know that there is great interest on the part of the Kentucky delegation.”
Davis and the rest of the state congressional delegation urged the administration in October to avoid the exclusion of any specific products of commercial transactions.
“Kentucky is one of the largest tobacco-producing states in the production of tobacco leaves to support thousands of jobs in the Commonwealth,” the delegation wrote to Kirk. Other delegations of Congress from tobacco states, including North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia, wrote similar letters.
More than 80 percent of Kentucky tobacco is exported, so that the exceptions to the trade agreement “threatens the business of our vendors, and may be harmful to the communities where they live and work in Kentucky,” the letter said.
Economic effect
Roger Quarles, president of Lexington-based Burley Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association, said in an interview that tobacco generates $ 350 million to $ 400 million a year to the economy of Kentucky.
“If you have any trade agreements that exist in the world that benefit agricultural production, we need to be included,” Quarles said. “We feel like the American manufacturers do not have to be at a disadvantage compared to other countries.”
In Frankfort, Kentucky House of Representatives and Senate approved a resolution supporting the inclusion of tobacco products in trade agreements.
The resolution stated that Washington should “hold fast to the long-term policies that trade agreements should be comprehensive in order to verify the absence of agricultural products or commodities, including tobacco and tobacco products can be removed for the sake of public policy.”
“All elected officials are aware of the importance of this issue,” said Sen. state of Paul Hornback, co-author of the tobacco permit.
Shelbyville Republican raised tobacco on his family farm for decades. He currently devotes 100 acres to the leaf, producing about 250,000 pounds per year.
Hornback said that he and other tobacco manufacturers consider themselves “in a big competition with the rest of the world for our products.”
Deal this year?
The 11th rounds of talks on trade agreement, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement was held recently in Melbourne, Australia. The final agreement could come by year’s end.
Trade deal – involving the United States, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam – will eliminate tariffs on 11 000 a range of products.
But tobacco is not to be one of them, said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
“Free trade agreements aimed at promoting products,” he said in an interview. “And this is the goal of almost every country to reduce tobacco use and reducing the number of people who die from tobacco use. These two do not go hand in hand.”
The United States has already committed to an international treaty to reduce tobacco consumption around the world, health groups and tobacco control advocates point out.
In 2004 during the reign of President George W. Bush, the United States signed the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a treaty aimed at curbing smoking and dramatically devastating diseases associated with it. The agreement was never sent to the Senate for ratification.
The agreement was signed by 168 countries including all countries in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations.
Smoking effects
Smoking-related diseases kill about 440,000 Americans a year. Worldwide, tobacco kills 5 million people each year – one in 10 adult deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
Myers said that the concern about excluding tobacco trade agreement negotiations masks a big problem.
“Tobacco manufacturers abusing the existing free trade agreements to challenge the law, good public health measures in countries of the world,” he said.
In any case, Myers said, tobacco farmers would not be hurt by new trade agreements, because there is nothing in it would not prevent the export of American tobacco. That ultimately lead to lower exports of tobacco gradual reduction of smoking, he said.
Quarles acknowledged that if the tobacco has been excluded from the trade treaty, “we’re not sure what will happen now or in the future.”
But “we should have the same opportunities as producers of soybeans, or any other culture you want to get in the United States,” he said.
The contract issue
The Obama administration has been wrestling for months with the tobacco problem in the trade agreement.
“As you know, there is a problem … NGO (nongovernmental organization), as well as in health, we do not table anything that would limit this control, the ability of Congress to regulate in the field of public health (region),” Kirk told the committee of Congress.
“We’re trying to find the right balance,” he said, “with our stated goal of having a high standard, comprehensive agreement that all of this on the table and how little cut outs possible, and at the same time, maintaining that the main core of the standard trade agreements that would not be discrimination, which we do not apply to product manufacturers in other countries, other than here.”
Before the beginning of the winter session of the National Governors Association late last month, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear was one of four governors, joining New Zealand Ambassador Michael Moore as host on “The governors and ambassadors of the World Trade Acceptance” in Washington.
Kirk was the speeches at the meeting due to a possible “to establish and strengthen personal relationships critical” among government officials, industry and diplomatic representatives of countries that are major U.S. trading partners.
Sponsors of the event included Philip Morris International, which sells tobacco products in about 180 countries and in 2011 was about 16 per cent share of the cigarette market outside the U.S., according to the company’s website.
Myers said Philip Morris was trying to influence the outcome of trade negotiations on the agreement. In his statement he said that the tobacco industry “is working aggressively to this agreement will help them open up new markets for their deadly products.”
Beshear supports crop
In trading method, Beshear said Kirk on the tobacco issue.
