Regional Updates

5 April 2022 By: Booma Cruz Source: VERA Files In an apparent rush to pass the vaping bill, the 18th Congress reversed itself without regard for legislative tradition or courtesy to a lone consistently dissenting colleague. “Traditionally, we are allowed to ask the sponsor questions during the report on the bicam… The bicameral report was …

Philippines: Vape bill version 2022: Congress ‘hijacks’ stringent regulations Read More »

30 March 2022 By: Pete Source: Thaiger Thailand has redesigned the graphic warning labels on cigarette packages, which show the harmful -and extreme – effects of smoking. Retailers and wholesalers across the country must start selling cigarettes with the new packaging starting April 11. The new labelling will be in line with an official announcement …

Thailand redesigns warning labels on cigarette packs showing extreme effects of smoking Read More »

27 March 2022 By: Geela Garcia Source: South China Morning Post A bill to ban almost all public smoking indoors is currently before Congress in the Philippines, where 110,000 people die from smoking-related diseases each year Advocates say education is as important as legislation, however – and emphasise the role that smokers’ communities can play …

Banning public smoking indoors in the Philippines: could it help 16 million people kick the habit? Read More »

17 March 2022 By: Joahna Lei Casilao Source: GMA News Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday advised the public that they should not be misled by a bill regulating vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products, saying this was a “Trojan horse” in the policy to protect health. Duque stressed there is growing evidence that vapes …

Philippines: Duque says vape bill a ‘Trojan horse’ in gov’t policy to protect health Read More »

17 March 2022 By: Bonz Magsambol Source: Rappler Lawyers and the medical community have decried the ‘fake news’ behind the vape bill, disputing that it will provide safer alternatives to cigarettes MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) has joined the medical community and the Department of Health (DOH) in appealing to President Rodrigo …

Philippines: DepEd joins calls for Duterte to junk ‘anti-health’ vape bill Read More »

9 March 2022 Source: BBC Imperial Tobacco has been accused of allowing a trade in cheap cigarettes in Laos through a special deal with the country’s government. A tax agreement between Imperial and state-owned Laos Tobacco means cigarettes can cost as little as 25 pence per packet, researchers said. The University of Bath’s Tobacco Control …

Imperial Tobacco accused of cheap Laos product deal Read More »

9 March 2020 By: Ashley Yeong Source: Globe Inspired by a New Zealand initiative, the Generational End Game would ban tobacco product purchases by anyone born after 2005 Bazil Zubir called his addiction to cigarettes and vape “a sick cocktail of nicotine.” Like many Malaysian youth, he lit up a cigarette at 17 thinking he …

Malaysia legislation aims to push youth smoking into the past Read More »

5 March 2022 By: Joseph Pedrajas Source: Manila Bulletin Senator Pia Cayetano on Saturday, March 5 called out the proponents of the vape bill for supposedly claiming that the measure is beneficial to the youth, calling the claim “a blatant lie.” Cayetano argued that if the proponents said that the bill solidifies the provisions of …

Philippines: Vape bill to protect Pinoy youth? A ‘blatant lie’, says Pia Read More »

23 February 2022 During this pandemic, the government needs more resources to protect its citizens. It can increase taxes on harmful products such as tobacco, which will provide triple benefits of more tax revenues, reduced health costs, and better health and productivity for smokers who quit. Raising tobacco taxes to increase tobacco prices and reduce …

Cambodia: Raising tobacco taxes to reduce smoking and tackle illicit trade Read More »