TY - JOUR T1 - Wordwide news and comment JF - Tobacco Control JO - Tob Control SP - 80 LP - 83 DO - 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2013-050970 VL - 22 IS - 2 A2 - , Y1 - 2013/03/01 UR - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/22/2/80.abstract N2 - The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2013 is ‘ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship’ (TAPS). According to the WHO, only 6% of the world's population was fully protected from exposure to tobacco industry advertising, promotion and sponsorship tactics in 2010. A comprehensive ban is required under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) within 5 years of ratification by Parties. While many countries are making great progress in banning TAPS, the tobacco industry continues to find new ways to promote its products. In this issue we highlight some initiatives by tobacco companies to reach potential new consumers. In November 2012, the fifth Conference of the Parties (COP) for the WHO's FCTC convened in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The COP adopted the protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products, and finalised a set of guideline principles and recommendations concerning taxation. It also discussed new products such as snus and electronic cigarettes. Yet among this progress, Article 13: TAPS was barely mentioned. This is surprising at a time when tobacco companies are spending millions on brand stretching, defined in the FCTC as “when a tobacco brand name, emblem, trademark, logo or trade insignia is connected with a non tobacco product or service in such a way that the tobacco product and the non tobacco product or service are likely to be associated”. All articles written by Marita Hefler unless otherwise attributed. Ideas and items for News Analysis should be sent to: marita.hefler@sydney.edu.au Many tobacco industry-sponsored events occur under the radar of the tobacco control community, with hundreds of thousands of young adults in various countries regularly attending such events. For example, 10 days before COP5, and only a 5 min drive from the COP location in Seoul, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Viewcon Marketing Communication Group sponsored an event called Beyond Art. … ER -