|
|
|
|
The Government has launched an investigation into a global tobacco company’s range of menthol replacement cigarettes following a ban on menthol flavoured products was introduced last month.
Jo Churchill, Public Health Minister, has ordered Public Health England (PHE) to investigate Japan Tobacco International’s (JTI) “New Dual” range, which has launched across its Benson & Hedges, Mayfair and Silk Cut products.
The ban on flavoured products was brought in under European law as part of efforts to prevent young people from smoking.
A source close to Ms Churchill told iNews that PHE is “in the process writing to Japan Tobacco International to find out more information” about JTI’s compliance with new laws. The source added: “We will decide on next steps depending on the outcome of that investigation.”
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of Action and Smoking and Health (ASH), who demanded more should be done, said: “During the Brexit transition period the UK still has access to the EU’s Independent Advisory Panel, which has been set up to determine whether or not tobacco products are in breach of the rules on flavours. Writing to the company to ask for more information is a waste of time, the UK should be referring these products to the independent panel for assessment without further delay.”
Source: iNews, 11 June 2020
|
|
Councils say they need financial help now from the government to avoid devastating hardship. As the impact of the COVID-19 crisis hits local authorities, the mayors of London, Greater Manchester, Sheffield, and Liverpool have issued a joint call to highlight the seriousness of the issue and urge Boris Johnson to respond.
They warned the situation is now critical and emphasised that councils will be forced into laying out large-scale spending cuts in the coming weeks unless the government urgently steps in to support local and regional authorities.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Unless the government acts immediately to support the local and regional government in England there is a very serious risk that the economic recovery from COVID-19 will be choked off by a new era of austerity – something the prime minister promised would not happen.”
“The harsh truth is that with business rates, council tax and transport fares income all falling significantly because of this virus, local authorities will have no choice but to start making significant savings within days or weeks to balance our budgets. However, with the right financial support from the government, regional mayors can play a huge role in shaping an economic recovery that creates a fairer and greener country.”
The community’s secretary, Robert Jenrick, has previously said councils will get the funding they need, and Boris Johnson has said there would be no return to austerity as the country grapples with the pandemic. But the mayors have said the government has so far refused to commit to providing sufficient support to local and regional authorities responding to the pandemic. They are also suffering from reduced income from business rates and council tax. Transport fares incomes have dropped by as much as 90%.
Boris Johnson said at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday 10 June, that “he is announcing a further £63m of local welfare assistance for councils to use at their discretion to help vulnerable families.”
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “We are giving councils an unprecedented package of support, including £3.2 billion emergency funding, to tackle the pressures they have told us they are facing.
“In total, the government has provided over £27 billion to support local councils, businesses, and communities in fighting the pandemic, including £600 million to help reduce the infection rate in care homes and £300 million to support track and trace.
“The Government will continue to work closely with councils to develop an ongoing assessment of costs as they support their communities through this national emergency.”
Source: The Guardian, 11 June 2020
|
|
Andrea Felsted, a Bloomberg Opinion columnist, writes on how the coronavirus pandemic hurt cigarette sales in emerging markets as the tobacco industry tries to figure out what comes next.
“So, perhaps reassuringly, it turned out tobacco was not so defensive during this global health crisis after all.
“After indications early in the pandemic that tobacco may hold up, British American Tobacco Plc on Tuesday (9 June), reduced its forecasts for full-year sales growth as COVID-19 lockdowns hurt business in emerging markets. The maker of Dunhill, Lucky Strike and Rothmans cigarettes depends on developing nations for one-quarter of its revenue.
“South Africa has banned sales of tobacco products as part of a strict lockdown policy that BAT and other companies are fighting. Curfews have disrupted cigarette consumption in some markets, such as Bangladesh. In addition, smoking in markets such as Vietnam often takes place in bars and restaurants. With establishments closed, or consumers reluctant to venture out, there was less temptation to light up.
“This slowdown provides a good reason for pause for investors in BAT, [……] with higher smoking rates, and the potential for consumers to trade up to more expensive brands as average incomes grow, these regions are supposed to offset the deterioration in developed markets as people there quit smoking. But now, because of the coronavirus hit, BAT expects a 7% decline in global industry sales volumes of cigarettes and heated-tobacco devices this year, more than the previously anticipated 5% fall.
“[…..] As the contagion spread and shined a spotlight on potential risks related to smoking, lockdowns meant BAT had to delay launches of new devices that heat rather than burn tobacco and electronic cigarettes because the stores where they sell them are closed. […] “However, it’s still too early to throw out the thesis that people will reach for cigarettes no matter what’s happening. In developed markets, consumption is holding up. [ …] BAT is making headway with its Vuse and Vype brands. And it continues to invest in its tobacco heating device Glo, as well as in oral tobacco Velo. […] the company is updating investors regularly. It also remains committed to its policy of paying out 65% of underlying earnings per share. Rival Imperial Brands Plc cut its dividend last month.
“BAT has not been immune from the pandemic, but the company is positioning itself well for the future.”
Source: Bloomberg, 10 June 2020
|
|
Yesterday, Thursday 11th June 2020, ASH facilitated a webinar led by the South West region on #QuitforCovid communications. The webinar included the background to the Quit for COVID campaign, updates on Smoking and COVID-19 and 3 case studies from across the South West on delivering #QuitforCovid communications.
The webinar was recorded and is now available to view online.
|
|
Researchers from University College London and the Royal Veterinary College have published the fourth version of a living rapid evidence review which aims to estimate the rate of infection, hospitalisation, disease severity and mortality from SARS-CoV-2 /COVID-19 stratified by smoking status.
The new update includes 102 observational studies, and findings continue to suggest that there is substantial uncertainty about the associations of smoking with COVID-19 outcomes.
Unrelated to COVID-19, the researchers advise smokers are at a greater risk of a range of serious health problems, requiring them to be admitted to hospital. Given the uncertainty around the association of smoking with COVID-19, smoking cessation remains a public health priority and high-quality smoking cessation advice including recommendations to use alternative sources of nicotine should form part of public health efforts during this pandemic.
Source: Qeios, 11 June 2020
|
|
Have you been forwarded this email? Subscribe to ASH Daily News here.
For more information call 020 7404 0242, email [email protected] or visit www.ash.org.uk
ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
