Regional Updates

20 November 2020 Jennie Lyn Reyes, IPS: BANGKOK, Thailand, While the COVID-19 pandemic has elevated public health to a top priority in every country in the world, it has left many poorly resourced governments receptive to any and all aid that can provide immediate assistance to help their people. The pandemic pandemonium has provided unprecedented …

Tobacco Industry Capitalizes on Pandemic to Increase Influence in Low- and Middle-Income Countries Read More »

3 November 2020 Dr Mohamad Haniki Nik Mohamed, New StraitsTimes: LETTER: I am responding to the letter, “The need for alternative products” by John Soosai (Nov 2, 2020), which presents a one-sided view with skewed arguments to promote tobacco and nicotine-containing products. Firstly, while he claims to share findings from the conference he attended, he …

Malaysia: Ban alternative tobacco products to save lives Read More »

7 October 2020 New Strait Times: LETTERS: A tobacco company sponsored black bus that has been driving around the streets of Kuala Lumpur recently, must be stopped. Surely promoting a tobacco company’s message is a violation of the law banning all forms of advertising, both direct and indirect. This year the tobacco industry has stepped up …

Malaysia: Time to increase tax on tobacco companies Read More »

10 September 2020 NewsLine Philippines: DAVAO CITY — A top health official says Communal eating and smoking together in chambers are seen to open opportunities for COVID-19 to spread as these require masks to be taken off. A report published by the Philippine Information Agency stated that no less than Health Undersecretary for Vis-Min Field Implementation Office, …

Philippines: Communal eating and smoking noted to cause Covid-19 spread Read More »

5 September 2020 Sethe, Philippines News: FDA Warns Public Against Vape Juice Containing Illegal Drugs Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public about a brand of Vape juice containing illegal drugs or Marie Juana being sold on the market. The FDA blocked a brand of e-cigarette or vape juice when it was found to contain liquid, …

Philippines: FDA Warns Public Against Vape Juice Containing ‘Mamon’ or Illegal Drugs Read More »

Mikael Angelo Francisco, flip science: “Never mind the law. The law will come.” On November 19, 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte declared an immediate ban on the use and importation of e-cigarettes in the Philippines. Delivered in his signature tough-talking demeanor, his proclamation came four days after the country’s first confirmed e-cigarette-associated lung injury (EVALI) case, a 16-year-old …

More than just hot air: The Philippines’ need for science-based vaping regulations Read More »

On 2 September 2020, SEATCA gathered public health experts, tobacco control advocates and government agencies online for a webinar to expose the tobacco industry’s smoke-free deception.  The webinar entitled ‘#TheUnfilteredTruth Webinar Series: EXPOSED: The tobacco industry’s smoke-free deception’ moderated by SEATCA Executive Director, Dr. Ulysses Dorotheo, featured several experts including Asian Consultancy on Tobacco Control Director, Dr. …

EXPOSED: The Tobacco Industry’s Smoke-Free Deception Webinar Read More »

9 September 2020 Malaymail: I am responding to the article highlighting BAT Malaysia’s survey on tobacco black market in Malaysia published in the Malay Mail on 3 September 2020. According to this survey two thirds of the Malaysians believe high tobacco pries is the cause of black market and want the government to take action. This industry led conclusion …

Malaysia: Government must use tax measures to protect public health — Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance Read More »

11 August 2020 Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News: MANILA — Eating in canteens and smoking in common areas are prohibited in workplaces in modified enhanced community quarantine areas, Malacañang said Tuesday. The prohibition comes as the government revised health protocols after it found that spots of convergence in workplaces such as canteens and smoking areas were …

Philippines: Workplace under MECQ? Gov’t prohibits dining in canteens, common smoking areas Read More »