http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/business.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.nbd.com.cn/_NewShow.aspx?D_ID=106912 http://tobacco.org/news/265391.html 近日，北京市爱卫办对部分禁烟范围内餐馆执行新标准，规定其无烟区的占地不低于50%。据了解，在北京市爱卫会正在拟定的草稿中，对违法吸烟的处罚额比现行1995年法规中的处罚额度提高了数十倍。 每日经济新闻, National Business Daily China Fri, 16 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.cnw.ca/en/releases/archive/March2008/13/c3902.html http://tobacco.org/news/265386.html Rothmans Inc. confirmed today that Rothmans Inc. and its 60% owned subsidiary Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. ("RBH") are named as defendants, along with Imperial Tobacco Canada Limited, JTI-Macdonald Corp. and a number of international tobacco product manufacturers, in a lawsuit filed by the Province of New Brunswick in the Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick. The lawsuit is based upon grounds which include alleged misrepresentations made by the defendants in respect of the hazards of tobacco products and seeks to recover unspecified damages for costs that are alleged by the Government of New Brunswick to have been incurred in providing health care benefits to New Brunswick residents who have allegedly suffered smoking-related illnesses. Canada Newswire Canada Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aL11sYF3oxjc http://tobacco.org/news/265382.html Philip Morris International Inc. is marketing $6 billion of debt due in 5, 10 and 30 years in the tobacco company's first bond offering since being spun off in March by Altria Group Inc., according to a person familiar with the transaction. The company plans to sell $2 billion of 5-year notes, $2.5 billion of 10-year notes, and $1.5 billion of 30 year bonds. All three will price to yield 177 basis points more than U.S. Treasuries of similar maturity, according to another person familiar with the matter, who declined to be identified because the terms aren't set. Bloomberg News bkeogh4@bloomberg.net (Bryan Keogh) Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.rightsideadvisors.com/public/commentary.go/rsa/commentary/comm-funds/20080516_112936_msg.html/INVESTING-IN-TOBACCO.html http://tobacco.org/news/265362.html Still, smoking rates in Beijing are lower than the national average, and have fallen since the 1990s when limited restrictions were first put in place. According to a study by the Capital Medical University in Beijing, the proportion of smokers in the capital dropped from 34.5% in 1997 to 23% last year. But those who keep at it can be a stubborn lot. When Meizhou Dongpo, a restaurant chain, tried to implement a total smoking ban at its Beijing outlets last October, it saw a rapid and drastic decline in its business. The chain's waitresses found themselves locked out of private dining rooms by renegade puffers. So, while the authorities have even encouraged citizens to rat on violators through a new telephone hotline, resistance from dedicated nicotine fiends, as well as worried restaurants--originally to be covered by an outright ban--has already led to a watering down of the restrictions. As rich countries have clamped down on smoking, tobacco firms have shifted their focus to less developed places. The tobacco industry is regrouping in order to focus on "promising" markets and escape the pesky lawsuits it is likely to face in rich, litigious countries. China is now home to more than a quarter of the world's smokers, and it will soon be manufacturing one of the world's leading cigarettes for the second largest seller of cigarettes in the world, a firm that will also be exporting Chinese tobacco to other countries. Selling cigarettes is an extremely profitable business and the Chief Financial Officer of this tobacco group has just spent over $1 million of his own money buying his company's shares. To know more, and why this company's stock looks attractive, read Insider Moves. Rightside Advisors China Fri, 16 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5ivddFzD0PFXl0uRU0XXgJtm_V9KQ http://tobacco.org/news/265361.html Cigarette maker Rothmans Inc. (TSX:ROC) grew its full-year earnings by 18 per cent to $117.6 million, but said that despite certain regulatory changes to the industry, it was still being hit by contraband and competitive challenges. The company said net sales at subsidiary Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. rose eight per cent to $670.6 million on price increases, while Rothmans' net profit for the year was $1.72 per diluted share, compared with $99.8 million or $1.46 per share in the previous year, when RBH sales were $618.6 million. CEO John Barnett, who has long complained about the impact of contraband on the company, said Friday that the results were "a substantial achievement in a market where we continue to see industry volume erosion as a result of the contraband activity." "While we are encouraged by some of the recent government announcements involving certain regulatory changes and enforcement strategies, we believe that the will to execute these and other required initiatives is the key to mitigating the contraband issue," Barnett said during a conference call. Canadian Press Canada Fri, 16 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1638251720080516 http://tobacco.org/news/265360.html Fourth-quarter profit at Rothmans Inc grew 17 percent, Canada's No 2 cigarette maker said on Friday, as price increases more than offset pressure from a growing trade in contraband tobacco. Increased competition to sell low-priced cigarettes and declining volumes posed further difficulties, but Rothmans said it is well positioned financially to withstand market pressures thanks to C$234.9 