Health Commission Re-elect Previous Chairman Amid Tobacco Scandal

The previous chairman of Health Commission of the House of Representatives, Ribka Tjiptaning, of the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle, whose name has been mentioned in the report of the missing tobacco section in the new health regulation, had been re-elected to chair the commission for the next 2009 – 2014 term.
In the first meeting of the commission on Thursday, Ribka said “i have been officiated as the chairman.” 
The commission's 46 members also picked three deputies Ahmad Nizar Shihab (Democratic Party), Irghan Chairul (United Development Party), and Sumaryati Harjoso (Great Indonesia Movement Party). 
Former member of the commission have revealed earlier this month about the missing sectin to the public prompting bigger moves by consumers right and anti-corruption groups to attack stakeholders involved in the legislation.

Online Sales of E Cigarettes Expected to Rise Over the Holidays

As the holiday season approaches, many consumers are considering e-cigarettes
as an option for their loved ones who smoke.
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Previously e cigarettes sales have
generally been tobacco smoking individuals purchasing the product for
themselves. However, Teresa Peach, an online sales associate for E-Cigarettes
National, reports an influx of callers wishing to purchase the product for
their loved ones that smoke. "Some of these callers are stating that they wish
to buy the electronic cigarette starter kit for their spouses or partners that
have been smoking for thirty or forty years." She has reported that many of
these callers believe that the electric cigarette might be last hope for them
to get their loved ones to switch from using tobacco.
Of course, this at least is not new knowledge. Many tobacco smokers have tried
to stop smoking many times and have failed over and over again. The electric
cigarette offers them an alternative to smoking tobacco, yet still allows them
to have the nicotine they want and to engage in the most realistic mock
smoking act available. "When smokers have tried everything they know of and
still continue to smoke, the e-cigarette might be the best bet for them to
reach that goal."
Many consumers are considering purchasing an e-cigarette kit for the holiday
season, according to Teresa. Because there are more choices of this product
available online than ever before, including different styles and different
strengths of nicotine liquid (including zero nicotine), it is making it easier
to pick a gift for a smoker than ever before.
Instead of giving a smoker they know and love another ugly tie or sweater that
they might never even use, some people claim they are giving their loved ones
a gift of a better life - one without tobacco.

Social-conscious fund added to Virginia 529

The Virginia College Savings Plan is adding an investment option under its VEST program that only invests in companies that meet specific social criteria.
In addition to financial health and growth potential, the Parnassus Equity Income Fund takes social factors into account when choosing companies to invest in. The fund avoids companies that manufacture tobacco and alcohol or are associated with gambling. It also avoids companies that make weapons or earn revenues from electricity generation from nuclear power.
“A growing number of our Virginia Education Savings Trust account owners have indicated an interest in a socially targeted investment option,” Virginia College Savings Plan CEO Mary Morris said in a statement. “After reviewing socially targeted funds, the board selected the Parnassus Equity Income Fund because of its history of solid returns, active management and low expense ratio in conjunction with its social criteria screens.”
The VEST plans offers 16 different investment options, including a mix of equity and fixed-income investments. The plan allows account owners to save for qualified higher education expenses, including tuition, textbooks, room and board, fees and computers.

Delaying Tobacco Authority Would Harm Public

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday will tell a federal judge in Kentucky that ordering the agency to delay enforcing new tobacco laws will have "devastating consequences" for public health.
The FDA is facing a challenge to its new tobacco powers, signed into law in June, from tobacco companies including Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) and Lorillard Inc. (LO). The companies say the law imposes unprecedented restrictions on their First Amendment rights and want a federal court in Bowling Green, Ky., to order a preliminary injunction to stop enforcement of the regulations. 
A judge for the District Court for the Western District of Kentucky is holding a hearing on the preliminary injunction request and could soon decide whether to grant the injunction. 
The law restricts tobacco companies from using color in most ads, bars them from saying certain products are less risky than others and stops them from selling tobacco products in combination with other items, such as soda and mouthwash.
"It is crucial to the public health that tobacco products not be marketed as reduced-risk products unless they will, in fact, reduce risks," the FDA said in a brief filed with the court. 
The companies want to be able to make claims in ads and on boxes that certain cigarettes contain smaller amounts of harmful ingredients, such as being low in tar, and are, therefore, less risky than other tobacco products. In their briefing documents, the companies argue that such information is truthful and should be given to consumers.
The FDA says such information gives consumers the "mistaken belief" that the products are safe to use. The agency will allow companies to make such claims only after they prove the product does reduce a consumers risk for tobacco-related diseases. That appears to be a high hurdle. The agency notes that medical devices and prescription drugs must go through a rigorous review process before they can be sold to treat or reduce the risk of disease. 
The companies say they aren't completely against the FDA authority to regulate tobacco, and that they support restrictions in marketing and advertising to children.

