http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/country/europe.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.ddinews.gov.in/Business/Business+-+Headlines/gf.htm http://tobacco.org/news/274602.html Europe's agriculture chief refused on Tuesday to bow to demands to prolong subsidies for tobacco growers as part of this week's farm reform talks, saying there were other solutions to cushion any financial pain. Eight major EU tobacco-producing countries have said they want existing subsidies extended to 2013, despite an agreement struck four years ago that will see the historic link between cash amount and production volume scrapped from 2010. ''Tobacco is not in the health check,'' EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel told the European Parliament, referring to her blueprint for a mini-reform of EU farm policy that EU ministers will begin negotiating on Wednesday. Several thousands of tobacco farmers, mainly from France, are expected to hold protests in Brussels on Wednesday. ''The tobacco reform was made in 2004, it was supported by all countries and also all tobacco producing member states,'' she said. ''I have said lots of times, I am certainly not going to reopen the tobacco reform'' she added. Doordarshan Europe Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/8039437 http://tobacco.org/news/274600.html Europe's agriculture chief refused on Tuesday to bow to demands to prolong subsidies for tobacco growers as part of this week's farm reform talks, saying there were other solutions to cushion any financial pain. Eight major EU tobacco-producing countries have said they want existing subsidies extended to 2013, despite an agreement struck four years ago that will see the historic link between cash amount and production volume scrapped from 2010. "Tobacco is not in the health check," EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel told the European Parliament, referring to her blueprint for a mini-reform of EU farm policy that EU ministers will begin negotiating on Wednesday. Several thousands of tobacco farmers, mainly from France, are expected to hold protests in Brussels on Wednesday. The Guardian Europe Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/337/nov10_1/a2481 http://tobacco.org/news/274357.html Although drug misuse remains at historically high levels, it is entering a more stable phase, the latest annual report from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction reports. Wolfgang Götz, the centre’s director, notes, "Overall, for most forms of consumption, we are not seeing major increases, and in some areas trends appear to be downwards. Indicators for amphetamines and ecstasy use, for example, suggest an overall steady or declining situation." Cannabis remains the most widely used drug, with 71 million people in Europe between the ages of 15 and 64 (equivalent to just over 20% of the adult population) admitting to having taken it at least once. The report, released in Brussels on 6 November, confirms an increasing tendency for cannabis to be produced in Europe rather than imported from Africa or Latin America and warns that the home grown variety is often far more potent. It also indicates that overall consumption may be stabilising. . . . Nine countries of the European Union operate full smoking bans in public places, and a further five have partial restrictions, the Lisbon based centre notes: "The possible link between tobacco policies and cannabis smoking is an issue meriting attention." British Medical Journal Europe Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2008/11/11/fake-cigarette-smuggler-coughs-up-185-000-72703-22226395/ http://tobacco.org/news/274315.html FAKE fags importer Pradeep Bahanda has paid back his ill-gotten gains. The 50-year-old, who planned to flog the phoneys from a fleet of ice cream vans, has avoided a fresh jail term by coughing up the £185,000. A court ruled that was the amount he pocketed from his scam, which saw more than 980,000 cigarettes sneaked into the UK from Germany. Bahanda and his gang hid their cargo in secret compartments of a delivery van, which zig-zagged its way across Europe, ending up in Cramlington, Northumberland. Once there, they unloaded the tobacco into a factory owned by brothers Franco and Antonio Gregorio, but it was under surveillance and customs officers swooped. Newcastle Evening Chronicle/Chronicle Live UK Europe Tue, 11 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/legislation/?doc=4917 http://tobacco.org/news/274211.html Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian finance ministers on Friday agreed to impose a veto on the suggestion of the European Commission to set higher excises on tobacco and fuel as of 2015 and to think about the euro adoption in 2011-2012. At the meeting held in Trakai on Friday, Lithuanian Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius, Latvian Finance Minister Atis Slakters and Estonian Finance Minister Ivari Padar underlined that each country would have to decide itself on the excises amount, informs ELTA. The Baltic Course Europe Lithuania Latvia Estonia Sun, 07 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c893b8bc-a392-11dd-942c-000077b07658.html http://tobacco.org/news/274153.html Tobacco companies could see sales of premium cigarettes slow next year as smokers adopt thriftier habits amid a worsening economic climate, according to the head of Japan Tobacco’s overseas business. “I don’t have a crystal ball but I think it’s kind of obvious that consumers’ purchasing power is going to be [affected],” said Pierre de Labouchere, chief executive of Japan Tobacco International. “Our industry is very resilient but it’s not immune.” In his first interview since JT completed its �7.5bn ($11.9bn) acquisition of UK rival Gallaher last April, Mr de Labouchere said the industry was unlikely to see a substantial decline in overall sales volumes next year. Instead, cigarette companies could see an acceleration of customers switching to cheaper brands Financial Times Europe Sun, 26 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a7x02OkMucl0&refer=us http://tobacco.org/news/274037.html Sara Lee Corp., the maker of frozen cakes and Jimmy Dean sausages, said full-year profit will be less than it previously estimated because of falling foreign currencies and waning demand in Europe. Sara Lee fell as much as 11 percent in New York trading after saying earnings per share may be 77 cents to 84 cents excluding some items for the year ending in June. That compared with an earlier projection of 90 cents to 98 cents. . . . The company reported today that first-quarter net income increased 15 percent to $230 million, or 32 cents a share, in the quarter through Sept. 27 from $200 million, or 28 cents, a year earlier. The increase was helped by proceeds from the sale of its European tobacco unit, the Downers Grove, Illinois-based company said in a statement. Bloomberg News dstanford2@bloomberg.net (Duane D. Stanford) Europe Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://eng.novonews.lv/news/2008/11/05/latvia_en/006610.html http://tobacco.org/news/274032.html Euro Commissar regarding the social politics issue, Vladimir Shmidte suggests to enter the law to forbid smoking at working places across the EU countries. "We have to guarantee security of the working process, as smoking causes damages to the health" – he states. NovoNews news agency !