European News Bulletin - EU9913 6 April 1999 (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

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!#  GLOBALink Tobacco - Weekly European News Bulletin
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EUROPEAN BULLETIN EU9913 – 6th April 1999

Headlines:
EUROPE

DENMARK: Politicians launch tobacco control campaign
FINLAND: Children have no difficulty buying tobacco
FRANCE: Creation of Imperial Tobacco France
NETHERLANDS: Law suit against Dutch University

INTERNATIONAL
AUSTRALIA: Class action filed against three tobacco companies
HONG KONG: Police join in anti-smoking campaign
INDONESIA: Smoking prevalence data
JAPAN: Japan Tobacco and Zeneca may form venture

Full Text
EUROPE

DENMARK: Politicians launch tobacco control campaign

Twelve members  of the Danish Parliament, Folketinget, have launched
an anti-smoking initiative.
The  aim  is to make schools and hospitals in
Denmark  smoke-free.  Jorgen  Winther  of  the  liberal  party Venstre
said
non-smoking measures on a voluntary basis have proved to be
unsuccessful.


Source: Information Access Company, 24/3/99


FINLAND: Children have no difficulty buying tobacco

According  to  surveys  carried out by the Finnish National Agency for
Welfare
and  Health,  minors  can  easily buy tobacco in Finland. Approx. 84%
of the
young people aged  13-17  taking  part  in  the  test  were able to
buy tobacco.
According  to  health  officer  Kirsti  LeppUnen,  the  best way to
prevent
youngsters  from  being  able to buy tobacco would be extensive
cooperation
involving the store chains, supervision authorities, health care and
school
personnel,  health  educators  and  the police. Health officer Leena
Panula
would  like the law tightened up so that it would be an offence for
minors to buy
 tobacco.

Source: Information Access Co.,  22 Mar 1999


FRANCE: Creation of Imperial Tobacco France

Following  its  acquisition  of  the Charles Sarfati International
Tobacco  company  (ITC),
the  British  company Imperial has created  Imperial  Tobacco  France,
with a capital stock
of FFr 23.5mn. This new company will handle all of the tobacco
operations  of ITC, Van Nelle
and Rizla SA. Charles Sarfati is president of the new company and
Gordon Dron is managing director.

Source: Information Access Co.,  Mar 1999


NETHERLANDS: Law suit against Dutch University

The Dutch Nonsmokers Association has taken legal action against
Erasmus University of Rotterdam
 for breaching a law which forbids smoking in universities and
government buildings.

Source: Communication from Fons Niypels via Globalink 20/3/99


INTERNATIONAL

AUSTRALIA: Class action filed against three tobacco companies

A class action against three tobacco companies has been filed at
Australia’s federal court
by a group of Australians who are claiming to have been injured as a
direct result of smoking.
The action against WD & HO Wills, Philip Morris Australia and Rothmans
is due to be heard
at the end of April this year.  The action is based on the claim that
the three tobacco companies
breached their common law duties as manufacturers of safe products and
were negligent in failing
to warn users of the dangers of these products.  The law suit is being
led by barrister John Rowe
who successfully sued ICI over pesticide sprays in 1997.  Rowe
believes that the ‘no win, no fee’ basis
of the case, together with the establishment of a fighting fund, will
enable the action to be maintained
for a long lasting trial of up to three years.

Source: British Medical Journal 3/4/99


HONG KONG: Police join in anti-smoking campaign

The Hong  Kong  police force will take part in an anti-smoking
campaign from April 1999 for  about  2-3 months.
Police staff will be prohibited from smoking in the areas  of  offices
and  police stations.
The purpose of the campaign is to promote a smoke-free working
environment and raise the
awareness of health among staff.

Source: Information Access Company, 25/3/99


 INDONESIA: Smoking prevalence data

In  Indonesia,  about  5% of females and 59% of males smoke at least
one  cigarette  per  day, according to a survey carried out in 1998 in
14 provinces in Indonesia.
The survey found that women smoke an average of 3 cigarettes per
day, while men smoke 10 cigarettes per day.

Source: Information Access Company, 12/3/99


JAPAN: Japan Tobacco and Zeneca may form venture

Japan Tobacco Inc (JT) and Zeneca Ltd, an agricultural chemical
producer in
the  UK,  may  join forces for the  development  of  genetically
modified farm
products.  If  the  discussions  turn  out to be successful, JT will
form a
joint venture with Zeneca in Japan in 1999. JT hopes to co-operate
with the
UK  firm  to  develop new species of rice plants, especially for the
use of
livestock  food.  JT has been developing new species of rice plants
for sake
brewing.

Source: Information Access Co.,  19/3/99



Action on Smoking and Health
16 Fitzhardinge Street
London W1H 9PL
Tel: +44  (0)171-224 0743
Fax: +44 (0)171-224 0471
Web: http://www.ash.org.uk