Thousands of cigarette factory workers in Malang took to the streets on Monday to protest the unproportional tax rise on cigarette to take effect in January next year which workers feared would kick small factories out of business.
About 3,000 workers rallied outside the Custom and Excise Office in Malang municipality to denounce the 62 percent tax rise planned for cigarettes produced by small companies and the seven percent tax rise to be charged from big cigarette companies.
Coordinator for the the protester Heri Susianto said “the rise for 3rd grade producers is 62 percent, while for higher grade (indicated with smaller number) producers only seven percent.”
Workers predicted there would be many small cigarette factories closing their business if the regulation imposed next year which in turn will create unemployment problems.
Factories, Heri said could could immediately jack up sales price to deal with the tax rise. Spokesman for the workers, Chotib Batubara said, the measure will send a shocking economic impact to the workers.
понедельник, 30 ноября 2009 г.
четверг, 26 ноября 2009 г.
Tobacco in Austria - new report released
The Tobacco in Austria report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data (2002-2007), allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be the new legislative,
distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2012 illustrate how the market is set to change. Product coverage includes: cigarettes, cigars and smoking tobacco Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares and brand shares. Why buy this report? * Get a detailed picture of the tobacco industry; * Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change; * Understand the competitive environment, the market’s major players and leading brands; * Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.
distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2012 illustrate how the market is set to change. Product coverage includes: cigarettes, cigars and smoking tobacco Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares and brand shares. Why buy this report? * Get a detailed picture of the tobacco industry; * Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change; * Understand the competitive environment, the market’s major players and leading brands; * Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.
понедельник, 23 ноября 2009 г.
Diplomats arrested for cigarette smuggling
Swedish police have arrested two North Korean diplomats on suspicion of smuggling 230,000 cigarettes into the Nordic country, the Swedish Customs Office said Friday.
The pair, a man and a woman who have diplomatic status in Russia, were stopped by Swedish customs officers Wednesday morning as they drove off a ferry from Helsinki, the Finnish capital.
Customs officials discovered Russian cigarettes in the car driven by the couple, Swedish Customs spokeswoman Monica Magnusson told Reuters.The two North Koreans claimed diplomatic immunity.
"They were accredited as diplomats in Russia, but had no accreditation in Sweden," she said. "They were arrested on suspicion of smuggling."
Magnusson added that the pair were still being held by Swedish police and that she was not aware of them having any contact with North Korean officials since their arrest.
Sweden's Foreign Ministry said it had been informed of the arrests but would not comment directly on the matter, saying it was a criminal case and was being handled by the police.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Cecilia Julin said foreign diplomats are only immune from criminal prosecution in countries where they have been accredited with the authorities.
"If you come to Sweden and commit a crime, you're just like any other foreign national," she said.
Sweden is one of only seven countries to have an embassy in North Korea, treated by much of the world as a rogue state due to human rights abuses and its possession of nuclear weapons despite opposition by the international community.The Foreign Ministry said the arrests were primarily a police matter, but that the North Korean embassy in Sweden was in contact with the ministry over the matter.
An official at the North Korean embassy in Stockholm said earlier he had no knowledge of the arrests.
The pair, a man and a woman who have diplomatic status in Russia, were stopped by Swedish customs officers Wednesday morning as they drove off a ferry from Helsinki, the Finnish capital.
Customs officials discovered Russian cigarettes in the car driven by the couple, Swedish Customs spokeswoman Monica Magnusson told Reuters.The two North Koreans claimed diplomatic immunity.
"They were accredited as diplomats in Russia, but had no accreditation in Sweden," she said. "They were arrested on suspicion of smuggling."
Magnusson added that the pair were still being held by Swedish police and that she was not aware of them having any contact with North Korean officials since their arrest.
Sweden's Foreign Ministry said it had been informed of the arrests but would not comment directly on the matter, saying it was a criminal case and was being handled by the police.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Cecilia Julin said foreign diplomats are only immune from criminal prosecution in countries where they have been accredited with the authorities.
