Singapore to ban existing and emerging tobacco products as pre-emptive measure

Singapore's Ministry of Health has announced plans to ban existing and emerging tobacco products in two phases as a "pre-emptive measure to protect public health against the known and potential harms of such products".

"Besides protecting the public from the health risks associated with the consumption of emerging tobacco products, the ban is aimed at ensuring that the targeted emerging tobacco products do not gain a foothold or become entrenched in the Singapore market," the statement said.

In addition to preventing these products from "stimulating demand for and thereby increasing the prevalence of tobacco consumption", it will also prevent such products from becoming "gateway" or "starter" products for non-smokers, it added.

In a statement released on 15 June, the ministry said under the first phase, tobacco products that are currently not available in Singapore will be banned with effect from 15 December 2015.

The second phase will cover a ban on products already available in the market and will take effect from 1 August 2016. The delay in the ban is to allow for businesses to "adjust their operating models and deplete their existing stocks of such products."

On 9 June, the Welsh government announced plans to put in place legislation to ban e-cigarettes in public places.

Source: International Business Times

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World No Tobacco Day 2015: Joining forces for a cause

Oncologists, cardiologists, researchers, Government, and civil society groups joined forces on World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) today – an annual occasion to drive home the harms of tobacco use and advocate policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

Dr MKC Nair, Vice Chancellor, Kerala University of Health Sciences while inaugurating the event said, “There is undisputable evidence that tobacco use causes cancer. The key is preventing initiation to tobacco products and refraining from developing this bad habit.” He appealed to children to be wary of these products and dissuade family members from its use. 

Dr Paul Sebastian, Director, Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in his presidential address said that developing sensitivities is critical in our society. “There are high levels of knowledge and awareness but people continue to use these products. Tobacco use victims sharing their experiences could be a powerful means of developing sensitivities.” 

Dr Sebastian also read out a message from the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala Shri Oommen Chandy. 

The theme of WNTD 2015 is “Stop illicit trade of tobacco products”. Dr KR Thankappan, Professor and Head, Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies dealt on the theme as he delivered the keynote address on “Preventing illicit trade through 85 per cent pictorial warnings on all tobacco product packs”.

“Illicit tobacco trade creates huge revenue losses to the Government; during the year 2014-15 the Government lost Rs 2363 crores.” He also spoke about the rampant use of banned tobacco products by migrants in Kerala and called for speedy implementation of 85 per cent pictorial warnings on all tobacco product packs.

Dr N Sreedhar, Director of Health Services highlighted the various tobacco control activities of the Health Services such as making Kerala the first tobacco ad-free state in the country.

Former Secretary of Regional Cancer Association Shri Janardhana Iyer was honoured on the occasion. Shri Renjith Chathoth, Editor, Mathrubhumi Arogyamasika was given away the Best Cancer Awareness article instituted by Regional Cancer Association. 

The inaugural session was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Multi-sectoral interventions to counter illicit tobacco trade’ in which representatives of Police, Excise, Health, Food Safety, youth, media and tobacco use victim shared their thoughts. The panel discussion called for de-glamourisation of tobacco use and sustained, proactive and coordinated efforts at various levels.  

Shri PV Muralikumar, Joint Excise Commissioner; Dr AS Pradeep Kumar, Retd.Additional Director of Health Services; Shri D Shivakumar, Assistant Food Safety Commissioner; Shri Jawahar Janard, Assistant Commissioner of Police; Shri Rahul Easwar, Kerala Youth Mission Outreach Programme Coordinator; Shri Renjith Chatoth and Shri Jawahar, tobacco use victim were the panellists. Shri Surendran Chunakara, PRO, RCC moderated the session.

Dr Padmalatha, Deputy Director, Public Health, Directorate of Health Services; Dr M Sivaraman, Vice President, Regional Cancer Association; Shri S Jayaraj, State Coordinator, Tobacco Free Kerala; Shri Johnson J Edayaranmula, Director, ADIC-India and Dr R Jayakrishnan, Assistant Professor, RCC also spoke.

Kerala State Health Services; Sree Chitra Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology; Regional Cancer Association; Tobacco Free Kerala; ADIC-India and Kerala Voluntary Health Services (KVHS) partnered with RCC for WNTD 2015.

More than 200 participants including women members of Kudumbashree; Mahila Samakhya; National Savings Department; Student Police Cadets; Health Inspectors and Health Supervisors attached to Directorate of Health Services were present.

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Kerala’s water transport becomes tobacco smoke-free

Kerala’s famed inland water transport that provides a cheap, efficient and pleasant mode of transport to over 25 million passengers a year has another feather to its cap — it is now completely tobacco smoke-free.

Reply to an RTI query filed with the State Water Transport Department reveals that all its 56 serviceable boats in Kerala have displayed ‘No Smoking’ signages as a measure of warning and protecting passengers from the ills of tobacco smoke.

These boats ply in the waterlogged districts of Alappuzha, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kasargod.

Alappuzha district has 28 boats, accounting for 50 per cent of the total boats and servicing around 35,000 passengers a day.  The other boats are in Ernakulam (9); Kottayam (7); Kollam (4); Kasargod (2); Kannur (1) and 5 spare boats.

Shri Shaji V Nair, Director of Alappuzha-based State Water Transport Department, said, “We have taken strict measures to ensure that smoking is not permitted in any of the boats under the Department. This is done for two reasons: safeguard passengers from second-hand smoke and keep the water bodies free from cigarette and bidi stubs litter.”

Shri Nair stated that “the boat master who is the captain of the boat has been directed to keep a strict vigil. Special squads have been formed to inspect any cases of smoking onboard. Action is taken against the errant staff member if the inspection reveals inaction against any complaints of smoking in the boats.”

Shri Anilkumar Pandala, an expert in the transport sector, said, “Kerala’s water transport being smoke-free is a significant step forward towards achieving total smoke-free public places.”

Shri Pandala, who is Associate Vice President, IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd., noted that public transport in the state is mostly free of smoking. “We have a strict law that prohibits smoking in public places; it provides a strong foundation. Strict enforcement of the law and making it uniformly applicable to all is important.”

Shri Pandala also called upon enforcement officials to ensure that smoking is prohibited in public places such as bus stands and bus stops.

Smoking is prohibited in all public places under Section 4 of the Indian tobacco control law, COTPA, 2003. Public conveyances fall under the definition of a public place of this legislation. 

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