Daily Lessons from Life 26 August 2013 - Tobacco giant welcomes Thai court 's suspension of more graphic warnings

"Tobacco giant welcomes Thai court 's suspension of more graphic warnings - AFP Aug 26, 2013 BANGKOK - Tobacco giant Philip Morris on Monday praised a Thai court decision to suspend government plans that would have forced cigarette companies to slap bigger graphic warnings on packets. The firm, which makes the Marlboro brand, welcomed the Thai Administrative Court's order to suspend implementation of new packaging rules, which were due to come into force on October 2. The health ministry in April decided to enlarge health warnings -- which feature gruesome photographs of smoking-related ailments -- from 55 to 85 per cent of the surface of both sides of every cigarette packet. "Today's decision now clears the way for us to show the court that this measure is not only illegal but also unnecessary given that the health risks of smoking are universally known in Thailand," said Onanong Pratakphiriya, of the company's Thai arm. Philip Morris has argued that the ministry overstepped its legal powers and that the move would impair firms' abilities to display their trademarks. The company welcomed the decision in a statement which accused the health ministry of ignoring "the voices of thousands of retailers, manufacturers and many other impacted stakeholders". The administrative court said it had not ruled on the substance of a legal challenge by the firm. "The court instructs that the health ministry's order should be delayed until the court makes its final ruling or a further order," it said in a statement Monday about its decision, which was made Friday. Philip Morris has said its production system could not cope with the new requirement to print multiple pictures, the court said. Japan Tobacco, one of the world's biggest cigarette companies, with brands including Winston and Benson & Hedges, said in June it was suing the Thai government over the plans. The tobacco lobby has systematically tried to block laws curbing advertising or raising taxes on cigarettes, but more and more countries are adopting the approach. European Union member states in June agreed to cover 65 per cent of packaging with health warnings, but the new rule needs approval from the European Parliament to come into force." This has been a contentious issue for many years between those who feel that tobacco should be DECLARED an illegal drug like heroins and 'ice', etc and those who feel that it is STILL a legal 'recreational' product! Lessons for me are: 1. as long as the government of the country DOES NOT ban the sale of tobacco, this tussle between the tobacco companies and the health authorities will always be repeated every now and then without any definite conclusion!; 2. as a Health Ambassador and Smoke Cessation Promoter for Singapore Health Promotion Board (HOB), I viewed this with reluctance acceptance that our government is NOT ready to kill off tobacco companies and tobacco products sales yet in Singapore. So, the best fellow volunteers and I can do is to continue to share the KNOWLEDGE of how bad tobacco can be for the consumers and their families and friends, colleagues and even neigbhour, while also appealing to their HEARTS to WANT TO QUIT SMOKING!; 3. it is very clear that the HEADS know that smoking is BAD for health. YET, the HEARTS are not willing or not ready to give it up! So, we need to work MORE on the hearts than the heads! Softly softly we will persist until the hearts are captured or to be more precise, awaken and connect with what the heads have been telling them - smoking is bad for health! You will STILL have many more friends when you don't smoke, you will be able to chase after your spouse and kids without losing your breath, you will accumulated more saving from the money you did not use to buy the tobacco, you will have a healthy body and mind from no smoking, etc... If I were the tobacco companies, I better think of a way to make the tobacco leafs into some health products! OR switch lines in the long run!!!