Cigarettes to Vanish From Store Shelves across England This Week

Packs of cigarettes and other tobacco products will be removed from the shelves in the supermarkets across Great Britain from Friday, as the latest legislation prohibiting their display in shops enters into effect.

Tobacco products will be stored hidden in closed shelves or under the counter according the stringent anti-smoking regulation implemented in England.

The measure obliges all supermarkets and large stores to remove cigarette displays at the points of their sale with allowed temporary displays under “particular limited circumstances”.

The law’s implementation was postponed until April 2015 for small shops, newsagents and tobacco stores in order to give them enough time to re-designate their venues.

Lawmakers claim that banning tobacco from displays will help to discourage teenagers and young adults from taking up smoking habit.

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Illegal Cigarette Trade in EU Peaked in 2010

Philip Morris International Inc. last week disclosed the results of its latest demonstrating that illegal sales of contraband and fake tobacco products across European Union reached record level in 2010 since the company began studying the market in 2006.

The research, performed by KPMG, assessed that yearly consumption of illegal cigarettes grew by 3.1 billion sticks in 2010 as compared to 2009 to an aggregate of 64.2 billion units, representing nearly 10% of overall cigarette consumption across European Union. According to the information provided by European Anti-Fraud Office, the EU and national economies missed 10 billion Euros in taxes in 2010 due to the growth in illegal sales.

KPMG has carried out similar researches annually as part of the landmark collaboration convention between Philip Morris International, The EU member-nations and the European Commission. The analysis and its main conclusions will be taken into consideration by European Anti-Fraud Office and national governments.

Speaking about the results of the study, Timothy Lindon, Chief Compliance Officer for the PMI, declared that whereas it has been evident that law enforcement authorities across the EU have been doing their best to eliminate the issue, the study shows that illegal cigarette trade has been on the rise and presents a great challenge for the EU member-states.

“The illegal cigarette trade throughout the EU is currently bigger than legitimate combined cigarette markets of France, Switzerland and Finland, and contributes to growing criminality in EU member nations, since revenues from illegal tobacco trade are regularly allocated to fund other illicit activities, such drug trafficking, human smuggling and terrorist attacks. In many EU member states, there are currently two different tobacco markets, one legitimate market which is decreasing, and an illicit unregulated cigarette market which is increasing.”

Philip Morris International is strongly against the illegal cigarette trade and has performed a wide series of actions to eliminate this rising issue, including introduction of a worldwide tracing system, all-round know-your-customer measures, customer education and cooperation with national governments. The solution to this problem is the cooperation on both national and international levels, among multiple parties, such as enforcement bodies, governments, cigarette companies, wholesales and retailers, as well as strict and globally-enforced convention on illegal cigarette markets that combats all forms of smuggling and counterfeiting of tobacco products.

Philip Morris International is the number one international tobacco corporation, which manufactures seven of the world’s best-selling 15 global cigarette brands, including Marlboro, the top-selling cigarette brand in the world. PMI’s brands are available in almost 180 markets. In 2010, the tobacco giant accounted for approximately 16.0% share of the entire global cigarette market, excluding the United States, and 27.6% excepting the U.S. and China.

FDA Introduces Nine New Graphic Warnings

Within a few days Food and Drug Administration will introduce nine new graphic warnings that will demonstrate the negative effects of smoking. Among the advised images are diseased teeth and gums and a man with tracheotomy smoking.

The given labels will occupy the top half of the package, both front and back. Graphic warnings also should appear in advertisements and compose 20% of an ad. All cigarette producers should comply with this regulation till the autumn 2012.

Assignments to introduce new health warnings were part of a law adopted in 2009 that, for the first time allowed the federal government to regulate tobacco products, including fixing guidelines for marketing and labeling, prohibiting particular products and reducing nicotine. However the law doesn’t permit the FDA prohibit nicotine or tobacco.

The declaration follows reviews of scientific literature, various public comments and results from researches and studies conducted by the FDA.

Some of the warnings proposed last year included a mother blowing smoke in her baby’s face and cigarettes being flushed down to signify quitting. They included such phrases as “Smoking kills you” and “Smoking causes cancer” and demonstrate graphic warnings to prove the dangers of tobacco.

Whether the federal government chose these images for the new labels remains a question. In the last years, nearly 30 countries have implemented labels similar to those introduced by the FDA. The first US warning label was adopted in 1965, which stated “Smoking may be hazardous for your health”. Present labels – a black and white text were placed on cigarette packages in the 80s.

The new warnings come as the rate of Americans who smoke has dropped significantly since 1970, from approximately 40% to about 20%. The rate has delayed since about 2004. About 46 million in the U.S. regularly use tobacco products.

It is incomprehensible why decreases in smoking have stopped. Certain experts have referred to tobacco company discount coupons on smokes or absence of funding for programs to eradicate smoking or to help smoker kick the habit.

As it is impossible to state how many people stop smoking due to graphic warnings, certain studies state that particular labels do push people to quit. The new warnings assure an opportunity for a regular smoker to see warnings on the hazards of smoking more than 7,000 times per year.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in those countries where graphic warnings were introduced, a great number of smokers considered about quitting.

