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Excise Tax on Cigarettes in Albania Could Be Raised to Curb Smoking 

The excise tax on cigarettes in Albania could be raised by 20 Leks per pack from currently 70 Leks to 90 Leks per pack in 2012, daily Standard reports citing sources from Albania’s Ministry of Finances. The draft is being completed and will soon go to Parliament for voting.

The increase of the excise tax is seen by authorities as a preventive measure

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Justice Department Wants Public Release of Tobacco Warning Statements  

The Justice Department plans to ask a federal judge to make public the proposed statements the government wants tobacco companies to publish about the dangers of their products.

Department spokesman Charles Miller said the agency planned to file the proposed statements in a Washington, D.C., court Thursday, but ran into resistance from cigarette makers about whether the information should be made public now.

"It was our understanding that this would be publicly filed, but there is a difference of opinion on that," Mr. Miller said.

He said the agency will now raise the issue with U.S. District Court Judge Gladys Kessler, who ruled in 2006 that tobacco companies violated federal racketeering laws by engaging in a decades-long scheme to deceive the public about the dangers of smoking.

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Letters: Ventilate, filtrate smoke 

If the public honestly and truthfully was informed about the effects of secondhand smoke, there would be fewer no-smoking laws in the United States.

A little smoke from a handful of crushed leaves and some paper that is mixed with the air of a decently ventilated venue is going to harm or kill you?

There never has been a single study showing that exposure to the low levels of smoke found in bars and restaurants with decent modern ventilation and filtration systems kills or harms anyone.

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• Albania Risks Costly Failure in Illegal Tobacco War 

A multi-million-euro tax stamp scheme, intended to fight Albania's illegal tobacco and alcohol trade, could be costly and ultimately ineffective, according to an investigation by Balkan Insight.

The new fiscal stamps system, supplied by the Swiss-based SICPA Securities, is not in line with international agreements on combating the illicit trade in tobacco products.

Moreover the system has no track record of reducing smuggling in the countries where it has been applied and whether it is the right solution for the local market remains also open to question.

SICPA has been awarded an exclusive concession to supply revenue stamps for the Albanian government, potentially worth tens of millions of euro over 35 years.

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• Congressman to hold hearing into baseball and chewing tobacco  

A Democratic member of Congress next week is holding a hearing into baseball player's use of chewing tobacco.

Chewing tobacco has long been used by players both in the dugout and on the field, but there have been recent calls to tamp it down because of the health risks posed by the product, such as oral cancer.

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), who helms the energy and commerce health subcommittee, said that the practice provides a poor example to young people who are baseball fans.

The congressman tweeted Thursday:

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• Law fails to deter Albanian smokers 

Albanians are mostly ignoring a ban on smoking in public places because penalties are not being enforced, according to the organisation Smoke Free Albania.

The law, which took effect in May, prohibits smoking in bars, restaurants, government offices and other public locations. In theory, Albania's anti-smoking legislation is among the strictest in Europe, but activists say implementation has been far from adequate.

"People are fined, but the fines are not collected; there is no equality in the application of this law," said Xhovani Shyti of Smoke Free Albania."Some bars ban smoking, while others do not."

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President Bush Vetoes SCHIP Reauthorization and Expansion Legislation  

House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said he is "absolutely confident" the House will be able to sustain Bush's veto (Lengell, Washington Times, 10/3).

White House spokesperson Dana Perino chided bill supporters for using a regressive tobacco tax increase "to pay for a middle-class entitlement" (Silva, Chicago Tribune, 10/3). Perino noted that smokers tend to come from the lowest income levels and added, "It's just completely irresponsible. Stop the madness on Capitol Hill" (AP/Houston Chronicle, 10/2).

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• Albania to ban smoking in public spaces 

Government of Albania approved recently a draft-law to bank smoking in public areas like bars and restaurants, Prime Minister's office announced. The law is intended to lower the number of smokers in a country that is known for one of the highest rate of smokers in Europe.

Current legislation forbids smoking in public offices, schools and hospitals but not in bars or restaurants. . . .

The former government had "forgotten" this draft-law for several years, while last year anti-tobacco NGO's had accused the tobaccos industry for corrupting the government.