"If you come to Sweden and commit a crime, you're just like any other foreign national," she said.
Sweden is one of only seven countries to have an embassy in North Korea, treated by much of the world as a rogue state due to human rights abuses and its possession of nuclear weapons despite opposition by the international community.The Foreign Ministry said the arrests were primarily a police matter, but that the North Korean embassy in Sweden was in contact with the ministry over the matter.
An official at the North Korean embassy in Stockholm said earlier he had no knowledge of the arrests.
Cigarette maker Lorillard to seek next CEO
Cigarette maker Lorillard Inc. has begun seeking a successor to Chief Executive Martin L. Orlowsky, whose contract expires next year, the company said in a regulatory filing Thursday.
The maker of Newport menthol cigarettes, based in Greensboro, N.C., told the Securities and Exchange Commission that said its board of directors plans to replace Orlowsky after his contract expires Dec. 31, 2010.
Orlowsky, 67, has served as president and chief executive officer since January 1999 and became chairman of the board in January 2001. The company said it "will weigh all relevant options" as part of the process.
Lorillard, the oldest continuously operating U.S. tobacco company, spun off from Loews Corp. in 2008.
The maker of Newport menthol cigarettes, based in Greensboro, N.C., told the Securities and Exchange Commission that said its board of directors plans to replace Orlowsky after his contract expires Dec. 31, 2010.
Orlowsky, 67, has served as president and chief executive officer since January 1999 and became chairman of the board in January 2001. The company said it "will weigh all relevant options" as part of the process.
Lorillard, the oldest continuously operating U.S. tobacco company, spun off from Loews Corp. in 2008.
среда, 18 ноября 2009 г.
State needs to cut smoking rate
If Madmen were set in the present day, the television drama that features actors puffing away on cigarettes could easily take place in Indiana instead of New York.
That's because we Hoosiers smoke too much.
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey published last week, more than 26 percent of Hoosiers smoked in 2008. We're No. 2 in the nation, only behind West Virginia. Indiana was ranked sixth in 2007. Nationally, 20.6 percent of Americans light up, so clearly, Indiana has much work to do to catch up with the rest of the nation.
We suppose it could be argued the recession, with its anxiety- and stress-inducing pangs of uncertainty, is driving the numbers upward, but Indiana has always had high smoking rates no matter what phase of the economy.
We need to do a better job with existing tools to snuff smoking.
One of those, a ban on workplace smoking, was enacted in Delaware County in 2006 after nearly a decade of debate.
What's needed now is a comprehensive statewide measure that prohibits smoking at the workplace and in public places such as restaurants. The patchwork quilt of anti-smoking laws that are found across the state needs to give way to a comprehensive and uniform measure. Only 7 percent of Indiana residents live in an area that has a comprehensive ban against workplace smoke.
Second, the legislature needs to take another look at raising the tax on tobacco. Indiana charges 99.5 cents a pack, which ranks 27th in the nation in 2008. If it gets more expensive to light up, smokers put the cigarettes down.
Finally, the state needs to spend more on education efforts, especially those targeted at young people.
Funds spent on a cigarette tax increase could go toward education and prevention efforts because that's where the war against tobacco can be fought and won.
And prevention needs to focus on low-income adults. The CDC study shows that nationally, 31.5 percent who are below the poverty level smoke compared to 19.6 percent above the level. There's no reason to believe the statistics for Indiana are much different.
As buying tobacco products gets more expensive, it's easier to argue that quitting makes sense economically. We've all heard about the health benefits of kicking the habit, and while they cannot be refuted, the most effective weapon to cut smoking rates lies in the wallet.
Madmen is set in the early 1960s when smoking was socially acceptable at work, in public and at home. By today's standards, it looks archaic. It's time Indiana take more action so we don't look like a throwback to another era.
That's because we Hoosiers smoke too much.