“The governor urged the U.S. to include the export of tobacco in Kentucky Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement,” said Kerri Richardson, a representative of Beshir. “Tobacco remains an important agricultural product in Kentucky, and we will continue to work with other tobacco-exporting countries to encourage the federal government to provide access to these export markets.”
Philip Morris said in a statement that “corporate sponsorship and participation in events such as this, it is common practice for companies in the United States, including tobacco companies, and we believe that our participation was not inappropriate in any way.”
“We were one of 14 other sponsors of the event, we are proud to be supported in the past,” the company said.
Roll-your own tobacco shop owners like the expense of broadening the tax
Customer’s tobacco Mizer save the equivalent of $ 30 carton of cigarettes, tobacco free buying and hollow tube, and then rent a car that rolls his cigarettes.
“Each client has its own mix,” said Bob Mizer, owner of the store. “We have eight different types of tobacco here, and they can mix and blend to meet what they want.”
Ready-made cigarettes are cheap because they are not subject to the same state and federal taxes, as well as with companies that are considered producers in accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona.
Mizer said that this setup allows its operation and others like it to compete with the tobacco store Indian reservations, where customers pay less excise taxes.
That’s why Mizer and others roll their own store to say a bill moving the state legislature would be a mortal blow.
HB 2717, authored by Rep. Jim Weiers, R-Phoenix, would be classified as an enterprise with a cigarette in the mills as producers and subject them to the same regulations and taxes are the companies that make finished cigarettes.
House Commerce Committee approved the bill Feb. 15 to 5.3 votes, sending it to the full house in the form of the Rules Committee.
Mizer said the loss of tax benefits would be only part of the problem, if the bill becomes law.
If he had been classified as a producer, he will be obliged to obtain a state license production. However, those seeking a state license must first obtain a federal license to manufacture, and with that comes a ban on selling directly to customers in the area where they produce cigarettes.
Mizer said that they have no choice but to denial of his three rolling machines, which together cost him about $ 100,000. And because his business depends heavily on them, he said that the need to close and put his 13 employees out of work.
“It’s like a Catch-22,” said Mizer. “You say that we are manufacturers, but we can not obtain a license. We’re going out of business if this bill passes.”
This is not the first attempt to classify the retail roll your own car manufacturers. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Treasury Alcohol and tobacco tax and trade bureau issued a decree calling, but a federal court in Ohio granted the injunction in response to a lawsuit RYO Machine Rental LLC, which sells and rents out a roll of their own machines.
Jeffrey Burd, a lawyer representing the Ohio RYO Machine Rental, told lawmakers that he found the time this bill strange, given that a hearing on the suit of his company is scheduled for April.
Machines used a roll your own tobacco shops are not comparable with the machines used in major cigarette manufacturers, Burd, adding that it would take tobacco stores 16 hours of the camp to as many cigarettes as the car manufacturer is in a minute.
“It’s just a situation where the cigarette manufacturers would like to take comfort from the” add your own “clients, because they prefer that their product was purchased,” said Byrd.
John Mangum, a lawyer representing Altria Group, formerly known as Philip Morris Company Inc, which manufactures cigarettes under brands including Marlboro, told the committee that without the law customers migrate to stores such as in the Mizer. This would reduce the revenue of $ 1.01 per pack federal tax producers and $ 2 for the tax status of the package manufacturer, he said.
Parts and taxes will be spent on anti-smoking programs.
“It is not clear tax advantages”, Mangum said. “What we’re trying to do is to restore what we would call a level playing field.”
Byrd said the machine shop of tobacco does not cause people to roll their own cigarettes, but this is only for the convenience of people who have been rolling their own cigarettes for less efficient cars at home.
“There is no tax loophole,” he said.
Groups joining Altria Group in support of the signing of the bill include Reynolds American Inc, Arizona retail cigar associations and associations of America.
Groups joining RYO rental Car Company and owners of shops, including Mizer, in opposing the bill included Goldwater Institute, an independent watchdog group that promotes limited government and free enterprise.
In voting for the bill, Weiers said the issue boils down to making sure that no business has an unfair advantage when it comes to taxes.
“This is a very touchy issue with me because it goes to the very nerve that I believe that when it comes to taxes and how stupid people are” Weiers said.
Reps. Rick Gray, R-Sun City, Bob Robson, R-Chandler, and JD Mesnard, R-Chandler, voted against the bill.
“If I go out and rent all the equipment necessary to do landscaping, it makes me landscaper? All this really makes sense,” said Robson.
Altria aims to engage wide smokers
Smokers today are more open to trying different types of tobacco smokers than in previous generations, and Altria Group Inc is working on new products to entice consumers who want to change from cigarettes, the company said.
