vietnam government resolution on tobacco control policy

8/9/2019 Vietnam Government Resolution on Tobacco Control Policy

1/7

1

Government

No.12/2000/NQ-CP

SocialistRepublicofVietnam

IndependenceFreedom-

Happiness

-------------------

Hanoi,14August2000

GovernmentResolutionon"NationalTobaccoControlPolicy"2000-2010

Tobaccocausesmanydangerousdiseasessuchaslungcancer,cardiacinfarction, arteriosclerosis and respiratory diseases. According to a

survey carriedout in1997, the rateofmale smokers inVietnamwas

50% and the corresponding rate for female smokerswas 3.4%. It is

estimated that 10% of the present population (about more than 7

million)nowalivewilldieprematurelyduetotobacco-relateddiseases

outofwhom3.7millionwilldieduringtheirmiddleage.Inaccordance

withthepredictionofWHO,by2020,themortalityrateduetotobacco

will be higher than the aggregate mortality rate due to HIV/AIDS,

tuberculosis,roadaccidentsandsuicidesaddedaltogether.

Inadditiontoharmfuleffectsonhealth,smokingalsocausesmanybig

economic losses to society as a whole and to every household. It is

estimatedthatinVietnam,economic lossesfromtobaccoconsumption

aremuchbiggerthanthe contributionsof the tobaccoindustryto the

nationalbudget,whichonlyaccountfor1/3oftheamounts(aboutVND

6,000billion)thatpeoplespendontobacco.

Therefore, the Government of Vietnam has decided upon the

promulgationofa"NationalTobaccoControlPolicy"forthe2000-2010period.

I. Objectives

1. Overallobjective

To reduce the demand for tobacco products so as to control and

graduallyreducethesupplyoftobaccoproductsinordertoreducethe

morbidityandmortalityduetotobacco-relateddiseases.


2/7

2

2.Specificobjectives

Reducetheproportionofmalesmokersfrom50%to20%. Reducetheproportionoffemalesmokerstoalevelbelow2%.

Reducetheproportionofyoungsmokers(15-24yearsofage)from26%to7%. Protecttherightsofnon-smokerstobreatheclean,smoke-freeair. Reducetobacco-relatedlossesforindividuals,familiesandsocietyas

awhole.

II. Content

1.Policiestoreducedemandfortobaccoproducts

a) Health education (information, education and

communication)

Astrategyfor information,educationandcommunicationforreducing

thedemandfortobaccoproductsmustbemade.

Ensurethatthewholepopulationisprovidedwithrelevantandreliable

information about tobacco as related to health hazards, financial

consequences,legalaspectsandsocialnorms.

Information-education-communicationactivities,theculturalvillage

andfamilymovementatthecommunityshouldbepromoted,especially

amongtheyouthviaeducationactivitiesatschool.

Medicalprofessionalsoughttobeadequatelytrainedandinstructedto

be able to provide all patients and their relatives with relevant

information about health hazards as well as the bad effects of the

tobaccosmokeonhealthandmethodsforsmokingcessation.

b) Strict control over advertising, sales promotion and

sponsorshipofdifferenttypes

Banning all forms of both direct and indirect advertising of tobacco

productsincludingtheuseofbrandsoftobaccoproducts,trademarks

andlogosonnon-tobaccoproductsandservices.

Strictly prohibiting the organization ofmarketing activities, including

the use of the system of marketing staff for sales promotion andprintingoftrademarksorlabelsonvehicles.


3/7

3

Strictly conforming to the Trade Law in which it is regulated that

commercially initiated free distribution of cigarettes and similar

marketing methods of tobacco products to children under 16 are

prohibited.

Banning domestic organizations from receiving sponsorship from

tobaccocompaniesforcultural,artandsporteventsrelatedtotobacco

advertising.

c) Healthwarnings

Healthwarningsareobligatorytobevisiblyandclearlyprintedonall

packetsoftobaccoproducts.Thehealthwarningsmustbeimpressive,

highly visible and carry a strong, brief message. It must also in thecoming future show the hazardous contents (especially nicotine and

tar)oneverypackoftobacco.

d)Taxesandpricesoftobaccoproducts

Tobaccoisatypeofharmfulgoodsofwhichtheconsumptionmustnot

beencouraged, thus taxes imposedon tobaccoproductsmustbe ata

highlevel.

The Government should regulate prices of tobacco products so as to

preventdumpingprices.

e) Smokingcessationsupport

Encouraging, organizing and supporting smoking cessation methods

andexploringsmokingcessationmethodswhichareappropriatewith

theVietnamesecontext.

Increasing training for health staff as regards different appropriate

affordablemethodsofsmokingcessationforeverytargetgroup.

Promoting the role of every individual, the family, community and

societyinencouragingsmokerstogiveupsmoking.

f) Smoke-freeareas

Smoking is banned at meetings, offices, health facilities, schools,

kindergartens, cinemas, theatres and on public transport means,crowdedplaces.Smokingareasshouldberegulated.


4/7

4

Encouraging and mobilizing people not to smoke at social festivals,

weddings,funerals...

