European Bulletin 14/12/98 (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

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!#  GLOBALink Tobacco - Weekly European News Bulletin
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            EUROPEAN BULLETIN - EU9847 14TH DECEMBER 1998
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CONTENTS:

EUROPE - SPECIFIC COUNTRIES

FRANCE: A No-Smoking Campaign for women.
NETHERLANDS: Smoking fines doomed to fail.
SWEDEN: Decline in cancer risk.
SWITZERLAND: New factory for Philip Morris.
UK: The White Paper on Tobacco.
UK: Nicobrevin brand is relaunched.

INTERNATIONAL

BRAZIL: Brazil says it plans to sue US tobacco companies. 
BURMA: Rise in cigarette smoking doesn’t bother Burma Government.
NICARAGUA: Nicaragua plans lawsuit against tobacco companies.
SOUTH KOREA: Cancer-related deaths up by 4 percent.

EUROPE - SPECIFIC COUNTRIES


FRANCE: A No-Smoking Campaign for women.

CFES (the French Health Education Committee) and CNAM (the National Medical
Insurance  Fund) have launched a no-smoking campaign targeting women until 17
December 1998. From 5th to 12th December, the campaign will be broadcast on
radio, a million leaflets will be distributed by health care professionals,
information will appear in women's, health, and parents magazines; and a
brochure titled women and tobacco will be inserted in the Femme Actuelle
magazine, and there will be round table discussions organised with doctors. 

Source: Information Access Company 30/11/98


NETHERLANDS: Smoking fines doomed to fail.

The proposal to fine people for smoking in public areas seems likely to fail
according to press reports, not only because the Dutch are said to
anti-authoritarian by nature, but also because of the way the law is being
enforced. The fine would be given to the management of the public building
concerned and not to the smoker, and local authorities will have few powers
to make offenders pay. There are many similar penalties for anti-social
activities, such as cycling  without lights and dodging fares,  so it seems
unlikely that the plan to fine smokers will have any more success.

Source: Information Access Company 27/11/98

SWEDEN: Decline in cancer risk.

For the first time in modern times, the risk of cancer is declining in
Sweden. This is explained by reduced smoking. For persons under 75 years of
age, the risk is 27 percent for men and 25 percent for women. In the next
twelve months, the number of cancer cases is likely to be about 40,000.
However, in all, the number is increasing owing to a growth in the number of
elderly people.

Source: Information Access Company 28/11/98

SWITZERLAND: New factory for Philip Morris.

The Swiss subsidiary of  Philip Morris, Fabriques de Tabac Reunies (FTR)
S.A. NeuchStel opened a new factory for tobacco processing. The factory,
which is equipped with fully automatic machinery, required investments of
SFr 20 million. In  addition to tobacco production, FTR is responsible for
research, development and technical training for the Philip Morris group in
Europe. Two thirds of production is  exported to 60 countries.

Source: Information Access Company 06/11/98

UK: The White Paper on Tobacco.
The Government has released its long-awaited White Paper on Tobacco entitled
“Smoking Kills”. The Government has set targets to reduce the number of
smokers by 1.5 million by 2010 and has promised a £50 million campaign to
persuade children not to start smoking and  to help adults to quit. The main
points of the White Paper are as follows:

Action to protect children and young people:
- implementation of regulations to end tobacco advertising during July 1999.
- Minimal tobacco advertising to be allowed in shops.
- Better enforcement of the law to stop illegal sales to children.
- Proposals for a proof of age card for young people.
- Cigarette machines sited out of the reach of children.

An NHS smoking cessation programme:
- GPs referrals of would-be non-smokers to counselling.
- Discretionary, free, one week’s nicotine replacement therapy. Pregnant
women a priority.

Nation-wide campaign:
- £50 million anti-smoking marketing campaign.

A “clean air” charter:
- Smoking and non-smoking areas in pubs and restaurants.
- National targets for smoke-free zones in public places.
- Scheme to categorise bars and restaurants with smoke-free zones.
- Health and Safety Commission to consult in Spring 1999 on protecting
employees     from smoke at work.

International action:

- £35 million extra to combat tobacco smuggling.
- Support for WHO’s anti-tobacco work.  

Health Secretary, Frank Dobson said : “Smoking is now the principal
avoidable cause of premature deaths in Britain. Smoking is one of the
principal causes of the health gap which leads to poorer people being ill
more often and dying sooner. Smoking harms people who do not smoke. Smoking
harms babies in the womb.” He warned that it would be an uphill struggle
because the tobacco companies are “committed to doing everything they can to
promote the sale of cigarettes. They have to keep recruiting new smokers to
make up for the 120,000 of their loyal customers whom they kill off every
year.”  

Source: The Guardian, The Times, The Mirror 11/12/98, Hansard 10/12/98 

UK: Nicobrevin brand is relaunched.

Cedar Health is spending  £0.5 million on the relaunch of Nicobrevin, its UK
smoking cessation brand, which is one of Europe's leading brands in this
category. The
promotion includes press advertising, new packaging and an in-pack leaflet
and dosage compliance card.

Source: Information Access Company 21/11/98
  
INTERNATIONAL

BRAZIL: Brazil says it plans to sue US tobacco companies.

Brazil’s government said it is planning to join other Latin American
countries in bringing legal action in the US to force tobacco companies to
cover the cost of treating smokers. A Brazilian health ministry official
said the government had decided to go ahead with litigation. However, he
said, “We are at a very early stage and a lot still has to be done. The
calculations of damages and costs to the health service caused by tobacco
have not been concluded yet. We are looking into more firms to represent the
government.”

Source: Wall Street Journal Europe, Financial Times 11/12/98   

BURMA: Rise in cigarette smoking doesn’t bother Burma Government.

In Mandalay, Burma, across the country young people tell stories of how they
were drawn to cigarettes by free handouts and slick advertising tactics
never before seen in Burma as tobacco multinationals focus their powerful
marketing machines on potential smokers. This has led to a rapid increase in
smoking among young people in Burma and in other countries in Southeast Asia
where cash-strapped governments have a financial stake in tobacco sales.
Tobacco companies themselves rely increasingly on profits from the region’s
poorest countries.

Source: International Herald Tribune 07/12/98


NICARAGUA: Nicaragua plans lawsuit against tobacco companies.

The government of Nicaragua plans to file a lawsuit against tobacco
companies in a US court to recover the cost of treating sick smokers. It
will mark the second suit by the government of a foreign country to be filed
by Fleming, Hovenkamp &Grayson of Houston. In May, the firm filed a suit in
Washington on behalf of the Guatemala government. The suit is still pending.

Source: Financial Times 09/12/98

SOUTH KOREA: Cancer-related deaths up 4.0 percent.

According to the National Statistical  Office of South Korea, malignant
growths,   mainly cancer, made up 22.2 percent of the 238,700 deaths with
identifiable causes in 1997, up 4.0 percent from 1988. The rise was due to
environmental pollution, smoking, drinking, stress and poor dietary habits.
By contrast, diseases and accidents account for fewer deaths because of
heightened public awareness and preventive measures taken. Diseases related
to the circulatory system made up 23.4 percent of total number of deaths in
1997, down 6.6 percent from 1988. Accident-related deaths accounted for 13.6
percent of the total, down 0.2 percent from 1988.

Source: Information Access Company 28/11/98

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