Pictorial tobacco warnings might be delayed

The move for inserting pictorial warning on tobacco products might not be implemented within the deadline of March 19 this year due to the unwillingness of the tobacco industries.

According to the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage Act (Amended) 2013, tobacco products must come in the market with adequate pictorial warning so that consumers get a clear idea about the hazards of tobacco consumption.

But it could not be enacted at the time due to a lack of adequate rules in the act. To rectify this, the government on March 19 last year issued a gazette notification with rules for proper implementation of the act.

According to article 9 of the rules, tobacco products shall contain pictorial warning showing the hazards of tobacco products usage in 50% area of the upper side of the products package.

It also directs tobacco industries to add the pictorial warning within 12 months from issuance of the rules, a deadline which will expire on March 19 this year.

However, the tobacco industry has already started lobbying with the government agencies concerned as such a pictorial warning will harm their business.

Bangladesh Cigarette Manufacturer’s Association (BCMA) has already sent a letter to the secretary of Health Ministry, claiming that they were yet to understand the explanation of the rules. It also requested the government to provide the explanation.

But anti-tobacco activists say such letters are nothing but attempts by tobacco producers to prolong the implementation of the pictorial warning.

Progga, an anti-tobacco organisation, said the tobacco companies always play such tricks as the proper implementation of the act would reduce their business.

Lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury, on the other hand, sent a letter to the health minister on December 17 last year regarding the ill-motives of tobacco industries and emphasising the need to implement the rules considering the health hazards of tobacco consumption.

However, National Tobacco Control Cell Coordinator Ruhul Kuddus said the government would implement the rules in due time following discussion with the companies.

According to the World Health Organisation, tobacco kills nearly 6 million people each year globally and in Bangladesh the number is approximately 57,000.

Bangladesh is one of the first countries which signed the Framework Convention of Tobacco Control, which has directed the obligation of inserting pictorial warning on Tobacco products. Among the signatories, 77 countries have already implemented the pictorial warning in their products.

Source: dhakatribune,january 16, 2016