Philip Morris, whose cigarette brands sold in Israel include Parliament, Marlboro, L&M and others submitted its position paper on smoking to the Gilon Committee this morning.
The Gilon Committee was appointed by former Minister of Health Shlomo Benizri in October 1999 in order to examine ways to reduce smoking and lessen its damages. The Committee is chaired by deputy courts administrator Judge Alon Gilon.
Philip Morris stated in its position paper that it acknowledges the concerns of the health authorities regarding the use of tobacco. Therefore, "We support reasonable supervision and initiatives on a voluntary basis," on matters pertaining to juvenile smoking, the dissemination of information on the risks of smoking, the proper supervision of the marketing of tobacco products and reducing the exposure to unwanted smoke.
Regarding the issue of smoking and health, the paper stated, "There is widespread agreement that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other serious illnesses among smokers. Smokers have a significantly higher risk of developing serious illnesses, such as lung cancer, than non-smokers.
"There are no safe cigarettes. This is the message of public health authorities throughout the world. Smokers and potential smokers must rely on that when they make smoking-related decisions."
Philip Morris also stated that on the basis of research on cigarettes, it acknowledges that "of all the causes identified as causing lung cancer, none has been more identified with the disease than the smoking of cigarettes."
In the chapter dealing with smoking among juveniles, the company supports legislation restricting the sale of cigarettes below a minimum age, and it commits to participating in smoking-prevention programs among Israeli youth.
As an addendum to the position paper, Philip Morris provided figures on State revenues from cigarettes. These revenues are comprised of two parts: a relative tax of 55% of the cigarette's price, and a fixed tax of NIS 1.039 on every pack, regardless of its price.
According to the data, State revenues from cigarette taxes in 1999 amounted to NIS 2.227 billion - NIS 858 million from taxes on locally manufactured cigarettes and NIS 1.369 billion on imported cigarettes. The weight of imported cigarettes for that year's revenues was 62%, compared to 38% for local manufactured cigarettes.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 10 August 2000