Category: Press Statements

ASH Ireland welcomes positive news from Australia on the impact of plain packaging of tobacco products.

Australia introduced plain packaging on all packs of cigarettes in 2012.  The report in the BMJ finds that plain packaging “is associated with lower smoking appeal, more support for the policy (of plain packaging) and more urgency to quit among adult smokers”.  The smokers also felt that cigarettes from plain packs were of a lower quality than from packs which were branded.  The survey also found that smokers were more likely to have thought about quitting at least once a day and to rate quitting as a higher priority in their lives when using plain packaging.  The survey was based on a group of 536 smokers of whom 72% were smoking from a plain pack and 27% were smoking from a branded pack.

Dr Ross Morgan, Chairman of ASH Ireland said today, “The positive findings contained in the study, published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) on 22^nd July, on the impact on plain packaging on smokers in Australia is to be welcomed. This is an important and timely input to a debate, which takes the vital importance of health measures for society and the protection of profits by the Tobacco Industry into the same arena”.

Dr Morgan went on to say “This is the most effective and valid study available to us on the actual impact of plain packaging on smokers.  It will be of immense assistance in clarifying the on-going efforts of the Tobacco Industry in blocking the introduction of plain packaging in jurisdictions which are now planning to follow the Australian model.   Minister Reilly is to be complimented on his on-going efforts to denormalise smoking and reduce smoking prevalence in this country”.

ENDS

For contact: ASH Ireland:  0818-305055

Wally Young, Young Communications:  087-2471520 

ASH Ireland welcomes the decision of the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) Committee’s decision to adopt the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD).

The main measures adopted were:

The inclusion of Mandatory pictorial warnings covering 75% of front and back of cigarette packs;

A ban on slim cigarettes;

A ban on flavours and restriction on additives in tobacco;

The reinforcing of the anti-smuggling and anti-illicit trade measures throughout the EU.

Dr Ross Morgan said “I want to compliment the Environmental, Public Health and Safety Committee in the European Parliament on taking this important health initiative to the next stage.  This Tobacco Products Directive, if enacted, can potentially be one of the most important health initiatives taken in Europe this decade.  I now expect that the European Parliament will proceed with this initiative in September and that the on-going and sustained efforts by the Tobacco Industry to block and circumvent it will be prevented at every level.  It is also important to note that this Tobacco Products Directive freely allows individual countries to take additional anti-tobacco measures and  Minister James Reilly has already set the tone in this regard with his proposal to introduce plain packaging on all tobacco products on sale in Ireland.”

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For contact:  Wally Young, Young Communications:  087-2471520

ASH Ireland:  0818-305055

ASH Ireland has noted a recent report from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government published by the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System.

The survey relates to studies conducted in 2012. The report looked at the extent and severity of litter pollution in six local authority areas, including Dublin City Council and the most likely sources and causes of litter pollution. It is quite remarkable that cigarette related litter was by far the biggest constituent of national litter pollution at 52.7% of the total. Food related litter was 19.1% and packaging litter was 13.2%.

Dr Ross Morgan said today, “We are not surprised to find that tobacco litter constitutes by far the biggest proportion of our national litter, as this has been confirmed by previous surveys conducted in Ireland and elsewhere.

ASH Ireland made a case to government in 2010, proposing that a levy be placed on the Tobacco Industry as a means of recovering the cost for clearing up this litter on ‘the polluter pays principle’. The cost to the state of cleaning litter, especially in the urban environment is quite significant and we suggest that 50 cents be placed on the pack of cigarettes as a means of recouping this cost. It is vital that this cost is not passed to the consumer but borne by the highly profitable Tobacco Industry”

ASH Ireland raised this matter with Minister James Reilly shortly after his appointment and we have raised it with him again this week on the basis of this most recent report. Dr Morgan went on to say, “There is of course an additional issue in regard to tobacco litter in that it is damaging to the wider environment and poses a risk to wildlife”

Link to report:

Click to access FileDownLoad,33554,en.pdf

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For contact: Wally Young, Young Communications, 087-2471520
ASH Ireland: 0818 305055

ASH Ireland is deeply concerned that the Taoiseach has recently met with representatives of the Tobacco Industry. Such a meeting is in conflict with the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) and serves no purpose but to show support for an industry, whose products contribute directly to the death of over 5,200 people in this country each year. The meeting was supposedly about smuggling, however this industry has the much wider agenda of maintaining sales and profits, blocking the introduction of plain packaging and the watering down of the EU Products Directive.