million in cash reserves. Known for its Craven A, Rothmans and Benson & Hedges brands, the company said it earned C$21 million ($21 million), or 31 Canadian cents per share, in the period ended March 31. That is up from C$18 million, or 26 Canadian cents per share, in the same period last year and betters analyst expectation for a profit of 30 Canadian cents a share. Reuters Canada Fri, 16 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.sltrib.com/ci_9277205 http://tobacco.org/news/265359.html Fifteen Dan's and Macey's grocery stores no longer will sell tobacco products starting June 1, joining three other Utah supermarkets that have stopped selling cigarettes, company officials said on Thursday. The stores, located from Logan to Utah County, join the two Dick's Markets in Centerville and Bountiful and a Ream's store in Provo that stopped tobacco sales in the mid-1990s. Dave Wirthlin, president of Dick's Market, Dan's and Macey's, said the decision to stop selling tobacco products came from health concerns for employees and shoppers, which far outweigh financial impacts from lost sales. "The long-term health effects of smoking on communities don't come close to any monetary gain from selling these products," said Wirthlin. "And it's inconsistent with our focus on a healthy lifestyle and family-first orientation that makes our stores unique." Salt Lake Tribune dawn@sltrib.com (Dawn House The Salt Lake Tribune) Fri, 16 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.kutv.com/content/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=c454b342-29a3-4f2f-bad4-ad3b981d8a1f http://tobacco.org/news/265358.html Two of Utah’s major grocery stores will no longer sell tobacco products. The owner of the stores says that the change is to help promote healthy living. Tobacco products will officially be taken off the shelves of Macey’s and Dan’s Food Stores on June 1st. President Dave Wirthlin says that they are very happy about the move and want to promote fresh products and good health. “Tobacco is the only product that even when used as directed, causes harm to the user and the people in the near vicinity,” said Wirthlin. KUTV CBS 2 /mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=40372@kutv.dayport.com (Reported by: Cristina Flores) Fri, 16 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/tue/may13h15.htm http://tobacco.org/news/265349.html Senior officials from the Ministry of Health yesterday held a briefing session for retailers and sundry shop vendors on the Tobacco Act 2005 and Regulations 2007. Chairing the briefing session was the Acting Director General of Health Services Dr Hjh Kalsom Abd Latif. On hand to present the briefing to attendees was Dr Hj Zulhilmi POKHP Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdullah, Senior Medical Officer, in his capacity as the Head of the Tobacco Control Unit. During the session, retailers and vendors were briefed on the regulations of selling cigarettes. . . . Contents of the Tobacco Act comprise of six main sections - Preliminary, Control of Tobacco Products, Advertising Control, Smoking in Specified Areas and Vehicles, Enforcement and General. Meanwhile, Regulation of Tobacco contains the Tobacco Regulations (Offences Composition) 2007, Tobacco Regulations (Exporters Licensing, Wholesalers and Sundry Shop Vendors) 2007, Tobacco Notice (Prohibition at Allocated Areas) 2007 and Tobacco Regulations (Labelling) 2007. Borneo Bulletin brupress@brunet.bn (Lyna Mohamad) Brunei Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=665e0eeb-e48f-4ba6-9921-85db1fb390d6 http://tobacco.org/news/265348.html This doesn't make sense. While the provincial government has been fighting for the right to sue tobacco companies to recover health-care costs in the Supreme Court of Canada, the British Columbia Investment Management Corp., a Crown corporation, has been pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into tobacco stocks. Its investments in tobacco stocks had a market value of more than $385 million in 2007. Established in 1999, BCIMC manages more than $83 billion in assets, including $64 billion administered on behalf of public-sector pension funds. Its clients also include the province of British Columbia, public trusts and insurance funds. . . . But should a Crown corporation be using public sector pension fund contributions to buy stocks in tobacco companies and foreign military contractors? There may be wide differences of opinion on the issue of military contractors, but I seriously doubt that a majority of B.C. residents would defend the tobacco investments. The right thing to do is for the B.C. Investment Management Corp. to divest itself immediately of all tobacco stocks. Those investments are an embarrassment to the government and a serious health hazard for the rest of us. Vancouver Sun sunnewstips@png.canwest.com (Gordon Keast, The Vancouver Sun) Canada Thu, 15 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7397454.stm http://tobacco.org/news/265346.html The supermarket chain Budgens has installed face recognition cameras in one of its stores to stop children buying alcohol and cigarettes. It is thought to be the first time a UK retailer has used the technology to identify underage customers. The scheme is being piloted at an unnamed branch of Budgens in London. If the system recognises someone who has previously been unable to prove they are 18, a signal alerts the cashier who will refuse to serve them. BBC Online UK Tue, 13 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.salon.com/tech/htww/2008/05/15/steve_milloy_and_rachel_carson/index.html?source=rss&aim=/tech/htww http://tobacco.org/news/265338.html The myth that Rachel