April 25th, 2012
Waikato Times
The Health Ministry has discussed raising the cost of a packet of cigarettes to $100 over the next eight years as a measure to help achieve the Government’s goal of a smokefree New Zealand by 2025.
In a document released under the Official Information Act the idea was floated that the Government hike the price of cigarettes to $60 next year and then 10 per cent every year thereafter, making the cost of a pack $100 by 2020.
The ministry said the most effective way to do that was through raising the price of a packet of cigarettes.
April 22nd, 2012
Andrea Vance
© Fairfax NZ News
The US Chamber of Commerce and business groups have launched a blistering attack on the government’s plan to enforce plain packaging on tobacco.
Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia this week announced a ban on branded packets as part of a bid to get New Zealand smokefree by 2025.
Tobacco giants – which are fighting similar restrictions in Australia – have vowed to oppose the move.
There are fears the branding ban violates intellectual property rights, could open the floodgates for expensive lawsuits and jeopardize a number of free trade deals.
April 20th, 2012
The Jakarta Post
Most smokers will probably ignore the graphic health-warning images that the government plans to require tobacco companies to put on cigarette packs, suggesting the plan may be ineffective.
“I would still buy cigarettes even with the graphic images printed on the packs. In fact, I would intentionally buy them so I could feel that little bit cooler,” 25-year-old art-student Nadia Kusumahdewi said to The Jakarta Post via a text-message.
She said the new draft regulation currently discussed by the government would do “very little” to reduce the number of smokers in the country.
April 15th, 2012
News Track India
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London, Apr 14 (ANI): Health experts are demanding stringent controls on electronic cigarettes over concerns that customers could be exposed to poisonous chemicals.
The nicotine vapour inhaler devices, mostly imported from China, are not subject to regulations and fears are growing that people could be subjected to ‘unclean’ and ‘unsafe’ products.
E-cigs do not contain tobacco and therefore are not regulated by Tobacco Product Regulations, they are also not classed as medical devices so can they not be regulated in the same way as other nicotine replacement products.
