© 2004 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
News analysis
South Africa: PM at the door
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Bad news from South Africa: as if the country did not have enough problems, it was reported in December that Philip Morris (PM), which at present only imports its cigarettes, has been exploring the possibility of manufacturing them there. PMs rival, BAT, has more than 90% of the market and PM, which already has a strong presence though its brewing subsidiary, SAB Miller, has been using the argument that BAT is being protected in a near monopoly status, to try to force the kind of entry it wants. Japan Tobacco (JT), too, used similar arguments when it complained recently to the competition commission that BAT was restricting its retail sales, indicating JTs own intentions to try to sell more cigarettes in the beleaguered country.
What really worries health advocates is not so much the reputation of PM as the most ruthless promoter of tobacco; after all, South Africa has the
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