The Canadian Cancer Society has published a report on the nine countries that have imposed standardized tobacco packaging and the 16 that are working on its introduction, according to a story by Manjari Peiris for the Asian Tribune.
The report is said to show that almost 120 countries and territories require graphic warnings on cigarette packs, and that there is a ‘tremendous international momentum for tobacco plain packaging’.
The number of countries imposing standardized tobacco packaging is expected to accelerate because of the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling on June 28 that said Australia’s standardized tobacco packaging requirements were consistent with WTO’s international trade agreements.
The Canadian Cancer Society report, Cigarette Package Health Warnings: International Status Report, is said to document global ‘progress’ on standardized tobacco packaging.
It ranks 206 countries and territories on the size of their cigarette-pack health warnings, and lists countries and territories that require graphic warnings.
The report found that 118 countries and territories now require graphic health warnings on cigarette packs, up from 100 in 2016. Canada was the first country to require picture health warnings, in 2001.
“There is an unstoppable worldwide trend for countries to use graphic pictures on cigarette packages to show the deadly health effects of smoking, and to require plain packaging,” says Rob Cunningham, senior policy analyst at the Society. “For plain packaging, Australia was the first country to implement the measure, in 2012, and now the dominoes are falling.”
Tag: International
Warning size matters
Preparing for growing cuts
In an opinion piece published at thehill.com, an executive with the Center for Strategic and International Studies has called for action to ensure an orderly exit for farmers from tobacco production.
Dan Runde, a senior vice president and William A. Schreyer Chair in Global Analysis at the Center, a think tank based in Washington, US, said millions of smallholder farmers and their families in Africa and other parts of the developing world were going to lose their livelihoods due to the coming – welcome – fall in global demand for tobacco.
This decrease would come as a result of changing technologies, such as that driving the movement from tobacco to vaping.
Runde said that a number of economically-poor countries were surprisingly dependent on tobacco for jobs and hard currency; so the ‘coming end of tobacco products’ would cause a major social and economic disruption within those societies.
‘One potential solution would be a multi-stakeholder partnership among companies including tobacco companies, NGOs, governments, universities and aid agencies to design something like a “tobacco buyout” for the developing world,’ Runde said.
‘In 2004, the US released the Tobacco Transition Payment Program, also known as the “tobacco buyout” …
‘A similar program for Africa would aid farmers’ transition to different types of agricultural products, decreasing nations’ dependence on tobacco exports and increasing the world’s food supply with incentives for smallholder farmers.’
Runde added that the disruption had already begun.Registration deadline nears
On-line registration for the 2018 CORESTA (Co-operation Centre for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco) Congress in China is due to close at midnight local time on October 7, according to a note issued by the organization’s Secretariat.
Registration is available through www.corestakunming2018.com, and assistance is available from Lancia (lancia@coresta2018.org) or Demi (demi@coresta2018.org).
The Congress is due to be hosted by the China National Tobacco Corporation at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, on October 22-26.
The theme of the 2018 Congress is Science and Innovation: addressing the needs.
According to a previous CORESTA press note; in line with this theme, CORESTA’s Scientific Commission wants the event to be an opportunity for delegates to share their experience with the broad scientific community, within and beyond the tobacco perspective.
‘Workshops will be arranged to foster open dialogue on crop protection, biotechnologies, product risk assessment and biomarkers,’ the note said.
‘This approach will provide valuable information to all stakeholders in the increasingly challenging regulatory environment.
‘Latest updates and scientific achievements and findings will be presented to the benefit of both experienced and new scientists.’Good support for TFWA
The TFWA (Tax-free World Association) says that, so far, 516 exhibitors have registered 496 stands for its World Exhibition & Conference, which is due to take place at the Palais des Festivals, Cannes, between September 30 and October 5.
This, it says, marks the second consecutive year that exhibitor numbers have exceeded 500.
Of the 516, 50 exhibitors are new or returning to Cannes after a short break.
The Beach Village, located outside the Palais des Festivals, has this year been extended to the Majestic Beach opposite the Majestic Hotel.
All delegates are invited to visit the TFWA Digital Village at the Gare Maritime from October 2 to October 5, which will showcase the latest technology, digital solutions and hardware for the duty free and travel retail industry.
The TFWA Product Showcase is returning this year and can be found at www.tfwaproductshowcase.com. It said the service had proved instrumental in helping exhibitors highlight their new products, and was regularly used by journalists and visitors looking to catch up with the latest news in the duty free and travel retail market.
‘A range of tools will be available to help attendees navigate more than 22,000 square metres of floor space,’ the Association said in a press note. ‘A geo-localisation app will allow users to identify their location on a 3D interactive floor plan, while delegates who download the new TFWA app will receive also up-to-date information about activities and events taking place in and around the exhibition.
In addition, visitors can take advantage of on-site services at the TFWA Lounge, including a dedicated concierge service, private bar and lounge area.
