wfn.org | Adventists Welcome Russian Anti-Smoking Legislation

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

June 28, 2001
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Adventists Welcome Russian Anti-Smoking Legislation

Moscow, Russia.   Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders 
in Russia have voiced strong support for legislation, 
passed June 22 by Russia's lower house of parliament 
that aims to restrict smoking in public places.
 
The bill, which has yet to be approved by the parliament's 
upper house, seeks to ban smoking in the workplace, on 
public transportation, in state buildings, educational 
and cultural institutions, and on flights of less than 
three hours. The legislation was prompted by what Russian 
health ministry officials say is "an alarming increase" 
in the death rate from smoking-related illnesses, such 
as lung cancer, over the past decade.

The new law would also ban the production, import, or 
sale of cigarettes with high tar and nicotine content. 
If passed, the law will take effect on January 1, 2003.

The Adventist Church in Russia has a long-standing 
commitment to public education about the dangers of smoking.  
The church's health department also offers resources and 
training for those who want to conduct smoking cessation 
seminars and has implemented quit-smoking programs in 
most countries of the former Soviet Union. [Editor: Ansel 
Oliver for ANN]