The company, best known for its Marlboro, and stood on the profit forecast it gave in late January. Altria, whose other products include Skoal and Copenhagen smokeless tobacco, and black and mild cigars, there is a shift in the use of tobacco in the United States. While the number of smokers, both cigarettes and cigars remained relatively flat, the use of smokeless tobacco has increased. However, Marlboro – with 42 percent of the retail market in the cigarette industry – remains the dominant brand in the portfolio of Altria.
Some smokers try alternative products such as smokeless tobacco, amid concerns about the health risks of smoking.
Altria is recommended at the beginning of sales of its new brand of Marlboro Black, Vice-Chairman Dave Beran told analysts and investors at the annual Consumer Analyst Group of New York, or CAGNY, conference held in Boca Raton, Florida.
Black Marlboro, which Philip Morris, Altria unit in the United States began shipping in December, was more than 1 percent of the retail market earlier this month, said Beran, who is about to become president of Altria and chief operating officer in May.
The new product is what the company calls a bold, contemporary spin on the traditional brand, and is packaged in a black box for menthol and menthol varieties.
Marlboro brand was 42 per cent market share in 2011, compared to 42.6 percent in 2010. Marlboro is a best-selling cigarette in all U.S. states, but, like other cigarettes threatens to further reduce the number of American smokers.
Altria said that he did not see big changes in the structure of premium and discount brands.
There has been some volatility among price-sensitive buyers who are looking for suggestions and a shift between different brands of discounts, but consumers who buy premium products, as a rule, loyal, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mike Szymanczyk told reporters at the conference.
About 90 percent of smokers, Marlboro buy only that brand, according to a study of the company.
Altria also expects adjusted earnings to grow by 6 to 9 percent in 2012, ranging from $ 2.17 to $ 2.23 per share, executives said on Wednesday.
Analysts on average had expected Altria, to earn $ 2.20 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I / B / E / S.
Over time, Altria still aims to post average annual adjusted earnings per share growth of 7 percent to 9 percent dividend and issue that is growing in line with its adjusted earnings per share growth.
Szymanczyk said last month that he intends to resign in May, and will, as Chairman and CEO Marty Barrington.
Shares of Altria rose 0.3 percent to $ 29.71 Wednesday afternoon on the New York Stock Exchange.
Hubei China Tobacco
In an effort to implement the proposal in the State Tobacco Monopoly Bureau for the next “two tasks” and the meeting site, Hubei Comprehensive Pilot Programs, Hubei tobacco industry of China Co, Ltd has made great strides in improving the mechanisms and focuses on the management of key links.
Develop mechanisms for consistently tolerated. “High standards, pragmatic work, and a strict system of accountability,” have been met. Center for
Monitoring and Control center of trading have been established, and measures for the procurement of materials, advertising, sales promotion and incorruptible, and three supervisory style Responsibilities the commission has been revised. Incorruptible style surveillance reports through the purchase rates and deals on the administration of public and collective decision-making process were formulated. In addition, auxiliary systems, such as measures of advertising and sales promotion and implementation of the scheme for the purchase of tobacco materials have been improved. This was done to ensure that laws and regulations are available for the overall management process, “two problems”.
Second, information support has made a noticeable effect. In an effort to implement a “standardized implementation of electronic filing project, whole process of managing an open information and auto-control,” special teams have been established and the development of an information platform for the “two problems” has been strengthened. In particular, the “9 in 1” information management platform with enterprise features have been developed, which provides information support reorganization, automation and control footprint “of the two tasks.” Seven management systems are: the contract audit, materials procurement, investment, project supervision, control of capital and components for cars and tobacco company management, as well as Intranet and Extranet.
Third, the opening of trading achieved remarkable results. Standardized management of the investment project, materials procurement, and advertising and sales promotion was postponed. In addition, purchases will be made in accordance with relevant rules and procedures in order to obtain tenders worth. In 2011 there were 137 contracts of the project, and 78.12 percent of total investment accounted for through a public auction.The annual tendering for tobacco materials, excluding materials dispensed by the State Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and supplies from multiplex enterprises and imported materials, accounted for 99.7 percent of the total amount of procurement. By banning purchasing from its own multiplex enterprises, the open tendering for 25 varieties under a publicity and sales promotion accounted for 93.6 percent of the total amount of procurement.
Fourth, democratic governance has proved its effectiveness. Public administration and democratic governance has been enforced and the joint conference of ministers of the system was created. Terms of the joint conference of ministers and procedures formulated by the joint conference of ministers and democratic functions, including online disclosures have been widely used. In addition, production activities, appointments, relevant to the interests of employees, recruitment and compensation, and insurance may be disclosed. Workers’ rights to information, the right to participate, the right of expression and the right of supervision can be guaranteed.
