Philip Morris International Forced to Drop Another Concert Sponsorship; Philippines Health Department Applauded for Tak...( WASHINGTON Aug. 29 -- The follow...),Health

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement by Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids:

For the second time in a month, Philip Morris International has had to withdraw sponsorship and promotion of a concert in a developing country after coming under international criticism for engaging in cigarette marketing that appeals to children.

This time, Philip Morris International has been forced to withdraw from an August 30 reunion concert in the Philippines by the popular Filipino band Eraserheads, which has been called the "Beatles of the Philippines." The concert is moving forward with a non-tobacco sponsor. In July, Philip Morris International withdrew its sponsorship of singer Alicia Keys' concert in Jakarta, Indonesia, after it faced public criticism and Ms. Keys called for Philip Morris' withdrawal.

In the Philippines, Philip Morris International withdrew after health advocates protested the company's involvement and the Philippines Department of Health warned the company that its sponsorship and related marketing violated the country's tobacco regulation law. The law prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising in mass media including the Internet, places strict restrictions on other tobacco promotional activities, and bans tobacco company sponsorship of concerts and other events.

We applaud the Philippines Department of Health for setting an international example by taking aggressive action to enforce the country's tobacco control law and protect Filipino children from this blatant effort to market cigarettes to them. With this action, the Philippines government is taking seriously its obligations under the World Health Organization's international tobacco control treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which among other things calls on ratifying nations to ban all tobacco advertising, promotions and sponsorships.

Nations should act quickly to implement this an
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