On the morning of December 25, the Department of Legal Affairs (Ministry of Health) held a workshop to provide information on the implementation plan of the National Assembly's Resolution on questioning activities at the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly on electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
MSc. Dinh Thi Thu Thuy - Deputy Director of the Department of Legislation, Ministry of Health said that on November 30, 2024, the National Assembly passed Resolution 173/2024/QH15 on questioning activities at the 8th Session, 15th National Assembly; which mentioned the ban on e-cigarettes from 2025.
After the National Assembly Resolution was passed, Vietnam officially became the 6th country in the ASEAN region to completely ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. This is an important and meaningful event not only for Vietnam but also for countries around the world.
This decision demonstrates the support and determination of the Party, National Assembly, and Government in protecting people's health, putting health benefits above economic benefits. This decision has received the consensus and support of the majority of people and has been highly appreciated and praised by the World Health Organization and international friends.
“Until now, we are still moved, when the National Assembly read the full text of Resolution 173, we asked each other if this was true or not?”, Ms. Thuy shared her feelings when the National Assembly unanimously agreed to ban e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.
Regarding the orientation of organizing the implementation of the National Assembly's Resolution, according to MSc. Dinh Thi Thu Thuy, the Ministry of Health has submitted a document to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister asking for direction on 2 contents.
Firstly, the Ministry of Health is assigned to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies and organizations to draft a Government plan to implement Resolution No. 173 on questioning activities at the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly related to electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco, gases, addictive substances, and harmful effects on human health from 2025, ensuring public health, social order and safety.
This plan is expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister for promulgation no later than the first quarter of 2025.
Second, assign the Ministry of Health to develop a Decree amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 117 dated September 28, 2020 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions for violations in the health sector according to simplified procedures.
Regarding the draft plan of the Government, the Ministry of Health is assigned to develop a Decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 117/2020/ND-CP dated September 28, 2020 of the Government regulating administrative sanctions in the health sector, adding the acts of "harboring" and "using" e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, gases, addictive substances, causing harm to human health and adding the authority to sanction these acts according to shortened procedures (because the acts of manufacturing, trading, storing, transporting, and advertising prohibited goods have been sanctioned in Article 8 of Decree No. 98/2020/ND-CP, Article 33 of Decree No. 38/2021/ND-CP and Articles 190 and 191 of the Penal Code);
At the same time, strengthen information and communication education about the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, gases, and addictive substances on human health; sanctions and criminal proceedings to ensure deterrence.
The Government's draft plan also assigns work to the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Industry and Trade... in implementing Resolution 173.
MSc. Dr. Nguyen Tuan Lam, World Health Organization Representative in Vietnam, shared WHO recommendations on implementing the ban on e-cigarettes.
According to this expert, to effectively implement Resolution 173, Vietnam needs to focus on preventing supply, smuggling, trading and advertising of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products; strengthen prevention at border gates as well as at points of sale;
Fines for violations need to be high enough to be a deterrent; there needs to be a strong focus on preventing online trading and advertising; there needs to be a strong campaign launched and maintained, like the mandatory helmet wearing and drink driving ban; combined with media to raise awareness, and multi-sectoral involvement.
There is also a need for regular surveys and assessments to monitor the level of use and effectiveness of enforcement of the ban.
