Filtered By: Topstories
News

Court to tobacco firm: Don’t preempt decision on smoke-risk graphics


A court denied on Tuesday a tobacco firm’s request to stop the Department of Health (DOH) from enforcing its Administrative Order (AO) that required cigarette packs to contain graphic warnings on the health risks of smoking. The DOH’s AO no. 2010-0013 requires tobacco manufacturers to include photos of tobacco-related illnesses on cigarette packs. It also prohibits manufacturers from using "misleading" descriptions on cigarettes like "light" and "low tar." In July, tobacco firm Telengtan Brothers and Sons, Inc., manufacturers of cigarette brand Astro, Memphis and Canon, filed the application against the AO at the Parañaque Regional Trial Court (RTC). The firm, which does business under the name La Suerte Cigar and Cigarette Factory, sought the injunction because of the "grave and irreparable damage" it says it would suffer from the penalties that can be imposed for violations. The Parañaque RTC denied the Telengtan injunction since it will preempt a decision on the validity of the AO, which is the principal issue in the case. The court also said that because the penalties are not even operative yet, Telengtan's "rouse of a possible violation of the law becomes a little bit imaginary in the meantime, and would not stand to prejudice petitioner." Telengtan representative Max Tan could not be reached for comment as of this posting. The AO requires tobacco firms to put graphic information on their cigarette packs within 90 days from its effectivity, or by September 10 this year. Health Undersecretary Alex Padilla said the DOH will continue this fight to protect people's right to health information. "The DOH is mandated by law to promote the people’s constitutional right to health, and we intend to comply with our duty," he said. "It's very tragic that we have all these tobacco companies filing cases left and right, questioning the validity of an AO that was crafted with nothing but the health of the Filipino in mind." Apart from Telengtan, four other tobacco companies have filed cases in various courts assailing the DOH order’s validity. "This fight is far from over, but this is a positive development," Padilla said.—Candice Montenegro/JV, GMANews.TV

LOADING CONTENT