Indonesia: As the Rest of the World Quits, Indonesia’s Smokers Increase
6 February 2018: Indonesia famously is a country of smokers, with the world’s highest prevalence among males. More than two-thirds of males 15 years of
Philippines: Erap orders anew strict enforcement of smoking ban in all public places
4 February 2018: Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada ordered anew to strictly enforce the smoking ban in all public places in the capital city. The
Asia Minute: Thailand’s Growing Beach Ban on Smoking
2 February 2018: It’s been illegal to smoke on the beach in Hawai‘i for some time. It was nearly two and a half years ago
Singapore: Enlarged graphic warnings for tobacco products under new MOH proposal
4 February 2018: SINGAPORE — All tobacco products in Singapore may soon have enlarged graphic health warnings which could cover 75 per cent of the
Philippines: DOF’s tobacco tax hike proposal lauded
28 January 2018: A pro-health group yesterday welcomed Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III’s announcement that the Department of Finance’s (DOF’s) proposed tax package will include
Singapore bans purchase, use and possession of imitation tobacco products like e-cigarettes
27 January 2018: SINGAPORE: From Feb 1, it will be illegal to buy, use and possess emerging and imitation tobacco products such as smokeless tobacco
Singapore: Buying, using and possessing imitation tobacco products like e-cigarettes will be illegal from Feb 1
27 January 2018: SINGAPORE – From Feb 1, it will be illegal to buy, use and possess emerging and imitation tobacco products such as smokeless
Malaysia: Health Ministry says no to kiddie pack cigarettes
18 January 2018: PUTRAJAYA: The government will in no way support the proposal by the tobacco industry to re-introduce kiddie pack cigarettes (pack of 10
Malaysia: Bandar Springhill mosque recognised by Health Ministry for being smoke-free
20 January 2018: PORT DICKSON: It’s a good start to the year for the Bandar Springhill mosque which has been recognised by the Health Ministry
In Indonesia, big tobacco cling to a smokescreen
10 December 2017: As antismoking groups in the US celebrate a victory in their decades-long fight against Big Tobacco, their Southeast Asian counterparts are still struggling
Measly increase in tobacco tax in TRAIN to increase number of smokers in PH
15 December 2017: Congress approved on Wednesday Package 1 of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) which lowers income taxes, while raising excise
ASEAN moving at ‘snail’s pace’ in preventing tobacco industry interference – report
27 November 2017: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is moving at a “snail’s pace” in terms of preventing tobacco industry interference. In a
MMDA to metro mayors: Implement ‘no smoking policy’
25 November 2017: The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) urged Metro Manila cities on Saturday to comply with the treaty that promotes awareness against the
Open letter to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
21 November 2017: Open letter to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe calling on his government to make restaurants and bars 100% smoke-free and fulfil its obligations under
Philippines: Enforce smoking ban, PNP told
15 November 2017: The National Police Commission (Napolcom) ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to strictly enforce the provisions of Executive Order (E.O.) No. 26
Philippines: Bago City to enforce anti-smoking ordinance next week
14 November 2017: MAYOR Nicholas Yulo said the City Government will start next week the full enforcement of the Comprehensive Smoke Free Ordinance of Bago
Baby’s death sparks call for Indonesia to crack down on big tobacco
5 November 2017: A young Indonesian couple who believe cigarettes killed their baby son want the country’s Government to shut down the nation’s powerful tobacco
Legal age for smoking to be gradually raised from 18 to 21
7 November 2017: The minimum age will go up to 19 on Jan 1, 2019, 20 on Jan 1, 2020 and 21 and Jan 1,
SEATCA holds Good Governance in Tobacco Control meeting in Bangkok
2-3 November 2017: Government officials from 20 countries all over the world, development partners including the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Development Program
Philippines: DoH holds two-day summit on non-communicable diseases
21 October 2017: Due to the growing concern over the increasing number of younger people from the region’s low and middle-income groups who are dying
Philippines: Why Pacquiao deserves kudos
21 October 2017: Belated kudos to Sen. Manny Pacquiao, the first senator to figuratively give the finger to the cigarette/tobacco lobby. A week or so
Philippines: NBI seizes 480 mastercases of cigarettes without tax stamps
21 October 2017: MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has confiscated 480 mastercases of cigarettes without tax stamps during a raid in
Thailand: Smoking ban planned at 20 popular beaches
10 October 2017: Smoking will soon be banned on 20 popular tourist beaches found to be constantly littered with huge numbers of discarded cigarette butts,
Thailand: No ifs, no butts – smoking ban for 20 popular beaches
11 October 2017: THE MARINE and Coastal Resources Department plans to ban smoking on beaches around the country next month after thousands of cigarette butts were found
Philippines: Want to quit smoking? Remember these 7Ds
10 October 2017: Have you ever thought of quitting your smoking habit, only to be stopped by the thought of taking just one last drag?