Camel Snus subject of nationwide study

The researches from the University of South Carolina commence a study with an objective of finding answers to two questions related to potential public health consequences of usage of smokeless tobacco.

Are smoke-free tobacco, for example, Camel Snus, help an adult smoker stop smoking – especially one who has no intention to quit?

Attempting to answer these questions is Matthew Carpenter, an associate professor from the University of South Carolina Department of Medicine. The research, which will be performed by Carpenter and his team, is funded mostly by the National Institutes of Health.

The nationwide study will comprise 1,250 adult smokers, half of them will be receiving Camel Snus or other smoke-free product, while the other half will not be given anything.

The scientists are willing to know if consumption of Snus results in reduction or quitting smoking. They also seek to estimate the quantity and patterns of consumption of Snus.

“The research will give strong and reliable evidence to initiate clinical and regulatory decision-making in the given controversial part of tobacco control,” the scientist admitted.

Matthew Myers, chairman of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids stated studies of smoke-free tobacco products should estimate what health damage results from the usage of the product as well as the strategies used to market that product.

“In case a smoke-free tobacco product diminishes the risk of health complication, but leads to more people consuming tobacco, it might lead to more deaths, not fewer,” declared Myers.

Carpenter admitted they are not attempting to encourage consumption of smokeless tobacco products in their research.

“We’re simply willing to imitate the real-world actions of an adult cigarette smoker being exposed to smokeless products in certain environment, such as a convenience store, “Carpenter noted.

“If smokers decide to try such products, what could be the effect? We think regardless of the determination of the research, it would possess a public-health effect.”

The present research is based on a similar study Carpenter research team performed last year on Ariva and Stonewell smoke-free products manufactured by Star Scientific Inc.

The main conclusion of the latter research was smoking diminished by 40 percent after the 14-day examination period, however overall usage of tobacco remained unchanged.

“That means Ariva and Stonewall might be effective in reducing nicotine withdrawal and craving,” the scientist admitted in his summary. “We did not find any changes in overall nicotine craving or withdrawal, as surveyed smokers exchanged cigarettes for Ariva/Stonewall lozenges.

“We discovered no evidence that smoke-free products (Ariva and Stonewall) prevent smoking cessation. On the contrary, willingness to stop – during the 60 days and next six months – considerably grew among adult smokers who consumed smoke-free tobacco products in comparison to those who smoked cigarettes.”

Leading tobacco companies, headed by Reynolds American are focusing on smokeless tobacco products to obtain market share and increase sales since cigarette smoking rates across the country are falling. According to government data, approximately 42 million adult Americans are smokers, versus 53.5 million reported in 1983.

Philip Morris International acquires patent for an innovative nicotine-delivery system

The leading privately-owned cigarette maker said last week it has purchased the rights for an aerosol nicotine-delivery technology created by Jed Rose, head of the Duke University Center for Nicotine and Smoking Cessation. The school was not part of the agreement with tobacco Company and won’t get any payment. Terms of agreement are not revealed.

“By removing the process of burning, developing a way of delivering nicotine through inhalation but without the hazardous chemicals, we might decrease the health complications and deaths related to smoking,” admitted Rose, who headed the initial tests in the 1980s which allowed to paving the way for development and commercial usage of nicotine patches as smoking cessation therapy.

“We hope that we created a technology that will help to leave tobacco burning in the past.”

Rose added that Philip Morris International, based in New York and Switzerland, will now focus on developing commercial products applying this technology. The nicotine-delivery system developed by Rose is different from the medical nicotine inhalers selling currently as cessation treatments since it delivers nicotine faster imitating nicotine delivery given by cigarettes.

“The other systems of nicotine delivery are not able to the satisfaction smokers they need,” Rose noted.

The agreement is an essential “step in the efforts to develop nicotine-delivery products that can potentially decrease the risk of smoking-related health complications,” Peter Nixon, Philip Morris International’s spokesman declared.

Nixon added that it might take up to five years to create a commercial nicotine product which could be used as an alternative to cigarette smoking.

The company’s shares gained more than 1 percent, totaling $70.42 after the agreement was revealed.

PMI move is the latest in the recent series of decisions by major tobacco groups to enter the market of smokeless tobacco products and innovative nicotine-delivery products while tax hikes, anti-smoking policies and social stigma contribute to falling demand for cigarettes.

In April, PMI’s main rival, British American Tobacco established a division named Nicoventures which will concentrate on alternative nicotine products. In 2009, Reynolds American, second-biggest tobacco group in the U.S. acquired purchased Sweden-based company Niconovum that manufactures nicotine pouches, gums and sprays helping smokers to quit.

“It’s a fact that people smoke to get nicotine fix and die from tobacco smoke,” states David Sweanor, a Canadian law professor who works with tobacco industry. The major question is, “Could you offer them nicotine without the tobacco smoke in a way that could be consumer acceptable.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working to make up recommendations for companies interested in creating what the organization names modified-risk nicotine products.

“Changing regulations are contributing to an environment where competition would move this market category considerably,” the scientist added.

Philip Morris International, the leading private tobacco company in the world, yielding only to China National Tobacco Corporation, controlled by the government, spun off from Altria Group, owner of Philip Morris USA, which markets Marlboro, Parliament and other brands.