Regional updates archive

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. 

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

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

24 July 2020 Jean Iau, The Straits Times: Ten tobacco retailers who sold cigarettes to people under the minimum legal age had their licences suspended

21 July 2020 Sophapan Ratanachena-McWhortor and Dr. Hana Ross, SEATCA: BANGKOK, Thailand, Jul 21 2020 (IPS) – A factoid is unreliable information repeated so often that

On 3 July, SEATCA gathered public health experts, tobacco control advocates and government agencies online for #TheUnfilteredTruth Webinar Series: Protecting tobacco tax from industry sabotage to

July 2020 Katia De Pinho Campos, Mina Kashiwabara, Ashlee Teakle, Ramon De Guzman, Kate Lannan, and Susan Mercado, Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention: Abstract

6 July 2020 Mary Grace Padin: The Philippine Star, MANILA, Philippines — In another step to tighten the regulation of sin products, the Department of

29 June 2020 CNA A proposed layout of a standardised cigarette box. (Photo: Ministry of Health) SINGAPORE: All tobacco products sold in Singapore must have

24 June 2020 Dong Thap Online Electronic cigarette devices (TLTT) include: battery parts, charging, heating, gas flow; parts containing electronic solution tubes. TLTD works by heating the

18 June 2020 Tara Marchelin: Jakarta Globe Jakarta. Indonesian children are an easy target market for the tobacco industry, said Lenny Rosalin, the deputy head for child

18 June 2020 Pech Sotheary: Khmer Times Cambodia Movement for Health executive director Dr Mom Kong received the “WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award” from the

22 May 2020 World Health Organization: Dr Mom Kong, Cambodia Movement for Health, receives WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award Every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes

15 May 2020 Yen Lian Tan, East Asia Forum Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for 73 per cent of total deaths in Malaysia in 2015, with

15 April 2020 Twenty hotels and restaurants in Cambodia were recognized by the Ministry of Tourism Cambodia for complying with the Sub-decree on Smoke-free Workplaces and Public Places

Three towns in the Philippines have temporarily banned smoking, cigarettes and other tobacco products as part of efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.  General Luna,

27 April 2020 Ben O. de Vera, Inquirer MANILA, Philippines — The government will keep the restrictions on liquor sale as well as withdrawals of

3 April 2020 Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco Business Mirror HEALTH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III appealed to smokers and vapers to stop immediately for they may be

29 March 2020 Delfin T.Mallari Jr. Inquirer LUCENA CITY, Quezon – The mayor of General Luna town in Quezon has ordered a temporary ban on

February 2020 SEATCA Lao PDR is moving forward with its smoke-free advocacy by meeting with the Departments of Health, Education and Sports, Security, Culture and Information,

20 March 2020 Bangkok Post Philip Morris (Thailand) Limited (PMTL) says it will appeal a Criminal Court ruling that it wrongly declared the price of

10 March 2020 Kyaw Ko Ko The number of smoke-free areas has increased to 91 in the Bagan cultural zone, according to the Archaeology and

(UPDATED) ‘With the President as our reliable ally in public health, and with medical associations and advocacy groups joining our campaign, our anti-smoking efforts are

Part 1: Doctors say it’s just like taking poison in smaller amounts 26 February 2020 Michelle Abad AT A GLANCE The science behind electronic cigarettes

Part 2: Amid a crackdown in its home market, leading e-cigarette company JUUL treads carefully with ‘transparency’ efforts as it sets up shop in the

The law is vague on the status of vaping in Myanmar, and the Ministry of Health and Sports may ban e-cigarettes before changes can be

24 February 2020 Chris Kirkham, Fanny Potkin, Neil Jerome Morales (Reuters) – Juul Labs Inc is halting sales in Indonesia, citing concerns that it can’t stop retailers

Those who fail to pay the penalties will face cases, Mayor Benjamin Magalong writes in his demand letter to those caught by the Smoke-free Task

7 February 2020 Mom Kunthear The City Hall has ordered all tobacco companies to cease advertising and displaying cigarettes in public because they violate the

12 February 2020 Seventeen Hotels and restaurants in Kampong Speu Province were given awards by the Ministry of Tourism Cambodia for complying with the Sub-decree

21 February 2020 Jay Yesterday, (20 Feb), Japan Tobacco International Singapore (JTI) pleaded guilty to three offence under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale)

31 January 2019 Amrin Amin Singapore has banned e-cigarettes to protect the public from the harm they can cause, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Home

28 January 2020 Ted Cordero To effectively address health concerns arising from consumption of tobacco and alcohol products, excise taxes should be adjusted every three

Head of business group for area says no reports of business being affected since curbs enforced 18 January 2020 Vanessa Liu More than 4,000 tickets

18 December 2019 Katrina Domingo MANILA – (UPDATE) The Senate ratified on Wednesday a bill that will tax electronic cigarettes and impose higher duties on alcohol to

29 November 2019 AP BANGKOK (AP) — A court in Thailand on Friday found the local unit of tobacco giant Philip Morris guilty of evading

24 November 2019 Gemma Holliani Cahya For the past few years, cigarette companies have introduced a new form of nicotine consumption that they say is

21 November 2019 Michelle Abad MANILA, Philippines – Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III told Rappler on Thursday, November 21, that the department is

21 November 2019 Julia Mari Ornedo and Amita Legaspi Senator Pia Cayetano on Wednesday blamed the total ban on e-cigarettes on the refusal of key

15 November 2019 CNN Philippines Staff Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 15)— The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday confirmed the first case of electronic cigarette

15 November 2019 HÀ NỘI ­ – Plans have been proposed to increase tax on tobacco, ban electronic vapes and tighten online advertising of cigarettes.

12 November 2019  Christia Marie Ramos MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has certified as urgent a proposed law that will increase excise tax on

31 October 2019 Liza Agoot BAGUIO CITY – The city government is again reminding the public, including the tourists, that this city strictly implements the anti-smoking