Tobacco giants lose bid to keep cigarettes on display in Scottish shops
One of the largest tobacco companies in the world has lost its latest legal battle with the plans of the ban on open display of cigarettes in shops.
Imperial Tobacco’s appeal was unanimously dismissed by three senior judges at the Court of Session in Edinburgh today.
The company’s civil action, which also opposed a ban on tobacco vending machines, delayed the implementation of the Scottish Government’s measures which are aimed at stopping young people from taking up smoking.
No date has not been established prohibitions should be given in Imperial Tobacco, and does not rule out further appeal against the decision.
The latest decision of the court was nevertheless welcomed the Scottish Health Minister Michael Matheson, who said that the proposals will play a “key role” in preventing youth from starting to smoke.
The Scottish Parliament has supported measures against tobacco and primary health care (Scotland) in January 2010, which was granted Royal Assent in two months.
Bristol-Imperial went to court to try to overturn the plans, arguing that they are beyond the scope of the legislative Hollywood. The judge rejected the arguments of the company in September 2010, saying nothing, the problems were “justified”.
Imperial, the company behind Lambert and Butler cigarette brands Richmond, appealed the decision, but his case was again rejected today. The ruling gave judges the top of Scotland, Lord President, Lord Hamilton, sitting with Lords Reed and Brodie.
Lord Hamilton said the ban on the display. “Such a display is planned to encourage the purchase of products such as consumption, in particular, smoking of such products is considered to be detrimental to health, the first part is intended to suppress, without the prohibition of the purchase.”
He added that the proposed vending machine ban related to the “ready access” by children and young people to tobacco products.
He wrote: “Such ready access is conceived to be harmful as it facilitates the acquisition and ultimate smoking, by children and young persons, of tobacco products.
“Section nine is designed, again by a criminal sanction, to prevent children and young people, as well as other persons, from having such ready access to tobacco products.
“The risk that tobacco uses is perceived to provide a healthy, first of all smokers as consumers, but also those non-smokers, who may be exposed to smoke-filled environment, and exposure to secondhand smoke, suffering adverse love.” He said it was not without significance that Westminster has made similar arrangements for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
MRL Matheson said he was “delighted” with the ruling. “Every year in Scotland 15,000 children and young people start smoking and the potential impact on their health is terrible,” he said.
“A child who starts smoking at age 15 or younger is three times more likely to die from cancer as a result, than someone who starts smoking at the age of 20 years.
“It is in the context of protecting future generations from the devastating effects of smoking, that the measures outlined in our Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2010 should be considered.
“The ban on the sale of tobacco products from vending machines and a ban on showing smoking and smoking-related products in the stores play a crucial role in preventing the children of today become tomorrow smokers.”
The Scottish government spokesman said they were not able to set a date for the ban They brought some legal problems with the ban on cigarette machines, shopping, picked up another company, still in the courts.
Imperial Tobacco does not preclude the adoption of a new appeal to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, the company said that it is necessary to look at the decision in detail before making a decision. A spokesman said: “Obviously we’re disappointed; we consider the solution to its appeal.”
Anti-tobacco charity ASH Scotland welcomed the ruling. Chief executive Sheila Duffy said: “It was a typically cynical attempt to undermine our democratically elected parliament in Scotland, over the years of accumulated scientific data and well-being of the Scottish people, purely to protect their profits.
“Tobacco is not a normal product. It kills half of those who use it and damage the health of those exposed to it it’s not by choice.”
Vicky Crichton, Cancer Research UK public affairs manager, said: ” We welcome this decision to the Court of Appeal judge, we hope that this decision allows Scotland to move forward with plans to protect future generations of children, putting tobacco out of sight and out of mind.
“One in two long-term smokers will die prematurely because of smoking and most are dependent, as teenagers, so it’s very important that everything possible is done to make cigarettes less attractive to children.”
Fighting Big Tobacco in Malaysia
In a country where 46 percent of men smoke, and where the government is spending RM20 billion a year, treatment of tobacco-related diseases, it is imperative that we as a society requires more health care, and more stringent laws tobacco.
However, the adoption laws of tobacco to protect public health, as well as performance anti-tobacco/pro-health propaganda, there’s been a long history of interference by the tobacco industry, which has undermined and often blocks efforts to materialize as a whole. As someone who has had exposure to tobacco policy and regulation, I was afraid that the tobacco industry is the most serious obstacle that politicians and anti-tobacco advocates are facing today.
Malaysia is a member of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC further) which states, in accordance with Article 5.3 that Parties are required to ensure that the policy protected against the tobacco industry and tobacco industry.
The reason for this is that the tobacco industry has for decades tried to circumvent the policies that protect public health. In the 1930s, when reports began to emerge about the adverse health effects cigarettes, the tobacco industry began a ten-year campaign to refute the authenticity of these messages, and to depict cigarette-friendly products, including the famous: “Most doctors Camel advertising.
