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Charity criticises tobacco firm’s new Rizla cards to get round 2020 menthol cigarette ban
The tobacco manufacturer Imperial Brands has been criticised for launching a new range of Rizla ‘Flavour Infusions’ cards to get round the menthol cigarette ban which comes into effect this year.
The cards are inserted into a packet of cigarettes or pouch of roll your own tobacco for at least 60 minutes to release a menthol flavour. Retailers are due to start selling the cards, which come in two flavours - Menthol Chill and Fresh Mint - for 25p each from this month. It comes ahead of a ban on the sale of all menthol cigarettes, including flavoured tobacco, filters, papers, packages, capsules or other component containing flavourings, from May 2020.
Deborah Arnott, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) told The Sun Online: "Imperial Tobacco is trying to get around the ban by producing ‘Rizla infusions’ cards which can be inserted in cigarette packs or rolling tobacco to produce a menthol flavour. They are arguing that these are ‘accessories’ and therefore not classified as tobacco products for the purposes of these regulations.
It’s shocking that Imperial Tobacco plans to sell cards which can be inserted in packs to add menthol flavours to tobacco and get round the ban. We believe this breaks not just the spirit but the letter of the law and we’ve informed the Department of Health so they can stop it happening.
Menthol in cigarettes makes it easier for children to try smoking and harder for smokers to quit, which is why ASH supports the ban."
Source: The Sun, 3 January 2020
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Calderdale business targeted by trading standards in crackdown on illegal tobacco products
Trading standards and police officers in West Yorkshire have undertaken a major operation to stamp out the supply of illegal tobacco products. The officers were assisted by specialist tobacco detection dogs.
Ten shops were visited as part of this operation where more than 24,000 illegal cigarettes and 12kg of hand rolling tobacco was seized. The tobacco products were found hidden in various locations in the shops including inside a microwave, concealed in tubs and suitcases and even inside the casing of a domestic fridge. The illicit tobacco is suspected to be a combination of counterfeit items and non-duty paid. The street value of the apprehended tobacco was almost £15,000.
David Lodge, Head of West Yorkshire Trading Standards said, “The illegal sale of tobacco in communities enables and encourages young children to buy it cheaply. It is really great that so many partners are working to tackle traders that break the law. I would like to thank members of the public for reporting illegal sales and encourage everyone to continue doing so to reduce the harm caused by tobacco in our communities. I would encourage the public to continue reporting this type of activity to the Illegal Tobacco Hotline on 0300 999 0000.”
Source: Halifax Courier, 31 December 2019
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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.
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