The Vietnamese Government proposed applying a monopoly over tobacco production and import to control the supply and reduce tobacco use.
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| The Vietnamese Government proposed applying a monopoly over tobacco production and import to control the supply and reduce tobacco use. |
The Draft Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control, which the Government submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee for consideration on September 30, included the proposed regulation among other.
According to the Government, Vietnam now has 17 tobacco producers that churn out 5.2 billion packets of cigarettes each year. Tobacco prices in Vietnam are lowest in the world, meanwhile, the illegally-imported tobacco business has not been brought under control.
Vietnam is also among countries with the highest number of smokers worldwide. The country witnesses nearly 40,000 smoking-related deaths every year, Ministry of Health said.
The Draft Law would also ban tobacco promotion, advertisement, marketing and sales to people under 18 years old.
The Government also suggested a fee for tobacco to be controlled and regulated by the Ministry of Finance. However the National Assembly Standing Committee denied this proposal, saying that an additional consumption tax should be placed on tobacco instead.
The National Assembly Committee for Social Affairs said that tobacco production and trade is an area of business, and so the draft should be clear in its regulations.
Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chung Luu suggested that stricter regulation and enforcement should be placed on smoking at public places, as well as other tobacco-related violations in the draft law.
The Draft Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control will be submitted during the Nation’s 2nd session scheduled to open on October 20.
