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U.S. to Crack Down on Tobacco, Electronic Cigarettes

butthurt writes:

NBC News and the Providence Journal report that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a rule which will classify cigars, chewing tobacco and nicotine-containing fluid for electronic cigarettes as tobacco products. Under the rule, sale of those items to people under 18 years of age is to be prohibited. The electronic parts of electronic cigarettes are not covered by the rule. According to NBC News, the rule "will be open for public comment before it becomes final." The FDA regulates cigarettes and loose tobacco for smoking.

[Continues...]

Courts in EU, India Uphold Anti-tobacco Laws

butthurt writes:

On 4 May the European Court of Justice turned down challenges to the 2014 revision of the Tobacco Products Directive. The law entails enlargement of warnings, prohibition of menthol cigarettes, prohibition of packages holding fewer than 20 cigarettes, restrictions on advertising of electronic cigarettes, and limits on the nicotine content of fluid for electronic cigarettes. It enables EU countries to require plain packaging. The court said the regulations were necessary to comply with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Also on 4 May, India's Supreme Court declined to further delay the implementation of a requirement for larger warning messages on cigarette packages. Several cigarette manufacturers including ITC Ltd. have shut down their factories. The chairman of ITC decried the requirement, saying:

Behind this is vested interests... where money is given into the hands of so-called NGOs, who are being influenced to kill local brands knowing fully well that smuggled cigarettes of some other industry are going to be used here.

Golden Tobacco in Gujarat has been following the rule, which had originally been intended to take effect 1 April 2016, "from April 2015 [sic]."

coverage:

• Irish Times (EU)
• Belfast Telegraph (EU)
• Live Mint (statement from ITC chairman)
• Voice of America (government-sponsored; covers India)
• Nikkei Asian Review (shut-downs in India)
• Reuters (India)
• Christian Science Monitor (both EU and India)
• The Wall Street Journal (paywalled; about shut-downs in India; predates ruling)
• Reuters (about shut-downs in India; predates ruling)
• The Wall Street Journal (paywalled; about EU)
• Quartz India (India, Golden Tobacco)
• The New York Times (EU, India)

further information:

• 2014 Tobacco Products Directive (PDF)
• press release from cigarette manufacturer JTI regarding EU ruling

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