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey published last week, more than 26 percent of Hoosiers smoked in 2008. We're No. 2 in the nation, only behind West Virginia. Indiana was ranked sixth in 2007. Nationally, 20.6 percent of Americans light up, so clearly, Indiana has much work to do to catch up with the rest of the nation.
We suppose it could be argued the recession, with its anxiety- and stress-inducing pangs of uncertainty, is driving the numbers upward, but Indiana has always had high smoking rates no matter what phase of the economy.
We need to do a better job with existing tools to snuff smoking.
One of those, a ban on workplace smoking, was enacted in Delaware County in 2006 after nearly a decade of debate.
What's needed now is a comprehensive statewide measure that prohibits smoking at the workplace and in public places such as restaurants. The patchwork quilt of anti-smoking laws that are found across the state needs to give way to a comprehensive and uniform measure. Only 7 percent of Indiana residents live in an area that has a comprehensive ban against workplace smoke.
Second, the legislature needs to take another look at raising the tax on tobacco. Indiana charges 99.5 cents a pack, which ranks 27th in the nation in 2008. If it gets more expensive to light up, smokers put the cigarettes down.
Finally, the state needs to spend more on education efforts, especially those targeted at young people.
Funds spent on a cigarette tax increase could go toward education and prevention efforts because that's where the war against tobacco can be fought and won.
And prevention needs to focus on low-income adults. The CDC study shows that nationally, 31.5 percent who are below the poverty level smoke compared to 19.6 percent above the level. There's no reason to believe the statistics for Indiana are much different.
As buying tobacco products gets more expensive, it's easier to argue that quitting makes sense economically. We've all heard about the health benefits of kicking the habit, and while they cannot be refuted, the most effective weapon to cut smoking rates lies in the wallet.
Madmen is set in the early 1960s when smoking was socially acceptable at work, in public and at home. By today's standards, it looks archaic. It's time Indiana take more action so we don't look like a throwback to another era.
понедельник, 16 ноября 2009 г.
Ice cream man in cigarette scam
A man from Cumbria has admitted selling counterfeit cigarettes to a child from his ice cream van.
Anthony Wharton, 61, of Marsden Street, Barrow was caught by trading standards officers who found him selling cigarettes to a 16-year-old.
He pleaded guilty at Furness and District Magistrates Court to three charges of selling counterfeit cigarettes.
He also admitted one count of selling cigarettes to a minor.
Wharton admitted he would often sell cigarettes to children whom he thought looked old enough, but he failed to ask for proof of age.
After a raid at his home on 14 October 1,360 counterfeit cigarettes were found.
Wharton must pay court costs of £350 and surrender all counterfeit cigarettes.
He was also ordered to complete 60 hours unpaid community work.
Anthony Wharton, 61, of Marsden Street, Barrow was caught by trading standards officers who found him selling cigarettes to a 16-year-old.
He pleaded guilty at Furness and District Magistrates Court to three charges of selling counterfeit cigarettes.
He also admitted one count of selling cigarettes to a minor.
Wharton admitted he would often sell cigarettes to children whom he thought looked old enough, but he failed to ask for proof of age.
After a raid at his home on 14 October 1,360 counterfeit cigarettes were found.
Wharton must pay court costs of £350 and surrender all counterfeit cigarettes.
He was also ordered to complete 60 hours unpaid community work.
Huge haul of cigarettes stolen from lorry driver in Northampton
A lorry driver was robbed of thousands of cigarettes during a delivery to a Northampton supermarket.
The driver was making the delivery at Londis in Park Square, Kings Heath, at around 6.20am yesterday when he was approached by two men wearing black who demanded the cigarettes.
In total they took 89 boxes - about 18,000 cigarettes - before making off in a grey Audi 80 which was later found in the car park of Paget House, Kings Heath.
A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Police said: "We would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have any information regarding it.
"Both offenders were men, about 5ft10in and wore black clothing, including masks covering their faces. One was of stocky build and the other slightly thinner."
The driver was making the delivery at Londis in Park Square, Kings Heath, at around 6.20am yesterday when he was approached by two men wearing black who demanded the cigarettes.
