Tobacco Asia

tobaccoasia 65 CLOSING NEWS 卷尾新闻 where members were expected to discuss WHO's plans for a study into duty free's effect on the illicit trade of tobacco. DFWC and other industry organizations have long argued that duty-free tobacco is a fully-secure industry and that any study must be undertaken objectively. Branquinho also said, "The Duty Free World Council is acutely aware of the need to mount a robust defense of our industry in the face of inaccurate accusations that duty free is an enabler of illicit traded tobacco. Our industry boasts one of the most secure and transparent supply chains in the world, and the industry has willingly adopted further measures called for under the Illicit Trade Protocol, such as track and trace systems, know your customer protocols, and legitimate demand process, demonstrating our commitment to being a part of the fight against illicit trade and criminality in any form." The threat to the duty-free tobacco sector is "clear and unjustified", according to Branquinho, and she believes all stakeholders must work to engage authorities and ensure they are fully informed on the subject. Tobacco and Equipment Seized An action day in Belgium has led to the seizure of over 57 million cigarettes and more than 48 tons of cut tobacco. Organized by Belgian Customs and carried out based on close international cooperation and support from Europol, the joint effort prevented the circulation of tobacco products with a total tax value of more than €32 million. Local Belgian law enforcement, the Belgian Federal Police, the Polish Border Guard Control Service as well as intelligence provided by the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau all supported the action day. Belgian customs authorities carried out searches in warehouses and at a private residence in Belgium, some of which were based on intelligence provided by the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau on suspicious deliveries to addresses in Belgium. Law enforcement officers discovered two full production lines for cigarettes bearing a variety of well-known name brands. The market value of the seized cigarettes amounts to around €73 million in the United Kingdom, the presumed country of distribution for the majority of the products. Additionally, law enforcement were able to secure a massive number of empty packages, filters, cigarette paper, glue, cardboard, and packaging film, as well seven new machines intended for a new production and packaging line. The searches led to the discovery of a variety of clandestine production sites, as well as warehouses for storage of enormous quantities of tobacco products. In some locations, sleeping quarters for workers were uncovered on the premises. EU Tobacco Harm Reduction Plan Debated Public health stakeholders are divided over whether the EU needs a strategy to reduce harm from smoking, which according to the World Health Organi- zation (WHO) costs Europe nearly 700,000 deaths annually. Novel tobacco products have emerged as alternatives to traditional cigarette smoking, and advocates cite several studies worldwide, insisting these products are much less harmful than conventional smoking and should be used as harm reduction products. On the other hand, the EU and a large part of the scientific community remain cautious, emphasizing the lack of clear evidence regarding their long-term effects. David Sweanor, Canadian lawyer and professor at the University of Ottawa, said we have known for over 50 years that people get sick and die not from the nicotine they are seeking but from how they get it through smoking into their lungs. "And we know that there are ways you can deliver nicotine that is accept- able to consumers, without requiring the inhalation of smoke […] we know we can reduce the risk by probably close to 99%, simply by moving to non-combus- tion products that meet some basic standards on ingredients," he added. At the EU level, the Commission's Beat Cancer Plan aims to create a tobacco-free generation by 2040, and for now, not all novel products are part of Brussels' plans. The Commission is currently working on the evaluation of the Tobacco Products Directive, which regulates, among other, electronic cigarettes, refill containers and novel tobacco products. Survey Shows PMI Support for Innovations A new international survey released by Philip Morris International Inc. (PMI) reveals that despite broad public support for disruptive innovation to address global challenges, issues such as lack of equal access are likely to stall progress. Commissioned by PMI and conducted by independent research agency Povaddo, the survey shows that 89% of adults across 14 countries believe that new technologies and innovations can play an important role in improving public health. However, 38% feel such innovations are not accessible to all citizens in their countries. "Disruptive innovation can drive progress for the world and achieve things few people imagined possible until recently," said Grégoire Verdeaux, senior vice president, external affairs, PMI. "But when the benefits of that disruption are not equally available to all, innovation fails to achieve its full potential." The international survey also highlights the potential of positive disruption in tobacco harm reduction – with 64% of respondents stating that new technologies and innovations can play an important role in helping replace cigarettes with less harmful alternatives for those adults who would otherwise continue to smoke. However, progress is being hindered by public policies that have failed to keep up with innovation. In many countries, the only tobacco or nicotine-containing products that can legally be sold are cigarettes. And in markets where better alternatives are available, adult smokers often cannot access these products or receive accurate information about them. The duty-free tobacco sector is "one of the most secure and transparent supply chains in the world" and must be robustly defended against regulations.

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