Poland to ban all tobacco promotion by 2001 (fwd)

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

Source: Reuters, Thursday, 11/25/99

12:12 p.m. Nov 25, 1999 Eastern

WARSAW, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski on
Thursday signed into law a bill which will ban all tobacco advertisements
and sponsorship within two years, his press office said.

The law, aimed at cutting down Poland's huge number of smokers, will
outlaw outdoor cigarette adverts in 12 months.

Tobacco advertising will be banned from newspapers and periodicals in 24
months and cigarete makers will be prohibited from sponsoring sporting,
cultural and political events.

Cigarette advertisements are already forbidden on radio and television.

The law will also ban cigarette sales in schools, health centres and
sporting facilities from the start of the next year, while an anti-smoking
campaign fund will receive a 0.5 percent levy on all tobacco sales.

The legislation will put Poland ahead of the European Union in
anti-smoking legislation. Brussels plans to ban all tobacco promotion in
2006.

The government hopes the law will curb smoking in Poland, which has
attracted many international cigarette companies due to the high number of
tobacco users.

The health ministry estimates that about 25 percent of Poland's 39 million
population smoke some 90 billion cigarettes annually. Around 70,000 die
each year from smoking-related illnesses.