Interactive directional screens, discounted rates on helicopter flights between Nice and Cannes, and professional photos and films of exhibitor stands will be available also.
Registration is available at: www.tfwa.com.Imperial ambitious on NGPs
Imperial Brands said today that it would be hosting a capital markets event in London this afternoon focused on the Group’s Next Generation Products (NGP) business.
The event coincides with the issuing today of a trading update.
‘Today’s event will provide insights into how we are executing against our NGP strategy,’ Imperial said in a note posted on its website. ‘At the heart of our strategy is a desire to create something better for the world’s smokers. We want smokers to switch to alternative products with lower health risks. We are enabling this transition by providing an outstanding vaping experience, endorsed by a trusted brand and underpinned by leading edge science.’
Imperial said the event’s presentations would set out the considerable potential NGP offered consumers and why this potential would be additive also for Imperial and its shareholders. ‘We will highlight how we are developing the pioneering brand blu with a compelling vaping proposition and a dynamic innovation pipeline to appeal to adult smokers,’ Imperial said. ‘Our omnichannel approach is building distribution strength across traditional retail outlets, vape stores and online, ensuring our products are available when and where smokers want to buy them.
‘The strong growth in sales of myblu, with an increasing rate of pod repurchase, reflects a really positive response from smokers, vapers and retailers across our current market footprint. Revenues have been gaining momentum this year, resulting in an annualised exit run-rate of around £0.3bn, positioning the Group well for accelerated growth in FY19 and beyond.
‘Our NGP ambitions are reflected in our management incentives to deliver compound annual revenue growth of 35-150 percent over the three years to FY20. The upper end of this range equates to NGP revenues of around £1.5 billion in FY20. We also have clear levers to drive profitability and expect the NGP business to begin to contribute to Group profit as we exit FY19, with margins continuing to build thereafter.’
Imperial said that it was announcing today plans to launch, Pulze, a heated tobacco product early next calendar year.
Presentation materials will be posted on Imperial’s website www.imperialbrands.com.Bowles to succeed Durante
Jack Bowles (pictured), currently COO of British American Tobacco’s international business, is due to succeed Nicandro Durante as the company’s CEO following Durante’s retirement on April 1.
In a note posted on its website, BAT said that Bowles would become chief executive designate on November 1 and would join the Board on January 1.
Bowles joined BAT in 2004 as CEO of BAT France and thereafter became MD of the BAT listed subsidiary in Malaysia. He was appointed to the Management Board of BAT in 2009 as regional director for Western Europe and subsequently served as regional director in both the Americas Region and the Asia-Pacific Region before taking on his current role as COO in 2017.
“Having conducted a far-reaching succession process with strong external and internal candidates, the Board is delighted to appoint such an experienced and dynamic successor from within BAT,” chairman Richard Burrows was quoted as saying. “Throughout his career at BAT, Jack has demonstrated excellent strategic leadership; growing businesses, driving productivity improvements and building strong management teams. In his most recent roles, as director, Asia-Pacific and, as COO, he has played a key role in developing our potentially reduced-risk products business.
“Jack‘s track record of innovating, and his experience across so many different geographies and areas of our business, position him extremely well to build on Nicandro’s achievements and write the next chapter in BAT’s history.”
Meanwhile, Bowles said that he was honored to succeed Durante. “It is an exciting time for BAT with many changes in our industry but also great opportunities,” he was quoted as saying. “With our depth of talent, our iconic brands and our range and pipeline of potentially reduced risk products, I am confident that we will take full advantage of these opportunities as we accelerate the transformation of BAT into a stronger multi category tobacco and nicotine products company.”TFWA launches app
The TFWA (Tax-free World Association) has launched a dedicated app to enhance the delegate experience at its events and promote participation in the wider TFWA community.
‘With growing demand for digital solutions in the duty-free and travel-retail space, the TFWA app will provide greater functionality for anyone attending Association events or looking to keep up to date with the latest industry news,’ the TFWA said in a press note.
‘Delegates at this year’s TFWA World Exhibition & Conference in Cannes (September 30 – October 5) will be among the first to try the app for themselves. Users will gain access to a number of exclusive on-site services, such as a new geolocation feature to help them navigate their way around the venue. Other functions include the option to contact and meet business partners directly via the app, and the ability to comment and put questions to speakers at TFWA Conferences. Full details on exhibiting companies are also available through the app.
‘The app will also deliver engaging, topical content on Association news and activities throughout the year, while providing a portable link to the Association to encourage interaction and foster a sense of community among duty-free and travel-retail professionals.’
TFWA President Erik Juul-Mortensen said that, much like the rest of the duty-free and travel-retail industry, the Association was investing heavily in digital technology to help it better engage with delegates and provide them with new ways to learn from their colleagues and share their views on important business issues.
The TFWA app is available to download at the App Store and Google Play.Hainan to host TFWA event
The TFWA (Tax-free World Association) says that the fourth TFWA China’s Century Conference is due to be held in Hainan on March 5-7.
