Wednesday, August 1, 2007
THE sultanate's Tobacco Order will be fully enforced in early 2008, according to Dr Hjh Kalsom Abd Latif, acting director general of health services at the Ministry of Health.
In a press conference yesterday morning, Dr Hjh Kalsom revealed that starting this month, the gazetted order will allow a final grace period of six months before it comes into full effect.
In her statement, the doctor disclosed that the order is brought about as a result of the danger and the negative effects of the use of tobacco products on the nation's health, economy and environment.
The aim of the order, according to Dr Hjh Kalsom is to protect the people.
The use of tobacco in any form causes addiction and deterioration of health.
The World Health Organisation estimates that five million people die every year a result of tobacco use.
85-95 per cent of all lung cancer patients are smokers according to WHO. Other than lung cancer, smoking also causes cancer of the cervix and kidney.
Additional ailments attributed to tobacco use are emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, cancer of the mouth, throat and neck, heart attacks, stroke, cardiovascular diseases and infertility.
These chronic diseases, besides causing suffering to people, are a heavy burden to the economy of the nation.
"The chronic diseases caused by tobacco implicates high treatment costs," said Dr Hjh Kalsom.
According to Suzilawaty Pg Seri Indera Pg Hj Ismail, the legal advisor to the Ministry of Health, the Tobacco Order consists of six main parts and 36 sections.
Part II of the Order concerning the control of tobacco products, sets out provisions which include the prohibition on sale of imitation tobacco products, (in the form of confectionary or any food product, toy or any article that resembles a tobacco product or sold in a package that resembles the packaging commonly associated with tobacco products)
The rest of the order sets out provisions such as: the prohibition of sponsorship; the prohibition on sales promotion; the prohibition on advertising, including orally and hoarding in any form whatsoever; the prohibition on supplying tobacco products to persons below the age of 18; the control of smoking or chewing any tobacco product in a public place, or buying or having in their possession any tobacco product by persons below the age of 18; the requirement for retailers to display notices stating that selling any tobacco product to persons below the age of 18 is prohibited by law; the requirement for importers, distributors and retailers to be licensed.
For the purposes of the Order, "tobacco product" means a cigarette, cigar or any other form of tobacco including any mixture containing tobacco.
The Order also provides that it is an offence to smoke in certain places and vehicles whereby anyone found contravening this provision is guilty of an offence and carries a fine not exceeding $1,000.
Furthermore, the Order requires that managers of specified places or operators of specified vehicles display notices which states that smoking is prohibited by law.
Where any person smokes in any specified place or specified vehicle, the manager or operator is required to inform the person to stop smoking immediately.
If that person refuses or fails to stop smoking, the manager or operator is required to ask that person to leave immediately.
Speaking to The Brunei Times, Dr Hjh Kalsom said one of the purpose of the soon-to-be enforced Tobacco Order is to deter and ultimately eliminate under age smoking.
"The government is very concerned with children and ever younger youths taking up the habit," said Dr Hjh Kalsom " hopefully with the help of the Order things will change for the better".
"The Order will also protect non-smokers from passive smoking," added the doctor.
Legal advisor Suzilawaty further said smoking is to be prohibited on all government property including offices, restrooms and premises.
Also prohibited will be smoking in public transport vehicles. Private companies are required to ensure tobacco smoke is kept away from common access areas like toilets, stairs or hallways said Suzilawaty.
Accordingly smoke from tobacco use has to be ventilated away from any area where there are people, to which the legal advisor added, "regarding the sale of tobacco products to minors, shopkeepers have to show reasonable suspicion and have the right to and is required to ask for identification in the event of an uncertainty of the age of the buyer".
The Brunei Times
In a press conference yesterday morning, Dr Hjh Kalsom revealed that starting this month, the gazetted order will allow a final grace period of six months before it comes into full effect.
In her statement, the doctor disclosed that the order is brought about as a result of the danger and the negative effects of the use of tobacco products on the nation's health, economy and environment.
The aim of the order, according to Dr Hjh Kalsom is to protect the people.
The use of tobacco in any form causes addiction and deterioration of health.
The World Health Organisation estimates that five million people die every year a result of tobacco use.
85-95 per cent of all lung cancer patients are smokers according to WHO. Other than lung cancer, smoking also causes cancer of the cervix and kidney.
Additional ailments attributed to tobacco use are emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, cancer of the mouth, throat and neck, heart attacks, stroke, cardiovascular diseases and infertility.
These chronic diseases, besides causing suffering to people, are a heavy burden to the economy of the nation.
"The chronic diseases caused by tobacco implicates high treatment costs," said Dr Hjh Kalsom.
According to Suzilawaty Pg Seri Indera Pg Hj Ismail, the legal advisor to the Ministry of Health, the Tobacco Order consists of six main parts and 36 sections.
Part II of the Order concerning the control of tobacco products, sets out provisions which include the prohibition on sale of imitation tobacco products, (in the form of confectionary or any food product, toy or any article that resembles a tobacco product or sold in a package that resembles the packaging commonly associated with tobacco products)
The rest of the order sets out provisions such as: the prohibition of sponsorship; the prohibition on sales promotion; the prohibition on advertising, including orally and hoarding in any form whatsoever; the prohibition on supplying tobacco products to persons below the age of 18; the control of smoking or chewing any tobacco product in a public place, or buying or having in their possession any tobacco product by persons below the age of 18; the requirement for retailers to display notices stating that selling any tobacco product to persons below the age of 18 is prohibited by law; the requirement for importers, distributors and retailers to be licensed.
For the purposes of the Order, "tobacco product" means a cigarette, cigar or any other form of tobacco including any mixture containing tobacco.
The Order also provides that it is an offence to smoke in certain places and vehicles whereby anyone found contravening this provision is guilty of an offence and carries a fine not exceeding $1,000.
Furthermore, the Order requires that managers of specified places or operators of specified vehicles display notices which states that smoking is prohibited by law.
Where any person smokes in any specified place or specified vehicle, the manager or operator is required to inform the person to stop smoking immediately.
If that person refuses or fails to stop smoking, the manager or operator is required to ask that person to leave immediately.
Speaking to The Brunei Times, Dr Hjh Kalsom said one of the purpose of the soon-to-be enforced Tobacco Order is to deter and ultimately eliminate under age smoking.
"The government is very concerned with children and ever younger youths taking up the habit," said Dr Hjh Kalsom " hopefully with the help of the Order things will change for the better".
"The Order will also protect non-smokers from passive smoking," added the doctor.
Legal advisor Suzilawaty further said smoking is to be prohibited on all government property including offices, restrooms and premises.
Also prohibited will be smoking in public transport vehicles. Private companies are required to ensure tobacco smoke is kept away from common access areas like toilets, stairs or hallways said Suzilawaty.
Accordingly smoke from tobacco use has to be ventilated away from any area where there are people, to which the legal advisor added, "regarding the sale of tobacco products to minors, shopkeepers have to show reasonable suspicion and have the right to and is required to ask for identification in the event of an uncertainty of the age of the buyer".
The Brunei Times