Carson, author of "Silent Spring," was responsible for the deaths of millions of people in Africa because her denunciations of DDT led to a "ban" . . . But I did not know until reading John Quiggin and Tim Lambert's enlightening story in the British Prospect (thanks to The New Republic's Energy and Environment blog for the tip) how exactly the assault on Carson ever got started. . . . DDT had been replaced by less environmentally damaging alternatives. But soon the situation changed radically. The tobacco industry, faced with the prospect of bans on smoking in public places, sought to cast doubt on the science behind the mooted ban. But a campaign focused on tobacco alone was doomed to failure. So the industry tried a different tack, an across-the-board attack on what it called "junk science." Its primary vehicle was the Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC), a body set up by PR firm APCO in the early 1990s and secretly funded by Philip Morris. . . . DDT had been replaced by less environmentally damaging alternatives. But soon the situation changed radically. The tobacco industry, faced with the prospect of bans on smoking in public places, sought to cast doubt on the science behind the mooted ban. But a campaign focused on tobacco alone was doomed to failure. So the industry tried a different tack, an across-the-board attack on what it called "junk science." Its primary vehicle was the Advancement of Sound Science Coalition (TASSC), a body set up by PR firm APCO in the early 1990s and secretly funded by Philip Morris. TASSC, led by an activist named Steve Milloy, attacked the environmental movement on everything . . . As for the "orthodoxy of mainstream U.S. Republicanism" -- judging by the recent Democratic pickups of purportedly "safe" Republican Congressional seats in three consecutive special elections, it seems to have fallen a bit out of favor with the mainstream U.S. general public. Could it be that the ill effects of embracing charlatans like Steve Milloy are finally taking their toll? Just as overuse of DDT for agricultural purposes led to the development of resistant mosquitos, overuse of Steve Milloy may be leading to resistant voters. Salon Magazine aleonard@salon.com (Andrew Leonard / How the World Works) Thu, 15 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1055774.html http://tobacco.org/news/265335.html Bob Gee will have his day in court. The Kentville tobacconist, who has been defying provincial law on displaying cigarettes, was charged Tuesday with improper display and storage of tobacco products. Mr. Gee, owner of Mader's Tobacco Store, is the first to be charged under the province's new laws prohibiting the display of cigarettes. He was ordered last February to comply with the regulations governing tobacco vendors or be charged under the Tobacco Access Act. At the time, he was given 30 days to comply. "I was sort of expecting it, but I was hoping they would change the regulations so I could do my job," Mr. Gee, 63, said in an interview. . . . While he removed his store window displays, as required under the law, he refused to abide by the new regulations passed last December requiring him to remove all in-store displays. He was also ordered at that time to stop selling other items in his tobacco shop, including newspapers, gum, chocolate, soft drinks and other products. Under the act, tobacconists are permitted to sell tobacco and tobacco-related products only. He has not complied with that order either Halifax Chronicle Herald gdelaney@herald.ca (GORDON DELANEY Valley Bureau) Canada Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=f798b8f9-0213-47c4-81af-dfa3e158f357 http://tobacco.org/news/265333.html Quebec's anti-tobacco troopers have quietly been instructed to wink at their own law when the next big deadline in the provincial war on smoking dawns May 31. A provincial health official conceded Thursday tobacco stores won't face immediate fines if they haven't squirrelled their supplies of smokes out of the sight of every single customer by the original target date. Corner-store owners have quietly been granted an unspecified amount of extra breathing time before they'll start to get dinged with fines that could range from $300 to $2,000 for a first offence. Montreal Gazette mailto:ariga@thegazette.canwest.com Canada Thu, 15 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=9559 http://tobacco.org/news/265331.html Major players in the tobacco industry in the country have stressed that the re-introduction of Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane (DDT) by the health sector to curb malaria would threaten sales of tobacco on the global market. This follows Ministry of Health interest in 2006 to bring back DDT which is one of the known synthetic pesticides to be used in the country to halt reproduction of mosquitoes which spread the killer disease. During a media briefing in Salima on Sunday Executive Director for Agricultural Research and Extension Trust (Aret) Ibrahim Phiri said chances for DDT contamination to tobacco remain very high in rural areas where tobacco is mostly grown. "As an industry we have been consulted on the use of DDT especially in rural areas where malaria is wrecking havoc but there is a conflict here as health officials are trying to protect us from this killer disease while we are looking at protecting the country's major forex earner from being shunned on the international market," said Phiri. He added that Malawi's tobacco may be threatened if the country accepts DDT re-introduction as there would be scepticism on whether the leaf is pure. Daily Times Malawi Thu, 15 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT