http://www.nst.com.my
Tuesday August 24, 2004
PENANG : These are among a slew of measures being considered to discourage the smoking habit.
Health Minister Datuk Chua Soi Lek said other steps being considered included gazetting more areas as non-smoking zones, including places of worship, public toilets and hotel lobbies.
"We want to limit sales of cigarettes to only packs of 20s to discourage people from smoking besides limiting the number of places where cigarettes can be sold,' he told reporters after opening the "Asean Consultation on the Impact of the Asean Free Trade Agreement on Tobacco Trade and Health" seminar here. He said these proposals would come into force once amendments to the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 1993 were gazetted.
Cigarettes are currently sold in packs containing various combinations ranging from six to 20 sticks. He said the Government was also planning to establish a Health Promotion Foundation to be funded by sin taxes from tobacco and alcohol.
Dr Chua said the foundation would be set up in six months to a year's time.
On the reduction in nicotine and tar levels, he said they might fall from 1.5 mg and 20 mg per stick to 1.3 mg and 15 mg per stick respectively.
Asked why tobacco companies were still advertising on television despite a ban, Chua said he was aware of the matter and had raised it at a recent Cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, he said it was vital that excise and sales taxes be used as policy tools to raise the real cost of tobacco products.
"Tax and revenues from tobacco could then be earmarked for funding of tobacco control activities such as smoking cessation programmes, counter advertising of health promotion and research," he said. Dr Chua said this was because tariffs for all manufactured and agricultural products of Asean origin would be reduced to between zero and five per cent within 15 years under the Asean Free Trade Agreement.
As with other industries, tobacco multinationals may attempt to capitalise on this provision.
"We should ask ourselves, is it correct to allow the producers of something so dangerous and addictive to be given so much privilege?," he asked. He said manufacturers of tobacco-related products could forget about making Malaysia a regional distribution hub.
He said Asean governments should unite to apply all means at their disposal to reduce the smoking habit.