--Rating@Mail.ru Europe Latvia Mon, 27 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7985711 http://tobacco.org/news/273994.html Eight major European tobacco producers will ask the European Union's farm commissioner to extend existing subsidies to the sector until 2013, Italy's agriculture minister said on Tuesday. EU tobacco subsidies are due to be scrapped in 2010. "Eight big countries are more than ever convinced of the need to extend the current support schemes envisaged for the sector till 2013," Italy's Agriculture Minister Luca Zaia said in a statement. He was speaking after a meeting with ministries and sector representatives from Bulgaria, Greece, France, Poland, Romania, Spain and Hungary. Italy is Europe's leading tobacco producer, accounting for 37 percent of tobacco delivered to processors in 2007, the agriculture ministry statement said. Scrapping subsidies would hit the sector, thousands of people working for it and undermine development of rural areas, the statement said. Reuters Europe Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:00:00 GMT http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=75968-qqqx=1.asp http://tobacco.org/news/273768.html IRELAND has emerged as the second most successful country of the 27 EU member states in implementing measures to reduce the level of smoking among its population. A study involving 340,000 participants across the EU, ranks Ireland in second place just behind Britain for having effective tobacco controls. However, it highlighted how smokers in Ireland have almost twice the safe level of carbon monoxide in their system. The report showed Ireland scored highly on criteria such as tobacco prices, smoking bans, information and awareness campaigns, advertising bans, health warnings and treatments to help people stop smoking. However, Ireland has slipped from first place since 2005 because it failed to make any significant improvements on measures already in place since the smoking ban in 2004. (The findings were concluded before the 50c excise increase per pack.) Smoking levels in Ireland are estimated at 29%. Irish Examiner feedback@tcm.ie (Seán McCárthaigh) Ireland Europe Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.independent.ie/health/latest-news/over-one-million-smokers-puff-on-15-a-day-1511914.html http://tobacco.org/news/273745.html More than a million Irish people smoke an average of 15 cigarettes a day despite the public smoking ban. Although we were first in Europe to impose a complete ban on smoking in public places four years ago, we now rank sixth worst for the average amount of cigarettes smoked every day. Only smokers in Malta, Greece, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Cyprus have heavier habits than Ireland's nicotine addicts, the EU survey report revealed. Ireland has also lost its crown as the number one country in the EU for tobacco control measures after falling to second place behind the UK. The findings emerged in the EU report after a three-year campaign to reduce smoking across member states and cut preventable deaths. Irish Independent Ireland Europe Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1081475/Britain-toughest-smoking-controls-Europe-finds-new-report.html http://tobacco.org/news/273732.html Britain is the toughest country in Europe on smokers, a major survey revealed today. The survey, which ranked 27 European countries according to tobacco control measures, was carried out by the EU's 'Help - For a Life Without Tobacco' campaign. Britain was ranked second, behind Ireland, in 2005, but has scored higher in subsequent years. The high rating has been put down to the elevated cost of tobacco in the UK, and better treatment programmes. The UK has the toughest smoking controls in Europe, thanks to high tobacco prices and good treatment programmes Countries were scored in six categories, including price, public place bans, public information campaign spending, advertising bans, health warnings and treatment. The Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday UK Europe Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.tobaccojournal.com/Hungary_objects_to_cigarette_excise_duty_hike.49298.0.html http://tobacco.org/news/273673.html Hungary's government has objected to a European Union directive which will raise the excise duty on tobacco by 2014, the finance ministry said on Monday. Currently, excise duties levied on cigarettes must account for at least 57 per cent of price, and must be at least EUR 64 per 1,000 cigarettes, for products falling under the "most popular price category" in Hungary. This current percentage would be increased to 63 per cent of the weighted average price and the rate of EUR 64 will rise to EUR 90 for all cigarettes by 2014, under the new proposal of the European Commission. Tobacco Journal International Europe Hungary Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/ireland/eu-survey-highlights-benefits-of-smoking-bans-14018258.html http://tobacco.org/news/273587.html An EU-wide survey has found that levels of carbon monoxide in the lungs of both smokers and non-smokers have fallen in countries where smoking bans have been introduced. The research data was gathered over a period of three years in the 27 EU member states. Belfast Telegraph Europe Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT http://irishhealth.com/index.html?level=4&id=14512 http://tobacco.org/news/273571.html Ireland is second out of 27 European countries for tobacco control measures, according to the EU's 'Help - For a Life Without Tobacco' campaign. The news came today at the launch of the campaign's carbon monoxide (CO) test results in Dublin. A country's Tobacco Control Score is calculated over six categories that include price, public place bans (both of which Ireland scored well in), public information campaign spending, advertising bans, health warnings and treatment. Ireland achieved a score of 74in this survey, leaving it second only to the UK from a pool of 27 participating countries. Speaking at the launch, Professor Luke Clancy, Director General of the Tobacco Free Research Institute, said while it was good news that Ireland had achieved this result, there was no room for complacency. IrishHealth.com http://irishhealth.com/contact01.html?to=info@irishhealth.com Ireland Europe Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT