Tobacco.org

Anti-Smokers Gear for Action 

THE Director of the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) has called for the speedy implementation of the Tobacco Bill.

Speaking at the World No Tobacco day commemoration at Swakopmund on Friday, CAN's Kurt Johanneson said it would be wonderful to eat in a restaurant without somebody blowing smoke over your plate of food.

He said it would be great if the law could be implemented within the next year.

Minister Richard Kamwi of Health and Social Services, who delivered the keynote address, said the draft bill, which aims to reduce smoking and tobacco consumption, was close to completion.

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Tobacco And Alcohol Face Sharp Increases 

Biting increases in taxes on excise duties have also been announced on luxury goods. For cigarettes an increase of 16.6% has been announced. The prices of cigars and pipe tobacco will also increase by 15.7% and 17.3% respectively. . . . these prices will be deemed to have taken effect as from 18th February this year.

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Introduction of smoking ban in bars and restaurants postponed for six to 12 months 

In order to "avoid unnecessary confrontation" with the Association of General Retailers and Traders (GRTU), the government has decided to postpone the introduction of the smoking ban in bars and restaurants for between six and 12 months, health minister Louis Deguara announced yesterday.

Asked whether this move meant that the government had given in to the pressure of restaurant and bar owners and decided to please them, Dr Deguara denied this was the case, adding that the government could have easily chosen the path of confrontation but this would have led to nothing. He said the government's aim is that the smoking ban will be introduced. "Whether it is introduced now or in six months' time, does not make a difference to the government," he said.

Despite saying this, later on Dr Deguara said that: "The GRTU had the ammunition and used it", thus implying and admitting that the government has been held to ransom by the bar and restaurant owners.

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Govt Moves to Stub Out Tobacco Tolerance 

NAMIBIA, in a long-expected move, has signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Health Minister Dr Libertina Amathila signed the treaty aimed at curbing tobacco-related deaths and disease in Geneva on January 29. . . .

It took Namibia about nine months to sign it but the treaty will come into force only after it has been ratified by 40 countries.

Only seven countries have ratified the treaty so far.

Namibia must first enact its own long-awaited anti-tobacco legislation before it can ratify the treaty.

The draft Tobacco Bill has been awaiting approval for close to three years now.

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Amer Group Reaches Agreement With Philip Morris Regarding Amer's Tobacco Business 

Amer will withdraw from its tobacco business on 26 March 2004 as Philip Morris has agreed to buy back the exclusive right Amer Tobacco Ltd holds to produce and sell Philip Morris cigarettes in Finland. Additionally, Philip Morris will acquire Amer Tobacco's cigarette trademarks and certain machinery and equipment.

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One in 6 Unam Students Smoke: New Survey 

A STUDY on the smoking habits of students at the University of Namibia (Unam) suggests that at least 17 per cent of them smoke nicotine. . . .

According to the findings, male students are four times more likely to be smokers than female students among the 10 000-strong university population.

Of the smoking population, 85 per cent can be classified as heavy smokers - putting them at great risk of acquiring a tobacco-induced illness.

The study, begun last year by three academics, sampled 10 per cent of the student population, embracing all age categories and years of study.

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Namibia Still Has to 'Light Up' On Tobacco Control 

NAMIBIA is not among a handful of African countries who ratified a global anti-smoking treaty in Geneva, Switzerland, last week - despite being a signatory to the agreement.

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the first global health treaty to be produced for several decades.

So far about 40 countries have ratified the treaty - enough to make it law in those countries.

South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique are the only southern African states which have become party to the pact.

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N!xau / Kalahari bushman who became a film star and was paid in cattle 

The tiny Kalahari desert bushman known as N!xau, who charmed millions of cinema-goers worldwide in the 1980s with his exuberant performance in the box-office hit, The Gods Must Be Crazy, has died near the place he was born in the remote Tsumkwe area of Namibia . . .

The details of his death are unknown. . .

Uys said that the bushman was a natural actor, but admitted that the white man's ways had two corrupting influences on N!xau: he learned to drink alcohol and smoke.

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Namibia still has to 'light up' on tobacco control 

NAMIBIA is not among a handful of African countries who ratified a global anti-smoking treaty in Geneva, Switzerland, last week - despite being a signatory to the agreement.

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the first global health treaty to be produced for several decades.

So far about 40 countries have ratified the treaty - enough to make it law in those countries.

South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique are the only southern African states which have become party to the pact. . .

Health Ministry officials could not be reached for comment on when Namibia will join the pact, but indications are that the country first needs to enact its own anti-tobacco legislation.

However, this is proving to be an arduous process.

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Tobacco Legislation 'Overdue 

A LACK of legislation on tobacco control, has been singled out as the greatest stumbling block to stemming the effects of tobacco usage in Namibia.

Although in its draft stages, officials say a planned bill is still a long way from becoming law.

Cabinet gave the Health Ministry the go-ahead to introduce a bill that will control the advertising, sale and smoking of tobacco products more than two years ago.

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Tobacco Legislation 'Overdue' 

A LACK of legislation on tobacco control, has been singled out as the greatest stumbling block to stemming the effects of tobacco usage in Namibia. Although in its draft stages, officials say a planned bill is still a long way from becoming law.

Cabinet gave the Health Ministry the go-ahead to introduce a bill that will control the advertising, sale and smoking of tobacco products more than two years ago. "It's pathetic that children can still buy cigarettes over the counter in Namibia," Kurt Johannesson of Namibia's Cancer Association told a World No-Tobacco Day gathering in Windhoek on Friday.

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Namibia On Hand As WHO Passes Anti-Tobacco Treaty 

NAMIBIA yesterday joined 191 countries worldwide in passing the international treaty aimed at curbing the spread of tobacco. History was in the making as the Geneva-based World Health Organisation (WHO) passed the first international treaty negotiated under its auspices.

Namibia was represented by a team led by Health Minister Dr Libertina Amathila.

WHO said in a statement that the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) aimed at curbing tobacco-related deaths and disease requires countries to impose restrictions on tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion, establish new labelling and clean indoor air controls and strengthen legislation to clamp down on tobacco smuggling.

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Cabinet Approves Tobacco Protocol 

NAMIBIA has agreed to an international treaty aimed at curbing the spread in the use of tobacco. Cabinet said it "approved in principle" the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

The framework is the result of four years of negotiations. Once adopted, it will be opened for signature by member states. The treaty will come into force shortly after it has been ratified by 40 countries. If adopted in its current form, the treaty will ban advertising and the promotion of tobacco products, and impose high taxes on tobacco products.

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Namibia backs action to restrict smoking 

NAMIBIA has joined 170 countries in agreeing on a final text for an international treaty aimed at curbing the spread of tobacco. . .

The Ministry of Health and Social Services and the Cancer Association of Namibia drafted a Tobacco Bill in 2001 which calls for a total ban on cigarette smoking in public places.

The legislation has yet to be tabled for consideration by Cabinet and Parliament.

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Namibia Backs Action to Restrict Smoking 

NAMIBIA has joined 170 countries in agreeing on a final text for an international treaty aimed at curbing the spread of tobacco. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control was approved after four years of negotiations in Geneva, Switzerland, over the weekend and will be presented to the World Health Assembly in May.

Once adopted, it will be opened for signature by Member States. The treaty will come into force shortly after it has been ratified by 40 countries. If adopted in its current form, the treaty would ban advertising and promotion of tobacco products, and impose high taxes on tobacco products. It also covers smoking prevention and treatment, illicit trade and sponsorship by tobacco companies.

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