Unfortunately, the tobacco industry interference with tobacco control campaign continues to this day, and actually becomes more powerful. Here are some examples: In 1988 in California, when Californians voted for a tax increase on tobacco, Big Tobacco increased political contribution in the government of California and the governor at that time take steps to block anti-tobacco advertising is paid for this tax.
Oswald and others in his article in 2010 in the Indian Journal of Cancer said that in India, the tobacco industry lobbied strongly influence the public to believe that the graphic pictorial warnings have been religiously offensive, and that tobacco farmers have a negative impact. It is important to note that the last argument is often used around the world, and trying to divert attention from the fact that the tobacco farmers themselves suffer from tobacco poisoning because of the constant contact with tobacco leaves, tobacco, and that requires intensive use of pesticides, which have a negative impact on the environment. It is also conveniently forgets to mention Article 17 of the WHO FCTC, which states that the parties should support farmers to economically viable alternatives.
Shockingly, in 2012 Malaysia Budget did not call for tax increases on tobacco products at all – a measure that has been proven to have the greatest short-term impact on tobacco consumption. This evidence is contained in the 1999 World Bank report “Curbing the Epidemic: Governments and the Economics of Tobacco Control”, which states that 10 per cent increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes will decrease the demand for cigarettes by eight percent on average – and with low income.
This may be influenced by the fact that the contraband cigarettes often, as reported by 40 percent. What the public does not know what these figures are taken from the highly biased study of the tobacco industry did, collecting garbage around football stadiums and FELDA settlements. Preliminary studies of university scientists show a more realistic figure to be about 20 percent.
In addition to using biased research for many years, the tobacco industry was also very clever in a set of influential persons or persons with a previous reference of the Government to fill positions in their companies. A quick Google search the board of directors of any major tobacco company will name a very influential people, recognizable names that make tobacco lobby just that much stronger.
WHO provides measures to effectively combat the tobacco epidemic, called MPOWER steps – all in the past and are now facing tobacco industry interference. These effective measures: monitoring tobacco use, protection from exposure to tobacco smoke, offer help to stop smoking (cessation techniques); warning about the dangers of tobacco use; Enforce bans on tobacco advertising and raising taxes.
Under the “P” is a measure of protection from tobacco smoke, governments around the world have enacted laws for smoking areas – whether all geographic areas, or those agencies, such as bars. In 2004, Ireland introduced a ban on smoking in bars and tobacco industry said that it might affect their business. Eight years later, is still often Irish pubs, denying the words of Big Tobacco.
The campaign for smoking areas, the tobacco industry uses front groups such as associations of owners of restaurants and tourist groups, stating that the restaurant business and tourism will reduce will reduce. I may be wrong, but logically people frequent restaurants for food and tourism fields scenery and recreational activities – no smoking. In addition, the data showed that in New York City, which banned smoking in restaurants, it was not affected. In fact, the New York Restaurant Association president and Restaurant Union supports a ban on smoking in restaurants with a public health perspective.
Over anecdotes and worldwide experience shows that the influence of the tobacco industry is full and extremely powerful. As someone who has experience in tobacco control, I can see how to interference that is alive and well, and that unless we stand, we will not just have 45 percent of male smokers. This figure will increase if something is done. Political will and voice of the people will need to defeat the tobacco industry lobbying, as well as the health of Malaysians “are better protected.
Campus tobacco policy reinforced as project draws mixed reactions
The University administration has taken steps to ensure compliance with existing policies on tobacco use, but there is no consensus among the groups on UNLV campus-wide ban on tobacco, and any new regulations have been made.
Tobacco Free UNLV secured $ 450,000 in federal money in 2010 and aimed to see tobacco banned in UNLV in 2012. Just before that the test came, there were signs stating that smoking is not permitted in the Valerie Pida Plaza.
“I did not know about that,” said Tobacco Free UNLV Director Susan VanBeuge “, and I was embarrassed look, because people started to email me, saying,” Thank you very much. ”
VanBeuge said that she had received some negative feedback from individuals who thought of the Tobacco Free UNLV was responsible for the wiring, but that the messages were positive in 10-to-1.
“The initiative of the Tobacco Free can not take credit for it,” she said, “but I’d like to think that we have opened a conversation.”
The postings were the result of an administrative decision, and they seek to enforce existing laws and policies: that no smoking is allowed within 25 feet of the entrance to the building.
After the Tobacco Free UNLV began the dissemination of information among the various groups component, office facilities management, risk management and security have also examined public opinion on tobacco use on campus.
UNLV Media Affairs representative Megan Downs said that the decision said that the survey, which sent out regardless of the Tobacco Free UNLV.
