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F.T.R. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CH - 2003 NEUCHATEL / SWITZERLAND INTER - OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE To: The File Date: December 21, 1989 From: M.C. Bourlas Doc name: Subject: Middle East Visit concerning Cigarette Gulf Standards Distribution: Copies: A delegation representing META composed of George Nassif, Harry Dymond of BAT and myself visited SASO in Riyadh and the Arab Standards Organization in Amman, Jordan, in order to discuss the cigarette standards that each organization has prepared. In SASO the delegation met with Messrs. Badr-Al-Saad, Al-Turki and A. Ambar. There were five main issues that were discussed during the course of the meeting. 1. Additives SASO maintained but not too adamantly, that a 15 % additives limit is • sufficient. They would be willing to go to 20 % if appropriate information and references are sent to them. MCB and H. Dymond to prepare appropriate information which will be sent by the end of January. Note. From a PM point of view a 15 % limit on additives would not put us in a difficult position on any of our brands at any smoke delivery. We would prefer to have 20 % limit, however, due to any unforeseeable changes in cigarette construction or smoke delivery systems which may be developed in the future. 2. Lead and cadmium. SASO has accepted the proposal to define the levels of lead and cadmium in smoke and not in tobacco leaf. They have in principle accepted a one microgram level for smoke. MCB and H. Dymond to send additional references pertaining to the levels of lead and cadmium in cigarette smoke. 3. Cigarette paper weight. It is no longer a point of contention. SASO is willing to define paper weight as it is done in the paper industry. MCB and H. Dymond to send ISO references. 4. Cigarette tobacco density N Cn 0 0 -4 v 0 N 0+ SASO had no concrete explanatiP as to why and how they chose a cigarette density of 0.2 gr/cm as a target. It was pointed out to them that there are products on today's market that are far below this

density. MCB and H. Dymond to send actual values and additional information concerning cigarette tobacco density. 5. Filtration efficiency SASO does not have a clear understanding of the meaning and the influence of filtration efficiency. Where they got the limit of 35 % filtration efficiency is a mystery to everyone. We discussed for quite some time the available mechanisms that the cigarette industry has at its disposal for the reduction of tar delivery. Among them being the efficiency of the filter. Whether our arguments were understood was not very clear but MCB and H. Dymond will prepare and send to SASO the filtration efficiencies of a number of European and US brands which are currently sold on the Saudi Arabian market. 6. Hydrogen cyanide A level of 250 micrograms per cigarette has been suggested by SASO as a limit for HCN. When we argued that there is no international standard for the determination of HCN, SASO produced a VTT analytical method which they would like to adopt as the Gulf Standard for the testing of HCN. We explained to SASO that all industry members have a means of or determining HCN but that there are slight variations from method to method and because of these variations there would always be some discussion if there were differences in the analytical results. SASO, however, was relatively firm that they would like to utilize the VTT method and would probably maintain the proposed limit of 250 micrograms per cigarette. Note. Although the limit of 250 micrograms per cigarette is not of particular concern at the 12 mg tar delivery the idea of having a gas phase component like HCN be mentioned in the standard is of some concern. This may lead to and open up the doors for additional gas phase components which SASO would like tested and of greater concern is the possibility of the levels of these gas phase components being required to be printed on the pack, as is tar and nicotine. I saw no hope in changing SASO's mind on this particular issue. The above are the six main issues that were discussed with SASO personnel. All information and data that were promised to SASO will be sent to them before the end of January in a document prepared jointly by MCB and H. Dymond. We will give the opportunity for other META members to comment as we have organized a META meeting in Rome on January 25, 1990. Following the discussions with SASO we travelled to and met with Mr. Narma and Mr. Alameddine of the Arab Standards Organization in Amman, Jordan. The organization itself (personnel and documentation) was in the middle of a move from Amman to Bagdad. We were informed that the Arab Standards Organization has been officially disbanded but will resurface again either under the same name or with a new name and possibly under a new minister. It is not even certain whether or not the organization will remain in Bagdad or whether it will later be moved to Tunis. 2501077027

Nevertheless, discussions took place which focused on how the Arab Standards Organization has worked in the past and how it hopes to work in the future. In principle the organization works in a very similar fashion to ISO with which it has very close ties. In other words, the Arab Standards Organization writes and distributes to other Arab countries standards which are discussed technically and later voted on and distributed as "Arab standards". Seven member states are included on the Technical Committee (participating members) and two are so-called observer members. As in ISO, there also exists a group of countries which are corresponding members and these members can get updated information concerning the status of specific standards. The group suggested, and we accepted that META become corresponding members and thus remain updated on their activities. Note. My suggestion is not only to have META become a corresponding members but to have Philip Morris as a Company also achieve that status. We could thus respond on any issues as a Company and not have to worry about going through META. Following the discussions with the Arab Standards Organization George Nassif and I travelled to Kuwait to discuss topics of interest with Mrs. Maraafi. The discussions focused on an update of the CORESTA and ISO standards on cigarette testing that were unanimously approved in Cuba and what steps these standards will take in the future. I promised Mrs. Maraafi that I would send her a copy of what will be sent to SASO and also promised her that I will send the address of the Swiss government chemist in Lausanne in case she needs some independent testing to be done. She currently does all independent testing with the LGC in London. Mrs. Maraafi, as usual, was extremely cordial and promised to assist us in any way that she can in our efforts to convince SASO that cigarette standards are to be realistic, reasonable and practical. N CR 0 ~ 0 v -4 0 N CD