Editorial

In this issue of BeitraegezurTabakforschung International/Contributions to Tobacco Research, we publish a ‘Letter to the Editor’ written by R. Baker (p. 360). This letter is a reply to a commentary by S. Shatenstein published in Tobacco Control (11, 174-175, 2002) which provided a critique of a review written by Baker on standards for smoking-machine methodology which appeared in this journal (Beitr. Tabakforsch. Int. 20, 23-41, 2002). The reason why we as editors of Beitraege have decided to publish the letter is simple, the editors of Tobacco Control, the appropriate place for publication, did not allow its publication. In the interest of a fair and scientific discussion of this matter, we think that an author whose paper is criticized publicly should have the chance to reply. However, we regret that Shatenstein's critique and Baker's reply might reach totally different readers.