Tobacco Disappears From Health Law

A section regulating tobacco as an addictive substance in the newly passed Health Law has been removed despite approvals from the legislative and executive branch, a former lawmaker has revealed on Wednesday.
Hakim Sorimuda Pohan, a former member of the drafting committee of the health law who was no longer elected for the 2009-2014 term said on Wednesday during a discussion on “Corruption on Health Law” in Jakarta, that Section 2 of Article 113 could not be found in the final document at the House of Representatives.
The missing section was written as follow: ”Addictive substance as referred in section (1) includes tobacco; solid, liquid, and gas products that contain tobacco which are addictive and could harm its users and or their immediate surroundings.”
Hakim said the change could come from the legislative or the executive branch and said the Health Department have denied any knowledge about the change. Hakim said exclusion of the section is a criminal offense, and should be thoroughly investigated to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice.
Kartono Muhammad a health expert which was also a member of the drafting team said punishment should remain to be imposed to the perpetrators although the section could be automatically re-incorporated into the article.
Chairman of the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (Yayasan lembaga Konsumen Indonesia) Tulus Abadi said this is the first time such crime was uncovered. While a researcher from the Political Corruption Division of the Indonesia Corruption Watch, Abdullah Dahlan said the section cold automatically be restored into the Law, as it has been passed during the house plenary session.

Nepal border village tense as Indian BSF men torture a local to death

Situation in bordering Bankul Bazar in Rautahat district remained tense on Sunday after a local died allegedly due to excessive torture of Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel.
Locals in the areas adjoining to India shut down Bankul Bazar village and staged demonstration against the alleged torture and subsequent death of Mukul Raya Yadav, 35. They also chanted strong slogans against the BSF and demanded compensation to the victim´s family and punishment for the guilty involved.
Nepali Security officials said that BSF personnel from Sitamadhi Base Camp at Jamuniya allegedly arrested and tortured Yadav of Surmajuwa VDC-8 in Rautahat district when he was on way to bordering Indian town of Ghodasan to sell tobacco on Saturday afternoon.
Family members said Yadav died a few hours after he arrived home following torture by the Indian border security personnel on Saturday night. He arrived home late night in critical condition after the BSF men set him free.
Yadav, before breathing his last, had told family members that BSF men detained him for four hours and beaten up severely for no apparent reason. The dead body has been taken to the district headquarter Gaur for post mortem.
Nepali authorities in Rautahat district has taken up the issue with the local Indian authorities over the incident.
Officials at Home Ministry said Indian authorities have assured that they would investigate the incident.
Locals in bordering villages have alleged that the BSF personnel have stepped up their excesses in recent months. They complain that BSF men often beat up and manhandle locals living in bordering areas of Bara, Parsa and Rautahat.

Big Tobacco Fights Disclosure of Low-Tar Dangers

Major cigarette makers plan to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider a May ruling that banned using words such a “light” and “low-tar” to sell cigarettes, and required them to disclose the dangers of smoking.
Altria Group Inc., Reynolds American Inc., and other makers want a federal court in Washington to delay implementing a May 22 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington which upheld a 2006 ruling which found the companies were guilty of violating federal racketeering laws by conspiring to lie about the dangers of smoking and were likely to do so in the future unless the court intervened.
The appeals court also wants the tobacco companies to publish statements that correct previous misstatements about addiction, smoking dangers, second-hand smoke dangers, and the dangers of “light” and “low-tar” cigarettes.
Omitting the descriptors would cost hundreds of millions of dollars and would “fundamentally alter the business landscape,” the cigarette makers argued.
This is the second time Big Tobacco has made that request to delay implementing the lower court ruling. On September 22, the appeals court denied the request, reports Reuters. 
Corporate Free Speech?
The major tobacco companies say the high court should consider open issues – The First Amendment free speech rights they enjoy; whether they should have been charged with racketeering; and whether the FDA’s takeover that now regulates tobacco deprives the court of jurisdiction.
The companies appealing to the high court include Altria Group Inc and its Philip Morris USA unit, British American Tobacco Plc, Lorillard Inc, and Reynolds American Inc and RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co.
The Clinton Administration originally filed the case a decade ago.
It was seeking nearly $300 billion in damages. Ontario, Canada has sued to recover about $46 billion in damages to taxpayers’ health and the associated costs over the last 50 years.