Tobacco.org

• BAGIROV: Air without smoke pollution: We say a firm yes 

The issue of prohibition of smoking in public places has been discussed in Azerbaijan for more than one year. The issue has been discussed in the Parliament and in the media. Various people have brought out various positions. But there are no real results…

By writing this article we would like to make a comprehensive survey of the issue of prohibition of smoking in public places and help our citizens clearly understand the following: the right of a person to inhale air being free from smoke pollution is preferential to any likely right of smokers to pollute the air being inhaled by other people.

History of the issue in Azerbaijan

The issue began in April 2007 when at the meeting of the Parliamentary Deputy Executive Secretary of "New Azerbaijan" Party, Mubariz Gurbanli submitted a proposal to issue a decree prohibiting smoking in public places. . . .

We have to clearly understand that our main goal at this stage is not to fight with smoking. Our main goal is to achieve an atmosphere without smoke pollution for the non smoking majority of the country's population. . . .

To achieve success in implementation of the ban, we have to apply the fines not only to smokers breaking the ban, but also to the owners of places allowing such a violation. . . .

On behalf of a huge army of Azerbaijani citizens suffering from the consequences of smoking in public places I herewith appeal to our deputies: please, try to pass the law on prohibition of smoking in public places before your term of office is over. Each of our citizens will benefit from this law. And by doing this we will stand in line with the leading countries of the world.

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• Azerbaijan to hold national anti-smoking conference 

The Azerbaijan Healthcare Public Relations Association is to hold a meeting on 14 December to discuss how to combat smoking.

The meeting will bring together representatives of parliament, ministries and civil society.

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• Draft law restricting smoking to be presented for consideration in parliament 

A draft law restricting smoking is being preparing in the standing commission on social policy of Milli Medjlis, said deputy Musa Guliyev at today's session of Milli Medjlis.

"I think everyone is well aware of the damage, caused by cigarettes to the human body and surrounding people. I think it is now time for Azerbaijan to adopt a law restricting smoking", noted he.

According to the deputy, the due law was adopted by parliaments of most countries of Europe and America.

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Azerbaijan to monitor alcoholic drinks and tobacco products market 

Azerbaijan’s Agriculture Ministry plans to monitor outlets selling alcoholic drinks and tobacco products in Gandja and western part of the country from November 10. Ahliman Nasirov, the ministry’s officer for foodstuffs, said the objective of the monitoring is to ensure that alcoholic drink and tobacco products are not sold without license, documents and excise stamp. The ministry monitored sales outlets in two districts of Baku last week and found instances of products sold without license and appropriate documents.

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Sale of excise duty stamps for tobacco and strong drinks in Azerbaijan rose by 71.2% this May 

Last month Azerbaijan registered growth of domestic demand for excise duty stamps for tobacco and strong drink sales, although it was not as rapid as in April (+2.5 fold).

The State Committee for Securities (SSC) has reported that this May sale of excise duty stamps rose by 71.2%.

“In May 2008 it was sold 146.2 million excise duty stamps. Of them 125.4 million excise duty stamps were sold for tobacco.

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• World tobacco giant “Philip Morris” operated in Azerbaijan in Soviet period – PHOTO 

The facts evidenced about the activity of world tobacco giant Philip Morris, in Azerbaijan during the Soviet period were identified in Zagatala Region of Azerbaijan, Jahangir Soltanov, Director of local Museum of History and Ethnography told APA Shaki-Zagatala bureau.

The museum staff has already started to collect material evidences and photos related to the activity of Philip Morris, known for its Marlboro cigarettes, in Azerbaijan in 1970-80s. So far mechanical bracket clock, sunglasses and photos belonged to Philip Morris staff in Zagatala have been found and brought to the museum. “This is interesting fact because Zagatala was one of few regions where Philip Morris the symbol of capitalist system, worked in association with the Soviet economy. . . .

