4 things you should know about prevention of tobacco harms in Vietnam

04 things you should know about prevention of tobacco harms in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. Principles of prevention of tobacco harms in Vietnam

Principles of prevention of tobacco harms according to Article 3 of the Law on Tobacco harm prevention 2012 are as follows:

- Focusing on taking measures for reducing tobacco demand and gradually reducing tobacco supply sources.

- Concentrating on providing information and education in order to raise awareness of tobacco harms aiming to reduce the proportion of tobacco users and the harms of tobacco use.

- Participating in inter-sectoral coordination, social mobilization, and international cooperation in the prevention of tobacco harms.

- Protecting the right to live and work in a non-smoking environment and to be fully informed of tobacco harms.

2. State policies on prevention of tobacco harms in Vietnam

According to Article 4 of the Law on Tobacco harm prevention 2012 (amended in the Law on amendments to some articles concerning planning of 11 laws 2018), the State policies on prevention of tobacco harms in Vietnam are as follows:

- Socializing resources for preventing tobacco harms.

- Applying appropriate tax policies in order to reduce the proportion of tobacco users.

- The production and sale of tobacco shall be conformable with the target for gradually reducing tobacco supply and tobacco demand.

- Encouraging domestic and foreign agencies, organizations and individuals to provide smoking cessation and treatment services; doing research on tobacco harms and smoking cessation methods; doing research on smoking cessation medications; cooperating in and funding the prevention of tobacco harms and encourage tobacco users to quit voluntarily.

- Encouraging and enabling organizations and individuals that grow tree tobacco, produce and process tobacco ingredients to change their trades or occupations.

- Giving commendations to agencies, organizations and individuals that obtain achievements in the prevention of tobacco harms.

3. Rights and obligations of citizens in the prevention of tobacco harms in Vietnam

Rights and obligations of citizens in the prevention of tobacco harms under Article 7 of the Law on Tobacco harm prevention 2012 are as follows:

- To live and work in an environment without cigarette smoke.

- To request smokers not to smoke at non-smoking places.

- To encourage other people not to use tobacco or quit smoking.

- To request competent agencies, organizations or persons to discipline people who smoke at non-smoking places.

- To report competent agencies or persons that fail to discipline acts of smoking at non-smoking places.

4. International cooperation in the prevention of tobacco harms in Vietnam

International cooperation in the prevention of tobacco harms under Article 8 of the Law on Tobacco harm prevention 2012 is as follows:

- Expanding international cooperation in the prevention of tobacco harms with other countries and international organizations on the basis of equality, respect for national independence and sovereignty and conformity with the law of each country and international law and international practice.

- International cooperation include:

+ Cooperation in the prevention of smuggled and fake tobacco;

+ Cooperation in the prohibition of cross-border advertisement, sales promotion and sponsorship of tobacco;

+ Cooperation in scientific research, training, financial aid and exchange of information relating to the prevention of tobacco harms.

Quoc Dat

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE