Work On Tobacco Control Bill Progressing Well

• Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has said that the work of the Joint Select Committee of Parliament on the Tobacco Control Bill is progressing well. He noted that he has seen “progress” in the submissions from several interest groups and that the manufacturing company, Carreras Group, is scheduled to address the Committee. The bill could lead to a significant rise in costs, a reduction in demand and lower profits for local cigarette distributor, Carreras Limited. 
• Tufton advised that at the end of the deliberations, Jamaica will have a comprehensive legislation that is going to regulate how the tobacco trade is practiced, how the laws are enforced, the fines to be charged and restrictions to be imposed on activities such as advertising and smoking in certain locations. 
• The intent of reforming the tobacco legislation is to help address issues associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. These NCDs are caused by four major behavioural risk factors, including tobacco use, which is also the most preventable. 
• Tufton has also highlighted that the law will also put Jamaica in a position to satisfy its obligations under the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Treaty (FCTC) and generally restrict consumption of tobacco, because of the ill effects of consuming the product.

(Source: JIS News & NCBCM Research)