Regional Updates

16 September 2023 By: Cristina Eloisa Baclig, Inquirer MANILA, Philippines—Despite regulations prohibiting the sale and distribution of tobacco products near or within schools in the Philippines, a recent study found that many retailers are not complying. To protect the youth from being initiated to cigarette smoking and tobacco use and reduce and completely ban the …

As vaping ‘epidemic’ grips PH youth, tobacco sellers flout law vs targeting kids Read More »

3 September 2023 The Standard Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau said during an anti-smoking campaign Sunday that increasing the tobacco tax is critical to help citizens quit smoking. In his opening speech, Lo stated that smoking affects not only the smoker but also the health of others exposed to secondhand smoke. He said as 9.5 percent …

Raising tobacco tax effective for curbing smoking numbers, says health chief Read More »

10 August 2023 By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco, BusinessMirror Aljur and Anjoe, 14 and 17 years old respectively, started smoking at the age of 10.Their exposure to cigarettes at an early age is now starting to take a toll on their bodies.Now, the both of them say they now experience difficulty in breathing. Despite this, they are …

Philippines: Vape users among the youth on the rise–reports Read More »

9 August 2023 By Gerard Naval, Business Insight   CONTRARY to the claims of manufacturers, vaping and heated tobacco products (HTPs) are more harmful than smoking cigarettes. Dr. Maricar Limpin, head of the Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Philippines, made this claim yesterday, saying doctors are beginning to observe evidence showing vapes and HTPs are …

Philippines: Vaping more harmful than smoking, says lung expert Read More »

15 July 2023 By Jee Y. Geronimo, Rappler The Philippine law requiring large companies to recover the plastic packaging waste they produce is a missed opportunity – it excludes cigarette waste from the picture MANILA, Philippines – For years, plastics have had a chokehold on the world’s oceans. Leading among the most common marine plastic …

Philippines: Think before you flick: That cigarette butt harms the Earth too Read More »

17 July 2023 By CodeBlue An Al Jazeera documentary reveals that some vape shops in KL sell e-cigarettes to teenage non-smokers without asking for IDs. Vape sales to minors below 18 has been legal since the Health Minister removed liquid nicotine from the Poisons Act last March 31. KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 — An Al …

Al Jazeera Documentary Shows Vape Sold To Malaysian Teens Without ID Read More »

9 July 2023 By Mangai Balasegaram, The Star Parents, protect your children. Tell them to beware of the thousands of vape products flooding the market, targeting children with bright colours, fruity flavours, and cute cartoons. Tell them that while children can now legally vape (crazy, yes), vaping has been shown to cause lung scarring (“popcorn …

Malaysia, don’t wait for the law to protect children from the dangers of nicotine Read More »

3 July 2023 By Boo Su-Lyn, CodeBlue Health and child rights NGOs mount a court challenge against the delisting of liquid nicotine. Their suit, unprecedented in Malaysian anti-tobacco litigation, accuses Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa of harming public health and acting illegally and irrationally. KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 – Anti-tobacco and child rights advocates have …

Malaysia: In Historic Lawsuit, Health Minister Sued For Delisting Liquid Nicotine Read More »

25 June 2023 FMT The health minister says tobacco control measures by the government require support from all levels of society. KOTA KINABALU: Health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa has asked all parties to support efforts to ensure that the Control of Smoking Products for Public Heath Bill 2023 can be tabled in Parliament at its …

Malaysia: Support GEG bill to reduce smoking and vaping, urges ZalihaMalaysia: Read More »

26 July 2023 By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay, Philippine News Agency SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Antique provincial board has requested the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Antique to intensify its awareness campaign against the health hazards and other ill effects of vaping and e-cigarettes. “Vape or e-cigarette companies have strategically targeted …

Philippines: DepEd urged to intensify campaign vs. vaping in Antique Read More »