Lao Dong Newspaper has just coordinated with the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund - Ministry of Health, to organize a seminar on "Comprehensive ban on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products - Necessary decisions in the draft Law on Investment.
Sharing at the seminar, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tri - Member of the 15th National Assembly - Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society expressed concern that currently, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are still widely sold on the market despite the ban.
He expressed concern that although it has only appeared for more than 20 years, it has become popular and spread at the speed of " electronics". E-cigarettes and heated tobacco products are at risk of being mixed with synthetic drugs, causing serious consequences for social security and order, people's health, becoming the perfect disguise to commit crimes, bringing banned substances to schools, public places, and young people without control.
"Many students have electronic cigarette and heated tobacco products in their bags" - Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tri said and frankly expressed his opinion: If they are not determined, hundreds of years from now will not be able to stop e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
"We have just banned it, it's too late, but it's better late. If we do not do it now, spending a lot of money, effort, and damaging the health of the people, we cannot stop it" - Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tri expressed.
Vietnam is following the global trend of tobacco prevention
Looking at the experience of countries around the world, Master Le Thi Thu - Expert from the campaign for Tobacco-free Children organization said that comprehensive ban solutions are a global trend.
According to statistics, 42 countries have banned e-cigarettes, and 24 have banned heated tobacco products. In the ASEAN region, there are 5 countries including Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia that have completely banned e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
In Vietnam, on November 30, 2024, the National Assembly passed Resolution No. 173 on questioning activities at the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly, in which the health sector was regulated: The National Assembly agreed to ban the production, trading, import, storage, transportation, and use of e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, gases, and addictive substances that are harmful to human health from 2025; to ensure public health and social order and safety.
"So, we are on the right track" - Ms. Thu affirmed.
Regarding the direction in the coming time for the implementation of Resolution 173 to be truly effective, Ms. Thu said that, first of all, it is necessary to include e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products in the investment ban list in the Investment Law (amended).
Next, in the Law on Tobacco Prevention, the concept of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products must be included as well as the prohibition of use and advertising activities related to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
"I think we are on track with the global trend," said Ms. Thu.
