In July, Turkey banned smoking in public places, becoming just the 7th country throughout Europe to approve anti-smoking policy.
The legislation was highly opposed by both smokers and bar owners, and even led to one death, when a bar owner was killed after he had asked one of the customers to put out his cig.

However, Turkish authorities attempting to consolidate their regulatory authority over tobacco industry obliged local cigarette producers to place graphic and written health warnings on cigarette packs covering more than 60 percent of the area of packs. The ordinance has been expected to become valid on January 1, 2010. However, the local cigarette makers had no intention to give up and comply with the upcoming law.
Mahmud Kadaglu, Chairman of the National Health Committee has declared that major tobacco companies, Philip Morris International and British American Tobacco have agreed to submit a collective suit to the Council of State (the Supreme Court in Turkey) to reduce the obligatory size of the graphic health warnings.

The plaintiffs suggest that the obligation of placing that the requirement of putting graphic images on cigarette packs in an effort to lower smoking rates by showing the severe health complications related to smoking will hurt competitive landscape in the industry. The mandatory size of new warnings is at least 65 percent of the packs, according to the cigarette-makers, what would oblige them to remove the logos of their products from the packages as there would be no space for those logos. The plaintiffs also claim that the latest regulation violates their commercial free speech rights, established by World Trade Organization and ratified by Turkey.

The NHS Chairman said that have invited doctors from all spheres of medicine, to take part in the lawsuit as witnesses. He said that tobacco giants have required a delay in execution of the law as long as the case is pending in the Council of State, and added that the latest legislation is not an infringement of international trade laws, mentioning that they are confident that the Council of State will reject the law suit or rule in favor of National Health Committee.

Mahmud Kadaglu as well declared that the health warnings covering at least 65 percent of the packs do not violate WTO standards, according to which it is permitted to cover at least 50 percent of the packs area.
He said it is inadmissible that the plaintiffs are willing to bereave Turkey of its right to protect the health of its residents whereas other nations successfully implement such policies without any difficulties and obstacles from tobacco companies.
According to numerous studies, placing graphic warnings of health consequences of smoking is an effective strategy and helps reduce smoking rates by approximately 5 percent.
The first hearing regarding the lawsuit would be held next week in Istanbul.

ANKARA, – Turkey will add visual health warning messages to cigarette packages produced as of Jan. 1, 2010, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported Sunday.

Chairman Mehmet Kucuk of the Turkish Tobacco and Alcohol Market Regulation Board (TAPDK) told the agency that cigarette packages produced before Dec. 31, 2009 which only have written warning signs can be sold till June 30, 2010.

There will be no cigarette packages without visual warning messages in Turkey as of Jan. 1, 2011, Kucuk said.

There will be 14 pictures, which will be chosen from 42 sample pictures in the European Union’s system, on tobacco product packages to draw people’s attention to the harm of cigarettes, the chairman was quoted of saying.

Visual warning on cigarette packages is used in countries including Britain, Belgium, Romania, Brazil, Thailand and Singapore, the agency said.

A smoking ban came into effect across Turkey on July 19, extending an earlier prohibition on smoking to all public indoor areas including cafes, bars and restaurants.

Under the new rule, it is also illegal to advertise and promote tobacco products or the names and brands of tobacco producers, while TV channels and radios have to air at least 90 minutes of programs on the harmful effects of tobacco products every month.

EL PASO, Texas — The written warning label printed on cigarette packages will be replaced with a much larger label that shows graphic images of smoking’s side effects.

The new regulations are part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act passed in June.

The law calls for new labels to cover at least half of the front and back of each package and to contain images.

Smoker Marco Kato, of west El Paso, is part of the 21 percent of Americans who smoke daily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“I probably buy a pack every other day,” said Kato. “Sometimes more on the weekends.”

He said he never looks at the current warning label on cigarettes. The drastic change in labeling is supposed to change that.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Natie Castillo, of west El Paso. “Maybe it will give an incentive for people to think about it before they light up and smoke.”

The new labels will be more in line with those produced in most foreign countries. Labels from Canada show graphic images of various forms of cancer and even death.

“I think that’s great,” said Tara Kahn, of west El Paso. “It’s a picture, you know. You’re not just reading the words, you’re actually putting the words and the picture together so you’re seeing the effects of it.”

But Kato said most smokers are aware of the dangers, and no warning, despite how graphic, will be able to shake the addiction.

“I don’t think the label would change my mind,” said Kato. “I think prices will probably change people’s minds.”

The FDA has up to two years to develop the new labels. Then tobacco companies have 18 months to start printing them on the packages.


Copyright September 6, 2009 by KFOXTV