According to a report by Nguoiduatin on November 10, the Vietnamese National Assembly will start the questioning session of its eighth meeting on the 11th. The Minister of Health will respond to questions regarding the harms of tobacco, particularly its impact in school environments, on the afternoon of the 11th.
Minister of Health Đào Hồng Lan pointed out during the meeting that the Ministry of Health has submitted multiple reports to the government and relevant National Assembly agencies regarding the management of new types of tobacco, such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco. These products pose serious risks to health, economy, society, and the environment, especially directly threatening the youth.
The Ministry of Health stated that it is collaborating with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and other agencies to implement various measures to promote awareness and prevent the harms of new types of tobacco. However, the report also highlighted existing issues, such as the lack of effective legal management mechanisms for electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco.
The Tobacco Harm Prevention Law does not include concepts of “electronic cigarettes” or “heated tobacco”; there are no regulations concerning the accessories and accompanying devices used with electronic cigarettes or heated tobacco; and there is currently no designated agency responsible for regulating the quality management of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Article 23, Clause 3 of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Law only states that “the Minister of Health shall promulgate national technical regulations on cigarettes.” Therefore, electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Law.
The Ministry of Health recommends amending and supplementing the Tobacco Harm Prevention Law, planning to introduce a ban on the production and sale of electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco, and other new types of tobacco to strengthen legal regulation.
Additionally, there are plans to increase special consumption taxes on new tobacco products to achieve the strategic goal of reducing tobacco use by 2030. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health believes that enhancing public education on the harms of these products is also considered an important measure to prevent their widespread dissemination.
Topic Author
