170 countries agree to control use of tobacco additives

More than 170 countries unanimously agreed at a World Health Organization conference that ended Saturday to strengthen controls on the use of menthol and other types of additives in tobacco products.

It is the first time the signatories of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control have discussed regulations on tobacco additives, which critics say can make cigarettes more attractive to consumers, and as a result increase the damage to health.

The agreement to reinforce regulations to ban or limit their use is not legally binding. But Japan, which is the largest donor to the budget for the global tobacco treaty secretariat, is likely to face pressure to proactively take measures in line with the accord.

The treaty’s 172 signatories reached the agreement at the fourth session of the Conference of the Parties held Nov. 15 to 20 in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

According to sources close to the conference, subject to the regulations includes ink and pigments in the papers used to wrap tobacco and additives used to sweeten tobacco products.

The signatories also agreed to promote anti-smoking education and reinforce steps aimed at decreasing the demand for cigarettes.

Regulations on electronic cigarettes were also discussed but conference participants failed to reach a consensus. Some countries were opposed to including products that do not use tobacco leaves in the tobacco control.

The issue will be discussed again at the next Conference of the Parties to be held in South Korea in the latter half of 2012, the sources said.

The WHO estimates that some 5.4 million people die every year from the health damage from tobacco. If no measures are taken to curb smoking, the death toll could rise to more than 8 million in 2030, according to the public health arm of the United Nations.

Prison officer took $5K in bribes, gave tobacco to Rochester inmates

A 53-year-old Minnesota woman has admitted that, while working as a federal correctional officer, she took thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for supplying inmates with tobacco.

Former officer Cheryl Wheeler pleaded guilty in federal court in Minneapolis last week to bribery of a public official. Wheeler, who worked at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, admitted receiving about $5,000 from the families of two inmates from mid-2009 until February. She then provided tobacco for the two inmates.

Smoking products, whether they be cigarettes, cigars, pipes, lighters or smokeless tobacco, are banned in the Federal Medical Center. Visitors also cannot bring tobacco products to the center, which provides specialized medical and mental health services to male offenders.

Wheeler faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Sentencing has yet to be scheduled.

Businesses fail tobacco compliance

PLAINVILLE — Three business failed compliance checks Wednesday for sales of tobacco products to underage patrons.

The police department and staff members of the state’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Tobacco Prevention and Enforcement Program conducted the checks, visiting 16 businesses in town.

An underage youth employed by the program entered each establishment trying to buy tobacco products.

Thirteen clerks asked for identification, three did not. It is illegal to sell tobacco products to those under age 18.The offending clerks were each fined $200. The Cigarette Dealer License Holder of those establishments will be referred to the state Department of Revenue Services for additional sanctions.

The businesses charged with selling tobacco products to minors are Petra Mini Mart (Valero), 67 East Main St., Paul’s Getty, 301 East St. and Plainville Citgo, 383 New Britain Ave.

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a leader in the fight to reduce tobacco use and its devastating consequences in the United States and around the world.
The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids estimates that more Montanans die each year from smoking than from car accidents, alcohol, drugs, AIDS, suicide, and murders.

At current smoking levels, 18,000 Montana youth who are alive today will die prematurely from smoking-related diseases.

And without the last 10 years of tobacco use prevention in Montana, we would have at least 22,000 more adults who smoke and more than 23,000 of our kids would have grown up to be smokers.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has documented that comprehensive, evidence-based tobacco use prevention programs like the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP) help reduce tobacco use.

MTUPP’s community-based programs reach over 95% of Montanans and provide the foundation for reducing and preventing tobacco addiction in Montana.

Gallatin County's community-based program (Gallatin County Tobacco Use Preventon Program) provides extensive support for and implementation of the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act, the free Montana Tobacco Quit Line, reACT/SpeakOUT (our teen-led youth empowerment movement to educate teens about the industry’s tactics to addict youth), and extensive local media outreach.

China Kangtai Cactus Biotech Inc. (CKGT.OB) Poised To Commence Testing Equipment for the In-House Manufacturing of Cigarettes

HARBIN, China, Nov 01, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- China Kangtai Cactus Biotech Inc. /quotes/comstock/11k!ckgt (CKGT 1.21, +0.01, +0.83%) , a vertically integrated grower, developer, manufacturer and marketer of a variety of cactus-based products in China, announced today that it is ready to commence the pre-production stage of testing the equipment for the in-house manufacturing of their own cigarettes starting November 2010.

Pursuant to a definitive asset purchase agreement signed on June 28, 2010, CKGT made an acquisition that includes certain real property and all improvements thereon, all equipment and fixtures used in connection with the Seller's operations, as well as, the established brands attached thereto located in Guangdong province and Macao for a price of RMB (Renminbi) 35 million (approximately USD $5.1 million).