Tobacco.org

• Kazakhstan bans public smoking, raises drinking age 

Kazakhstan's government said Tuesday it would impose a total ban on smoking in public places and raise the drinking age to 21, a rare step in the hard-drinking, heavy-smoking former Soviet Union.

"We are now following the recommendations of the World Health Organization, according to whose data more than 30,000 people die every year in Kazakhstan from smoking," health ministry spokeswoman Agmagul Abenova told AFP.

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"Khabar" Agency 

«Japan Tobacco International» company suggests to the government of RK using new methods of estimating of laws’ influence on markets

In Astana this issues has been discussed during round-table meeting organized by «Economist» magazine for business circles. Anastasios Sitsas, general manager of JTI Kazakhstan says the main advantage of innovation will be reducing of risks and expenses of regulating and unjustified load on business is also decreases. These methods allow to foresee all possible consequences of changes until the laws come into force. Its basis is expanded discussing of regulatory measures with experts and interested sides. Currently the company together with acknowledged international academic institutions is ready to organize trainings on methods for state employees.

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• Anti-tobacco program started in Kazakhstan 

The new program on prevention of sale of tobacco to minors has started in Kazakhstan, the agency reports citing British American Tobacco (BAT).

According to the company, to solve the problem of smoking of minors in Kazakhstan the new program on receiving permission for retail sale having the slogan: "not to sell cigarettes to people under 18". During the campaign, the materials containing signes "We do not sell tobacco products to people under 18" will be displayed in all retail stores of the country.

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• Pros and cons of tobacco distribution in Kazakhstan - a press conference in Interfax-Kazakhstan press center 

On Thursday, March 26, at 12 a.m. the Interfax-Kazakhstan press center (6th floor, 15 Republic Sq., Almaty) is to host a press conference entitled \"Reduction of Tobacco Consumption: Pros for Kazakhstan, Cons for the Tobacco Companies.\"

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Cigarette prices to rise in Kazakhstan-to 32 cents 

Cigarette smokers in Kazakhstan will soon have to dig a little deeper when buying a packet after the government introduced a minimum price of 40 tenge ($0.32) per packet.

No reason was given for the new law, published in state media on Friday. The government has restricted cigarette advertising but smoking is widespread, tolerated in most restaurants and bars and there is relatively little discussion about its health implications.

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• Kazakhstan joins WHO convention on tobacco control 

Majilis Committee for International Affairs, Defense and Security made a conclusion recommending the Chamber to adopt the draft law which foresees ratification of framework convention of the World Health Organization on tobacco control. Kazakhstan became the 129th state of the world to sign this convention.

Framework convention is an international legal document which binds the states to restrict global spread of tobacco and tobacco goods.

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Asia-Pacific | Kazakh 'lighter' goes up in smoke 

A 32-storey skyscraper which locals in the Kazakh capital Astana brand the "cigarette lighter", because of its shape, burst into flames on Tuesday.

A fire on the top floors sent smoke billowing above the capital, before the fire was brought under control.

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Letters: Lighting up time 

Every day 70 die of tobacco addiction in Kazakhstan 

There are about 4 mln. people smoking in Kazakhstan. Tobacco epidemic annually kills 25 000, or 70 every day. But 46 per cent of responders are willing to give up, said Kazbek Tulebayev, Director General of the national centre on problems of formation healthy way of life, in Almaty on May 30.

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RESEARCH AND PRACTICE / Prevalence of Smoking in 8 Countries of the Former Soviet Union: Results From the Living Conditions, Lifestyles and Health Study 

Conclusions. Smoking rates among men in these countries have been high for some time and remain among the highest in the world. Smoking rates among women have increased from previous years and appear to reflect transnational tobacco company activity.

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No Harassment of Kyrgyz Workers in Kazakh Tobacco Plantations - Paper 

The conditions of Kyrgyz tobacco growers legally working in Kazakh plantations are "normal" although there have been critical articles in the press, an article published in the Kazakh newspaper Kazakhstanskaya Pravda says. These workers can earn up to 1,000 dollars a season if they grow good tobacco, the article says. But those without proper documentation cannot even count on minimum legal protection in Kazakhstan, it says. The following is the text of the article by Aleksey Petrovskiy, published by Kazakhstanskaya Pravda on 3 August; subheads were inserted editorially:

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Kazakhstan joins WHO anti-tobacco convention 

Kazakhstan has joined the World Health Organization's anti-tobacco convention.

A press release form the Kazakh Foreign Ministry that was circulated on Wednesday says that the document was signed, in accordance with the Kazakh president's decree, by Kazakhstan's permanent representative to the UN.

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New law regulating advertising in Kazakhstan 

On Monday Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev's press service reported Mr. Nazarbaev signed law which prohibits advertising alcoholic products in the republic beginning January 1, 2004.

Mr. Nazarbaev also signed the law "About the Introduction of Changes and Additions into the Law about the Media". Both documents regulate the production and arrangement of advertisements.

According to new law, radio and television advertisements in Kazakhstan cannot occupy more than 15% of a broadcast.

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Nearly third of kazakhstani people are smokers 

National Center for Healthy Life Problems data nearly third of Kazakhstani people are smokers: 62% - men, 18% - women. The state is anxious about the situation. On July 10, 2002 the law About Tobacco Preventive Measures and Restrictions was adopted in the Republic. First of all, it is to protect children and teens. As the WHO member Kazakhstan participated in the development of the framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

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Philip Morris opens $14-mln tobacco factory in Kazakhstan 

Philip Morris has launched a $14- million tobacco processing factory in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The financing for this project was provided in excess of the company's investment obligations to Kazakhstan, the head of Philip Morris International's Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa division said.

The factory will process up to 7.5 tonnes of tobacco a day.

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