Smoke of cigarettes without menthol. Part 1

December 6, 2010

Aromatized cigarettes will be under worldwide ban

Anti-tobacco movement has closely approached to acceptance of worldwide ban of cigarettes with flavors. Appropriate decision can be approved during conference of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control parties that takes place in Uruguay. Tobacco industry representatives warn that this restrictive measure can cardinally turn up consumers' belief about taste of cigarettes.

WHO Framework Convention that was accepted in 2003 at present moment has signed 168 countries. They undertook obligations to take legislative measures on national level that are oriented to decreasing tobacco products consumption.

During forth conference of WHO Framework Convention countries-participants that takes place in Uruguay city Punta del Este are supposed to be accepted a whole range of documents that will contain directives and recommendations on fulfilling separate clauses of Convention. According to experts' opinion the most important document will become document that prohibits use of various non-tobacco ingredients during manufacturing of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

First of all it is offered to prohibit manufacturing and sale of aromatized cigarettes. According to project developers' opinion various additives provide additional attractiveness to tobacco products. "From positions of public health cannot be justified authorization of such ingredients use as flavoring agents that facilitate lending attractiveness to tobacco products" - says document project published on WHO official web-site. As examples of flavoring agents are given: honey, glucose, menthol, ginger and other. Such bans are already introduced in some countries, for example, in Canada where flavored cigarettes were removed from the market, leaving, however, menthol. Market participants mark that in final document decision about ban of menthol cigarettes, most likely will be farmed to national Ministries of Public Health.