not sure how much.....if any......impact here to VGR !!
UPDATE 2-Russians face total cigarette ad ban
Thu Jan 10, 2008 8:28am EST
(Recasts, adds comment from government, BAT)
By Guy Faulconbridge
MOSCOW, Jan 10 (Reuters) - Russians, among the world's heaviest smokers, face a ban on all cigarette advertising as part of government plans to improve national health and halt a population slide.
Russia, Europe's biggest cigarette market and the third largest globally, is a significant generator of profits for tobacco companies which have struggled to break into China, the world's biggest consumer of tobacco.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says tobacco smoking kills about 5 million people globally each year and the number could double by 2020 if current trends continue.
Russia's health ministry estimates some 330,000 to 500,000 deaths a year are caused by smoking-related illness and latest government figures say the population of 142 million is shrinking by some half a million annually, although the pace of decline is easing.
The government already limits tobacco advertising but said on Thursday the cabinet had approved a draft law to join WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which encourages countries to ban all ads, promotion and sponsorship within five years of joining.
The draft law still has to be approved by parliament and signed into law by the Russian president.
Russia's cigarette market is dominated by global tobacco companies Japan Tobacco Inc. (2914.T: Quote, Profile, Research), Altria Group's (MO.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Philip Morris division, British American Tobacco Plc (BATS.L: Quote, Profile, Research) and Imperial Tobacco (IMT.L: Quote, Profile, Research).
RUSSIAN SMOKING
The WHO Convention seeks to cut smoking and counter attempts by tobacco multinationals to attract smokers in developing countries.
"The contents of the Convention fully accord with Russia's national interests and acceptance of the Convention would help form a healthy way of life and strengthen the nation's health," according to materials prepared for the cabinet meeting.
The Convention says signatories should impose a comprehensive ban on all tobacco advertising or at least restrict marketing, promotion and sponsorship.
Alexander Lyuty, director of corporate affairs at BAT Russia, supported ratification of the Convention but called for an individual approach in each country.
"A host of the Convention's provisions have already been put into effect by Russian law -- Russia has already banned outdoor, television and radio advertising of tobacco products," Lyuty said.
"Our company welcomes the fact that the Framework Convention recognises the necessity of respecting national peculiarities and constitutions," he said.
"There is no universal approach to the regulation of tobacco smoking. Every country is individual." (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge, editing by Douglas Busvine/Will Waterman/David Cowell)
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