Philippines: World Bank cites success of PH ‘sin’ tax reform
9 October 2017: The World Bank has cited the Philippines’ sin tax reform as among the “most successful” tobacco taxation that not only shored up
Philippines: Stopping illicit cigarettes
1 October 2017: Building on the gains of government in fighting illegal cigarettes, the Department of Finance Secretary (DOF) instructed the Bureau of Internal Revenue
Policy against tobacco industry needs more push – health group
29 September 2017: Amid strides in preventing the tobacco industry, once dubbed as “the strongest tobacco lobby in Asia,” from advancing its business interests, a
Removal of tobacco industry from interagency committee gets support
30 September 2017: The calls for the removal of the tobacco industry from the Inter-Agency Committee on Tobacco (IAC-T) have been backed by the Southeast
CSC to tap Ombudsman vs officials too cozy with tobacco industry
30 September 2017: MANILA – The Civil Service Commission (CSC) is planning to bring in the Office of the Ombudsman to run after high-level government
CSC wants bigger Ombudsman role vs tobacco industry interference
29 September 2017: The Civil Service Commission (CSC) on Friday pushed for the inclusion of the Office of the Ombudsman in the effort to protect
Bacolod cracks down on anti-smoking violators
24 September 2017: Bacolod City – A total of 290 persons and business establishments have been fined, as of September 22, for violating this city’s
Muntinlupa launches Comprehensive Smoke Free Ordinance campaign
23 September 2017: MUNTINLUPA CITY, Sept. 20 (PIA) — The Muntinlupa City local government unit recently launched Comprehensive Smoke Free Ordinance campaign signaling the strict
57 NGOs submit petition against reintroduction of kiddie packs
20 September 2017: PUTRAJAYA: Amid concerns over the proposed reintroduction of the 10-stick ‘kiddie cigarette pack’ in the Malaysian market, 57 non-government organisations (NGO) have
Cost of care more expensive than job losses
18 September 2017: WE would like to respond to the letters “Tobacco is bad but industry creates jobs” and “Stop calling it kiddie pack” (The
Teacher, counsellor support vital to quit smoking
16 September 2017: BESIDE enforcement, support from teachers and counsellors in schools are crucial to eradicate smoking especially among students. Enforcement is a partial solution
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat’s statement on the launch of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World
WHO FCTC statement 19 September 2017 The Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) notes the launch of the Foundation for
Everyone must try to stop sale of small packets
18 September 2017: Not only commemorated the 54th year of the establishment of the Malaysian Federation, it also marked the 12th year of Malaysia’s ratification
Cigarettes hardest hit by new excise taxes
16 September 2017: Cigarette prices will face the highest increases under the new excise tax law that took effect on Saturday, with tax rates now
Beat the betel
15 September 2017: A new campaign is trying to convince the Burmese to quit chewing and spitting. “I can’t eat anything. It even hurts when
Solons urged to exclude tobacco firms from IAC-T
12 September 2017: An antismoking group appealed anew to lawmakers to exclude the tobacco industry from sitting on the Inter-Agency Committee on Tobacco (IAC-T). In
E-cigarettes can increase risk of respiratory problems, reveals new research
11 September 2017: New research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress has revealed how e-cigarettes can put smokers at a higher risk of
Govt earns more from ‘sin’ taxes
11 September 2017: “Sin” tax collections were some P6 billion higher in the first seven months of 2017 compared to the same period last year,
Stricter, expanded anti-smoking laws in Munti
10 September 2017: THE Muntinlupa City government has vowed to go all out in enforcing a stricter anti-smoking measure with stiffer fines and penalties to
Smoking is unhealthy but teens don’t know how to quit
10 September 2017: Puad (not his real name) was only five when he picked up his first cigarette. That initial puff left an impression on
Chain-smoking children: Indonesia’s ongoing tobacco epidemic
31 August 2017: Surrounded by farmland and plantations in the small village of Teluk Kemang Sungai Lilin in South Sumatra, a boy, just 8 years
Keep the ban on ‘kiddie packs’ to save our children — National Cancer Society Malaysia
28 August 2017: You know we live in confusing times when a product that kills six million people every year is offered as an alternative
Health ministry rubbishes talk of ‘kiddie pack’ cigarettes
23 August 2017: Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam says legislation prohibits the sale of cigarettes in packs of fewer than 20 sticks. PETALING JAYA: The
Indonesia’s child smokers ‘threaten nation’s future’
22 August 2017: In Indonesia, many small children can be seen smoking, mostly supported by their elderly family members, as a tradition, as locals think
Health groups want TRAIN to include tobacco-tax hike
21 August 2017: Health organizations in the country are seeking further hikes in the taxes on tobacco products as early as next year by including