Proposal to promulgate regulations on preventing e-cigarette products in Vietnam

Proposal to promulgate regulations on preventing e-cigarette products in Vietnam (Internet image) 

On May 24, 2023, the Prime Minister of Vietnam issued Decision 568/QD-TTg approving the National Strategy on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control until 2030.

Proposal to promulgate regulations on preventing e-cigarette products in Vietnam

According to Decision 568/QD-TTg, the Prime Minister has set out tasks and solutions to improve mechanisms, policies, and laws on the prevention and control of tobacco harms as follows:

- Develop a roadmap to increase taxes on tobacco products to ensure that by 2030, the tax rate will reach the proportion of the retail price as recommended by the World Health Organization;

- Prescribe the minimum selling price of tobacco products; study and evaluate the effectiveness of the plan for calculating tax on tobacco products on the retail price in order to achieve the goal of reducing the rate of tobacco use;

- Restrict and strictly control the sale of tobacco products at duty-free shops;

- Propose to promulgate regulations on preventing e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, shisha, and other new tobacco products in the community;

- The sale of tobacco to minors or minors selling tobacco under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization.

- Continue to research and propose to expand areas where smoking is completely prohibited;

- Study appropriate sanctions for violations of regulations on the prevention and control of tobacco harm, especially acts of smoking at places where regulations are prohibited;

- Continue to supplement, amend, and complete legal provisions on banning advertising and promotion of tobacco products, including online advertising and promotion forms on digital platforms, the internet;

- Research and propose to promulgate regulations on the production and import of detoxification support products; research and propose payment for smoking cessation treatment and counseling from the Health Insurance Fund;

- Research, develop, and supplement legal provisions on the trading of tobacco products in the direction of reducing domestic tobacco consumption;

- Strengthen penalties for violations related to trading in tobacco products;

- Study and propose to join the Protocol on Combating Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products to implement the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization;

- Continue to research and develop mechanisms and policies to support the conversion and replacement of tobacco plants with suitable plants and animals;

- Continue to study measures to protect the environment and human health related to tobacco cultivation and production; formulate roadmaps and plans to relocate tobacco factories away from residential areas according to planning;

- Propose solutions to strengthen the integration of tobacco harm prevention and control activities into environmental protection programs and activities;

To promote education on harms and harm prevention and control among students at educational institutions in Vietnam

Specifically, the Prime Minister requested to promote education on harmful effects and prevention and control of tobacco harms for teachers and students at educational institutions; develop educational materials and organize communication activities on prevention and control of tobacco harms suitable to all educational levels and grades;

In addition, it also performs the following tasks and solutions for strengthening and renewing information, education, and communication activities on tobacco harm prevention and control:

- Develop information and communication programs and plans on tobacco harm prevention and control suitable to each period;

- Regularly organize communication activities on the prevention and control of tobacco harms in various forms, suitable to the characteristics of each region and each target group;

- Increase the use of information technology and social networks in communication to prevent and control the harmful effects of tobacco;

- Regularly update documents and information on the harmful effects of tobacco, especially new tobacco products; the benefits of smoking cessation, smoke-free living environment; policies and laws on the prevention and control of tobacco harms;

- Promote the role of the network of collaborators in the prevention and control of tobacco harms in the community by mobilizing and guiding people to strictly comply with legal regulations and actively participate in activities to prevent and control the harmful effects of tobacco.

More details can be found in Decision 568/QD-TTg effective from the date of signing.

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