“They tried to find areas where people have complained about the most smoke interrupting their walk around campus, so they stepped up signs in specific high-traffic areas,” she said.
Downs said that university officials have also moved the ashtray, which were close to the buildings. At the present time they are outside the 25-foot perimeter.
Tobacco Free UNLV can not draft policy – only administrators can do this university – but VanBeuge and her team have made a compilation of the draft policy, which they presented to President.
“In the best of all possible worlds, is that the Tobacco Free would like to,” VanBeuge said.
Some campus groups supported the ideals of the project. On December 5, Faculty Senate approved the declaration feeling Senate, which contains support for many purposes, initiatives and practices.
Statement asserted that “UNLV should enforce existing tobacco-related policies more consistently develop smoking cessation corridors and continue to care for all faculty, staff and students, as steps towards tobacco-free campus.”
Student representatives were not so friendly to the idea of the Tobacco Free UNLV in
VanBeuge said she was surprised to have negative views of students, because in most colleges, where tobacco use was prohibited, an initiative to support students.
“Most of them pushed forward and began to students,” she said.
But even after the CSUN Senate Medical Sciences organized a special luncheon for members of the CSUN in an effort to give VanBeuge and her colleagues have a platform to discuss their work, the student enate voted against supporting the student’s Tobacco Free UNLV.
Graduate and Professional Student Association also refused to support the project.
GPSA President Michael Gordon explained that although the members of the program GPSA Council support the Tobacco Free UNLV on smoking cessation, most of them were against a complete ban on tobacco use on campus, because they saw it as impractical and risk performance.
Many members of the GPSA thought that asking students who live off campus in the campus to smoke would be silly and that at night; it could pose a security risk.
But the biggest opposition within the GPSA was against regulations that would keep UNLV from taking funding for research related to the tobacco company.
“It would just add another layer of bureaucracy,” Gordon said.
He added that as UNLV works to recover from five years of rapid decline, the university should not limit the resources for researchers.
“In terms of budget cuts, we must all external financing, we can get,” he said. Gordon said that if the Tobacco Free UNLV GPSA support requested for each goal separately, the decision of the Board may be different.
Although the beginning of the New Year came and went without a policy to prohibit tobacco use on campus, VanBeuge believes Tobacco Free UNLV was successful in that it has opened a healthy conversation about an important issue.
“We have raised awareness on campus of tobacco and tobacco smoke, and some of the dangers of tobacco products to persons … and those with passive,” she said.
In addition, she said, as she and other members of UNLV participated in the state of the debate on health policy, the project often occupies a central place.
“It increases the powers of universities,” she said.
Tobacco on the court
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration scientists and experts gathered tobacco policy for the study of potential health risks and benefits of soluble tobacco products.
The Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee is meeting this week and advocates from Pennsylvania and New Jersey are among those lining up to make their pitch to the FDA panel.
Soluble, which are made from finely ground tobacco, are not new, but they drew attention to the new last year, when RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris introduced new flavors and varieties in several cities across the country. Some health officials and lawmakers have called flavored melt in your mouth and tongue the balls band “nicotine candy” and complained to the FDA.
Rutgers University law student Gregory Conley was a smoker for eight years, but leave in August. 24-year-old used electronic cigarettes – another smokeless product – quit smoking, and he says, soluble suppress cravings, when he was in his class. He loves tobacco dip a toothpick and says they give him satisfying tingle nicotine hit with mint or Java.
“You just put it in your mouth and hold it as if you were holding a straw between his teeth,” Conley said.
He volunteers, legal director of policy for the consumer advocates for smoke-free alternative to the Association and gave testimony during the meeting of the FDA this week. Conley says the electronic cigarette, smokeless and other soluble alternatives are powerful tools to help smokers avoid the most toxic aspects of cigarettes.
The FDA’s review is to provide soluble in 2009, family smoking prevention and tobacco control law. Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said that the advisers will weigh the scientific and report on the health of the population not only at individual smokers.
“The law recognizes the FDA, even if the product is less harmful if it is sold in a way that its main appeal to young people, the end result will be more people become addicted to tobacco,” Myers said.
“The FDA law recognizes that even if the product is less harmful, if it’s marketed in a way that its primary appeal is to young people, the net result will be more people becoming addicted to tobacco,” Myers said.
“What we have seen that colorful way that the solvent have been promoted and say that they have generated has led many people to believe that these products are less harmful – before there was a review of FDA”, Myers said.
Now the government regulates, as well as other soluble smokeless tobacco. They are stocked behind the counter in the store and have the same health warnings on tobacco, as well as chewing. They read “Smokeless tobacco is addictive” and “This product is not a safe alternative to cigarettes.”