In total they took 89 boxes - about 18,000 cigarettes - before making off in a grey Audi 80 which was later found in the car park of Paget House, Kings Heath.
A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Police said: "We would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have any information regarding it.
"Both offenders were men, about 5ft10in and wore black clothing, including masks covering their faces. One was of stocky build and the other slightly thinner."
четверг, 12 ноября 2009 г.
It's Legal: Cigar Smokers Light Up In Benson Bar
Cigar smokers can light up legally inside Jake's Cigar Bar in Benson, despite a statewide smoking ban.
The bar is the first Omaha business to get a special cigar permit.
To qualify, a business must earn at least 10 percent of its income form the sale of tobacco products, have a walk-in humidor and not sell food.
Even with the license, cigarettes smoke is banned from the bar.
Owner John Larkin said the permit is good for business.
"We're just going to bring in more overall dollars. Still, we assume that more of the trend is going to be a raise in cigar sales, more than bar sales," he said.
Cigarros has also applied for a special permit. The bar near 132nd Street and Maple Road is closed for renovations.
The bar is the first Omaha business to get a special cigar permit.
To qualify, a business must earn at least 10 percent of its income form the sale of tobacco products, have a walk-in humidor and not sell food.
Even with the license, cigarettes smoke is banned from the bar.
Owner John Larkin said the permit is good for business.
"We're just going to bring in more overall dollars. Still, we assume that more of the trend is going to be a raise in cigar sales, more than bar sales," he said.
Cigarros has also applied for a special permit. The bar near 132nd Street and Maple Road is closed for renovations.
вторник, 10 ноября 2009 г.
Colleges Nationwide Banning Tobacco On-Campus
Across the country, many college smokers' hopes of puffing a cigarette on campus will go up in smoke. Schools are considering campus-wide bans on tobacco. Some think a simple puff can blow their cares away.
"After class, that cigarette's really nice, haha," says one TCC student.
At Florida State, they can only settle down and light up in certain parts of campus.
Throughout FSU's campus, green ash trays designate where smokers can light up. Black ash trays are placed throughout the school to prevent littering. But FSU is phasing in a plan to gradually make the campus more smoke free
FSU Health Educator Kevin Frentz says, "We've decided to take a phased-in approach to it, so it's a phased transition and knowing there's a chance we'll never got to a tobacco-free campus, but then, that's the goal."
Gradually more smoke free zones will be added to the campus.FSU Student Will Bunnell says, "It's not a big deal. Everybody doesn't want to get the second-hand smoke but it would be really difficult out in open ventilated areas like Florida State campus."
At Tallahassee Community College, they're not cloudy over their policies. There are certain areas where smokers cannot puff, but there are currently no plans to totally curb tobacco-use.
FAMU did not return our call.
FSU officials said if they create more smoke-free areas, there will really be no way to punish smokers who break the rules, they will be kindly told to move to another area.
These national efforts to stop tobacco use on campuses is part of Healthy Campus 2020, a nation-wide effort to make college students healthier.
"After class, that cigarette's really nice, haha," says one TCC student.
At Florida State, they can only settle down and light up in certain parts of campus.
Throughout FSU's campus, green ash trays designate where smokers can light up. Black ash trays are placed throughout the school to prevent littering. But FSU is phasing in a plan to gradually make the campus more smoke free
FSU Health Educator Kevin Frentz says, "We've decided to take a phased-in approach to it, so it's a phased transition and knowing there's a chance we'll never got to a tobacco-free campus, but then, that's the goal."
Gradually more smoke free zones will be added to the campus.FSU Student Will Bunnell says, "It's not a big deal. Everybody doesn't want to get the second-hand smoke but it would be really difficult out in open ventilated areas like Florida State campus."
At Tallahassee Community College, they're not cloudy over their policies. There are certain areas where smokers cannot puff, but there are currently no plans to totally curb tobacco-use.
FAMU did not return our call.