Former Prime Minister, Fatos Nano, was known for his smoking habits. Meanwhile, the new Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, proclaiming himself a penitent smoker has approved an even harder draft-law to ban smoking.

Meanwhile, on a separate legislation last week, Albanian Parliament approved a hike of the excise duty for tobacco and coffee.

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Stricter Tobacco and Smoking Legislation Submitted to the Parliament 

The Government of Albanian submitted a new, much stricter draft-Law on Tobacco and Smoking for Parliamentary review and debate. The draft will completely outlaw sale of cigarettes to children and minors younger than 18, and will present stricter rules for tobacco industry, regarding sale and advertising of tobacco products.

This new draft is a part of the World Health Organization project intended to reduce the tobacco consumption in the general population.

In terms of tobacco industry, the new law proposes a total ban of billboard advertising, as well as forms of direct marketing in the street, including free samples of new brands to attract smokers. The law introduces penalties for producers and retail and whole-sale sellers that fail to comply to the provisions.

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40% of Cigarettes in Macedonia Smuggled 

t. Smuggled cigarettes occupy 25% to 80% share from the markets of Southeastern European states, and 40% of the cigarettes at the Macedonian market had been imported illegally, a publication in today’s Romanian Gandul newspaper reads. According to the edition, Albania ranks first in smuggled cigarettes with a share of 80%, followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina with 47%, Macedonia – 40%, Bulgaria – 38%, Serbia and Montenegro – 37%, and Romania and Croatia – 24%.

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Cigarette smuggling and contraband brought about the arrest of a successful businessman in Durres 

      Tirana, September 10 2005 – One of Durres' most successful businessmen, (the main port of the country) was arrested this last Friday under charges of being part of an international organized crime for tobacco’s smuggling in the country.

“Leonard Koka was arrested based on testimonies which proved he was head of an organized tobacco contraband smuggling from Montenegro to Albania”, chief prosecutor of Tirana Penal Court said. This arrest has been consideredThis was one of the most famous arrest even in Albania.

Koka, age 39, is also the brother of the mayor of Durrës, Mr. Lefter Koka, and considered by many a close friend of the ex-Prime Minister Fatos Nano.

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Cavan publican fined over smoking ban breach 

A Co Cavan publican has been fined the maximum amount of €3,000 for allowing people to smoke on his premises.

Gerard Lovett, who owns the Copper Kettle Pub in Kilnaleck, was also ordered to pay costs of just over €1,000 at Ballyjamesduff District Court.

Barry Coady, an Environmental Health Officer, told the court he visited the premises on 26 September and found four people smoking. They were using empty bottles and glasses as ashtrays.

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Smoking: A Major Health Issue in Albania 

Albanians spend about 212m euros annually on tobacco, and the country has one of the highest percentages of smokers in Europe. Albanian Minister of Health Leonard Solis presented these figures at the UN's "World No Tobacco Day" on 31 May.

Solis said smoking is on the rise, especially among females ages 13 to 15. "During the past years we have noticed a general increment of smokers among our population. In the 1990s, the level of tobacco consumption was only 20 per cent, while at the moment, Albania is listed as the second country among other European states in terms of the high level of smokers," Solis said.

He urged better legislation to help reduce tobacco consumption and its impact on people's health. Officials with the Albanian Public Health Institute are waiting for the government to pass a bill, to restrict smoking in public places.

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Stick to pledged tobacco prices Tama 

Tobacco sales for the non-sponsored leaf start in Lilongwe Monday with industry captains pleading for fair prices.

“Buyers promised us good prices. They should stick to their pledge,” said Tobacco Association of Malawi (Tama) president Albert Kamulaga.

Kamulaga warned that the industry would suffer if growers are offered low prices because this would discourage the farmers from growing more tobacco.

“The prices offered over the past two years have been disappointing. Our patience is running out,” he said.

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Heaviest smokers in Europe urged to quit [Source: Independent, The; London (UK)] 

ALBANIA: The home to the heaviest smokers in Europe is undertaking efforts to cut down consumption. A campaign to reduce smoking, particularly among teenagers, will include anti-smoking ads in the media, to be partly financed by hefty increases in cigarette prices.

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