[Intl-tobacco] MPs demand virility warnings on cigarettes (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

MPs demand virility warnings on cigarettes
Source: The Independent, Wednesday, 6/14/00

An all=96party committee of MPs has called for cigarette packets to carry
harder=96hitting health warnings =96 including messages that smoking damage=
s
male potency.

In a report the Commons Select Committee on Health said all packs should
state the addictiveness and damage to health caused by smoking.

They added: "In addition, a variety of health messages =96 such as that
relating to male potency =96 should be used on certain packets.

"These messages should be harder=96hitting and more relevant to consumers
than those currently used."

The long=96awaited report also called for the Department of Health to set
much tougher targets for reducing smoking.

They also called for tougher measures to stop non=96smokers being affected
by other's cigarettes.

"Bearing in mind that asthma causes 1,400 deaths per year, we do not
regard asthma attacks as merely unpleasant and believe that policy goals
relating to environmental tobacco smoke must take account of the real
health risks it poses."

The report also called for tougher measures to prevent sales to children
and statutory regulation of tobacco advertising.

The MPs also urged a Department of Trade and Industry investigation into
claims that British American Tobacco has been involved in large scale
cigarette smuggling.

BAT has been accused of orchestrating, managing and controlling cigarette
smuggling in Asia and Latin America in the early 1990s.

The report said if the allegations "prove to be substantiated, the case
for criminal proceedings against BAT should be considered".

BAT has previously strenuously denied the allegations and insisted the
company has been the victim of smuggling.