FSU officials said if they create more smoke-free areas, there will really be no way to punish smokers who break the rules, they will be kindly told to move to another area.
These national efforts to stop tobacco use on campuses is part of Healthy Campus 2020, a nation-wide effort to make college students healthier.
пятница, 6 ноября 2009 г.
Even One Cigarette Every Once In A While Could Be Harmful
If you think one cigarette now and then won't do any harm -- think again.
A new study out of Canada's McGill University says smoking just one cigarette can stiffen arteries by 25%.
Doctors measured arterial stiffness in smokers and non-smokers between 18 and 30 at rest and after exercise.
After exercise, non-smokers saw artery stiffness decrease.
But when smokers had just one cigarette, stiffness increased nearly 25%.
Researchers say this shows smoking just a few cigarettes a day impacts the health of our arteries.
They say damaged arteries can compromise our bodies ability to cope with physical stress, like climbing stairs or running to catch a bus.
Stiff arteries are also a symptom of atherosclerosis, a build-up of fatty acids and a type of heart disease.
They've also been linked to mental decline.
Researchers presented the study to a meeting of the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress.
A new study out of Canada's McGill University says smoking just one cigarette can stiffen arteries by 25%.
Doctors measured arterial stiffness in smokers and non-smokers between 18 and 30 at rest and after exercise.
After exercise, non-smokers saw artery stiffness decrease.
But when smokers had just one cigarette, stiffness increased nearly 25%.
Researchers say this shows smoking just a few cigarettes a day impacts the health of our arteries.
They say damaged arteries can compromise our bodies ability to cope with physical stress, like climbing stairs or running to catch a bus.
Stiff arteries are also a symptom of atherosclerosis, a build-up of fatty acids and a type of heart disease.
They've also been linked to mental decline.
Researchers presented the study to a meeting of the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress.
четверг, 5 ноября 2009 г.
Most firms shell out on new cig tax
A majority of the 20 companies billed for a new cigarette tax have paid.
Responding to a lawsuit, Hinds County Chancery Court Judge Patricia Wise issued a temporary restraining order in the case last month, preventing the state from collecting the tax.
The tax - which is typically 20 cents a pack - was due in mid-October. It's applied to cigarettes warehoused in Mississippi for sale in other states.
The state billed 20 manufacturers $537,499. Sixteen manufacturers paid a total of nearly $282,687, said Kathy Waterbury, spokeswoman for the state Tax Commission.
In a lawsuit, The Corr-Williams Co., a Pearl-based distributor, and Commonwealth Brands, a Bowling Green, Ky.-based cigarette manufacturer, are challenging the constitutionality of the state taxing goods for sale in other states.
This tax only applies to cigarette manufactures not included in the state's 1997 tobacco settlement.
The lawsuit does not involve cigarettes that are sold in the state.
Commonwealth paid the $56,000 tax bill in protest, said Rob Wilkey, the company's attorney. The company has said that about 80 percent of the cigarettes it sends to Mississippi are destined for sale in other states.
The temporary restraining order remains in effect until Tuesday, the day of the next hearing.
For bills due this month, manufacturers have been billed $458,701, Waterbury said.
In granting the order, Wise wrote the harm in this case would be greater for Corr-Williams than the state, "even considering the present economic condition of the State of Mississippi and the potential implications of up to $590,000 a month in reduced revenues," the order might cause to the state's budget.
The judge also said there might be a loss of jobs and tax revenue if distributors such as Corr-Williams leave or move part of their operations out of the state.
The state began assessing the 1.25-cent per cigarette tax in July. The first payments were due last month.
Commonwealth describes itself as the fourth largest cigarette manufacturer in the country. Its brands include Premier, McClintock and Rave, among several others.
In its effort to get state tax nixed, Commonwealth argues that it's being taxed twice if Mississippi is allowed to institute the tax against the non-settling manufacturers. The company voluntarily joined a settlement agreement with 46 other states, With that agreement, Commonwealth pays taxes based - in part - on its cigarette sales, including those in Mississippi.