Dr Ross Morgan, Chairman of ASH Ireland said today, “we are very surprised that this first meeting with a Taoiseach has been facilitated. Smuggling is a criminal issue and must be treated as such – and this should be done independently of the Tobacco Industry, which will always be driving the wider agenda of sales and profits. The Government must set health as the priority and must continue to support the EU Tobacco Products Directive and the move towards the introduction of plain packaging.  The Australian Government has recently followed the health agenda and introduced plain packaging – and this is the path that others must now follow”.

ASH Ireland is deeply concerned about the cost of nicotine replacement therapy in Ireland.  ASH Wednesday is a time when many smokers attempt to quit the habit and they need every encouragement and support to do so.  A major issue confronting Irish smokers is the cost to the consumer of nicotine replacement therapy, when compared to the cost of the same product in the UK and other European countries.

Dr Ross Morgan said today “VAT is being charged at 23% on nicotine replacement patches as compared to a rate of 5% in the UK.  This and other issues is creating a significant price differential between Ireland and the UK.  We have contacted the Minister for Finance and recently spoken to the Minister for Health on this issue, which we believe can be expediently resolved.”

Dr Ross Morgan went on to say, “we are also concerned with the overall cost of the full range of nicotine replacement products.  This is perhaps due to the fact that they are only available from behind the counter in pharmacies and not available off the shelf in a range of retail outlets.  Over the years we have been in contact with the Department of Health, the Irish Medicines Board, the Pharmaceutical Sector and chemists with the view to addressing this cost issue, and we again ask all involved to address this very serious matter, which can be a disincentive to many people who wish to quit smoking.”

It is well established that over 70% of smokers will wish to quit at any given time.  Many people do successfully manage to quit and we encourage people to persist as quitting is not likely to happen at the first attempt.  The health benefits of quitting are almost immediate and there are the obvious cost benefits.

Over 5,200 people die from the effects of smoking in this country every year.  It is estimated that the cost of treating tobacco related illness could be in the region of €1.5 billion annually.  It is vitally important to encourage young people not to commence the habit and it is also imperative that we continue to encourage and assist smokers to quit.

On a separate matter ASH Ireland welcomes the good news in regard to young people and smoking published recently in the Health Behaviour in Schoolchildren Survey (HBSC).    The report shows a reduction in smoking by 12 to 17 year olds from 15.3% in 2006 to 11.8% in 2010.  http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/163857/Social-determinants-of-health-and-well-being-among-young-people.pdf

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ASH Ireland welcomes indications from the Department of Health today (in the media) that legislation to ban smoking in cars with children could be enacted later this year.

Dr Ross Morgan, Chairman of ASH Ireland said today, “we welcome these indications that this important health legislation could now be introduced later this year. ASH Ireland first raised this issue, as a possible health initiative, with Minister Harney in 2005. In April 2010 ASH Ireland met the newly appointed Minister James Reilly and again pushed for this health initiative to be introduced – and then received a commitment from the Minister that he would proceed as soon as was feasible. We now again encourage the Minister to ensure that there are no further delays with a proposal, which has been with his Department for over seven years”

Dr Morgan went on the say, “The international evidence to support protecting children in cars from passive smoke is overwhelming. Passive smoke contains carcinogens and other pollutants, which are particularly harmful to children. One study shows that 1 in 7 Irish children are affected by passive smoke in cars and it is important that these children are protected by legislation. This is a health initiative which is gaining momentum all around the world and who could possibly argue against it”

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For contact:  ASH Ireland:  0818-305055

Wally Young, Young Communications, 087-2471520