WHO Urges Vietnam to Ban New Generation Tobacco Products
Dr. Nguyen Tuan Lam, a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), has recommended that the Vietnam legislature pass a resolution to prohibit the importation, production, distribution, and sale of new generation nicotine products, local media reported,
Advertising and promotion of these products should be banned, with clear regulations on enforcement responsibilities and sanctions, Mr. Lam added, highlighting that while new generation tobacco products are not currently licensed for importation, advertising, or sale in Vietnam, pirated products are widely available due to lax law enforcement.
In the long term, Vietnam needs to transfer and finalize these ban regulations through an amendment to the Law on Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harm, he said.
Ms. Dinh Thi Thu Thuy, deputy director of the Legal Department under the Ministry of Health, noted that five ASEAN countries, namely Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei, currently ban e-cigarettes.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Health is preparing documents and plans for submission to the Ministry of Justice for appraisal of a draft resolution, she said, adding that the regulations will prohibit all production, sale, import, storage, and advertising of electronic cigarettes, heated cigarettes, and other new-generation tobacco products to safeguard public health, especially among the younger generation.
If approved by the government, the resolution is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for approval during the coming October session, she added.
Research across 11 provinces and cities in Vietnam shows that the rate of e-cigarette use among students aged 13-15 rose to 8% in 2023 from 3.5% in 2022.