Strong deterrent bill in offing

The draft of the anti-tobacco bill is in its final stage in parliament. As soon as parliament approves the Tobacco Control and Regulatory Act-2010, the government will ban smoking or use of tobacco products in public places with punishment attached for the offence.

Bal Sagar Giri, undersecretary and chief of the legal section of Health Ministry, said legislation is in its final stage. After parliament passes the bill, the ministry will formulate provisions within 91 days to effectively implement the act.

The World No Tobacco Day was celebrated in Nepal today with the slogan ‘Gender and tobacco, with emphasis on marketing for women.’

The draft of the Anti-tobacco bill prohibits smoking in public vehicles, health organisations, child welfare and child care institutions and educational institutions, among others.

The draft includes provision of fine ranging from a minimum of Rs 5,000 to a maximum of Rs 100,000. The minimum fine will apply to people who smoke at public places, while companies that place billboards of tobacco products will be charged maximum fine.

“The Constitutional Committee of parliament has amended a bill prepared by the government making it mandatory to allocate 75 percent of space in cigarette packets or wrappers or labels of any tobacco product for anti-tobacco use messages and pictures,” said Giri.

As per the bill, only license holders can sell tobacco products and such products should not be sold to people below the age of 18 or over 75, and smokers can smoke only in designated places.

The bill has proposed ban on all types of advertisement and endorsement of tobacco products in the media and gatherings. It has also banned publicity by companies while sponsoring programmes, informed Giri.

Nepal had signed the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2003 and ratified it in November 2006. With ratification of the Convention, Nepal must promulgate proper domestic laws to control production and trade in tobacco products.

Dr Yasho Bardhan Pradhan, director general, Department of Health Service, recommended that tax on tobacco products be hiked every year. The retail price of tobacco products should also be hiked by 66 per cent, he said.

“A 1992 cabinet decision had banned smoking in public places. This was revised in 2010” said Pradhan, adding, “The Supreme Court also issued orders to ban smoking in public places and advertisement of tobacco products in 2006 and 2009.” “However, these have not been implemented yet.”