Tobacco Documents Online

THE MIDDLE EAST WORKINGGROUP (MEWG) As agreed by its members, the group continues to be a mutual . source of informatio,n exchangie!on the issues arising througihout the region, with action being in the hands of' the, individual companies. A close watch is being kept by members on the progress of development of testing facil'ities in a number of markets in the Gu1f'. It appears that, evenh though several laboratories are now set up with the necessary equipment, no official testing has yet begun.. A report is awaited of a maj',or U'ICC/WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional . Seminar on smokingi and health which has been held in Khartoum,. Of particular significance is the apparent increased use the WHO is now making of their Eastern Mediterranean RegionaL Office in Alexandria:, and of Arab support and funding: because there is evidence that this is being, used as the pivot for their thrust right down into Africa, where cbnditi:ons are unreceptive and' funds are, scarce. It is understood that a number of African countries were present in KhartouRni suchi as Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe. Nigeria had six delegates. And it is known that the WHO were having difficulties with their African Regional Office in Brazzavii'le, whose Director, Dr. Quenum, a national of Benin, died recently. It has been confirmedl that in Saudi Arabia a royal decree! has banned the import and use of snuff on health ground's.