[Intl-tobacco] Japan: Japan Tobacco to challenge anti-smoking regulation at panel meeting

[Robert Weissman]

      Kyodo News


      Tuesday November 8, 3:27 PM


    CORRECTED: Japan Tobacco to challenge anti-smoking regulation at
    panel meeting

(Kyodo) _ Japan Tobacco Inc. will, in a rare move, challenge government
plans to introduce smoking restrictions and note "the need for balanced,
appropriate regulations" at a meeting Tuesday of a state advisory panel.

The nation's tobacco monopoly said this will be the first time it will
directly raise objections to regulations centering on health issues at
such a meeting, though it has previously offered its views on cigarette
tax rates and underage smoking.

JT, along with the Japanese affiliate of Switzerland-based Philip Morris
International, the world's largest cigarette company, will be
represented at Tuesday's meeting of the Ministry of Health, Labor and
Welfare's panel on adult diseases.

The panel decided in September to set numerical targets to reduce the
proportion of smokers in the population.

At Tuesday's panel meeting, JT representatives will state the firm's
basic stance that "tobacco is a luxury item and the decision of whether
or not to smoke is up to the individual to make based on information
regarding the impact on and risks to health."

The company will also emphasize that, by 2008, it will equip all
cigarette vending machines with a gadget to identify legal-age smokers
in order to prevent the access of those under 20 years old. It will also
tell the meeting that it has promoted the separation of smoking and
nonsmoking environments, JT officials said.

On the health hazards of inhaling second-hand smoke, JT will argue that,
based on about 50 research studies, evaluations have varied and that
there is no consensus on scientific evidence.

It will also emphasize a report which found no significant difference in
health care costs between smokers and non-smokers, according to the
officials.

JT will urge the government not to set "reckless restrictions" but
instead establish regulations that are balanced and appropriate while
taking into consideration the opinions of smokers.

The health ministry compiled an interim report in the spring calling for
tightened regulations on smoking, including short-term measures such as
raising cigarette prices and long-term ones such as banning tobacco
advertisements and cigarette vending machines.