“It is notable that Philip Morris chose Zagatala for cultivation of Virginia tobacco. It proved ideas of German expert A. Ifon Plotto in 19th century about the fertile lands of Zagatala”.

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Alcohol and tobacco sales outlets to be monitored in Ganja on April 28-May 2 

The Department of Quality, Standardization, & Licensing of the Agriculture Ministry of Azerbaijan monitors regularly sales outlets on strong drinks and tobacco products.

Department’s director Akhliman Nasirov said that another five-day monitoring will be organized in Ganja from April 28 to May 2 of the year.

“The previous one was carried out earlier in Nasimi district of Baku this April,” Nasirov said.

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Price for excise duty stamp for imported and domestic alcohol and tobacco increased in Azerbaijan 

Rise in prices in Azerbaijan has also touched excise duty stamps for tobacco and strong drinks.

Well-informed sources say that the Ministry of Finance increased price of excise duty stamps for alcoholic beverages and alcohol (import, domestic production and condemned material) from 0.0074 up to 0.0080 manats, tobacco products from 0.0037 up to 0.0040 manats, beer from 0.0039 up to 0.0043 manats. The price includes expenditures on storage and delivery of excise duty stamps but is not the excise charge rate and only shows value of stamp.

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Azerbaijan Ministry of Taxes still ignores more frequent cases of illegal excisable goods sales 

Quantity of violations of rules of excisable goods sale has grown sharply in Azerbaijan. First of all, it concerns cigarettes – few-fold rise of sales of tobacco products without or forged excise duty stamps.

The Ministry informed that it controls circulation of excisable goods within general control over taxpayers.

“In 2006-7 we pursued goal-oriented policy of control over turnover of excisable goods and now do not intend to return to this practice,” the Ministry said.

In 2005-6 the Ministry and the State Customs Committee checked regularly legitimacy of imported cigarette sales. And then cigarettes without national excise duty stamps almost disappeared from sale. But weakening of this control has led to resumption of illegal trade practice.

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European Tobacco-Baku rolls out two new cigarette brands 

European Tobacco-Baku has launched Shirvan Original Blend and Shirvan Lights cigarettes on the occasion of its eighth anniversary.

Shair Abdulazizli, chairman of the company labor union, said they have recently gained a number achievements, enjoyed progress and imported new technology to Azerbaijan during the past 11 years. He added that the company has improved social wellbeing of the staff.

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Cigarette kills 5 million every year 

World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every year on May 31. The member states of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987. It draws global attention to the tobacco epidemic and to the preventable death and disease it causes. It aims to reduce the 3.5 million yearly deaths from tobacco related health problems. This campaign is held under slogan ”Free tobacco environment”

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Asylum seekers escape after dozy guards allowed cigarette break  

A failed asylum seeker is on the run after escaping deportation when he was allowed off a coach heading for the airport to have a cigarette.

The man was part of a group of a dozen men and women due to be thrown out of Britain on a specially chartered flight to Baku in Azerbaijan.

Yet incredibly when they approached Stansted airport in Essex where the plane was waiting, some of the men were allowed off to have a cigarette --- there was no smoking on the coach.

In what appeared to have been a pre-planned break, seven of the men are said to have tried to run off but all bar one were recaptured.

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EUROPEAN TOBACCO-BAKU EXPORTING PRODUCTS TO 15 COUNTRIES 

The largest tobacco producer in the South Caucasus region, European Tobacco-Baku, currently produces 24 brands of cigarettes.

The company's brands, along with sales in the domestic market, are exported to 15 countries in Central and Western Africa, the Middle East, South-Western Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

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TOBACCO PRODUCTION EXCEEDS LAST YEAR'S FIGURES 

Ministry of Agriculture said that tobacco production increased in 2005.

Tobacco-growers produced 7,1 thousand tons and, thereby, exceeded by 9,5% the level of 2005.

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$60m invested in largest S Caucasus tobacco factory 

$60 million has been invested in European Tobacco Baku, which employs about 850 people and is the largest cigarette producer in the Caucasus.*

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