A group of U.S. lawmakers want more stringent rules for soluble. Some public health groups say the products should be removed from store shelves until
the FDA has weighed in on the science. Other supporters are sometimes called “reductionisms harm,” they say smokeless products can reduce disease, disability and death caused by smoking.
Jennifer Ibrahim, assistant professor in the Department of Public Health at Temple University, says – done correctly – Harm reduction is a good idea. “I think everyone in the business of giving up smoking is realistic that people can not quit cold turkey, but you do not want to send the wrong message: that nicotine is safe at any level, because it is not,” she said.
“It is absolutely true, nothing is absolutely safe,” said Conley, but he says, smokers die while health officials wait for final proof.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference one of the five deaths each year from tobacco use, about 440 thousand people. Smoking costs America $ 193 billion per year is estimated for 2000 to 2004. About half of that economic value of direct health care costs, and half of lost productivity.
Tobacco companies can not promote soluble as quit smoking help, but there are a lot of online chatter from individual users, who report that they gave up cigarettes or cigars with soluble.
“To be fair, they are very similar to smoking cessation products that have been on the market for a very long time – a diamond or gum for people who are trying to get out of tobacco,” said psychologist Anna Tobia, director of the smoking cessation program at the Hospital of the University Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia.
Some people fear that the products are called “harm reduction” will actually lead to more health problems. Supporters say the soluble may help smokers to “escape” from nicotine addiction to cigarettes. Opponents say it is not clear how consumers actually use the products and who uses them. Will young people try to soluble develop a taste for nicotine, and then move on to smoking? May keep people hooked soluble, when some ex-smokers would – eventually – to become nicotine free?
Kenneth Warner, the health economist at the University Of Michigan School Of Public Health, says there is no reason to be skeptical about the intention of the tobacco companies in the soluble and are concerned that new products will do.
“The public health community got bamboozled” in the past, he said. When the tobacco makers began selling low-tar nicotine cigarettes, Warner says they were marketed as “mild, mellow,” and safer than regular cigarettes — and it turned out they weren’t.
The FDA advisers are in the marsh to a long discussion, which appears developing and changing ideas about what’s acceptable and what is safe. Health policy expert Jennifer Ibrahim says electronic cigarettes and melt-in-mouth tobacco but the latest in a long line of new products aimed at smokers and people who are trying to kick the habit.
Many are waiting for the FDA to answer the question: Do dissolvable pose a greater or lesser risk to population health?
“I will not let their children about electronic cigarettes, because I just do not know what to VAPS [water vapor] that comes out of them. When some people, although exposure to secondhand smoke was safe and it is clear that this is not true”, Ibrahim said. “I’m not going to subject myself or my family to things that are 10, 15 years later, we say,” Oh, yes, it’s not good for you. ”
“We will do everything to make our patients better and to get them to reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke,” said quit smoking expert Anna Tobia.”If it is a good first step, and – perhaps – if they see that they can cope with less nicotine, it would be wonderful.”
Many are waiting for FDA, to answer the question: how are soluble in a particular health risk?
Regulators pressured over dissolvable tobacco
The Food and Drug Administration is considering the health impact of dissolvable tobacco, leaving investors concerned that new regulations may hurt Reynolds American. Shares in the tobacco giant dropped nearly 2.5% in trading on Thursday.
With experts urging regulators to consider the candy-like appeal of flavored dissolvable tobacco to children, there may be good reason to worry. Dissolvable tobacco differs from ordinary chewing tobacco in that it dissolves in the mouth.
Reynolds has invested heavily in soluble tobacco products such as Camel Orbs, Camel and Camel Strips sticks, as consumer demand for smokeless tobacco growing. Camel soluble brands are sold as “a convenient alternative to cigarettes and tobacco moist for adult consumers of tobacco products.”
Previously, Reynolds was able to capture 70% market share with its Camel snus product, and he hopes to repeat that success. Snus is a moist powder tobacco product contained in a pouch that users place under their lips. FDA control could jeopardize those plans and left Reynolds in search of other engines for income.
Reynolds American is highly dependent on innovation, as cigarette smoking continues to fall, and smoking in public places is becoming less tolerant. In fact, Reynolds sees its smokeless tobacco products as “more in line with public expectations with respect to tobacco products in use today,” according to the 2010 statement. Nevertheless, concerns about the health risks of smokeless tobacco and fear that products such as mint and cinnamon balls Camel appeal to children can make new products less socially acceptable.
Despite the drop in cigarette consumption in the United States, Reynolds remains popular among investors due to strong global presence and consistent dividend growth even during the sub prime mortgage crisis in 2008, when stocks fell to nearly $ 18 per share. Reynolds, an increase in dividends in the last quarter by 5.7% largely due to increased operating profit by 2.6% compared with the previous year.
