Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1220337
16 tobaccoasia FRONT PAGE NEWS 卷首新闻 WHO SAID WHAT? changed to allow law enforcement to effectively enforce the new federal age minimum. Bills that would change Wisconsin's laws have been introduced in the senate and assembly, but neither have been voted on yet. SWITZERLAND PMI Profits and Sales Exceed Estimates Philip Morris International (PMI) reported Q4/2019profits and sales higher than estimates. PMI's adjusted per-share earnings came to US$1.22, higher than the $1.21 FactSet consensus. Revenue went up to $7.71 billion from $7.4499 billion, a 2.9% increase and ahead of the $7.661 billion FactSet consensus. PMI c.e.o. Andre Calantzopoulos said, "Although we anticipate a few temporary headwinds, notably in Indonesia, we enter 2020 with favorable momentum, and expect to deliver like-for-like, currency-neutral net revenue and adjusted diluted EPS growth this year consistent with our 2019 to 2021 compound annual growth targets of at least 5% and 8%, as well as further margin expansion." The expected full-year adjusted EPS now is $5.50, below the $5.60 FactSet consensus. Shares have gained 11% in the last 12 months. PMI Restructuring to Hit 265 Jobs Philip Morris International has con- firmed restructuring plans at operational centers in Lausanne and Neuchâtel in French-speaking western Switzerland. The company expects 265 jobs in Switzerland will be affected by the restructuring, of which almost two- thirds of posts may be transferred to Lisbon, London, or Krakow. of advertising of tobacco or tobacco products. Under the ban, no tobacco or tobacco product advertisement, promo- tion, or sponsorship will be allowed in print media, including newspapers, magazines, books, periodicals, or any printed publications, except as provided by the federal excise rules 2005. Tobacco advertising is also not allowed in cinemas or theaters, including mobile or mini cinema theaters; on television or radio, including cable television; or closed-circuit television. Also banned is tobacco advertising through branding on garments, including caps and useable items; on store fascia boards affixed or mobile; on posters or painting at point of sales either inside or outside; and on billboards. Displaying tobacco products either inside or outside of a point of sale, including mobile or fixed retail outlets and street vendors, is prohibited. SOUTH AFRICA PMSA to Invest Over US$43.5 Million by 2020 Philip Morris South Africa's (PMSA) local investments are expected to exceed SAR650 million (US$43.5 million) by 2020, as it expands its IQOS market nationally. Marcelo Nico, PMSA's managing director, said, "Despite challenging economic conditions, we're investing to bring better, smoke-free alternatives to South Africa's 10 million adult smokers. Our total investment from 2017 to 2020 will exceed SAR650 million and we plan to continue investing in the years to come. This underlines our ongoing commitment to the South African economy." PMSA has opened 26 new IQOS retail stores since launching in South Africa in April 2017, with 15 of these being opened in 2019 alone. The company has also introduced an IQOS subscription option enabling consumers to pay off the device over the course of a year for around SAR80 per month. According to Nico, this is to ensure that the device cost is not barrier to choosing a better alternative to cigarettes. PMI says staff have been involved in consultation talks and will be informed of the definitive changes by the end of March. The restructuring in Switzerland was linked to PMI's plans to concentrate on smokeless products. IRELAND Illegal Tobacco Seizures Down by 75% New figures show that illegal tobacco seizures in 2019 decreased by more than 75% as smugglers copied sophisticated techniques from the drug trade in an effort to avoid detection. Revenue department figures revealed that just €10.5 million in cigarettes and other tobacco products were seized in 2019, compared to some €42.2 million in 2018. According to a spokesman for the revenue department, smugglers are using "increasingly inventive and complex smuggling methods and concealment techniques". Such methods include shifting away from the large-scale smuggling of tobacco products in shipping containers to smaller amounts of tobacco products being smuggled in sophisticated concealments traditionally associated with drug smuggling. The smaller amounts of tobacco being smuggled has been evidenced by increasingly ingenious methods of concealment. A department spokesman said it is "alert to the resourcefulness of those involved in criminality in the supply of illicit tobacco products and responded effectively to this change in concealment methods". PAKISTAN All Tobacco Advertising Banned On February 1, 2020, Pakistan's Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) imposed a nationwide ban on all kinds "Bans don"t work, they never have. A ban will drive people back to combustible cigarettes […] or lead to illegal sales with a new and larger black market." -Tony Abboud, executive director, Vapor Technology Association.