British American Tobacco to invest $200 million in Phl

British American Tobacco, maker of Lucky Strike cigarettes is pushing through with its plan to invest $200 million in the Philippines over the next five years following Congress’ approval of the sin tax reform measure.
BAT warned in July that it would pull out of its investment plan if the Aquino administration fails to pass the measure.

“We will not pour the money in until excise reform is done,” BAT Philippines general manager James Michael Lafferty said in July.

Yesterday, BAT confirmed that it would proceed with its $200-million investment plan following Congress’ approval of a new sin tax measure.

“In light of these latest developments, and in anticipation of President Aquino signing the bill soon, we confirm that we are investing at minimum $200 million over the next five years.  We are looking forward to competing in the market and contributing to the growth of the Philippine economy,” BAT said in a statement.

The money would be used to expand its presence in the Philippines, possibly through the construction of a manufacturing plant, Lafferty earlier said.The cigarette company expressed its gratitude to the Executive Department and Congress in reforming the country’s sin tax regime after 16 years.

Bulgarian Parliament to Discuss Lifting of Smoking Ban

Bulgaria's Parliament will discuss the possibility of lifting the full smoking ban in closed public spaces, according to parliamentary health committee head Desislava Daritkova.

Amendments that would reinstate the segregated smoking areas in bars, restaurants and other establishments will be discussed by the committee next week, Daritkova told reporters on Friday.

She expressed her hope that lawmakers will be reasonable enough not to scrap the full smoking ban.
According to Daritkova, restaurant owners have not presented convincing evidence that their businesses have suffered as a result of the ban that was imposed on June 1.

She pointed out that health arguments are more important than business arguments.

On Thursday, MPs from the ruling GERB party declared that the full smoking ban in indoor spaces in Bulgaria would remain without any future changes, according to Novinite.com. Their statement came on the heels of reports about Bulgaria's Parliament considering easing the full smoking ban in closed public spaces that was imposed in the country on June 1. The Standard daily wrote Tuesday that the ban may only be lifted in bars and night clubs and only after 10:00 pm.

Banning public smoking in Kosovo is still a challenge

Kosovo's parliament is suggesting a complete ban on smoking in closed public places, after a 2010 ban to prohibit smoking in 70 percent of public venues was disregarded by many.

Faik Hoti, information director at the Kosovo Health Ministry, reminded the Kosovo assembly that the new anti-smoking ban would be similar to the anti-smoking regulations in the region and the rest of Europe, and a benefit to society.

"[A] 100 percent smoking ban in public spaces is a measure that has a direct impact on reducing the prevalence of smoking, and protects non-smokers from tobacco exposure," Hoti said.

The ban would be effective in restaurants and other enclosed public places, but not in outdoor venues, such as cafes or parks.

Skender Syla, WHO Kosovo representative, said that the goal is to protect citizen health without compromising smokers' right to smoke.

"[Anti-smoking] research from other countries shows that only strict laws [that] clearly stipulate that 'all public indoor spaces 100 percent free of tobacco smoke' can succeed, which also allows for easier monitoring of the tobacco law," Syla told SETimes.

The 2010 smoking law bans tobacco advertising in print or electronic media, and mandates the removal of smoking advertisements from billboards, informs SETimes.com.