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THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1986

CHILDREN WITH DIFFERENT PROBLEMS ARE TAUGHT TO PLAY WITH TOYS CATEGORISED FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES. THEY ARE THEN ALLOWED TO TAKE THE TOYS HOME FOR UP TO TWO WEEKS DURING WHICH TIME PARENTS ARE ASKED TO MONITOR THE CHILDREN'S PROGRESS.

BEFORE ENDING HIS TOUR, SIR DAVID WAS BRIEFED ON THE EXPANSION PROGRAMME OF THE CHILD ASSESSMENT SERVICE.

PLANNING IS UNDERWAY FOR ESTABLISHING SIX ADDITIONAL CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

BAN ON SMOKELESS TOBACCO PROPOSED

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THE GOVERNMENT IS PREPARING LEGISLATION AIMED AT BANNING THE IMPORTATION, MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF ORALLY-TAKEN SMOKELESS TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

THIS WILL BE DONE UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE WHICH EMPOWERS THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL TO MAKE REGULATIONS TO PROHIBIT OR REGULATE THE IMPORTATION OF ANY FOOD OR DRUG WHICH HE CONSIDERS TO BE PREJUDICIAL TO PUBLIC HEALTH. THE ORDINANCE WILL BE AMENDED TO ENABLE REGULATIONS TO BE MADE TO BAN THE SALE OR MANUFACTURE OF SUCH PRODUCTS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE SAN WOULD RELATE TO +MOIST TOBACCO+ WHICH IS CHEWED OR SUCKED. THE BAN WOULD NOT INCLUDE ANY FORM OF SMOKING TOBACCO SUCH AS CIGARETTES, CIGARS OR PIPE TOBACCO, OR OTHER TYPES OF TRADITIONAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS, SUCH AS SNUFF.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ORALLY-TAKEN SMOKELESS TOBACCO PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN MARKETED IN RECENT YEARS IN THE U.S. AND OTHER COUNTRIES AND HAVE FOUND CONSIDERABLE APPEAL AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE. HOWEVER, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES OVERSEAS HAVE DEMONSTRATED A STRONG ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE TAKING OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO AND THE INCIDENCE OF ORAL CANCER.

THE CANCER USUALLY DEVELOPS AT THE SITE MOST OFTEN IN CONTACT WITH THE TOBACCO AND CAN DEVELOP WITHIN FIVE YEARS. MUCH SOONER THAN THE DEVELOPMENT OF LUNG CANCER FROM CIGARETTE SMOKING.

HE ADDED

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