The company also saw its operating margin to grow steadily due to rising prices and greater productivity that offset declining cigarette sales. There is a great opportunity to raise prices, if necessary, as a pack of cigarettes in the Reynolds averaged less than offerings from rivals Lorillard and Altria.
Despite lower prices, the company was unable to increase its share of the cigarette market. On the other hand, its smokeless products account for 31.4% of the market sector and the company offers more growth opportunities than cigarettes. Smokeless is not kept in net sales to dip slightly, compared with $ 6.1 billion to $ 6 billion for the first three quarters of 2011.
With greater reliance on smokeless alternatives, more FDA regulation of these new tobacco products could hit Reynolds, where they are most vulnerable.
Another key risk for the company is the price of goods that can continue to grow in 2012. Higher costs of tobacco and the paper would reduce the company’s operating margin, which has remained almost flat in the third quarter of 2011 to 31.2%, up 1.4 percentage points from the previous year.
Tobacco companies can not ignore the headache of growth of state and federal excise taxes, which remain a serious concern as cash-strapped states looking for revenue sources without raising taxes. Sin taxes on tobacco products remain popular in many parts of the United States for the same reason that the smokeless tobacco market is growing: smoking less in line with public expectations than ever before.
FDA to Weigh Safety of Tobacco Lozenges
They may look and smell a lot like candy, but soluble, smokeless tobacco products are not for children. Security risks and “soluble” is the subject of a three-day U.S. Food and Drug Administration meeting this week.
“Dissolvable” are flavored mints, strips and rods of smokeless tobacco. These products do not stop smoking aids. Instead, they are designed to allow people to satisfy their cravings for nicotine in places where smoking is prohibited.
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. is Camel test marketing Camel Orbs, Camel Strips and Camel Sticks in two cities, and Star Scientific Inc., is marketing two other dissolvable tobacco products, Ariva and Stonewall. Many public health advocates are concerned about the risks these products pose to children and teens, namely possible addiction and nicotine poisoning.
“If you want to design a product that would appeal to young people and drug addict younger teens and adults to nicotine, it would be,” said Dr. Jonathan Winickoff, a pediatrician at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “These products are designed to look like candy addict users on an ongoing basis.”
Teens can pop these products without any obvious signs of cigarette smoking or disorder associated with snus that bag like pouches placed between the upper lip and a gun. Soon, he says, they are dependent.
Another worry is accidental ingestion, resulting in nicotine poisoning. An April 2010 study in the journal Pediatrics found that smokeless tobacco products are the second most common cause nicotine poisoning in children, after cigarettes.
“If children are already ingesting cigarettes, we can not doubt that they will ingest soluble tobacco, which is specifically designed to taste good,” said Winickoff. “Just because they smell like chocolate or mint and look harmless, they contain nicotine and are potentially harmful to young people and can start a life of nicotine dependence. Parents of young children should be aware that these products have the potential to cause serious overdose.”
Mild symptoms of nicotine poisoning include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and headaches. Severe nicotine poisoning can lead to involuntary twitching, muscle paralysis, heart palpitations, seizures or death.
One milligram (mg) of nicotine can cause vomiting and diarrhea in a small child, according to the study. The Camel dissolvable contain between 0.6 mg and 3.1 mg of nicotine, depending on the product. Smokers inhale about 1 mg of nicotine in a typical cigarette.
In the investigation of Pediatrics was released, Orbs manufacturer RJ Reynolds announced that it has taken steps to prevent the accidental ingestion of soluble Camel tobacco youth, including child-resistant packaging and raising of poison control centers on the products and the possible consequences of accidental ingestion.
“The bottom line: Tobacco products, along with many other types of goods, need to be kept out of the hands of children,” the statement concluded.
Now all eyes are on FDA. 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act gives the agency authority over production, distribution and sale of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. Winickoff expressed hope that the FDA will do everything possible to keep these products away from children and adolescents.
“We could consider capping the amount of nicotine in each piece, so you can eliminate or greatly reduce the potential to lead to a fatal overdose of nicotine if the entire package has been absorbed,” he said.
Other pediatricians and public health advocates raise similar fears about these products.
“You can sneak them in the classroom,” said Dr. Lee Beers, a pediatrician Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC “This increases the potential for early adoption of tobacco and increase the level of dependence. It really does not seem any reason to tobacco in a format that is easier to be taken by mouth and with a lot of drawbacks, especially when I think of children and adolescents. Children can and get into something, even if the packets reach of children, “she said.
Dr. Thomas Glynn, director of cancer science and trends at the American Cancer Society, said there are many unknowns about the soluble tobacco products. “At the moment, we do not know the full range of what is in them,” he said. “I do not see any potential in these soluble products, in addition, to keep people smoking.”
