Health Minister wants private sector to comment on Tobacco Standard

Sep 22, 2009 News

Guyana has been making remarkable strides in its quest to implement the long awaited Tobacco Standard which was drafted by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS).

But according to Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, although the aim of the proposed Standard is to heighten awareness of the nicotine-based substance and by extension, reduce its consumption, some members of the private sector have raised their concerns.

Dr Ramsammy disclosed that the GNBS recently submitted the proposed standard to the Ministry of Tourism which is tasked with undertaking its own focused consultations.

And it was since the commencement of the consultation, Minister Ramsammy revealed, that he was informed that the private sector has concerns about the recommendations detailed in the proposed standard.

“The Ministry (Tourism) has indicated to me that the private sector has met with them and has raised concerns over the recommendations. But it is still up to Cabinet to approve the standard. It hasn’t come to Cabinet as yet because right now the Ministry has to be convinced and is rightfully listening to all the parties.”

Nonetheless, the Minister noted that he is interested in finding out more about the concerns. “I would like the private sector to let me know how they feel. I am not talking about the Tobacco Company, I know how they feel. I don’t think it would shock anybody what their views are but I would like the Private Sector to say what they feel about the packaging recommendations because they were a part of the consultation.”

The Minister pointed to the fact that tobacco is a killer substance, adding that whilst he is not recommending that it be banned, there is still the need to ensure that people have the relevant information and can make informed judgement. “Left to me, I would ban it but I am not in that position so at least we have to regulate its use. That’s all I am saying. I would really like to hear from the Private Sector.”

According to the Minister, Guyana is working at two levels towards the implementation of the tobacco standard – locally through the GNBS and with Caricom through the Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standard and Quality (CROQ).

However, it is the Minister’s belief that Guyana has done a huge amount of work as it has been able to get agreements after consultations that it becomes mandatory that cigarette packs and tobacco product packages have picture messages. But according to the Minister, he is aware that the Tobacco Company has its concerns about the recommended 100 percent picture messages on packages, that is, 50 percent on either side.

“There is no disagreement that there is need for the picture messages but they prefer the 100 percent on one side. We are saying no because they could put it in such a way that the messages are hidden. We want to make sure that no matter how you place the packages that the messages will be seen.”

The need for the standard came about through the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) which resulted in the creation of an initial public health treaty. The various members of WHO met and decided that tobacco use was a problem, thus, the treaty was established in 2005 and has regulations that countries and Governments need in order to battle the tobacco epidemic.

And it was based on surveys that were conducted, the WHO was able to deduce that the use of tobacco is the number one cause of preventable diseases.

The treaty this newspaper was informed contains a number of articles which address the demand and supply of tobacco, packaging and labelling of tobacco among others areas.

And in order to emphasise the harm that tobacco can cause, the local segment of the project focuses on Article 11 of the convention which addresses packaging and labelling of cigarettes.

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Health Minister wants private sector to comment on Tobacco Standard

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