Permitting use of misleading words in brand names is against spirit of global anti-smoking treaty, UN agency says
The World Health Organisation is 'extremely concerned' that Hong Kong officials have reached a compromise to allow the Mild Seven cigarette brand to remain on sale - flying in the face of a pact to ban misleading descriptions - the Sunday Morning Post has learned.
In a confidential letter to local officials last week, the WHO advised Hong Kong to comply fully with a recent global anti-smoking treaty which, among other measures, will ban the use of the word 'mild' on cigarette packs lest it mislead people into believing the contents are less harmful.
China is a signatory to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and Hong Kong must fulfil all obligations under the treaty by January 2009 at the latest, said Burke Fishburn, co-ordinator of the Tobacco Free Initiative for the WHO western Pacific regional office.
The notice was given in the same week local anti-smoking lobbyists accused Mild Seven's Japanese manufacturer of exploiting a legal loophole by trademarking the brand name Salem Lights - incorporating the soon-to-be banned flavour description.
Last month, health officials caved in to pressure from Japan Tobacco, represented by barrister Michael Thomas. He threatened legal action if Japan Tobacco was not allowed to sell in Hong Kong a brand which uses the word 'mild' in its trademarked logo rather than as a flavour description.