The Corr-Williams Co. has argued that the additional tax would add to the price of its products, making it less competitive in the marketplace.
Responding to a lawsuit, Hinds County Chancery Court Judge Patricia Wise issued a temporary restraining order in the case last month, preventing the state from collecting the tax.
The tax - which is typically 20 cents a pack - was due in mid-October. It's applied to cigarettes warehoused in Mississippi for sale in other states.
The state billed 20 manufacturers $537,499. Sixteen manufacturers paid a total of nearly $282,687, said Kathy Waterbury, spokeswoman for the state Tax Commission.
In a lawsuit, The Corr-Williams Co., a Pearl-based distributor, and Commonwealth Brands, a Bowling Green, Ky.-based cigarette manufacturer, are challenging the constitutionality of the state taxing goods for sale in other states.
This tax only applies to cigarette manufactures not included in the state's 1997 tobacco settlement.
The lawsuit does not involve cigarettes that are sold in the state.
Commonwealth paid the $56,000 tax bill in protest, said Rob Wilkey, the company's attorney. The company has said that about 80 percent of the cigarettes it sends to Mississippi are destined for sale in other states.
The temporary restraining order remains in effect until Tuesday, the day of the next hearing.
For bills due this month, manufacturers have been billed $458,701, Waterbury said.
In granting the order, Wise wrote the harm in this case would be greater for Corr-Williams than the state, "even considering the present economic condition of the State of Mississippi and the potential implications of up to $590,000 a month in reduced revenues," the order might cause to the state's budget.
The judge also said there might be a loss of jobs and tax revenue if distributors such as Corr-Williams leave or move part of their operations out of the state.
The state began assessing the 1.25-cent per cigarette tax in July. The first payments were due last month.
Commonwealth describes itself as the fourth largest cigarette manufacturer in the country. Its brands include Premier, McClintock and Rave, among several others.
In its effort to get state tax nixed, Commonwealth argues that it's being taxed twice if Mississippi is allowed to institute the tax against the non-settling manufacturers. The company voluntarily joined a settlement agreement with 46 other states, With that agreement, Commonwealth pays taxes based - in part - on its cigarette sales, including those in Mississippi.
The Corr-Williams Co. has argued that the additional tax would add to the price of its products, making it less competitive in the marketplace.
понедельник, 2 ноября 2009 г.
Queensland bans smoking in cars with kids
QUEENSLAND has banned smoking in cars carrying children under the age of 16.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Paul Lucas said the new laws would start from January next year and apply on all public roads.
"These new laws are about reducing the exposure children have to tobacco smoke," Mr Lucas said yesterday.
The legislation was passed in Queensland parliament yesterday as part of measures contained in the Health and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2009.
The Government described its anti-smoking laws as being the toughest in the country, including smoking bans for indoor and outdoor public places as well as restrictions on retail advertising, display and promotion of tobacco products.
In Queensland alone there are 276,000 smokers with children aged under 16, the Government said.
"The level of tobacco smoke inside a vehicle is very high, and we know young children involuntarily exposed to tobacco smoke in confined environments have significantly increased health risks, including bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, ear infections and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome," Mr Lucas said.Other states are also introducing bans on smoking in cars with children.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Paul Lucas said the new laws would start from January next year and apply on all public roads.
"These new laws are about reducing the exposure children have to tobacco smoke," Mr Lucas said yesterday.
The legislation was passed in Queensland parliament yesterday as part of measures contained in the Health and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2009.
The Government described its anti-smoking laws as being the toughest in the country, including smoking bans for indoor and outdoor public places as well as restrictions on retail advertising, display and promotion of tobacco products.
In Queensland alone there are 276,000 smokers with children aged under 16, the Government said.
"The level of tobacco smoke inside a vehicle is very high, and we know young children involuntarily exposed to tobacco smoke in confined environments have significantly increased health risks, including bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, ear infections and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome," Mr Lucas said.Other states are also introducing bans on smoking in cars with children.
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