2. Policiestoreducesupplyoftobaccoproducts

a. Strictcontrolovertobaccoproduction

TheGovernmentshallhavethemonopolyincigaretteproduction.Only

public enterprises and licensed joint-ventures under good conditions

accordingtotheregulationsoftheGovernmentareallowedtoproduce

tobacco products. Enterprises are not allowed to extent their

investment or make new investments to exceed the present level of

totalcigaretteproductioncapacity.

Newprojectsoncooperation,productionorjointventureswithforeign

countries in producing cigarettes must be ceased and no more

cigarettesofforeignbrandsareproduced.

Securingthestandardsoftobaccoqualityaccordingtothestandardsof

Vietnam. Gradually reducing the level of nicotine and tar content of

Vietnamesecigarettestothelevelnowappliedindevelopedcountries.

Strictlycontrollingtheprintingofcigarettetrademarksandpackagesinorder to prevent the production of fake cigarettes or fake cigarette

brands.

Workers of the tobacco industry must be guaranteed to work in a

hygienicenvironmentasregulated.

b. Controlofcigarettetrading

Tobaccoisatypeofgoodsofwhichtradingislimitedinaccordance

withtheregulationoftheDecree11/1999/ND-CPdated3/3/1999of

the Government.The Governmentmust control the circulation and

consumption of cigarettes on the market, gradually take the

monopoly inwholesale tradeand strictlycontrol the retail tradeof

tobaccoproducts.

Banningsalesoftobaccoproductstopeopleunderage18.

Taking strict measures to prevent and handle the production and

consumptionoffaketobaccoproductsandfakedcigarettebrands.


5/7

5

c. Banningtobaccoimportation

TheGovernmentshouldkeepthepolicyonbanningtheimportation

and circulation of foreign cigarettes in the market of Vietnamaccording to the 278/CT Instruction by the Prime Minister dated

3/8/1990.

d. Controllingsmugglingoftobaccoproducts

Intensifyinginspectionandstrictlyhandlingviolations.

Developingamovementinwhichthewholepopulationisengagedin

preventing smuggling, transporting, sales and consumption ofsmuggled cigarettes. Certain financial incentives to promote the

movementofpreventingsmugglingandsalesofsmuggledcigarettes

shouldbeapplied.

Strengthening economic solutions, creating jobs with sustainable

incomeforpeoplelivingonborderareassothattheyvolunteernotto

get involved in transporting and lending a hand to cigarette

smugglingviaborders.

3. Expandinginternationalcooperationintobaccocontrol

Promoting an international exchange of experiences and first of all

among countries in the region as regards formulation and

implementationofpoliciesandstrategiestoreducedemandandsupply

oftobaccoproducts.

Exploring possibilities for increased technical and financial support

from bilateral and multilateral donors as well as from NGOs to the

NationalTobaccoControlPolicy.

4. Implementationofnationaltobaccocontrolpoliciesofthe2000

-2010period

Establishing a National Tobacco Control Program to organize the

implementationofnationaltobaccocontrolpolicies.

Authoritiesatalllevelsareresponsibleforguidingandsupervisingthe

implementationofnationaltobaccocontrolpolicies.


6/7

6

All ministries, sectors and Peoples Committees at all levels in

collaboration with the Fatherland Front and socio-political

organizationsshouldmobilizepeople,inparticularyoungpeople,notto

startsmokingandencouragesmokerstoreduceandgiveupsmoking.

PreparationsshouldbemadetoissueLawonTobaccoControl.

5. ImplementationofNationalTobaccoControlProgram

TheMinister of Health is assigned to be theHead of this National

TobaccoControlProgram.

ThestandingbodyoftheProgramshouldbelocatedattheMinistry

ofHealth.

The leaders of the following Ministries should participate in the

Steering Board of the Program: Ministries of Trade; Culture and

Information;Industry;Finance;AgricultureandRuralDevelopment;

Education and Training; Planning and Investment; Justice; Science,

Technology andEnvironment;VietnameseCommittee ofChild Care

and Protection. The Vietnamese Fatherland Front; Vietnamese

Confederation;Farmers'Organization;Women'sUnion;YouthUnion;

Veterans'AssociationshouldassignrepresentativestoparticipateintheSteeringCommitteeoftheProgram.

The Steering Committee of the Program is in charge of developing

and organizing the implementation of the national tobacco control

planofthe2000-2010period.

6. All ministries, ministerial bodies, Government offices and

People'sCommitteeatalllevelsshouldorganizeandimplement

theNationalTobaccoControlPolicyof2000-2010period.

The Vietnamese Fatherland Front and other socio-political

organizations should collaborate with the health sector and

concernedGovernmentbodies tomobilize thewholepopulation to

actively support and participate in tobacco control activities to

protectpeople'shealth soastoimprove the qualityofpeople's life

andpromotethesocio-economicdevelopmentofthecountry.


7/7

7

On behalf of the GovernmentPrime Minister

(Signed)

Phan Van Khai

vietnam government resolution on tobacco control policy

Documents