Product News

E-cigarettes to be studied

Thailand's public health minister Chaiya Sasomsab doesn't like the idea of e-cigarettes entering the kingdom and has ordered a study be conducted to find ways to prevent their importation.

"Although e-cigarettes don't emit smoke, they pose harm to smokers with the level of nicotine higher than found in conventional cigarettes," said Sasomsab, adding that he believed the product was aimed at young smokers as they are "keen to try new things."

He ordered the Food and Drug Administration to conduct a study and to discuss possible preventive measures with the relevant government agencies.

Europe JTI revamps Winston

Hot on the heels of announcing solid first nine-month financial results, JTI is planning to launch upgraded packaging for Winston, Camel, Mild Seven and Glamour premium cigarette lines in an attempt to capture a greater share of the duty-free market, and of Benson & Hedges for duty paid markets.

The new Winston design incorporates rounded corners and is intended to "convey freedom" while reinforcing the "premium quality, modernity and sophistication" of the product, according to JTI.

"The pack signals a new era of expansion for Winston," said Ming Lee Foo, JTI Worldwide Duty Free vice president Consumer & Trade Marketing. "The famous blend remains the same, yet the pack strengthens the Winston proposition in the travel retail environment by exceeding smokers' expectations. Winston is a leader, and the new packaging will make it the leading cigarette for adult smokers. Winston Super Slims was launched in travel retail early this year and is a huge success - proof of the brand's potential."

France, Greece, Italy and Spain will be the first countries to see the new brand packaging, which is slated for worldwide distribution.

JTI is also preparing to launch Glamour Pinks and Menthol variants of its Super Slims line in early 2009.

"Glamour is the fastest growing 99mm Super Slims cigarette," said Ming Lee Foo, "and it aims to become the category leader for female adult smokers. It is a high performing brand that will further push performance in duty free. Female adult smokers want to enjoy smooth-tasting and feminine cigarettes at a competitive price - and Glamour fulfils their requirements."

Switzerland WHO warns against E-cigs

E-cigarettes are not regarded by the World Health Organizarion (WHO) as safe smoking cessation devices, according to Douglas Bettcher, acting director of the WHO's Tobacco Free Initiative.

"The World Health Organization knows of absolutely no scientific evidence whatsoever that would confirm that the electronic cigarette is a safe and effective smoking cessation device,' Bettcher told reporters. "There are a number of chemical additives in the product which could be very toxic."

Bettcher claimed that some (unnamed) E-cigarette manufacturers had implied WHO approved of their products as a replacement therapy.

"Manufacturers of this electronic cigarette around the world have included WHO's name or logo, for example, on their website, on package inserts or on advertisements," he said.

Russia New tobacco restrictions

Russia's State Duma, the lower house of parliament, has approved legislation to lower tar and nicotine content in cigarettes and to place large health warnings on the packs. The proposed regulations require the maximum permissible levels of tar and nicotine in cigarettes to be reduced by 15-20% and for health warnings to be no smaller than 30% of the pack's surface. But manufacturers will still be allowed to label brands with the words 'light' or low-tar', which some critics claim contravenes FCTC guidelines. Russia became a signatory of FCTC in 2008. The legislation must be approved by the upper house and signed by the president before becoming law.

While FCTC urges terms such as 'light' and low-tar' be banned, there are in fact no mandatory guidelines on their use or otherwise. Japan also allows these terms to be used on cigarette packaging.

Some critics are nonetheless vociferous. Gennady Onishchenko, Russia's outspoken chief epidemiologist who recently accused international tobacco manufacturers of carrying out "nicotine genocide" called the legislation "a compromise between doctors who want to make Russia a civilized country ... and the international tobacco mafia."

Smoking in government offices and some public places is already banned and large restaurants are required to establish non-smoking sections.