The conference, organized with the support of the Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association, will be held at the Grand Hyatt Sanya Haitang Bay hotel.
In a press note issued on Tuesday, the TFWA said that Hainan, one of China’s most popular tourist destinations, was home to a thriving ‘offshore duty-free industry’.
Erik Juul-Mortensen, TFWA president, was quoted as saying that 2019 would see the 40th anniversary of duty-free in China, a country that had been one of the industry’s main growth drivers for much of that time.
“For anyone looking to understand and maximise the opportunity of this fast evolving and vast market, this is a must-attend event,” he said.
“After a fantastic few days in Guangzhou in 2017, we are delighted to be returning to China in 2019 and visiting Hainan, a hugely important location for many of our members and business partners.”
The most recent TFWA China’s Century Conference, held in Guangzhou in March 2017, was said to have seen visitor numbers up by six percent. Delegates included representatives from more than 200 companies, from China and beyond.
The TFWA said more information about the conference and its networking and social program would be available at www.tfwa.com.CORESTA reporting
The CORESTA (Co-operation Centre for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco) Secretariat has given details of the documents that it has published and the projects that it has launched since May.
The following documents have been published and can be downloaded from the Documents section of the CORESTA website at www.coresta.org.- Method No. 64 “Routine Analytical Cigar-Smoking Machine – Specifications, Definitions and Standard Conditions” updated
(2018-05-15) (CSM-121-1-CRM-64)
- Report “2017 Collaborative Study on Carbonyl Containing Compounds in Electronic Cigarette Liquids”
(2018-05-17) (EVAP-127-1-CTR)
- Method No. 46 “Atmosphere for Conditioning and Testing Cigars of all Sizes and Shapes” updated
(2018-06-11) (CSM-121-3-CRM-46)
- Report “5th Round Robin Test for Multi-Capillary Ventilation Calibration Standards (2016/2017)”
(2018-06-19) (PTM-124-CTR)
- Guide No. 1 “Agrochemical Guidance Residue Levels (GRLs)” updated
(2018-06-28) (ACAC-195-CTG-01)
- Report “Sub-Group Collaborative Study on Blue Mould – Final Report”
(2018-07-03) (BM-025-CTR)
- Report “Joint Experiment Technical Study (JETS) Report 17/1 Maleic Hydrazide in Tobacco”
(2018-07-27) (AA-130-CTR)
- Report “Tobacco Virus Collaborative Study (1996-2011)”
(2018-08-07) (VIR-030-CTR)
- Report “2018 Moisture (Oven Volatiles), Water by Karl Fischer and Gas Chromatography Interlaboratory Study”
(2018-08-20) (TTPA-171-1-CTR)
- Report “2018 Proficiency Study for Water Activity of Tobacco and Tobacco Products”
(2018-08-20) (TTPA-172-1-CTR)
- Method No. 57 “Determination of Water in Tobacco and Tobacco Products by Gas Chromatographic Analysis” updated
(2018-08-21) (TTPA-188-2-CRM-57)
- Method No. 56 “Determination of Water in Tobacco and Tobacco Products by Karl Fischer Method” updated
(2018-08-30) (TTPA-188-1-CRM-56)
Meanwhile, a list of active projects is available on the CORESTA website under the
Study Groups/Active Projects section:- Project 186: BMK SG – Meta-analysis of Cigarette Smoke Exposure Biomarkers
- Project 187: RAC SG – CM8 & CM9 Collaborative Studies – 2018
- Project 188: TTPA SG – Systematic Review of CRMs 56 and 57 (completed)
- Project 189: AA SG – 14th FAPAS CPA Analysis Proficiency Test – 2018
- Project 190: Consumer Reported Outcome Measures (CROM) Consortium (approval pending)
- Project 191: PTM SG – 7th Round Robin Test on Filter Ventilation Calibration Standards
- Project 192: PTM SG – Systematic Review of CORESTA Guide No. 4
- Project 193: TTPA SG – Collaborative Study for the Determination of Nicotine in Tobacco and Tobacco Products
- Project 194: SMA SG – Systematic Review of CRM 78
- Project 195: ACAC SG – CORESTA Guide No. 1: Addition of CPA Fluopyram to GRL list (completed)
Switching to vaping
The Serendipitymommy.com website is offering some advice on switching from smoking to vaping that could be useful to a wider audience than perhaps the website normally attracts.
It gives, among other things, five tips for making the switch:- Invest in a better device because one of the most common reasons why vapers have difficulty completely giving up tobacco cigarettes is down to the type of device that they are using.
- Find the right balance because, when choosing your ‘kit’, the trick is to strike the right balance between ease of use and an experience that provides the satisfaction that you need.
- Explore new flavors by thinking about what flavors you like in other products, because there’s bound to be a suitable vape juice for you.
- Give yourself time to make the adjustment once you have chosen your kit and flavors.
- Consider dual use because many vapers don’t make a straight switch immediately.
